Theater Venues

The Department of Theatre performs in venues in and around the Swanson Center for Performing Arts and Communications. The three main venues are the W.R. Cleere Mainstage Theater, the Blackbox Theater, and the Arrendale Amphitheater. Each venue provides a different atmosphere to give the students and audiences the most variety possible while at Piedmont.

Swanson Center for Performing Arts & Communications

W.R. Cleere Mainstage Theater

The Swanson Center features a modern 350-seat theater with state-of-the-art sound and lighting, as well as a backstage area that includes adequate fly space, dressing rooms, costume storage and a separate set construction workshop.

Black Box Theater

The Blackbox Theater gives students space to perform smaller, avant-garde shows and theatre-in-the-round. This space is also used for acting and directing classes.

Arrendale Amphitheater

A new performance venue for Piedmont and northeast Georgia opened in October 2009 with the completion of the Arrendale Amphitheater. This 350-seat outdoor performance area features a sculpted metal roof that covers the stage and part of the seating area. Named for the Arrendale family, including board chairman Thomas A. “Gus” Arrendale III, the amphitheater hosts a variety of events, including an all-day bluegrass festival, student performances, and public concerts. The amphitheater also won a design award from Metal Architecture magazine for its designers, Armentrout Roebuck Matheny Consulting Group of Athens.