Varsity Center for the Arts

The Varsity Center for the Arts is a performance art venue and event center located at 418 South Illinois Avenue in downtown Carbondale, Illinois, United States. It occupies the building of the former historic Varsity movie theater, from which it takes its name. The venue is a nonprofit arts organization that presents film screenings, live theater, comedy, and live music, and it also serves as a community event space. Its programming is anchored by three distinct performance spaces: the Balcony Stage, a 139-seat listening room and small performance area used for film screenings and intimate shows; the East Theater, which seats 150 and is primarily used for theater but is also equipped to show movies; and the Big Room, which seats 475 and hosts music events with a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system. The Varsity Bar offers patrons local and traditional craft beers and wines, select cocktails, soda and other non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and managed by an Executive Director, with officers including Billy Robbins (President), Armen Asaturian (Vice President), Shay Miller (Secretary), and Susan Walch Pimentel (Treasurer). Directors include Nathan Colombo, Peter Gregory, Heather Haslett, P. Michael Kimmel, and Justin Walker, with Stage Company appointees Jeff Keasler-Bird and Shay Miller. Cara Recine serves as Executive Director, and Ken Ely is the Facilities Engineer. The venue is supported by donations and ticket sales, with a mailing address at P.O. Box 332, Carbondale, IL 62903. It is a cultural anchor in Southern Illinois, offering a mix of repertory cinema, live performances, and community gatherings.

The Varsity Center for the Arts operates in the building of the former historic Varsity movie theater in downtown Carbondale, Illinois. While the exact founding date of the original theater is not provided in the available evidence, the venue describes itself as a historic arts and entertainment venue and notes that its building is the former location of the historic Varsity movie theater. The organization has since been repurposed as a nonprofit performance art venue and event center. It now features three performance spaces: the Balcony Stage, a 139-seat listening room and small performance area; the East Theater, seating 150, primarily used for theater and equipped to show movies; and the Big Room, seating 475, which hosts music events and has been upgraded with new state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. The Varsity Bar serves patrons with local and craft beers, wines, cocktails, and snacks. The center is governed by a Board of Directors and managed by an Executive Director, with a staff that includes a Facilities Engineer. It relies on donations and ticket sales, with a mailing address at P.O. Box 332, Carbondale, IL 62903. The venue presents a range of programming including film screenings, live theater, comedy, and live music, and it serves as a cultural hub for the Southern Illinois region.

A nonprofit historic arts and entertainment venue offering diverse programming in downtown Carbondale, Illinois.

• Balcony Stage

  A 139-seat listening room and small performance area used for film screenings and intimate shows.

• East Theater

  Seating 150, primarily used for theater and equipped to show movies.

• Big Room

  Seating 475, hosts music events with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems.

• The Varsity Bar

  Offers local and craft beers, wines, cocktails, soda, non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks.

1. 1The Varsity Center - Homethevarsitycenter.org
2. 2About Usthevarsitycenter.org
3. 3Varsity Center for the Arts - Wikidatawikidata.org