Savannah's Theater

The Savannah Theater before three fires and one hurricane.

​The Savannah Theater first opened in 1818 making it one of the oldest continually–operating theaters in the United States. Because of the many great fires of Savannah this Grand Dame of the theater world has undergone many transformations physically and in artistic purpose. The original design was by one of the first trained architects to come to America: William Jay. Jay is responsible for some of the great buildings of Savannah such as the Owens-Thomas House, Telfair Mansion, and the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum.

The Savannah Theater opened its door with a performance of “The Soldier’s Daughter” on December 4, 1818. Its opening would put Savannah on the leading edge of theaters in the country. Such theater greats as Oscar Wilde, Sarah Bernhardt, W. C. Fields, Tyrone Power, Lillian Russell, and Edwin Booth to name a few acted at the Theater. Even baseball’s Hall of Famer Ty Cobb made an appearance in the play The College Widow. Charles Coburn Savannah born and raised Academy Award winning actor worked every job at the Savannah Theater from ticket box to manager before he went on to his celebrated film career.

In 1865, Gen. U. S. Grant was in town and accepted an invitation to visit the theater. The play was ‘The Pioneer Patriot’, featuring Rose and Harry Watkins.  The theater was filled to capacity. One theater critic said "Savannah is the best one-night town in America. Atlanta is an excellent two-night town, but for a one-night stand, Savannah cannot be beaten in this country. I say that without fear of contradiction."

As said previously the theater endured three fires and one hurricane. All of these ‘remodelings’ resulted in the 1948 transformation to its current Art Deco style. The theater is on Chippewa Square where the famous Forrest Gump bench was placed for filming. Today you can see Forrest as he jumps on passing trolley buses to tell his tale of Savannah.

In 2002 a young group of entrepreneurs and performers took the stage with the music revue "Lost in the `50's". They have been going strong ever since. They have performed along with their standard musical reviews such musicals as Les Miserables, Mamma Mia, You’re Perfect Now Change, and others. Savannah’s legendary jazz singer Huxie Scott regularly performs there.

A few years ago country singing star who has won best female vocalist seven times Reba McEntire was in town on vacation and bought tickets to Hooray For Hollywood. She stayed and talked to the cast after the show, took pictures, and went out to eat with some of the cast members at the Six Pence Pub. McEntire sent a Twitter message to the world about the theater: “What a talented bunch of people.”
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Savannah Theater continues to entertain and sell out shows over one hundred years later. It is one of the many gems of Savannah’s musical and entertainment world.
 

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Savannah Theater Today

The Stage at Savannah Theater