$4.6 million to usher in a new era of entertainment in Woodsfield

WOODSFIELD, Ohio (WTRF) — It was once known as the Cowboy Theatre, playing western movies and classic country music to the Woodsfield of the ’40s and ’50s.

But after a long break, the Monroe Theatre is galloping toward a revival.

The Monroe Theatre stage has operated since 2019 after a 40-year shutdown…and the tireless volunteer work to restore it is turning heads at the state capital.

So much so that after applying for $4.6 million to replace the ceiling and seating…Ohio says it will grant them every dollar of it.

The money comes from the Appalachian Community Development Grant, which was signed into law to revitalize Ohio after COVID-19.

The round of funding announced in May will go toward interior work, replacing the 1939-era decor with modern design choices.

Arts Council president Mick Schumacher says their ongoing performances during 2020 kept them in the public eye.

“We did a lot during COVID. We were on Facebook Live. And so that story resonated with Columbus. We were keeping people entertained during the lockdown and trying to keep people sane. And the arts were a very critical part of that.”

Mick Schumacher, President, Monroe Arts Council

They hope to keep the flavor of the original theater, and while renovations are ongoing they’ll still host rising country music stars and project modern movies.

Schumacher also says Governor Mike DeWine himself visited the theater in 2022 and said he was a bluegrass fan…which probably didn’t hurt their chances.