Old Town Theatre

The Friends of Old Town Theatre project was first organized in 1997 as a community non-profit, dedicated to the restoration and reopening of Huntsville's Old Town Theatre on the downtown square. The building had served in its earliest years as a downtown movie theater. When the organization aquired the building, it was in severe disrepair, and the long and grueling process of rebuilding began. Friends President Gene Myrick worked tirelessly with the help of a small band of friends and supporters to gather community donations and arts and foundation grants funding, and construction began. The theater received a generous donation in 2001, one year after opening, from the late LuAnne Gibbs, an early supporter and friend to the project, and the title of J. Philip Gibbs, Jr. Centre for the Performing Arts was added to its name. Today the theater hosts music, dramatic and musical theater, dance, film and community events. It is home to the Huntsville Community Theatre and the Huntsville Summer Film Festival.