In 2006, Krys Bailey was part of an intrepid group of artistic entrepreneurs who took a chance on a downtown property to create a different type of live theater experience in Augusta.
Le Chat Noir celebrated the 20th anniversary of its first show last month and continues to bring an alternative voice to Augusta’s theatre community.
“First Friday in August (2006) was our first show. We bought the building in March,” said Bailey, Le Chat’s executive director.
Other theatre groups at the time had their niches. Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre presented a host of comedies, farces and a splashy musical or two with a catered meal while the Augusta Players brought big -name musicals to the stage.
Le Chat Noir has often filled its stage with more contemporary playwrights. Productions at Le Chat have included edgy dramas, shows with biting satire aimed at government and religious institutions and grittier fare.
They’ve also staged comedies such as “The Play that Goes Wrong” in May 2022 and classic plays such as “To Kill a Mockingbird” in February 2025. The theater has also opened its stage to area playwrights to share their original content with an audience. Plus, the annual Black Cat Film Festival has grown over the years.
The curtain rises on the season Sept. 11 with a theatre production true to the company’s roots – a dark comedy by Tracy Letts called “The Minutes” which opened on Broadway in 2022 after a COVID delay. For tickets, go here.
“It mocks how overly complicated and ineffectual government can be,” said Bailey. ‘This is about a small-town city council.”
But there’s a dark twist in the story.
Le Chat has brought other Letts’ plays to the stage in its 20 year-history, including producing “Killer Joe” in 2007 “August: Osage County” in 2012.
Bailey said they are waiting for confirmation of rights on two shows including one slated for November and the season closer in the spring.
Love gone wrong is always the theme at Valentine’s Day so this year’s Cupid’s Cabaret will be “Othello”.
Interspersed in the theatrical season are other special events including the small play festival, quarterly burlesque shows, puppet shows and the annual Black Cat Carnival on Saturday, Oct. 31.
“This year there will be a lot more entertainment,” he said.
Performances throughout the night will include DeCeadoin, an Irish music group; burlesque, a side show and Schrodinger’s Cat doing horror sketch comedy.
“DeCeadoin did ghost stories on Halloween last year and it was pretty fantastic. We packaged it for all ages,” he said.
First Fridays always offer performances by Schrodinger’s Cat. There are two shows, but the early one always sells out, so get tickets early.
A few other exciting things are planned for the season. Augusta’s first fringe festival which will be in March. Le Chat will be one of the entities participating. More details on that are to come.
And Le Chat is expanding its physical space and renovating a former storefront for a cabaret space to join the black box theater and lobby/bar area.
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 best local writer by readers of Augusta Magazine in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the free newsletter
