Denton’s Historic Campus Theatre

The Campus Theatre was built by Interstate Theatres in 1949 as a movie theatre under the direction of General Manager J.P. Harrison. It was one of the first air-conditioned buildings in Denton and was called the Campus Theatre because it was located between the two universities – North Texas State University (now UNT) and Texas Woman’s University. It operated until 1985 when the rise of multi-plex cinemas became popular. For the next 5 years it was empty and fell into disrepair.

Denton Community Theatre (now Theatre Denton) brokered a deal for The Greater Denton Arts Council to purchase it. Once purchased, Denton Community Theatre headed up a capital campaign and raised $1.8 million to turn it into a performing arts facility. It opened in 1995 and has been managed by the resident theatre company since that time. Although it is still owned by The Greater Denton Arts Council, Theatre Denton is solely responsible for the maintenance and functioning of the building.

Currently, Theatre Denton produces seven main stage productions, a holiday production and a children’s production each year at the Campus Theatre. The Campus also hosts the Denton Black Film Fest, the Thin Line Film Fest, and Denton City Contemporary Ballet’s spring concert each year. In 2009, the Campus Theatre was named a Texas State Historical Landmark.