Tuscaloosa County Agrees to Buy Historic Bama Theatre from PARA

The Tuscaloosa County Commission has agreed to purchase the Historic Bama Theatre in downtown Tuscaloosa almost 90 years after it first opened.

In a Friday announcement, a spokesperson for the County said they will buy the theatre from the Tuscaloosa County Parks and Recreation Authority, along with the adjoining office space on Greensboro Avenue downtown.

The Commission said its decision will ensure the Bama stays under civic ownership and remains of use to the area's residents.

Get our free mobile app

They said the Bama Theatre opened in 1938 after construction by the Public Works Projects Administration as a part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal following the Great Depression.

The recently upgraded theatre auditorium was designed to mimic a Mediterranean courtyard under a starlit sky with Italian murals accentuating the theme. 

Although owned by PARA, the Theatre has been managed by the Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa County and the Commission said that partnership will continue to draw unique programming to the venue. They said they will also work with city and county schools to ensure the Bama is available for concerts, recitals, pageants, plays and more.

The four-member Tuscaloosa County Commission, chaired by Probate Judge Rob Robertson, said they were unanimous in support of buying the Theatre and continuing to support its mission of promoting the arts.

For more free coverage of hyperlocal news in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.