Full Breakdown
Gregg Allman: *The Music of My Soul*—Documentary Premiere, Scholarship Launch, and Legacy
6/17/2026, 8:59:28 PM
Documentary Premiere and Scholarship Launch
On Wednesday, June 17 2026, the Lucas Theatre for the Arts in Savannah, Georgia, hosted a one-night-only theatrical screening of *Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul*. The event, presented by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and the Lucas Theatre, included a post-screening Q&A with members of the filmmaking team. Ticket pricing was tiered at $25 for general admission, $50 for premium seats, $100 for VIP tickets, and $500 per VIP box. Proceeds will fund the newly created Gregg Allman Endowed Scholarship at SCAD, which is intended to support students pursuing careers in music, vocal performance, filmmaking, visual arts, and storytelling.
Allman's Life and Musical Legacy
Gregg Allman (1947-2017) co-founded the Allman Brothers Band in 1969, helping define Southern rock through a blend of blues, jazz, and rock. The band’s 1971 live album *At Fillmore East* is widely cited as a landmark recording. Allman’s personal narrative includes the 1949 murder of his father, the 1971 death of his brother and bandmate Duane Allman, and a decades-long struggle with heroin, cocaine, and alcohol addiction that culminated in a liver-cancer diagnosis and death in 2017.
Filmmakers and Managers
The documentary was directed by James Keach, an Oscar-, Golden Globe-, and Grammy-award-winning filmmaker. Production partners included Michael Lehman—Allman’s longtime manager and co-producer—and Alex Komisaruk. Keach and Lehman based the film on a rarely seen 2014 interview conducted with Allman shortly before his death, describing it as the “bed for the film.”
Development Timeline
- 2014 – Allman’s archival interview recorded.
- 2022-2025 – Production and editing, with Keach consulting his own family history for thematic resonance.
- June 17 2026 – Nationwide one-night theatrical release and Savannah premiere.
Screening Details and Endowment Funding
The Lucas Theatre event featured a live musical performance and will allocate a portion of ticket revenue to the Gregg Allman Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship aims to “foster future generations of creative talent and artistic innovation,” according to SCAD’s programming description.
Cultural and Educational Impact
The film situates Allman’s artistic output within broader social contexts, highlighting the Allman Brothers Band’s early racial integration—drummer Jai “Jaimoe” Johanny Johanson and guitarist Chank Middleton were Black members who were defended by the band when denied venue access. By documenting Allman’s personal hardships, the documentary offers a case study in how trauma and addiction intersect with artistic expression, providing educational material for music historians and addiction-recovery programs.
Official Statements & Responses
SCAD senior executive director Christina Routhier noted that the event “supports the Gregg Allman Endowment to foster future creative talent.” The Lucas Theatre announced that the screening would be followed by a Q&A with the film’s creators, emphasizing community engagement. The documentary’s producers described the film as an “intimate portrait” built on rare footage and the 2014 interview, intended to reveal the private side of Allman’s life.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He said the Savannah area and Richmond Hill just felt like home,” — Michael Lehman, manager
- “The private side of Greg is really what I wanted to show and spotlight in the film,” — Michael Lehman
- “Addiction is numbing,” — James Keach, director
- “I learned from Gregg about how to deal with addiction and about how to deal with trauma,” — James Keach
- “Gregg Allman’s music and artistry helped define an era of American rock and roll while leaving an indelible mark on the cultural fabric of Georgia and the South,” — Christina Routhier, SCAD
- “The fights broke out,” — Gregg Allman (in interview)
What’s Next
Following the premiere, SCAD will open applications for the Gregg Allman Endowed Scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year. Additional screenings are planned in Atlanta and Nashville later in 2026, with potential inclusion in university film-studies curricula. The documentary’s archival material is expected to be deposited in the SCAD library for scholarly access.
