Scott Freeman retires after nearly 15 years at the helm of the Farmington Civic Theater

After nearly 15 years of dedicated service, Scott Freeman is stepping down as general manager of the Farmington Civic Theater, closing out a tenure marked by innovation, community connection, and a deep love of cinema. The community has known, and appreciated Scott as the face of the theater.

Freeman, a Farmington resident with a background in broadcasting, took on the role in October 2010 with a clear mission: to keep the historic, city-owned theater vibrant and viable for future generations.

“It’s all about putting on a great show and treating customers well,” Freeman said. “With my experience in broadcasting, I knew I could bring that mindset to the movies.”

Under his leadership, the theater not only survived but thrived—despite shifts in the industry and a pandemic. Freeman led the charge in growing attendance, awareness, and revenue, but says he later turned his focus toward something deeper:

“The magic of the movies is only fully realized when experienced at a movie theater,” he explained. “I wanted to foster an understanding of the social aspect of seeing films together, right here in Downtown Farmington.”

Among his proudest accomplishments:

  • Helping the theater win “Best Movie Theater” in WDIV’s Vote 4 the Best contest seven years in a row—and ten out of eleven years overall.
  • Strengthening partnerships with local schools, sports teams, and residents.
  • Establishing the popular Out Front sidewalk busking program in 2016, bringing live local music to the theater’s front steps—a tradition that continues today.
  • Overseeing behind-the-scenes reinvestments in infrastructure that positioned the theater for long-term success.

Freeman also navigated major industry transformations, including the transition from film to digital projection and the pandemic-related shutdowns that reshaped viewing habits.

 “The shutdowns were challenging, but our community stuck with us. Seeing those friendly faces return always made us feel warm and fuzzy.”

As he reflects on nearly 15 years of leading one of Farmington’s most iconic landmarks, Freeman says it’s the people that made it all worthwhile.

“Having top-notch employees over the years has been the core strength of the theater. They’ve always understood how important this place is to our community.”

Freeman encourages anyone who hasn’t yet experienced the charm of the Civic to stop by; “You’re missing something special,” he said.

The recipient of the 2007 Mary Martin Service Award, Freeman has always been a fan of Farmington, he has served on the Farmington Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors and also volunteered to produce Rhythms in Riley Park – moving the venue from the lawn at Farmington Place to Riley Park, where it is today. This helped to grow attendance from about 70 concert goers to the hundreds we see today.

The City of Farmington wishes Scott Freeman all the best in retirement and thanks him for his years of service to the Civic Theater and the Farmington community. We’d be remiss if we did not mention Scott’s wife Tracy, who ended up helping out at the theater more than we know.