The Footlight Players

Preservation South Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and the Governor’s Office, are proud to recognize the Footlight Players with the 2026 Stewardship Award for nearly a century of exceptional stewardship of the historic Queen Street Playhouse and their enduring commitment to preserving Charleston's architectural and cultural heritage.

Founded in 1932 during the height of the Charleston Renaissance, the Footlight Players are among the oldest community theater organizations in the United States. Just two years after their incorporation, the organization purchased the former cotton warehouse at 20 Queen Street, establishing a permanent home for community theater in Charleston. Since acquiring the property in 1934, the Footlight Players have remained its dedicated owners and caretakers, preserving the historic building through more than 90 years of continuous stewardship.

Originally constructed in the late 1850s, the warehouse has been thoughtfully adapted into a vibrant performing arts venue while retaining its historic character. The building's distinctive arched entry doors, once used by horse-drawn carriages, continue to reflect its industrial origins. Inside, the theater safeguards remarkable pieces of Charleston's artistic legacy, including the carved 1860 proscenium cartouche salvaged from the historic Academy of Music and the celebrated 1945 mural by Alfred Hutty and Emmett Robinson depicting two centuries of Charleston's theatrical history.

As a nonprofit community theater, the Footlight Players have long relied on the dedication of volunteers, amateur performers, and community supporters to sustain both the organization and its historic home. Their commitment has ensured that the Queen Street Playhouse remains a welcoming, active gathering place where historic preservation and contemporary cultural life thrive together.

Located within America's first locally designated historic district, the Queen Street Playhouse continues to serve as a cornerstone of Charleston's French Quarter. By opening its stage to local performers and arts organizations while carefully preserving the historic building that houses them, the Footlight Players have demonstrated that stewardship extends beyond protecting bricks and mortar—it is about preserving a place where creativity, history, and community continue to flourish.

For more than nine decades, the Footlight Players have exemplified the principles of thoughtful preservation, adaptive reuse, and public engagement. Their unwavering dedication has transformed a nineteenth-century warehouse into one of South Carolina's most cherished cultural landmarks, ensuring that its history—and the performing arts it inspires—will endure for generations to come.