Sands Theater Center - The Athens Theatre

The Athens Theatre

"A magnificent blend of 1920s aesthetics with 21st century functionality."The historic Athens Theatre first opened its doors January 6, 1922. With the tireless work of the many volunteers and professionals in charge, the Athens Theater was renovated and restored. 87 years later, to-the-day, on January 6, 2009, DeLand celebrated the Athens Theatre grand re-opening. A special heartfelt thanks goes out to all who assisted in making the dream a reality.

Originally a 1,000-seat theater, the Athens brought vaudeville, minstrel shows, operas and movies to DeLand. In the years that followed, the Athens Theatre operated as a dinner theater, arcade, disco, and cinema/beer hall. In 1993, a group of local citizens acquired the building hoping to restore it as a Main Street DeLand project.

In 2004, the Sands Theater Center took over the project and through private donations and grants, the historic Athens Theatre, a DeLand landmark since 1922, re-opened its doors in January 2009. The Athens Theatre is an intimate, 460-seat auditorium with an echo-minimizing curved back wall which produces impeccable acoustics. The seating has cast-iron row ends and lush upholstery making it as grand as it was when it first opened its doors. Displayed above the stage, carefully taken down, restored, and carefully replaced, is an Athens Theatre original work of art - a greek-inspired art deco mural depicting the seven muses.

Regularly scheduled classic and independent films along with monthly theatrical, comedy and musical concerts provide the Central Florida community year round professional entertainment.