Augusta, GA

The next stage: Augusta Mini Theatre looks to the future

Published

1 year ago

July 11, 2024

The next stage: Augusta Mini Theatre looks to the future

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Mini Theater has been producing, hosting performances and educating youths for almost 50 years.

The theater continues to serve as a space for youth to pursue education in the arts, no matter their financial status.

The drama school has been planning an expansion of a 250-seat theater since 2008.

It’s a concept more than 16 years in the making.

Over the years, it’s had trouble getting the funds necessary to make that a reality.

The Augusta Commission poured SPLOST money into the theater and has given multiple extensions.

The scope of the project ultimately had to be cut down because the theater couldn’t raise enough funds to meet the deadline.

According to the commission’s Dec. 5 meeting, the scope of the project was reduced by 60%. Instead of 250 seats, the new theater will only have 100.

Nevertheless, it is still an accomplishment for the school to move to a more updated space with state-of-the-art equipment to continue to carry on its mission of not only teaching drama and theatrical classes, but life skills for the students to take with them for the rest of their lives.

Tyrone Butler says his vision of what the mini theater is supposed to capture is about to come true.

“I want to create something for people like me, people like me, who got the desire, got the talent,” said Butler.

The expansion will finally give his students a proper theater and space for the community to watch.

Butler says the same mentality of giving people an opportunity 50 years ago is being shown back.

“The community came together, really came together. And our alumni, they were amazing, you know, from all over the country. We have 8000 alums out there. And they gave to the campaign,” said Butler.

Not all alumni go on to continue the arts, but it’s the lessons his staff instilled in Augusta’s youth that matter.

“The band director at Gleaners High School. He took piano lessons right here will several out teachers with students who took art that teaching art in the school system right here. And but they started here. We have students that have gone to Broadway,” said Butler.

The final phase of a project that Butler hopes will continue to inspire the next generation of successful adults.

“We just use the arts to get there,” he said.

Butler says groundbreaking will start in early October and is expected to finish by the organization’s 50th anniversary next year.

Many of the school’s plays focus on social issues and education like drug awareness and education.

As it has been in the past, the Augusta Mini Theater aims to remain a pillar of the community.

The theatre is also preparing to send its students over to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to perform for the International Black Theatre Festival on August 3.

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Augusta, GA

Ga. gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan visits Augusta

Published

2 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Ga. gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan visits Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan hosted a community conversation in Augusta on Friday.

The event at the HUB for Community Innovation was the final stop of a statewide tour highlighting his fight to bring down housing costs.

Duncan heard from local experts in the housing space and discussed how he says he can expand these efforts and lower costs for families as governor.

Duncan is running as a Democrat, but was a Republican when he served as lieutenant governor.

The former professional baseball player is a fierce opponent of Republican President Donald Trump.

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Augusta, GA

Richmond County school board recommendations spark community reaction

Published

14 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Richmond County school board recommendations spark community reaction

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County School Board’s recommendation to close three schools and build a new college and career academy has drawn reaction from across the community.

The board announced its recommendation on Tuesday to close Jenkins White Elementary and transition the T.W. Josey High and Murphy Middle school site into a college and career academy.

Board member Monique Braswell, speaking as an individual and not on behalf of the board, said she opposes the plan despite acknowledging that that schools need to close due to low attendance.

“I will go on to see glory and I will still never accept it. I will never accept the fact that we are displacing children. I will never accept the fact that if T.W. Josey goes away,” Braswell said. “I will take that to the grave with me.”

Braswell said the district needs to examine underlying causes before making changes.

“We need to figure out why the kids are not going to here, there, and there,” she said. “And we need to take the communities and all the alumni along with us on this ride.”

Sheffie Robinson, president of the T.W. Josey High School Alumni Association, said the proposed changes would disrupt an already affected community. According to the presentation, students would be redistributed to Butler, Laney and Richmond Academy.

“So it’s like you disrupt a community that was built around this that has already had significant disruption over the last 30 years,” Robinson said.

We’re taking a bigger look at the Richmond County School System’s plan for several historic schools.

Under the recommendation, the Josey-Murphy site would close and construction of the college and career academy would start after this school year. Jenkins White Elementary School would also close.

Barton Chapel would be demolished, with a new building constructed for fall 2028.

Michael Thurman, who has three children in Richmond County Schools, questioned the district’s financial management.

“They really need to do a better job of being stewards of our money when they keep building left and right, school after school after school, and tearing down the others,” Thurman said.

Thurman said the district’s past spending raises concerns about the current plan.

“They definitely need to also take in mind that you’re just really wasting a lot of money building these buildings,” he said.

The district said alumni and community members will have opportunities to voice their opinions before the board votes. Public meetings are planned for January.

Braswell emphasized the importance of community engagement in the process.

“The public has to be more engaged. I don’t care if people push you away. You just have to stay engaged as the public,” she said.

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Augusta, GA

Another portion of Augusta Canal towpath is reopening to public

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Another portion of Augusta Canal towpath is reopening to public

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Another section of the Augusta Canal towpath is reopening after being closed since Hurricane Helene.

The storm on Sept. 27, 2024, left the path strewn with debris as broken branches hung precarously overhead.

On Friday, the path will reopen between the raw water pump station and the Interstate 20 bridge.

In preparation, crews have made safety improvements along the previously closed section of the trail.

Visitors are asked to observe all posted signs and stay behind safety barriers.

Embankment repairs have been delayed, but will take place in the future.

Once repair work begins, portions of the towpath will be temporarily closed at various times. Advance notice will be shared with the public before any closures.

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