A thriving cultural sector is the heart of any city. It provides for improved quality of life, workforce talent recruitment, and economic development. Its benefits touch not only the community at large, but have the ability to transform individual lives whether as audience members or artists.

As a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer and regional theatre, RMT delivers high quality theatrical experiences right here in Birmingham and our national industry connections perpetuate our city’s growing reputation as an artistic powerhouse.

With education as a major driver of the facility, too, the doors open almost daily to students of all ages and levels. For thousands of people in Alabama, the Kathryn Harbert Arts Campus is studio, school, workshop, and an incubator for talent.

“RMT brings an anchor arts institution to Parkside to compliment the residential, sports and recreational uses. This location is a perfect home for the theater to bring its vibrant and inclusive arts programming and give our city a venue the likes of which we have never seen.”

David Fleming, President and CEO of REV Birmingham

None of this would be possible without the boundless energy and passion of our Capital Campaign Chair, Kathryn Dunn Harbert. With deep appreciation for her work and continued support, the Arts Campus was officially named in her honor on September 6, 2022. Click here for her biography and leadership. 

  • 1979

    Founding

    James Hatcher starts Summerfest in 1979 as part of the UAB "Town and Gown" Theatre's academic year. The organization produces three summer shows each season at Boutwell Auditorium, featuring national celebrities. 

  • 1980 - 2000

    Growth

    Summerfest expands to year-round performances with the opening of The Cabaret Theatre. Venues around the city host summer performances, while education programs begin -- offering students high caliber training. 

  • 2002-2007

    Red Mountain Theatre Company

    In 2002, Keith Cromwell joins as Executive Director. Summerfest becomes Red Mountain Theatre Company a few years later to reflect its growing depth of programming. Throughout this time, performances, classes, administration, and storage are scattered among up to 15 separate locations around Birmingham. 

  • 2008-2018

    A Permanent Home

    After years of itinerant performances throughout the city, a dedicated group of arts patrons, led by Kathryn & Raymond Harbert and the Board of Directors begins vetting locations for a permanent arts campus. Nineteen locations are explored, and finally, in 2018, the leadership settles on the 100-year old building that formerly housed Wittichen Supply Company in the Parkside district of Birmingham. 

  • 2019-2021

    Ground Breaking, in all senses

    Ground is broken for the campus on December 11, 2019. Attendees include Mayor Randall Woodfin, Kathryn and Raymond Harbert, and other luminaries of the Birmingham arts scene. Though slowed by the pandemic, the Kathryn Harbert Arts Campus opens to great acclaim in 2021. 

Articles

ABC 33/40: Birmingham's Red Mountain Theatre takes home a Tony

Broadway World: Road To Reopening: Red Mountain Theatre Talks Their New 60,000 Square Foot Post-Pandemic Arts Campus

Create Birmingham: We Create Birmingham: Keith Cromwell

Broadway World: Red Mountain Theatre Converts Industrial Complex Into All-In-One Arts Campus

Bham Now: Red Mountain Theatre presents “Roaring Twenties: An Immersive Theatrical Experience” from July 8 to 31

CBS 42: Red Mountain Theatre hosts performances for Human Rights New Works Festival

CBS 42: Red Mountain Theatre hosting concert series

AL.com: Alabama’s Red Mountain Theatre opens $25 million campus with new concert series

Patch.com: Red Mountain Theatre Hosting Parkside Concert Series

Iron City Ink: A Dream Come True: RMT Obtains its Long-Desired Arts Campus

CBS 42: RMT's New Campus Almost Finished

Bham Now: RMT's New Parkside Campus is Marvelous

Over the Mountain Journal: RMT Arts Campus Construction Approaches Final Stages

Over the Mountain Journal: RMT Breaks Ground on New Campus

AL.com: Red Mountain Theatre Breaks Ground for $25 million Arts Campus in Birmingham

Hoover Sun: Red Mountain Theatre obtains long-desired arts campus in Parkside

Capital Campaign Donors/Giving Levels*

Capital Campaign Chair

Kathryn Harbert

Capital Campaign Co-Chairs

John Turner- Regions Bank
Tim Vines- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
Jim Gorrie- Brasfield & Gorrie

Innovator

Judy & Hal Abroms
Kathryn & Raymond Harbert
Medical Properties Trust, Inc.
Regions Bank

Investor

Alabama Power Foundation
Altec/Styslinger Foundation
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
Mike & Gillian Goodrich
The Hugh Kaul Foundation
Luke 6:38 Foundation
Protective Life Corporation
Vulcan Materials Company

