The Mabel DeVries Tanner Theatre was dedicated in January 1981 and is in Region 4 of the West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail. Tanner Theatre is also home to the MACplayers. The 2014 season marked the return of the MACplayers and the return of MAC community theatre to the Tanner Theatre and the region! The MACplayers produce year-round, and the summer MACplayers production of John Logan's RED was honored with winning the 2014 WV Theatre Conference Festival awards for 'Best Play' and 'Best Actor.'
Mac’s plays have earned acclaim from The New York Times, Backstage, The Wall Street Journal, Time Out New York, New York Post, Flavorpill, io9.com (Gawker Media’s science fiction site), Tor.com, Show Business Weekly, New York Press, BroadwayWorld.com, nytheatre.com, ShowShowdown, and many others. The Technical Theatre major gives students opportunities to study stagecraft and design in the classroom and use McCallum’s state-of-the-art facilities to make their ideas a reality. The program includes hands-on experience in scenic design, lighting design, costume design, sound design and stage management. Monongalia Arts Center (MAC) is a non-profit arts and culture center serving Monongalia County and surrounding areas. MAC offers classes in both the visual and performing arts, as well as houses the Benedum Gallery, Davis Gallery, Tanner Theatre, and a gift shop featuring unique gifts and artwork from various local artists.
The Tanner Theatre serves as a community space for all forms of performing arts. In addition to the MACplayers productions, Tanner Theatre plays host to MAComedy standup comedy nights; MACglee concerts; visiting artists, bands, entertainers, and troupes; and more. Over the years, the Tanner Theatre has hosted everything from music performances to lectures.
Along with playing host to performance arts events, the theatre functions as a multipurpose space that is available to the public for special events such as wedding receptions, showers, and other private parties. MAC's Tanner Theatre is an excellent location for smaller, intimate gatherings. We accommodate a maximum of 100 standing and 50 sitting.
For more information about reserving the space, please email info@monartscenter.com.
On July 1, 1996, the Manhattan Civic Theatre, Manhattan Arts Council, and Manhattan Arts Center (MAC) were legally merged into one organization.
The Manhattan Civic Theatre
The Manhattan Civic Theatre (MCT) was the oldest of the partners. Starting as a community / university play-reading club in the 1950s, the group established itself as a community theatre in 1964 and incorporated in 1972.
Since then, it has put on regular main-stage productions and several smaller, second-stage productions each year, and has conducted outreach projects. MCT operated without a permanent home until moving into the Arts Center building in 1994.
The Manhattan Arts Council
The Manhattan Arts Council grew out of the Cultural Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Commerce in 1972. Initially it cooperated with Kansas State University to obtain pass-through grants for the university’s new concert series. The council soon developed a quality art exhibition series and membership grew from a few dozen to 500-600 members.
Staff originally was volunteer-based and later became professional. The council evolved into a full community arts agency that promotes the arts through activities including sponsoring:
About Amc Theaters
About Mac Theaters
- Community arts celebrations
- Programs in the schools
- Transportation to arts events
- Radio and TV programs
- A monthly publication