Town Theatre, Historic theatre in Columbia, US

Town Theatre is a rectangular brick building in Columbia, South Carolina, built in 1924 with a two-story glazed central arch showing Art Deco influences. A brick annex was added to its rear in the 1950s. It houses one of the first community theatres in the United States.

Town Theatre was built in 1924 as a rectangular brick building with a two-story glazed central arch showing Art Deco influences. A brick annex was added to the rear in the 1950s. It houses one of the first community theatres in the United States and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Town Theatre is one of the first community theatres in the United States, a status tied to its 1924 opening in Columbia. Its programme is built on local amateur and volunteer production rather than touring companies, and the brick building on Sumter Street has served that purpose since the 1920s, with a rear brick annex added in the 1950s.

Town Theatre stands at 1012 Sumter Street in downtown Columbia, a rectangular brick building with a two-story glazed central arch facing the street. The 1950s brick annex sits at the rear, so the main entrance is on the Sumter Street side. It is a community theatre, so productions run in seasons rather than continuously.

Town Theatre is described as housing one of the first community theatres in the United States, and it joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. A brick annex was added to the rear in the 1950s, leaving the 1924 street front as the part visitors see first.