(Editor’s note: On Nov. 12, the Augusta Mini Theatre changed the date for its ribbon cutting and other November celebrations. The story has been updated to reflect the change.)
Fifty years ago, Tyrone Butler asked a question that would not only change his life, but the lives of many children and teens in Augusta.
On a visit to the Wallace Branch Library, he asked Mrs. Cummings, the librarian, if he could put on some shows in the library.
“Like ‘Johnny Carson,’ but instead of telling jokes, I’d sing,” said Butler, who started the Augusta Mini Theatre on Oct. 8, 1975, with a Johnny Carson-type variety show.
Several events are taking place in October and November to mark the organization’s golden anniversary including a special performance and a ribbon cutting for a theater.
Those early variety shows featured other performers such as the T-Bone Express disco dance group as well as the Lil Bones, a group of girls who wanted to perform. Out of that grew into a program to teach children about the arts, something that Butler never had growing up in Augusta.
Butler was always a storyteller. As a child he’d make up stories to tell his friends on their walks to school.
As an adult, he began writing plays for his student to perform. Judith Simon Butler performed his “Johnny Williams Story” for about a decade. Many of those shows were to audiences of incarcerated teens.
His plays have tackled hard themes – gun violence, sexual abuse and bullying.
Butler received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1984 and the Greater Augusta Arts Council’s Artist Award in 1993.
In 2008, the Augusta Mini Theatre moved into a 9,333 square-foot building on 11 acres on Deans Bridge Road. It has a black box theater, dance studio, the James Brown Music Wing and a media center/homework lab.
Construction of a 142-seat theater is still underway. Initially, the hope was to have the theater open for the 50th anniversary, but Hurricane Helene pushed the groundbreaking off for a month. The space should be completed by Oct. 22, he said.
He’s marveled at the progress crews have made since construction began earlier this year.
“Every time I go over there it has changed,” said Butler, who added he tries not to peek too much.
Butler said construction costs have gone up since the groundbreaking, and the final cost once estimated at $2.2 million has risen to $2.5 million. Donation are still being accepted to make up the difference.
On Oct.8, the date of the actual 50th anniversary, there will be a donation drive-thru from 4 to 7 p.m. at the mini theater. At 7 p.m., there will be a program with some alumni speakers and a cake,
The big festivities are planned for November with Jan. 16, 2026 ribbon cutting and theater tour from 5 to 7:30 p.m.; a grand opening party at 6 p.m. Jan. 17 followed by a performance at 8, and a tour and performance at 3 p.m., Jan 18.
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.
