Excitement is building for Athens’ first indoor theater in more than 20 years.

Carlene and Ralph Freehauf’s five-screen Cinemagic Theater is slated for a mid-May opening. Carlene Freehauf said Wednesday that they are still planning the opening festivities and will announce special activities as is gets closer to the opening date.

The theater complex is located on South Jefferson Street adjacent to the couple’s Cinemagic Drive-in Theater, which opened in 1999.

“We’re working on the parking lot this week. By the end of next week, they will be installing the seats, curtains and equipment,” said Freehauf.

Each theater will have a different seating capacity, she said. There will be two small “houses” at 88 and 119 seats, and three large houses at 162, 205 and 182 seats.

The drive-in movie section will still be operated, but will have reduced parking spaces to accommodate 100 cars, she said.

“I think it will be just wonderful,” said Freehauf, who has planned this day with her husband for more than 20 years. “Our granddaughters have already said they want to work for us, so they will each have a summer job. Our daughter said, ‘sure, why not, might as well let them get theaters in their blood early.’”

The girls, Jessica Reed, 10, and Rachel Reed, 8, are the daughters of the Freehaufs’ daughter, Sonya Phillips. The Freehaufs’ son, Craig Freehauf, manages the Lincoln Theater in Fayetteville, Tenn.

Freehauf said the first film offerings are tentatively scheduled to be the Disney film, “Over the Hedge”; “The Poseidon Adventure”; The DaVinci Code”; “Mission Impossible 3,” and “X-Man: The Last Stand.”

Ticket prices for night movies will be $7 for adults; $5 for children and senior citizens. Matinee price will be $5 for everyone.