Judith Goodwin didn’t expect to find love when she auditioned for Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre’s production of “Big River” in 1991.
“I was his first stage kiss,” said Goodwin of husband, Greg, who she met during that production and with whom she celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary in June.
In its more than 50-year history, many memories and bonds of friendship and sometimes love (as in the Goodwins’ case) were forged at the dinner theater building on 32100 Third Ave., Fort Gordon, and at a previous location on post.
However, no thanks to Hurricane Helene, the program, which was renamed Presidential Dinner Theatre, has reached its end, according to a Nov. 6 Facebook post. The storm caused massive damage to the building,
“With the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene and the associated financial challenges, we are no longer able to successfully operate the program,” part of the statement read.
Goodwin and others expressed their sadness at the news.
“It will always hold a big piece of our hearts. Not just for each other, but for all the friends we’ve made over the years. We are still close to all of them,” said Goodwin who added that longtime Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre director Steve Walpert and his wife, Betty, became such close friends that they read scriptures at the Goodwin wedding.
Roy Lewis, who heads the Augusta Junior Players, has acted in many dinner theater shows including “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Walpert’s final production as entertainment director in 2016.
“Over the years, the dinner theater has produced some of the finest pieces of theatrical moments or the Augusta area. It provided a great venue for so many actors in the area. It has been and always will be a light that has guided actors, education and entertainment for us,” Lewis said
Mickey Lubeck was in rehearsals for “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” when the hurricane came through.
“The first show I choreographed was ‘Children of Eden.’ After that, Mr. Steve Walpert and I were a team working on many more musicals together. My own children participated in quite a few,” she said. “The dinner theatre will always hold a special place in my heart and my memories are filled with very special moments working with some amazing talent.”
Under Walpert, the dinner theater program went to the next level.
Walpert’s introduction to dinner theater came around 1970 when he was stationed at Fort Gordon as a second lieutenant. He performed in a show. He would later return as a civilian under Claude Astin, who served as a mentor.
Walpert spent more than 40 years at Fort Gordon, retiring in 2016 as the military installation’s entertainment director, overseeing all aspects of entertainment not only dinner theatre but large events such as the July 4th celebration, a Military Idol competition, talent shows and soldier safety shows.
Under Walpert, Fort Gordon’s theatre program won numerous awards including the Irving Berlin Award for Programming Excellence and Best Army Entertainment Program in 2005, overall first place in the 2005 Army Festival of Performing Arts and best musical production in the 2004 Army Festival of the Performing Arts.
In 2002, Walpert received the James T. Martin Award for Individual Excellence from the Army Entertainment Division in Washington, D.C.
“I am without words right now. This is such a sad outcome for a program that’s had such a long and positive impact on our military and civilian communities. I will write more on this when I have had time to reflect. For now, thanks to Dan, Lee, and all our staff, volunteers (onstage and off), patrons , friends in the media, and everyone who has supported this program over the decades. We have loved this theatre. It has enriched so many lives, and truly deserved a better final curtain,” wrote Walpert in an official statement.
After Walpert’s retirement, Dan Posey took over the helm, but Walpert returned to direct a few shows.
Dinner theater tried to make a comeback after the hurricane in August with a production of “Tea for Three” in another venue on post. Shows sold out in its single weekend.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named Augusta Magazine’s best local writer in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here..
Devastated at the closing of the Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre. Been attending almost every one for more than 40 years. Knew Steve before he even met Betty. My son, who is now 57, at the age of 15, acted on West Side Story, which was presented at Alexander Hall, as the old wooden building, at the end of Barton Field, didn’t have good air conditioning. Now he attends Dinner Theatre with his wife and me and our Theatre buddies who have been going with us for almost 40 years too. Wish we could somehow raise money to save it. Or find a new building somewhere.