Why you should experience Trustees Theater in Savannah, Georgia.
Trustees Theater is a distinguished performance venue where the Historic District's cinematic heritage, Art Moderne architecture, historic preservation, and performing arts excellence sustain one of Savannah's most celebrated cultural institutions.
Set along East Broughton Street near Abercorn Street and just steps from Reynolds Square, this magnificently restored theater combines streamlined Art Moderne architecture, a soaring historic auditorium, cutting-edge projection technology, exceptional acoustics, elegant interior detailing, and an acclaimed calendar of film premieres, concerts, lectures, theatrical productions, and international cultural events. Historic character and contemporary performance capabilities create an extraordinary environment where Hollywood's golden age continues to inspire modern audiences. The result is a destination defined by architectural preservation, artistic achievement, and cinematic excellence.
What you should know about Trustees Theater.
Trustees Theater is best known for occupying the beautifully restored 1946 Weis Theater, an Art Moderne movie palace designed by Atlanta architects Tucker & Howell that introduced Savannah's first fully air-conditioned cinema before its transformation by the Savannah College of Art and Design into the internationally recognized home of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival and one of Georgia's premier performance venues. Constructed during the post-World War II building boom for the Weis family theater circuit, the theater opened on Valentine's Day 1946 with a screening of Lew Landers' The Enchanted Forest and immediately established itself as one of the Southeast's most technologically advanced cinemas. Engineers equipped the building with one of the largest projection screens in the South, state-of-the-art projection and sound systems, and an innovative adjustable air-conditioning system considered an engineering marvel for its era. The striking Art Moderne design features a spectacular neon marquee illuminated by three-quarters of a mile of cathode tubing, streamlined rounded wall returns, recessed lighting, and a rare mid-block configuration that positions the 1,105-seat auditorium parallel to Broughton Street. After the Weis Theater closed in 1980 amid the nationwide migration from downtown movie palaces to suburban multiplexes, SCAD acquired the building in 1989 and undertook an extensive structural, architectural, and technological restoration before reopening it as Trustees Theater in May 1998 with an inaugural benefit performance by Tony Bennett. Subsequent enhancements introduced 4K digital projection, Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound, modern accessibility features, and sensitive interior restorations while preserving the theater's historic architectural fabric. Today the venue serves as the permanent home of the internationally acclaimed SCAD Savannah Film Festival, welcoming Academy Award-winning filmmakers, actors, directors, producers, fashion designers, and creative leaders while hosting concerts, lectures, runway shows, conferences, and live performances throughout the year. Its meticulous rehabilitation also played a significant role in the broader revitalization of Broughton Street, helping transform Savannah's historic commercial corridor into one of the city's most energetic cultural districts.
The architectural experience unfolds through streamlined Art Moderne detailing, dramatic vertical proportions, richly restored decorative finishes, sophisticated acoustical engineering, and seamlessly integrated contemporary performance technologies that preserve the glamour of Hollywood's golden age while meeting the demands of twenty-first-century productions. Original architectural elements, including the luminous marquee, sweeping auditorium, ornamental ceiling medallion, and elegant interior detailing, blend harmoniously with advanced digital cinema systems, professional theatrical infrastructure, and modern accessibility improvements. Every restoration reflects SCAD's nationally recognized preservation philosophy, demonstrating how adaptive reuse, architectural conservation, and contemporary cultural programming can successfully return a historic movie palace to the center of civic life while establishing Trustees Theater among the finest restored performance venues in the American South.
How to fold Trustees Theater into your trip.
Trustees Theater works as part of an exploration through Savannah's celebrated cultural landmarks.
Begin at Lucas Theatre for the Arts, where another magnificently restored movie palace introduces Savannah's rich cinematic heritage before continuing to Trustees Theater. Continue to the SCAD Museum of Art, whose internationally acclaimed exhibitions showcase the university's creative vision through one of America's finest adaptive reuse projects. Conclude at Johnson Square, where Savannah's oldest and largest public square provides a memorable finale celebrating the city's remarkable relationship between architecture, history, and culture. The progression moves naturally from historic cinema to world-class performing arts before concluding within Savannah's original civic landscape, revealing why Trustees Theater remains one of the city's defining cultural institutions.
Where your story begins.
Foresyte Travel reveals places that feel extraordinary long before you arrive.
Experience premium editorial crafted for luxury travelers.
