ACT 1
Cue music and the house lights fade—today we put the spotlight on Sylvia Beard Theater at the Buford Community Center. The Sylvia Beard Theater made its debut in July of 2012, and is named for the wife of longtime City of Buford Commission Chairman Philip Beard. Sylvia taught piano lessons for decades in the Buford community, leading to an advocacy for the arts. The theater is an intimate setting, seating about 282 patrons, so you are sure to be close to the drama when the curtain is raised. Seating includes floor level, mezzanine as well as box seats, but no matter where you choose to sit, you are sure to enjoy a theatrical performance with acoustics akin to that of the Fox Theater.
ACT 2
When deciding what acts to offer, the Sylvia Beard Theater puts much thought into finding a wide variety of shows to meet the tastes of various audiences. The “theater season” runs from August to May of each year, and an outdoor concert series is offered during the summer months. Each year, the Buford Community Center presents four plays or musicals as well as ten concerts or touring shows. Theater performances are packed with professional actors and directors, and the concerts have included both Grammy and Tony award winners. Outdoor concerts have included artists such as The Doobie Brothers, .38 Special, Bret Michaels and Big & Rich, just to name a few.
BOX OFFICE
While the Buford Community Center is wrapping up the end of their theater season, you can still catch the last few shows. From February 14th through March 1st, “The Importance of Being Earnest” will be playing, an Oscar Wilde Comedy set in the late 1800s. From April 10th through the 26th, it will be the classic “Grease,” taking you back to Rydell High School in 1959. Both shows are presented by Theater Buford, which is the center’s in-residence theater company employing numerous actors across the southeast. Having this kind of talent on hand will make any show you attend at the Sylvia Beard Theater a tough act to follow.
CURTAIN CALL
How can you find more information on the Buford Community Center and Sylvia Beard Theater, you ask? In April, they plan to announce their new season of shows, so visit their website at bufordcommunitycenter.com to purchase tickets or get more information. You can also follow them on Instagram @bufordcommunitycenter or check them out on Facebook @bufordcommunitycenter. Theater Buford also has a Facebook page, and you can follow them @theaterbuford. So what are you waiting for? Plan a night out at the theater and DiG into the local arts!