The Red and Black

Issue date: 6/25/09 Section: News

Media Credit: WAITES LASETER Since the Georgia Theatre burned, the road around the building has been blocked off and cleanup has started for the large amounts of debris left behind by the destruction caused by the fire. [Click to enlarge]

Management has yet to determine what to do with the Georgia Theatre after a fire burned away more than $1.7 million of the building, but the Athens community has rallied behind the staff who lost their jobs.

Though the cause of the June 19 fire is still undetermined, staff are remaining active.

"I haven't even really dealt with the fact that the Georgia Theatre isn't there," said Katie Carmody, hospitality and office manager for the Theatre. "Dealing with the loss of this place is really a lot, it's going to be intense for a lot of people."

Since the fire, Carmody has been organizing several charity events raising money for the people who have suddenly found themselves jobless.

"Through these fund raising efforts we've been able to pay a month's worth of payroll for the entire staff," Carmody said.

The night of the fire, Brock Butler, guitarist and lead singer for the Athens-based band Perpetual Groove, played a fund raising concert with other local musicians. The following night, the entire band, already scheduled to play in the now-torched theatre, put on a show at the Classic Center.

Benjamin Ferguson, manager of Perpetual Groove, said the Classic Center show raised more than $3,000.

"Given the short notice of the concert we're extremely happy about it," he said.

"Our focus was on raising money for the staff who were now out of a job," Ferguson said. "They've always been extremely nice -- everyone from the security down to the box office."

Ferguson said the band, who played the theatre regularly, was "pretty shook up."

"There's definitely an air of depression hanging over it," he said. "It's a devastating blow."

Despite the shock, the band is in the process of planning more fund raiser shows for the theatre, Ferguson said.

Continued...

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