Update on Renovation

Fundraising Events

Make a Donation

How can I help? : Habersham Community Theatre affords many avenues in which you can help your community theatre. Here are several ideas how you may get involved:

Become a member of HCT

Attend HCT Stage productions and special events

Donate to HCT's Renovation Fund

Join HCT Wings

Get involved with special fundraising events

Get involved with productions on stage or with crews behind the scenes

Let us know how you would like to be a part of HCT

For More Information:
Alta Moseley
706-754-8135
amoseley@habershamtheater.org

Become a sponsor : This is a list of items we need that are not included in our budget:

Floor covering for dressing room and upstairs rehearsal/meeting room

Auditorium wall sconces designed in Art Deco style

Video camera to provide feed into dressing room

DVD/VCR Recorder/Playback Combo

TV monitor for tech booth

TV monitor for dressing room

Heavy-duty sewing machine

Sponsors for new marquee equipment, and stage equipment

For More Information:
Lynda Smith
706-754-5654
lsmith@habershamtheater.org

Thanks to Supporters : HCT’s Board of Directors is grateful to all the supporters of the theatre. Your membership dues, ticket sales, and donations make it possible to operate the theater. In order to accomplish the renovation of the theater, grant requests are being made and fund raisers are being held. HCT deeply appreciates the grants it has been awarded and the donations from private individuals.

HCT has assumed a loan of $123,000 at 3% interest from the Georgia Cities Foundation through the Downtown Development Authority of the City of Clarkesville. This amount is a loan that will have to be repaid. This is not a grant. This loan enabled us to pay off the first mortgage; the remainder of the money was earmarked for renovations along with the monies in our fund from grants and donations. We deeply appreciate the support of the City of Clarkesville. The renovation contract was awarded to H & M Maintenance, Support, Inc. Harry Wollert and his crew began the third week of June and completed the work early in October. HCT appreciates the extreme care that was taken to preserve the historic elements of the theater. Some dates and venues were changed during this time.

Many original aspects of the HISTORIC HABERSHAM THEATER have been preserved. The facade of the theater has the original decorative 1937 Art Deco design. The marquee was found under layers of asphalt shingles and letters spelling Habersham have been replaced. The theater entrances, side doors, and box office are in the original location.

As one enters the Ellard Lobby, on the left is a room that was planned for a store. This space was the Clark Gallery: an art gallery, conference room, and extension of the lobby, but is now reconformed to beautiful new restroom facilities. In the room on the right is a concession area with a new pass-through for refreshments through which is viewed the kitchenette. In front of the viewer is another new addition - a specially designed built-in bench. The lighting fixture in the center of the wall was found under the old stage and was one of six that were on the auditorium walls. If one stands by the bench and looks toward the front of the building and then looks up, the large varnished beams that were part of the original balcony can be seen. The balcony area now houses a technical booth, costume storage, and rehearsal/meeting rooms.

In the auditorium, the original sloping floor, aisles, stepped ceiling with original square lighting fixtures, and walls have been restored. The decorative panels on the walls are only slightly smaller than before. Temporary wall sconces are used. Comfortable seating has been installed.

The stage has been greatly enlarged. The new proscenium is a copy of the old one which can still be seen in the ceiling above the stage. Other new items are curtains and lighting instruments. A new storage/work room has been added on stage right and loading deck off stage left in the alley.

Behind the stage are a basement and dressing room that were added some years ago. The dressing room has been painted and carpeted. A new roof has been installed, more lighting instruments, and required new electricity has been added. Much still needs to be done, but we are proud of the accomplishments so far. Other stage equipment, a wider loading dock door, stage left wing space, and wall sconces designed to compliment the Art Deco style, are a few of the improvements still needed for the theater.