Work began July 1 on the Augusta Players’ new home at 712 Ellis St. bringing with it an array of emotions for the organization’s executive director.
“It’s terrifying and exciting,” said Scott Seidl of the legacy moment in the organization’s 80-year history.
It’s exciting because it’s taken the organization decades to secure a home. Seidl along with other Augusta Players’ officials have spent the last five years diligently trying to find the right space to fit the needs and end its nomadic existence, yet it brings with it the daunting prospect of having to raise $3 million to cover the building’s purchase price and the needed upgrades, he said.
The Players take to the stage multiple times each season and offer other programs.
They perform four main stage musicals at the Imperial Theatre. The Augusta Junior Players comprised of elementary through high school students perform multiple times a season at venues such as the Kroc Center and John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School. And adults perform four productions through the ARTreach program for audiences of close to 12,000 students per year.
This past season, a reader’s theater program was Introduced for adults who are 55 years old and older.
Each summer, there’s Camp Wonderland for children on the autism spectrum.
All of those shows require rehearsal spaces. Over the past few years, rehearsals have been spread across multiple locations, and when using someone else’s space, they have to adjust schedules according to that to conform with the building’s owner.
“The past month is a great example,” said Seidl as he quickly counted. “We’ve been in seven different spaces in this past month. Not a great way to run a business. It will be great to put everything under one roof.”
The former garage features 17,000 square feet of space that will accommodate three upstairs rehearsal rooms, one of which will have the same dimensions as the Imperial Theatre’s stage, as well as administrative offices, which are currently housed at Sacred Heart Cultural Center.
Those rehearsal rooms could double as a smaller performance space for “One Night Only,” a special show for season ticket holders; the Auggies, the annual awards event; and Reader’s Theater or a smaller Augusta Junior Players production.
Downstairs would provide storage space; the Players currently rent storage units. Also, there will be a scene shop.
Seidl said there are naming opportunities for rehearsal rooms, offices or the building itself. People can also purchase bricks and have them engraved.
But all donations make a difference; he said.
Two fundraisers are scheduled.
On Sept. 10 will be a “Singing Waiters” fundraiser at The Richmond on Greene, where the waiters are also the performers. That event is filling up fast, he said. And a golf tournament is scheduled for Sept. 23.
Not only are the Players preparing their new home in this upcoming season which has a theme of “Finding Home,” but they are already planning for “Jesus Christ Superstar” Oct. 4-6.
“It’s one part concert, one part musical and all-epic event,” he said.
Auditions for the principal roles were held in March, and some rehearsals have already been held.
About 112 performers will be part of the musical. It will showcase a 43-piece orchestra, a typical show has about 16 musicians. There’s an adult choir of 20 and a children’s choir of 20.
About one-quarter of the tickets have already been sold for that show. And he expects to have some type of party on opening night; that’s still in the works.
Season tickets as well as individual tickets are on sale. Other musicals during the season are “Annie,” “Wizard of Oz” and “Anastasia.”
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
