Marty Stuart’s Congress of Country Music began with a dream: to honor a childhood hometown by making its historic theater into the spiritual home of country music. The Ellis Theater, inaugurated in December of last year, is the first piece of this dream. Born from late-night talks between Nick Dryden and Marty Stuart (Marty would describe his vision, and Nick would bring it to life in sketches), this project is a testament to how rich projects can become when the design process is collaborative. The theater stays true to its historic nature while elements of Marty’s personality shine through. The beauty of the space lies in the sum of thoughtful details: the hand-stenciled gold patterns, the red velvet of the seats, and the ornate and colorful Ulla Darni light fixtures. The future of this project will see a community center and a world-class museum with the most extensive collection of country music artifacts. We are excited to continue working closely with Marty to bring his vision to life!