Trustees Theater
Trustees Theater is SCAD's restored 1946 Art Moderne cinema at 216 East Broughton Street in downtown Savannah, with 1,105 seats: 744 in the main house, 349 in the balcony and seven wheelchair spaces. There is no elevator, so anyone who cannot climb stairs should book orchestra-level seats. Three pay garages are within a block, meters are limited, and the theater is cashless.
Before you go
- Capacity
- 1105
- Indoor or outdoor
- Indoor: orchestra level and balcony
- Official site
- trusteestheater.com
- Next festival here
- Savannah Music Festival, Apr 2 to 17, 2027
Worth knowing before you go
- No elevator: if you cannot climb stairs, do not pick balcony seats for reserved seating events.
- Meters north of Liberty Street run 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday at up to $2 an hour and are free on Sunday.
- Late seating varies by show and may mean waiting for a break; arrive promptly.
- No texting, filming or phone use during events, and no professional camera or audio gear.
- At Savannah Music Festival shows every person needs a ticket, infants included, and shows likely to have dancing are marked.
Festivals here
Venue basics: 1,105 seats; balcony by stairs only · No elevator; accessible seats on orchestra level · Three pay garages within a block.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want a seated concert or screening in a restored 1940s cinema with 7.1 surround sound.
- You need captioning or assisted listening devices.
- You are after a downtown Savannah venue with garages within a block.
Think twice if
- You cannot climb stairs and only balcony seats are left: there is no elevator.
- You want to bring a large bag, camera gear or your own drinks: none are allowed.
- You are planning to camp on site: we don't yet have confirmed information about camping here.
Getting there and parking
Trustees Theater is at 216 E. Broughton St. in downtown Savannah, mid-block with the auditorium running parallel to Broughton Street. The SCAD Box Office window is up the street at 276 E. Broughton St., open Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm (Monday to Thursday, 10am to 3pm, June to August), and it opens one hour before an event for will call.
Three pay garages sit within a block of the theater. Street parking is metered and limited: north of Liberty Street meters run 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday at up to $2 an hour and are free on Sunday; south of Liberty and east of Habersham they run 8am to 5pm weekdays at up to $1 an hour and are free all weekend. The Park Savannah app is recommended for paying meters.
Late seating varies by show and it is not always possible to seat you before a suitable break, so arrive promptly. No refunds are issued, and tickets bought from third-party sites are at your own risk.
Accessibility
All wheelchair-accessible seating, seven spaces, is on the orchestra level, so note that when booking reserved seating. Closed captioning devices are available from the theater box office, assisted listening devices are provided, and other requests go by email to [email protected].
There is no elevator, so the 349-seat balcony is stairs only; if you cannot climb stairs, choose orchestra-level seats.
Festival-specific · Savannah Music FestivalFor festival shows, wheelchair seating is arranged through the SCAD Box Office on 912.525.5050. Only ADA-recognised service animals are permitted.
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (trusteestheater.com).
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Trustees Theater. The venue's own pages are the place to check: trusteestheater.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. The theater and box office are cashless; all major cards are accepted with tap to pay.
No large bags, purses or backpacks come in; small bags are searched and everyone may be screened by security. Firearms and weapons of any kind, including knives, are banned, professional camera, video and audio equipment is not allowed, and there is no texting, filming or phone use during events.
Sound and sensory
Sound is Dolby Digital 7.1 surround with 4K projection, under a gold-leafed medallion that glows high above the auditorium. Phones must be silenced and the room is air conditioned.
Festival-specific · Savannah Music FestivalShows where the crowd is likely to stand and dance are marked in the lineup; if that bothers you, book early and pick balcony or mezzanine seats near the front. Recording, photographing or videotaping is not allowed, and smoking is prohibited.
Festival-specific · Savannah Music FestivalChildren 5 and under are free at general admission concerts with a paying adult (two per adult), 6 to 18s pay $20 for general admission, and reserved seating shows need a full-price ticket from age 6. Everyone needs a ticket, infants included, and classical concerts are not recommended for children who cannot sit still for twenty minutes.
Quick answers
Where do I park for Trustees Theater?
Three pay garages are within a block of 216 E. Broughton St. Street meters are limited; north of Liberty Street they run 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday at up to $2 an hour and are free on Sunday.
Is Trustees Theater wheelchair accessible?
Partly. Seven wheelchair spaces and all accessible seating are on the orchestra level, with captioning and assisted listening devices available, but there is no elevator and the balcony is stairs only.
Is there an elevator to the balcony at Trustees Theater?
No. If you cannot climb stairs, choose orchestra-level seats when booking reserved seating.
Can I bring food or drink into Trustees Theater?
No. Outside food and drink are not permitted; concessions are sold at the lobby stand, card only.
Do children need a ticket at Savannah Music Festival shows at Trustees Theater?
Yes, everyone does, infants included. Children 5 and under are free at general admission concerts with a paying adult, 6 to 18s pay $20 for general admission, and reserved seating needs a full-price ticket from age 6.
Can I take photos or video at Trustees Theater?
No. Professional camera, video and audio equipment is banned, phone use is not allowed during events, and Savannah Music Festival prohibits recording and photography at its performances.
Can I camp at Trustees Theater?
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Trustees Theater. The venue's own pages at trusteestheater.com are the place to check.
How old is Trustees Theater?
It opened on Valentine's Day 1946 as the Weis Theater, closed in 1980, and reopened as Trustees Theater in May 1998 after SCAD bought and restored it.
A little history
The theater opened on Valentine's Day 1946 as the Weis Theater, designed in Art Moderne style by Atlanta architects McKendree Tucker and Albert Howell, with one of the largest screens in the South, the Southeast's first adjustable air conditioning and a neon marquee with three-quarters of a mile of tubing. It closed in 1980 as audiences left downtown for suburban cineplexes.
SCAD bought the empty theater in 1989 and, after structural, aesthetic and technical restoration of the 16,240 square foot building, reopened it as Trustees Theater in May 1998 with a Tony Bennett concert. It is now a Savannah Music Festival venue and the home of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, open year-round for screenings, concerts, lectures and live performances.