• A grant from Marathon Petroleum’s Catlettsburg refinery is helping to restore the nearly 100-year-old Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center in downtown Huntington, West Virginia.
• Refinery staff recently presented theater leadership with a check for $100,000 to support the renovation project.
• The grant dollars from Marathon Petroleum will support efforts to significantly improve accessibility and other enhancements at the storied theater.

As the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center in Huntington, West Virginia, approaches its centennial celebration, the historic downtown theater is undergoing extensive upgrades to make it more accessible for all patrons.

At a recent press event, Marathon Petroleum’s Catlettsburg refinery announced a $100,000 grant to support the project. This grant will help fund the construction of a new ADA-accessible seating area, along with other essential accessibility enhancements.

“With Marathon’s generosity, we’re closer to realizing our vision of expanding programing and driving economic growth in Huntington.” 

“Keith-Albee is much more than a theater; it’s part of the very fabric of this community,” said Robert H. Plymale, Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center board president. “With Marathon’s generosity, we’re closer to realizing our vision of expanding programming and driving economic growth in Huntington. Your support is invaluable.”

Members of Marathon’s Catlettsburg refinery team, led by General Manager Jay Richert, presented the check to theater leadership during the press event on May 8.

“Marathon is committed to thriving communities and economic vitality,” Richert said. “The arts play an important role not only in Huntington, West Virginia, but for the entire region.” 

Attendees were treated to a full tour of the storied theater, which is currently closed for renovations. The upgrades will include expanded programming for children and seniors when the doors reopen by summer 2025. The theater will mark its 100th anniversary in May 2028.