Southeast Alabama Community Theatre breaks ground on new facility in Dothan
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A new community theatre is coming to the Wiregrass.
The Southeast Alabama Community Theatre broke ground on a new 7,000-square-foot building on South Foster Street this week. It will serve as the organization’s new facility for theatre education and rehearsal.
“SEACT does not belong to any one person or any one season. It belongs to everyone who ever gave of their time and resources to make it successful. Thank you, Wiregrass!”
Southeast Alabama Community Theatre on social media
New community theater coming to The Wiregrass
While construction has already gotten underway, the official groundbreaking celebration was held July 8 in downtown Dothan between Crawford and Washington streets.
The new facility is designed to expand arts access and educational programming for students across the Wiregrass region.
The space will include a 200-seat rehearsal hall which will also serve as a secondary venue for community performances. The stage will be named after Roben and Lisbeth Ash, longtime SEACT supporters who are credited for strengthening the organization’s mission for years.
The estimated cost for the project is $3.1 million with hopes of the building being ready to open by summer 2027.
The renovation project was designed by Gosselin Architecture, with Voak Construction serving as lead contractor.
What is the Southeast Alabama Community Theatre?
The SEACT was first created in 1974, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To stay open for more than five decades, it has relied on season tickets, sponsorships, donations and community support.
The Cultural Arts Center, located a few blocks south of the new facility site, is currently home to the SEACT offices.
The organization leases additional space for rehearsals, shop work, costumes and technical equipment. The auditorium seats 300 with approximately 90 chairs on the floor in front of the stage and 200 chairs on stadium-style risers with two rows of seating per riser.
