South Jackson Civic Center is a hub of creative activity steeped in performing arts which Webster defines as “types of art (such as music, dance, or drama) performed for an audience.” The center is a community resource for entertainment and education. It has served Coffee, Moore, Franklin, Bedford, and Warren Counties since opening in 1979.
Education is the building’s bones. Tullahoma’s first public school was erected in 1886 and was slated for destruction in 1977 after falling into disrepair. The school had previously moved to Jack T. Farrar Elementary. Concerned citizens, led by the late Alice Harton Ratcliffe, united to “Save South Jackson.” The building’s 1922 addition of the acoustically-renowned 460-seat auditorium propelled the successful movement to save the facility. With the center now positioned to be a major regional epicenter for the arts, many programs and performances will take the stage this year to celebrate the auditorium’s 100th anniversary.
More programs will lead art education into the next hundred years. One of those programs is the Theatre Enrichment Arts Curriculum for Homeschoolers (TEACH), a homeschool program for ages 10 to high school seniors. Imaginative storytelling inspires students through onstage and classroom workshops. These sessions focus on a child’s well- rounded education, both emotionally and academically. The group delivers onstage theater productions, and this year it’s Dreamworks “Shrek Jr.”
Their Performing Arts for Children and Teens (PACT) organization, dedicated to teaching and nurturing children in the performing arts, produces theatrical productions featuring youth and adult mentors throughout the year. Open to anyone wishing to audition, this year’s productions are the full version of Disney’s “Cinderella” and Dreamworks “Shrek Jr.”
The center is the permanent home of the Community Playhouse, the second oldest community theater group in Tennessee. With an impressive lineup through April 2023, the talent and dedication of the players and thespians shine through each performance.
The center is also home to the Mitchell Museum. The museum’s original home, beginning in 1976, was in the old Coca-Cola Bottling Plant on Wilson Avenue and was dedicated at its present location in the mid- 1980s. Exhibits relating to Tullahoma’s local city and area history are displayed, including an extensive Camp Forrest collection. The exhibits invoke stories and sentimental moments for donors and visitors alike.
In addition to education and entertainment, the center has been the site of dance recitals, festivals on the grounds, weddings, class reunions, and many other events. “South Jackson Goes Country” will return in August for its 43rd season. The Community Playhouse has five productions scheduled through April 2023. With an eclectic variety of genres, the performing arts series will never fail to entertain.
There are many opportunities to support the center during this special anniversary celebration. The Next Hundred Years allows you to Take Your Seat in South Jackson History, Send South Jackson a Birthday Wish, or join the 1922 Club. Each tier comes with its unique benefits while cementing your dedication to the community’s local arts.
Enjoy your South Jackson Civic Center as it enters its next hundred years, stronger than ever with your support. -GN
