NEWS RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Beth Carper, Press & Media Relations Manager, Florida Theatre
(904) 562-5988 / beth@floridatheatre.com
JACKSONVILLE, FL (October 3, 2025) - The Florida Theatre celebrated winning the “2025 Outstanding Historic Theatre Award” last night at the LHAT (League of Historic American Theatres) Reception inside the 98-year-old venue. Over 100 people joined in the celebration. Board members, theatre members, staff members, ushers, and LHAT dignitaries were in attendance.
“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,” said Numa Saisselin, President, Florida Theatre.
“My wife Holly and I love live music so much that we named our dogs after two members of the Eagles. 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, Chairperson, Board of Directors, Florida Theatre Performing Arts Center, Inc.
The 2025 Outstanding Historic Theatre Award went to the historic Florida Theatre in downtown Jacksonville, which is one of the most attended theatres in America, consistently ranked in the Top 5 for theatres up to 2,000 seats by the concert industry magazine Pollstar and the venue management magazine VenuesNow. It is famous as the place where a municipal judge admonished a young Elvis Presley not to swivel his hips in 1956, and where an 11-year-old Derek Trucks first played with the Allman Brothers Band in 1991. The selection committee recognized the Florida Theatre for its commitment to historic preservation as well as its dedication to serving the full community of Jacksonville.
Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 1,865-seat theatre first opened in 1927 and was privately owned until 1980, when the Arts Assembly of Greater Jacksonville purchased and renovated the building. The Arts Assembly sold the building to the City of Jacksonville in 1985, and in 1987, a new nonprofit corporation, The Florida Theatre Performing Arts Center, Inc., was founded to manage, program, and preserve the theatre. Almost 40 years later, that public/private partnership continues to thrive, resulting in a yearly economic impact of over $15 million for the city, over $17 million of renovations and restorations since 2020, $3 million more fully funded and scheduled for 2025-2026, and $12 million more planned in the next five years.
“Considering the League represents hundreds of historic theatres, including all of the major Broadway houses, the community of Jacksonville should feel very proud of this recognition,” said Ken Stein, President and CEO of LHAT. “We had a record number of nominations this year,” Stein added.
The Outstanding Historic Theatre Award is given each year by LHAT to a historic theatre that has demonstrated excellence in community impact, quality of programs and services, and quality of physical restoration. “It was apparent to the League that the Florida Theatre has remained true to its architectural history while remaining relevant to its changing audiences,” concluded Stein.
The nominating committee consisted of former LHAT Board Presidents and leaders in the industry. Nominations were accepted from across the nation, representing some of America’s finest performing arts venues and film houses. Past winners include New York’s City Center, The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, The Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, and Cleveland’s Playhouse Square. The award has been given annually since 2003.
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About the League of Historic American Theatres
Founded in 1976, the League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT) is a non-profit organization 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 theatre 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. The League has grown to over 1,600 users representing almost 400 historic theatres and organizations. To learn more, visit www.lhat.org.
About the Florida Theatre
There is something for everyone at the Florida Theatre. From pop, jazz, rock, comedy, country, and blues to ballet, the historic Florida Theatre annually offers over 200 cultural and entertainment events for every taste and age. For tickets or to learn more about our educational performances for schools, rentals, membership, or the nonprofit corporation that manages this majestic place, please visit us at www.floridatheatre.com.