The first black box theatre in Milledgeville will debut in The Campus Theatre.

“The space has already sparked the imaginations of the faculty and will spark the imaginations of the students,” said Karen Berman, Georgia College Theatre Department Chair.

Once a movie theatre and vaudeville stage, the university purchased the building in 2008 with plans to renovate the former movie house into a retail bookstore, café and black box theatre.

The Campus Theatre will serve the college and community by providing a welcome improvement to the historic architecture of downtown.

“The space has been sitting for so long under-utilized, it will be a wonderful way to use the space since it can no longer be used for its original function,” said Mark Bowen, Georgia College Project Manager.

Funding for the $6.9 million project comes from bonds issued by the Georgia Higher Education Facilities Authority (GEHFA).

Workers began the renovations in November 2008, drastically changing the inside of the 74-year-old building. No completion date has been set.

Gone are the original stage, sloped floor, camera room and theatre seats, replaced with staircases, inside walls and glass partitions.

But the art-deco facade, neon marquee and the ticket booth will continue to welcome visitors inside.

Visitors’ first stop: retail bookstore with displays and popular consumer books filling the aisles.

“The bookstore will serve both students and the downtown sector,” said Bowen.

Dozens of shelves filled with textbooks will line the ground floor along with a book storage area and office space for bookstore employees.

A glass wall will separate the bookstore from a Jittery Joe’s coffee shop and the black box theatre.

The black box theatre, a square theatre with transitional seating and staging, encompasses a great portion of the first floor.

Three black walls and a blackout curtain across the glass entrance frame the theatre. Dance flooring can be rolled on top of the finished wood floor for specific performances.

“We are delighted with the new opportunity (the theatre) will offer the theatre department,” Berman said. “It will provide a new educational space for students.”

Extra details will add to the theatre experience.

A lighting grid 16 feet above the black box theatre will offer dramatic lighting opportunities from the second-floor light booth.

Workers will install acoustic panels in the theatre to improve acoustics.

“Careful consideration by the design team regarding vibrating isolation for the air conditioning units keeps the acoustics of the room intact,” said Bowen.

Georgia College theatre department faculty will occupy office space on the second floor.

The offices have been plastered in keeping with the 1930’s architectural style. Workers have restored windows when possible and replaced those beyond repair.

Currently theatre faculty offices are scattered from the main campus to west campus.

“The Campus Theatre will provide a home for all of the theatre faculty where we can communicate,” Berman said, “and share ideas in close proximity.”

For more information, please call Georgia College Project Manager Mark Bowen at (478) 445-2541.