Tybee Post Theater seating to be upgraded with $50k grant from T-Mobile

Going to see a show at the historic Tybee Post Theater is about to get a whole lot more comfortable: Thanks to a $50,000 grant from T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant program, they'll soon be installing brand new seats.

“As we were thinking about things that could help us with sustainability, with growth, with reaching out more to the community, and how we could serve them better, we recognized a few key needs that needed to be addressed fairly soon at the theater,” said Tybee Post Theater Executive Director Evan Goetz. “And one of those needs was the seats.”

Built in 1930, the locals-centric venue was commissioned by the U.S. Army to serve as a “movie house” for those serving out of Fort Screven. The seats that now serve patrons are nearly as “historic” as the building, having been donated to the space from downtown Savannah’s Trustees Theater. At 80 years old, the wear and tear is evident, both by their appearance and by the sore backs of those who have attended performances in recent years.

With the new, modern seats, which will feature fresh cushioning and cup-holders, Goetz believes that it will help foster experiences for visitors to Tybee Post Theater that go beyond just seeing award-winning performances.

“I always think of this place as a gathering spot for people who are visiting, who live here on the island, who live in Savannah and the surrounding areas,” he said. “So, when we bring people here, we just happen to be doing it through whatever’s happening on stage. These people are here to talk with each other, they’re here to dance with each other, they’re here to drink and eat with each other.

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“We need people to come together and create authentic connections with each other and talk,” he went on to say. “Regardless of how you feel about anything, politically, culturally, whatever, you’re here to commune together.”

T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant program

T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant program is a multi-year endeavor by the wireless carrier to distribute $25 million dollars to enrichment projects across the United States, specifically projects in towns with populations of less than 50,000 people. A diverse range of programs have been supported thus far, from trail and park rehabilitations, to library upgrades, and each represents a core tenet that the program looks to support: Building community.

“It’s really designed to fund projects that help rebuild, and reshape or refresh community spaces,” said T-Mobile PR & Corporate Communications Senior Manager Roni Singleton. “Every town has these local gathering spaces, and on Tybee, the Tybee Post Theater is one of those places.”

Singleton, who lives in Atlanta and has not only visited Tybee Island several times, but also the theater itself, noted that the space was a perfect fit for the program, something which helped to distinguish it from the approximately 800 proposals that they received for this round of funding.

“We wanted to have a way to support smaller towns, smaller communities all across the country, and really show our investment in those places,” she went on to explain. “Because we always like to say that we’re more than just a wireless company. We want to make connections in other ways, not just cell phones.”

A “cherished cultural hub”

Goetz and his small team at Tybee Post Theater officially received funding for the project during a ceremony at the space on June 20, where they were presented with an oversized check bearing the tidy sum of $50,000. Unfortunately, however, the project costs a bit more than that, and the historic theater is always in need of additional repairs and upgrades. On top of the help provided by T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant, the executive director is asking locals to support the theater by sponsoring one of the new seats, on which their name will be emblazoned on a plaque for all who visit to see. The goal is for the seats to be installed by September.

But more than anything, Goetz is excited to be able to upgrade the theater. Last year alone they brought in nearly 20,000 locals, tourists, and guests to see plays, films, and cultural happenings, and every one of those events offered the opportunity for connection and community. That’s what makes the place special, he says, and he’s hoping to see even more folks out there as the Tybee Post Theater completes it’s “badly needed upgrades.”

“It's a wonderful step forward in our ongoing efforts to preserve and improve this historic venue,” he added, “ensuring it remains a cherished cultural hub for our community for years to come.”

Those wishing to donate to the rehabilitation of Tybee Post Theater’s seating may do so by visiting their website at tybeeposttheater.org/getinvolved.