The League of Historic American Theatres presented its 2025 Outstanding Historic Theatre Award on July 20 to the Florida Theatre in Downtown Jacksonville.
The award recognizes a theater that demonstrates excellence through its community impact, quality of programs and service and quality of the restoration or rehabilitation of its historic structure.
“Stewarding a historic institution and precious community asset like the Florida Theatre is a team effort, and on behalf of the board, the staff, and the volunteers, which is well over 400 people, it was an honor to receive this national recognition,” Florida Theatre President Numa Saisselin said in a July 22 news release.
“I remember going to the Florida Theatre as a kid. It was a special place then, and it still is now. As a music lover and a Jacksonville native, I am proud to support the nonprofit Florida Theatre and bring this award home for our community,” said Don Cameron, chair of the board of directors.
Opened in 1927 to accommodate live performances and motion pictures, the Florida Theatre has undergone numerous transformations over the years, including a 1983 reopening, a new member lounge in 2022 and an $8 million renovation in 2023. It hosts concerts, shows, comedy acts and community events.
Founded in 1976, the League of Historic American Theatres is a nonprofit with the main purpose of sustaining historic theatres across North America for the benefit of their communities and future generations.
The league defines a membership-eligible historic theater as one that is at least 50 years old and includes at least one of the following attributes: is an architecturally significant structure deemed worthy of preservation, has played an important role in the history of American stage and screen, and/or can be used as a performing arts facility.