Auditorium Renovation Project

Inspired by the 1970s “Horizon Theatre” entertainment revues led by Clay Freeman, five late-night dreamers – Freeman, Carolee Patterson, Robert Musgrove, Terry Blankenship, and Tom Henderson – spearheaded an initiative that blossomed into the Auditorium Renovation Committee, an effort of roughly 150 interested citizen leaders.  In their first active year, 1982, $100,000 was raised to tackle critical infrastructure stability issues such as roof replacement, interior repairs, and interior painting to historic colors.

Renovation progress

To date, the Auditorium renovation effort has raised and reinvested more than $500,000 to achieve a diversity of infrastructure, performing arts, audience experience, and other improvements for the historic structure.  Contributions continue to come in from small and large private donations, grant funding, in-kind contributions, and substantial amounts of volunteer labor.  Some of the improvements since 1982 have included boiler replacement, dressing room upgrades, proscenium curtain replacement, sound and lighting system modernization, stock scenery purchases, electric system improvements, and carpeting.  The Auditorium Board has also supervised an extensive program to fundamentally improve audience comfort and the theatre experience by upgrading all seating on the ground floor with modern theatre seats, significantly increasing spacing between rows, and by reducing total seating capacity.  The Auditorium Board is now continuing the seating upgrade and reconfiguration program to substantially improve balcony seating. (see Your Seat is Waiting!)

Project Governance

The Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium is governed by the Sweetwater-Nolan County Auditorium Board, created and authorized by act of the Texas Legislature in 1983.  As specified by the State legislation, Auditorium Board members are appointed by the City Commission of the City of Sweetwater and the Commissioners Court of Nolan County.

We have work left to be done

Much work remains to be done, and you can help.  All contributions to the funds of the Auditorium project are tax-deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

• To book an event at the Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium or for more information, please contact the Auditorium Board at auditorium@WorthamFund.org. 

• You may also contact the Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce at chamber@SweetwaterTexas.org (telephone: 325-235-5488) (P.O. Box 1148, Sweetwater, TX 79556), located in the historic Simmons home at 810 East Broadway www.SweetwaterTexas.org.