In 1971, the Lamp-Lite Theatre of Nacogdoches was formed with Sarah McMullen as founder and director. Its first home was the Christ Episcopal Church parish hall. The Lamp-Lite troupe joined, in 1976, with other local artists to form the City Spirit Arts Center which utilized space in the Phelan Warehouse in downtown Nacogdoches. Because the warehouse was highly susceptible to flooding, the troupe had to move on. For a year the troupe performed dinner theater productions and went on the road to perform in various East Texas cities. Through grants, volunteers and friends, the theater used today was created. Materials were taken from the old Phelan Warehouse and moved to the current location, on loop 224 at Old Tyler Road, where the new theater was constructed. On May 19, 1979, the Lamp-Lite Theatre opened at its new location with "The Last of the Red Hot Lovers," by Neil Simon.