A Second Act Begins

The soft creak of the floorboards echoes beneath Lani Sessoms as she moves slowly across the stage, scanning the theater.

A year ago, Sessoms, president of the Hart County Community Theatre, would’ve seen a building in disrepair. Now, thanks in part to the University of Georgia, the theater is enjoying a rehabilitation—and a rebirth.

And with it, the promise of a more vibrant cultural scene to bring the community together.

In 2024, the Fox Theatre awarded a $500,000 grant through its philanthropic initiative, Fox Gives, to revitalize the volunteer-run theater. The community theater is using the funds to repair structural issues, upgrade the HVAC system, and install new seating and awnings at the venue. For Sessoms, a retired teacher and lifelong arts advocate, the grant still feels surreal.

“We’re talking about half a million dollars,” she said, smiling with a mix of gratitude and disbelief. “We’re so grateful.”

Leigh Burns, director of community partnerships at the Fox Theatre, says Hart County’s strong ties with UGA made it ideal for launching a major investment in community theater.

Lani Sessoms, president of the Hart County Community Theatre, sits inside the historic venue amid a renovation supported by the Archway Partnership and a Fox Theatre grant.

Power of partnership

“We wanted to make a bigger impact in communities… Hart County was a great place to start.”
-Leigh Burns, Director of Community Partnerships at the Fox Theatre

Hartwell has a longstanding relationship with UGA. The community is part of the Archway Partnership, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach, which helps Georgia communities address local priorities by connecting them with university resources.

“One of the reasons we selected Hart County had a lot to do with UGA and the Archway Partnership,” said Leigh Burns, director of community partnerships at the Fox Theatre and a UGA alumna. “It was an added layer of success—building on what we knew was possible because of that relationship.

“We wanted to make a bigger impact in communities. We saw that theaters needed large investments, and Hart County was a great place to start.”

Hartwell’s collaboration with Archway has led to hundreds of projects that have strengthened the community’s infrastructure, economy, and cultural life. The downtown revitalization, supported by UGA students and faculty, helps local businesses thrive and positions the city as a model for sustainable development. Hartwell earned a Connected Resilient Communities designation in 2023 from UGA for completing resiliency-building projects. The efforts in Hartwell were recognized in UGA’s 2025 Innovations in Economic Prosperity Place Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.

“Hart County leverages the partnership with Archway and the University of Georgia to further their community development goals,” said Rosanna Cruz-Bibb, the Archway Professional in Hart County. “Their leadership showcases the relationships and partnerships facilitated through Archway as some of their greatest community assets.”

Expertise at work

With guidance from Cruz-Bibb, Hartwell leaders partnered with students from UGA’s Terry College of Business Institute for Leadership Advancement to develop a strategic plan for the theater’s revival. The students provided structure and a long-term vision that laid the groundwork for a capital campaign, which will help the theater upgrade from outdated systems to modern, eco-friendly technology that meets the challenges of historic buildings.

“I expect that when the renovation is complete the theater will be one of the gems of Hartwell.”
-Jason Ford, Economic & Community Development Director of Hartwell

“I know what a capital campaign is, but I don’t have the first clue about how to start one,” Sessoms said. “The Archway Partnership and UGA empowered us by helping to connect us with the right people and the right resources to create a clear plan. We really couldn’t have done it without UGA.”

The grant also includes educational components that deepen the theater’s community impact. Hart County High School students can use the Fox Theatre’s All-Access Pass, a multi-year immersive program that introduces students to careers in theater. Strengthened ties between the high school and community theater have led to more opportunities for students to get hands-on participation in production work.

The theater’s revival is also an economic win. Jason Ford, Hartwell’s economic and community development director, noted that arts events generate layered economic impacts, encouraging people to spend on dining, shopping, and parking. With tools in place to track this effect, early signs point to increased local economic activity. The theater continues to operate amid the renovations, which are expected to be done in two to three years. Once they are finished, Ford believes the theater will become a cornerstone of the city’s economy.