Town Theatre

Town Theatre is a South Carolina historical marker in Columbia, Richland County, dedicated 2019.

Richland County · dedicated 2019 · 1012 Sumter St., Columbia, Columbia

Get directions ↗Start a road trip Historical trails

Front: The Town Theatre was founded in 1919 by public-spirited Columbians who yearned for a community theatre. Daniel A. Reed, the first director, was an actor and director stationed at Camp Jackson during WWI. The first home for the theatre was the Sloan House at 1012 Sumter St. The present building, designed by Arthur W. Hamby, was completed in 1924 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Renovations over the years have added dressing rooms, a fly loft, and scene shop. Reverse: On this stage Carl Sandburg recited poetry; Academy Award winners Delbert Mann directed and Stanley Donen acted; Martha Graham danced; DuBose Heyward lectured; and famed artist Jasper Johns painted sets. Town Theatre initiated the Junior Stage Society program in 1921, becoming one of the pioneers of youth theatre in the U.S. By virtue of its 100 year legacy to the arts, Town Theatre has contributed significantly to the cultural life of the city of Columbia and state of S.C.

TodayHistorical map

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Example

under a mile from where William Gabby lived in the 1760s

what this marker records spans 1777 to 1789, overlapping William Gabby's years here

From one family's 77-marker roster

Upload your family tree and TreeAlive finds the markers near where your own ancestors lived.

See your family's markers

Start with a tree file, a FamilySearch sign in, or a WikiTree ID.

Report a problem with this page

The marker isn't at this spotOur pin may be off. If you know where it stands, tell us.I couldn't find the markerWe record what the source recorded. We have not been to look.The sign reads differentlyThat would be an error, and we can pass it to the program.The historical map looks wrongThe period map behind the pin, not the marker itself.Something else

We may pass what you report to the state's marker program. Please don't include personal details.

Marker data: South Carolina Historical Marker Program, SC Department of Archives and History
Sponsored by Town Theatre Board of Governors in Honor of the Centennial Celebration

More markers nearby

Birthplace of General Maxcy Greggunder 1 mi
Senate Streetunder 1 mi
Minton Family Homeunder 1 mi
Trinity Episcopal Churchunder 1 mi

On the National Register nearby

Town Theatre190 ft

Places within about 300 feet of this marker that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A nearby listing is not always the marker's own subject.