Updated June 5, 2019

An architect drawing of the STAAR Theatre and Antoinette Hall is being shown around the town of Pulaski.

A total of $550,000 was appropriated in the Tennessee Governors's budget a few months ago for Giles County’s STAAR Theatre in aiding restoration of the 1868 Antoinette Hall Opera House.

State Senator Joey Hensley and State Representative Clay Doggett, and the Board of Directors of STAAR Theatre received news Friday that the State had approved the funds to move forward with the restoration.

The building enters its 151st year, and headway is being made toward the $8 million fund-raising campaign for preservation, restoration and adaptive reuse of the National Register of Historic Places listed building into a center for the performing and visual arts.

According to Tammy Pierchoski, executive director of the non-profit organization and owner of the historic building, the City of Pulaski expressed support of the effort by awarding a $100,000 grant last year to restore the roof of Antoinette Hall.  “That work began last month and will put the at-risk building in a safer position.”

STAAR Theatre/Antoinette Hall was also the recipient of the 2017 Radio Auction to raise funds for the theater.

Pierchoski said funds from the auction and donations remain in an account and will be used in matching other grants and architecture fees.

The State’s award as well as the commitment by the City of Pulaski fit into Governor Bill Lee’s rural development plans that include a chance for children growing up in rural Tennessee to have the same access to experience the performing and visual arts as young people growing up in Nashville.