The day the Georgia Theatre burned was one of the worst days of owner Wilmot Greene’s life, but now he is only looking forward, with construction of a new and improved theatre in the works.

In early July, Greene received all of the final permits needed from city, state and federal levels to finally begin construction and get the Georgia Theatre back and fully active.

“It was a real pain in the butt,” he said. “We have been building since then.”

Fourteen months after a devastating fire forced the Georgia Theatre to close, rebuilding has been cleared and should finish by next April. Photo by NEHEMIE LUCIEN.

Greene and his team are currently working on the building’s foundation, which is “by far the trickiest and most time consuming part,” he said.

In the next few weeks, they will start on the steel package that attaches to the foundation, Greene said.  By late December, the theatre should look finished to people walking by, which will be an odd sight for those who have never known the theater as anything more than the half burnt down building off Clayton street.

All that will be left in assembly at that point is detail work such as security systems and doors, he said. Despite all of the donations for the rebuilding of the theatre, there is still not enough money for everything that goes into creating a masterpiece like the Theatre.

“We have enough to finish the building,” Greene said. “We don’t have enough to furnish it, like lights and sound.”

Such essentials as lights and sound are key to a venue looking to compete with the likes of the 40 Watt and the Melting Point, but Greene is committed to continuing production.

“We are just taking this huge crazy risk, but the more people donate the better and sooner it will be done,” he said.

One of the ways Greene will raise more funds is with a benefit concert Oct. 23 at Spring Valley EcoFarms.  1320 Records will present STS9, Mimosa, Two Fresh and Michal Menert.

“It is going to be crazy,” Greene said. If all goes as planned and the funds permit, the Theatre will be finished in April, he said.

The Theatre will have a renovated interior with the same historic exterior.

“We are trying to build a legacy,” Greene said. “It was there for a 120 years, and my goal is to make it last for another 120 years.”

In addition to overseeing construction, Greene has kept busy promoting shows and planning his wedding to fiancé Susan, which will occur this weekend.