Augusta, GA
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.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Several artists came together for a Mother’s Day concert Bethel Community Church Family Life Center.
Lucresha Thomas with Psalm 100 Entertainment said the event honors mothers.
“I think that is very important to honor the mothers because there’s some people that don’t have mothers due, the mothers passing away and mothers not being local,” Thomas said. “So this helps bring them together and they’re able to fellowship with other mothers and just be positive, bringing some gospel to the community where they can fellowship together, be blessed and maybe receive a blessing.”
Host Tommy Ingram said groups from across the area participated in the concert.
“We got a live, a lot of groups coming from all over the area to make sure that all the mothers in the area have a good time today,” Ingram said.
Host Adrian Monet said the free concert gives back to the community.
“Well, okay, yeah, a lot of mothers enjoy some good gospel singing. They love gospel concerts,” Monet said. “And this one is a give back, you know, to the community because it’s completely free. And so it’s a chance for people to bring their mothers to enjoy the music that they love so much.”
Erica and Jessica Harris, co-owners of Sophisticated Soul Food, said they wanted to celebrate mothers.
“Okay, we’re out here today for this pre-Mother’s Day event, and we’re just, we just want to give back to the community and celebrate all mothers,” the co-owners said. “And so we’re so excited to be out here. And we have great soul food for everybody that wants to come out.”
Kenneth Medlock, Tyrell Gibson and Gary Durham of The Country Boys, a gospel group from Thomson, said they were honored to participate.
“So we’re just so grateful to be here and honored to be able to stand up and let the world know how good God is through our songs and our praise,” the group said.
Anthony Gallant and Lamont McDowell, members of a gospel group from the Carolinas, said celebrating mothers is important.
“Oh yeah, I think it’s extremely important because mothers work hard throughout the year. They’re very diligent,” Gallant and McDowell said. “And I think at least if you could celebrate them one time, just make them feel special and that the queens that they are, I think it’s important and they’ll feel that love.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Olu Brown visited Augusta on Friday evening, stopping near the Sand Hills Community Center as early voting continues.
Brown is one of six candidates in the Democratic primary.
Campaign priorities
Brown said his vision as governor would focus on three main areas.
“One, it’s affordability around health care and making sure we expand Medicaid and expand Peach Care and make sure we continue to make our rural health care systems healthy and vital,” Brown said. “Number two, we’ve got to address education in all of Georgia, making sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education, and we’re paying our teachers more. And number 3, we’re protecting the rights of all women. Folks in the Gold Dome shouldn’t be making decisions about their bodies or the choices that they make.”
Brown is running against Amanda Duffy, Derrick Jackson, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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