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Historic Albany Theatre Entrance (Larger View)
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The vision for the restoration of Historic Albany Theatre was birthed in the imagination of James R. Miller, founder and president of Oglethorpe Development Group, Inc. Mr. Miller saw the theatre as once again becoming a cornerstone of downtown Albany, Georgia and a source of economic growth in industry and tourism. His plan to accomplish this consists of two phases. Phase I is the development of retail space. The total amount of retail space available is 10,000 square feet and occupies two floors. The first floor includes a fine dining restaurant and a fast food venue. The second floor includes executive office suites and conference space. Phase I of the restoration is 70% complete. The completion cost for the remaining 30% is $450,000.
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Click here for a larger view of the Lower Atrium.
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Phase II of Mr. Miller's plan is the restoration of the auditorium. The Grand Staircase, with its steel frame and walnut handrails supported by cast and wrought iron, has withstood thirty years of neglect and will be restored to former glory. The balcony will be extended to include a sky box on each side. The former "colored entrance" will become a VIP Entrance leading to VIP seats in the balcony. The total cost for the completion of Phase II is $4.5 million.
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Click here for a larger view of the Upper Atrium.
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Walter Taylor, chairman/CEO of KBJ Architects and an American Institute of Architects Fellow, will oversee the restoration, working with engineering and construction firms in Albany. Mr. Taylor is a successor of the theatre's designer, Architect Roy A. Benjamin, founder of Kemp, Bunch and Jackson. The theatre's original blueprints were found by Mr. Taylor in the firm's archive.
Fully restored, Historic Albany Theatre will once again be the largest theatre in Southwest Georgia and its Magnificent Theatre.
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