Leader

Alabama Power
Derry & Peter Bunting
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama
Nancy Dunlap and John D. Johns
Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation
Alison & Jim Gorrie
Lynn & Benny LaRussa
Robert R. Meyer Foundation
Lisa & Charlie Miller
Mouron Family Foundation
Susan & Dowd Ritter
Johnny & Carolanne Roberts
Margot & Gates Shaw
Wittichen Supply Company, Rheem Air Conditioning, and Fujitsu General

Underwriter

Anonymous
Balch & Bingham, LLP
Louise H. & John G. Beard
Birmingham Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Brasfield & Gorrie
Charles & Estelle Campbell Foundation
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Denise & William Dow
EBSCO Industries, Inc.
Encompass Health Corporation
Lisa & Alan Engel
Betsy Faucette
Frances & Miller Gorrie
Rebecca O. Haines
Phyllis & David Hall
The Joy & Bill Harbert Foundation
Ronne & Donald Hess Foundation
Jefferson County Commission
Dianne & Carlo Joseph
Michael & Karen Luce
The McKinney Foundation
Gloria Narramore Moody Foundation / Susan & Hugh Thomas
Dianne & Bill Mooney
Jean & John Oliver
Penny & Ruffner Page
Marian & Steve Phillips
Karen & Joel Piassick
Jean Shanks / Jean Steinschneider
Shannon Smith Family
The Merrill Stewart Family
Genie & Mike Thompson
The Thompson Foundation
Cheryl & Sam Upchurch
Carole & Jim Waitzman

Benefactor

Gail & Jeffrey Bayer Family Fund
BBVA
John & Rosemary Brown Family Foundation
Mary Kathryn & Jack Bryant
Steve Callaway & Keith Pennington
Daniel Corporation
Kathryn & Doug Eckert
Kelly & John Harbert
Margaret & Holman Head
Maynard Cooper & Gale
Heather & Phillip McWane
Carol E. Medders
Kate & Claude Nielsen
O’Neal Industries
Carolyn & Will Ratliff
Renasant Bank
Robert Raiford & Zane Rhoades
Bee & Ed Robinson
Jeanne & Mabry Rogers
Barbara & Stuart Royal
Susan & David Silverstein
Lynne & Steve Spencer Family
Joan & Stan Starnes
Lora & Bill Terry
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Anne & Mike Warren
Wells Fargo Foundation
Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher & Goldfarb, LLC

Creator

Anonymous
Janet & Cary Beck
Nina & Ken Botsford
Tracy & Al Cohn
Susan Curtin
Mallie Ireland & Stewart Dansby
Debby Davis Denson / Patsy Davis Dreher
The Drummond Family
Lisa & Rad Gaines
Monica & Jeffrey Graveline
The Hackney Foundation
Mary & Victor Hanson
Pat & Patti Henry
Ted & Shannon Holt
James Milton & Sallie R. Johnson Foundation
Walker & Bill Jones
Junior League Choral Group
Mayer
Ginger & Lane Milam
Jay & Melanie Nichols
Mr. & Mrs. Craft O’Neal
Kam & Joe Patton
The Rafield Family
The Kim & Sue Ratliff Family Fund
Scott & Cameron Vowell
Phyllis & Larry Wojciechowski

Collaborator

Alabama State Council on the Arts
AT&T
Tracey & Rich Bielen
Daniel & Brooke Coleman
Anne & Rob Couch
Keith Cromwell
Debbie & David Donaldson
Andrew Duxbury
Bing Edwards
Mary Kathryn & James W. Emison
Drs. Andre Ferreira & Andrea Nunes
IBERIABANK (a division of First Horizon Bank)
Cathy & Paul Friedman
Penny & Mike Fuller
Andrea & Kent Haines
Steve Holmes & Will Donaldson
Yin & Stanton Ingram
Mrs. Angela Davis Jarrett
Kassouf & Co., P.C.
Janet & Paul Kavinoky
Cornelia & Joe LaRussa
LIVE Design Group
Cathy & Tom Luckie
Kathryn Miree
The Piper Foundation
Allison & Billy Pritchard
The Register Family
Security Engineers, Inc.
The Shaia Family
Robert & Lesly Simon
Bob & Sharon Suellentrop
Blair & Tim Tracy
John & Mary Turner
Shellie & Darrell Vines
Tim & Toni Vines
Will Wright

*updated as of April 27, 2022