The Imperial Theatre in Augusta announced this week that it had received a gift of stock worth $206,000 from Augusta businessman and philanthropist, Peter Knox IV.

“A gift of this magnitude is truly a blessing for the Imperial, and we are so grateful for Peter and his ongoing support. We hope this gift will serve as a catalyst to kickstart our capital campaign,” said Chip Matson, Chairman of the Board at Imperial Theatre.

Over the past 10 years the venue has undergone $2 million in infrastructure and cosmetic interior improvements, of which $1 million was related to SPLOST VI funding, but to restore the Imperial Theatre to her former historical glory, an additional $8 to $10 million is needed. “We are anticipating a 5-stage project to make major improvements to the historic building over several years,” says Executive Director, Charles Scavullo. “The first phases of the renovation plan will cost around $6 million and include updated restrooms, an elevator, a newly designed box office, upgraded concessions areas, and more.” The latter stages will address necessary upgrades to back-of-house operations.

This will be the first major renovation in over 30 years and will improve the overall experience for patrons and will put the theatre in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, improving accessibility for many local residents. In recent years, $3 of every ticket has been placed in our capital fund, but at an estimated 20,000 tickets sold each year, it just isn’t enough to tackle the much-needed renovations.  

The Imperial Theatre is thrilled to announce the official launch of its capital campaign after over a year of meticulous planning and extensive research into grants and other funding opportunities.  Stay tuned for more exciting announcements in the coming weeks.

If you are interested in supporting the Imperial Theatre’s Capital Campaign or learning more about sponsorship packages available, please visit www.imperialtheatre.com or contact Executive Director, Charles Scavullo, at 706-722-8293.