Lucas Theatre for the Arts
The Lucas Theatre for the Arts is a restored 1921 movie palace at 32 Abercorn Street in downtown Savannah, seating 1,237 across an orchestra level and a balcony. There is no theater parking, but three pay garages sit within a block, and doors open an hour before showtime. The building has no elevator, so all accessible seating is on the orchestra level.
Before you go
- Capacity
- 1200
- Indoor or outdoor
- Indoor: a historic theater with orchestra and balcony seating
- Official site
- lucastheatre.com
- Next festival here
- Savannah Music Festival, Apr 2 to 17, 2027
Worth knowing before you go
- There is no elevator, so do not book balcony seats if you cannot climb stairs.
- No large bags, purses or backpacks are allowed inside, and small bags are searched.
- Outside food and drink are not permitted, and everything is card only.
- Street meters run until 8pm Monday to Saturday north of Liberty Street, at up to $2 an hour.
- Late seating varies by show, so arrive promptly.
Festivals here
Venue basics: 1,237 seats in a 1921 movie palace · No elevator; accessible seats on orchestra level · Pay garages within one block.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want a seated concert in a restored 1920s movie palace with 1,237 seats.
- You are staying downtown and can walk in from the squares.
Think twice if
- You need step-free access to the balcony: there is no elevator.
- You want to bring your own food or drink: outside food and beverages are not permitted.
- You are planning to camp: we don't yet have confirmed information about camping here.
Getting there and parking
The theater is at 32 Abercorn Street, between Reynolds Square and Broughton Street. Will call is in the theater lobby and doors open one hour before the event. The SCAD Box Office at 216 E. Broughton Street is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, and Monday to Thursday, 10am to 3pm from June to August.
There is no theater parking. Three pay parking garages are within one block, and street parking is metered and limited: north of Liberty Street meters are enforced 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday at up to $2 an hour and are free on Sunday, and the Park Savannah app is recommended for paying.
Accessibility
The theater has no elevator, so all accessible seating is on the orchestra level; if you cannot climb stairs, do not choose balcony seats for reserved-seat events. Closed captioning devices for hearing assistance are available at the theater box office, and other requests go to [email protected].
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (lucastheatre.com).
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at the Lucas Theatre. The venue's own pages are the place to check: lucastheatre.com.
Food, water and what you can bring
Concessions are sold at the lobby stand during performances, and outside food and drink are not permitted inside the theater. The theater and box office are cashless, so bring a card.
No large bags, purses or backpacks are allowed inside and small bags are searched; all patrons may be screened by security. Professional camera, video and audio equipment is not allowed, weapons of any kind including knives are prohibited, and phones must be silenced with no texting, video or phone use during movies.
Sound and sensory
The auditorium sits under a 40-foot-wide ceiling dome and has the original restored Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ, 4K digital projection and Dolby Digital surround sound. Late seating depends on the show, so arrive promptly.
Quick answers
Is there parking at the Lucas Theatre?
No, not at the theater itself. Three pay garages are within one block, and metered street parking is limited; north of Liberty Street meters run until 8pm Monday to Saturday and are free on Sunday.
Is the Lucas Theatre wheelchair accessible?
Partly. There is no elevator, so all accessible seating is on the orchestra level; avoid balcony seats if you cannot climb stairs. Closed captioning devices are available at the box office.
Can I bring a bag into the Lucas Theatre?
Only a small one. Large bags, purses and backpacks are not permitted, small bags are searched, and all patrons may be screened by security.
Can I bring food or drink into the Lucas Theatre?
No. Outside food and beverages are not permitted; concessions are sold at the lobby stand during performances, card only.
How many seats does the Lucas Theatre have?
1,237, across an orchestra level and a balcony, in an 86,000 square foot, four-story building.
What time do doors open at the Lucas Theatre?
One hour before the event. Late seating varies by show, so arrive promptly.
Can I camp near the Lucas Theatre?
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at the Lucas Theatre. The venue's own pages at lucastheatre.com are the place to check.
Which festival is held at the Lucas Theatre?
The Savannah Music Festival stages concerts here each year, as do the SCAD Savannah Film Festival and the Savannah Philharmonic.
A little history
Arthur Lucas opened the theater on December 26, 1921 as a silent movie and vaudeville palace designed by Claude K. Howell, with a refrigerated air system installed in 1926. It closed in 1976 after decades of falling attendance, preservationists Emma and Lee Adler formed a nonprofit to save it in 1987, the group bought the building in 1995, and it reopened in December 2000 with a showing of Gone with the Wind. SCAD has managed it since 2002.
The Savannah Music Festival is one of the annual events staged here, alongside the SCAD Savannah Film Festival and the Savannah Philharmonic.