The Renaissance is Coming

The Historic Monroe Theatre first opened its doors on a chilly Saturday in December 1939. It was the vision of the formidable Mrs. Mena Fliehman, who established it as the premier place to see a movie and a legendary stop for live entertainment.

The Monroe’s stage became a launching pad for future stars and an essential venue for traveling talent. Long before they were household names, icons like Bill Monroe, Hank Snow, and Minnie Pearl graced our stage. Most famously, a 15-year-old girl named Virginia Patterson Hensley, who we all know now as the sensational Patsy Cline, performed here in 1946.

Though the curtains sadly closed in 1977, the spirit of the theatre never left. After sitting dormant for decades, the Monroe was lovingly gifted to the Monroe Arts Council in 2016. A team of dedicated volunteers immediately began the challenging work of cleaning, restoring, and bringing this gem back to life.

Today, the Monroe Theatre is alive again, serving as the cultural cornerstone of Southeast Ohio. Thanks to incredible community support and recent transformative grants, including $4.6 million from the Appalachian Community Grant Program, we are undertaking our full restoration. This project ensures we can continue to host the next generation of musical legends while preserving our history for decades to come.