the Savannah Theatre

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception



http://www.savannahtheatre.com/history/

First opened in 1818, the Savannah Theatre, located on Chippewa Square in Savannah, Georgia, is one of the United States' oldest continually-operating theatres. Due to multiple fires, the structure has been both a live performance venue and a movie theater. Since 2002, the theatre has hosted regular performances of a variety of shows, primarily music revues.

It opened with a performance of "The Soldier's Daughter". The original structure was designed by British architect William Jay, whose other notable works include the Telfair Mansion and the Owens-Thomas House, both located in Savannah.

The original structure suffered severe damage due to a hurricane that hit Savannah on August 31, 1898, tearing sections of the roof off the building and flooding the auditorium. Additionally, the Theatre has undergone two notable structural overhauls as the result of fires in 1906 and 1948. Following the 1948 fire, the building was transformed to its current Art Deco style.