36–26 COMEBACK

90 Years in the Making

1936 Grand Opening + 2026 Ceremonial Re-Opening

The move to renovate and revitalize The Center Theater was officially set in motion in 2022, following years of wear and tear that led to an expansive repair list involving an impaired roof, leaking limestone walls, and significant interior water damage.

The Hartsville Building Commission oversees all renovations, cosmetic updates, and new construction to reimagine the theater’s historical opulence, pay homage to its treasured past, and embrace a modern entertainment era.

The remaining renovation and construction costs, including building new dressing rooms and a green room, are estimated at $2,150,000, with an additional $500,000 needed for startup operating expenses.

To help meet these needs, we’re launching our first-ever capital campaign—the 36–26 COMEBACK Campaign. We will seek financial investments from individuals, foundations, and corporations and pursue grants and government support.

When the theater reopens in 2026, it will be 100 percent ADA-compliant with new seating, flooring, windows, restrooms, and an elevator. The refreshed upstairs will showcase a ballroom, a catering kitchen, a conference room, and balcony seating.

Supporters will be recognized on 36–26 COMEBACK Campaign naming opportunity signage and donor wall, as well as in our newsletter, promotional materials, and annual program. We’ll celebrate our community’s generosity at a VIP grand re-opening event. All gifts are tax-deductible.

Campaign Naming Opportunities

Main Auditorium

The primary gathering space for experiencing live entertainment and movies, the Main Auditorium is the heartbeat of the theater. It features 35-foot ceilings, art deco style and fixtures, new flooring, carpeting, and lighting, as well as 600 fixed seats adorned with high-performance fabric in a muted shade of green. The Main Auditorium is wheelchair accessible and home to the theater’s original velvet curtain, orchestra pit, and a mixing consoles booth with a new state-of-the-art sound system. It is the gateway to remarkable performances and memories.

Balcony

Often referred to as the “grand circle,” the Balcony features new flooring, carpeting, lighting, and 300 fixed seats wrapped in a high-performance green micro-fiber fabric. In addition to its impressive views, the Balcony is accessible to the theater’s upstairs lobby, ballroom, catering kitchen, and restrooms. Some say it has the best views in the house.

Dressing Rooms & Green Room

Newly constructed Dressing Rooms are a vital enhancement to our theater, ensuring local and visiting performers have adequate space for changing in and out of costumes, applying makeup, showering, and relaxing before and after a show. Each features mirrors, counters, clothing racks, restrooms, a communication system, and easy access to the stage. Positioned conveniently between the dressing rooms, the Green Room serves as a sanctuary for preparation and relaxation with adequate seating and a refreshment area.

Atrium & Lobby

Lit by a stunning chandelier gifted to the theater by a local patron, the Atrium and Lobby make a grand first impression on locals and visitors arriving to see a show. Updated with new paint, fixtures, and décor, the 1,279-square-foot Atrium and Lobby provide easy access to the concessions suite, restrooms, elevator, and main auditorium seating. Its glistening ambience offers enough space to connect with acquaintances before a show or during intermission.

Ballroom & Catering Kitchen

Located on the second floor, the grand Ballroom celebrates 1,599 square feet of rentable entertaining space for galas, fundraisers, cotilions, and other high-interest events. New windows, paint, and fixtures complement the original hardwood floors and high ceiling. An adjacent 294-square-foot catering kitchen makes hosting luncheons, dinners and cocktail affairs effortless, and a selection of tables and chairs will allow renters to customize the space to meet their needs.

Upper Lobby

The theater’s second-floor gateway to live entertainment and connecting with friends, the 504-square-foot space is a gathering spot for ticket holders making their way to balcony seating and restrooms or guests attending a ballroom function. Fresh paint, carpeting, lighting, and décor elevate the Upper Lobby’s style, which harkens back to the Art Deco mood of the 1930s.

Conference Room

Ideal for board, event, and planning meetings, this 336-square-foot space accommodates groups of 30 or fewer and features new paint, windows, fixtures, and furniture. With lovely views of downtown Hartsville, the Conference Room is an essential centerpiece in our historic venue and available for rent to community members.

Donations & Recognition

Naming Opportunity donations to The Center Theater 36-26 COMEBACK Campaign are payable over 3–5 years and can be funded by one entity, individual, or family or shared among two or more. Naming rights include recognition on signage in a prominent location in the sponsored space and on The Center Theater Donor Wall.