Greenville Theatre is planning a major expansion and renovation as part of its vision for the future.
Plans call for a new glass-fronted west wing, improvements to the existing performance hall, a full renovation of the historic lobby, an outdoor plaza, accessibility upgrades throughout the campus, and more. Proposed renderings of the multimillion-dollar project show the new wing fronted by a lighted marquee.
A private luncheon and presentation was held Sept. 23 to share additional details. It included a short musical performance from the theater’s current show, “Titanic the Musical.” The lunch was hosted by Harper General Contractors, which will oversee construction, and company Chairman Doug Harper greeted those in attendance prior to the performance by Andrew Anderson.
After the performance, John Hansen, Stuart Stenger and Adam Berry from Greenville-based architecture firm Craig Gaulden Davis discussed exterior and interior plans. Hansen said there were four key goals: honoring the theater’s history and legacy, elevating the patron experience, making the theater more central to the community, and bringing the working staff closer together.
The founders of the architecture firm, Kirk Craig and Earle Gaulden, designed the existing Greenville Theatre building. It opened in 1967.
“When we were selected and honored to be the architect for this project, it was certainly a personal thing for each of us,” Hansen said. “I want to thank the theater for their trust in us to carry on the legacy.”
Greenville Theatre patron Rebecca Bowne also spoke during the presentation. Bowne and her husband Stuart moved to Greenville several years ago after living nearly 30 years in Los Angeles, California. The Bownes were noted supporters of the arts in the Los Angeles area and have continued that legacy in Greenville.
Bowne said one of their neighbors invited them to attend the first post-COVID pandemic performance at Greenville Theatre.
“Stuart and I were blown away at the quality, the staging, the costumes, the acting,” Bowne said. “It was just more than we ever could have expected – and we knew theater, and we knew opera, and we knew this was quality.”
After having reviewed the theater renovation plans, she announced they were committing $500,000 to the renovation work now and promised a roughly $1 million posthumous gift.
“And we hope that’s a ways off,” she said, to applause from the audience. “The thing I wanted to share with you is that it takes newcomers like us, as well as the pillars of our community that have supported this theater time, after time, after time.”
Greenville Theatre, located at 444 College St., celebrated its 100th season in 2025-26. The updates are being touted as preparing the performing arts venue for the next 100 years. The theater expects to launch a capital campaign to fund the expansion and renovations later this year. Board of Directors Vice Chair Wes Gilliland is leading the steering committee.
