When the theater first opened to the public in 1938, our building was a state-of-the-art movie theater and performing arts venue. The first film to be screened was a musical comedy called That Certain Age, starring the audience favorite Deanna Durbin alongside Melvyn Douglas and Jackie Cooper. The original projectors installed in the building remain in the former projection booth to this day.

After falling into disuse during the 1970s, the theater was purchased by a local businessman, Tom Louisos. In 1992, Louisos partnered with the Fayette County Historical Society to renovate the theater, with leadership provided by Gene Worthington, Karen Vuranch, and Dale Payne. The following year, Foxfire, the first community theater performance by the Fayette Theater troupe, hit the stage. In the years since, more than a hundred productions have taken to the stage featuring hundreds of local actors, singers, dancers, and crew of all ages. Concerts and other community events have also kept the Fayette Theater building ringing with life.

In 2011, the Historic Fayette Theater group purchased the building from Mr. Louisos and continued renovations and operation of the theater. Since then, hundreds of volunteers have served in various roles at the theater to keep it vibrant and active for locals and visitors.

The theater displays artworks by West Virginia artists representing the history and culture of the area and continues to hold a year-round schedule of live performances.

Historic Fayette Theater

The best is yet to come!

Historic Fayette Theater ~ Masquerade Gala 2024