122-year-old Historic Georgia Theatre to reopen after devastating fire

The completely renovated Historic Georgia Theatre anticipates reopening June 19, according to a release Wednesday.

Fire decimated the 122-year old venue located at 215 N. Lumpkin Street in Athens nearly two years ago.

Beginning Aug. 1, the Georgia Theatre will have a two-week reopening celebration. The performer lineup includes: The Glands with Madeline, Chuck Leavell and Friends with SNAP!, Kenosha Kid, Blackberry Smoke, RJD2, J. Roddy Watson and the Business, Don Chambers, Goat, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Big Boi, Drive By Truckers and Gillian Welch.

Other than a brief stint in the 80s when the Georgia Theatre served as a movie house, in the 31 years it was open before the fire, the popular mid-sized venue regularly hosted internationally renowned artists like The Police, R.E.M., the Ramones, Beck, Dave Matthews, Widespread Panic, and Tom Waits, to name a few.

In 2009, the tragic fire gutted the historic venue, which is now set re-open just two years later.

Support from the Athens community, music lovers, artists, and groups like The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and Terrapin Beer Company have made the renovation possible.

Historic Georgia Theatre
215 North Lumpkin Street
Athens, GA 30601