A century after audiences first began gathering in downtown Moorefield for movies and entertainment, McCoy’s Grand is preparing to mark its 100th anniversary with a season that looks both backward and forward.
The theater’s 2027 Centennial Season will span nearly the entire year, with live theater, concerts, classic movies, children’s programming and community events, some deliberately designed to recall McCoy’s past and others created specifically for its 100th year.
At the center of the celebration will be Higher Ground, a new theatrical experience inspired by the true stories of Hardy County residents who survived the devastating 1985 flood.
Created specifically for McCoy’s centennial, the production combines live performance, original music and multimedia to tell stories of loss, resilience and recovery, according to the team behind the production. It was written by Jack Hanna, with music and lyrics by Lee Bell, Rich Follett, Tony Walker and Pinckney Benedict. Performances are scheduled for March 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. and March 21 at 2 p.m. Admission will be free, although reservations are required.
The production is one of several ways McCoy’s plans to use its anniversary to connect the theater’s history with the community that has sustained it.
“McCoy’s Grand holds a special place in the hearts of generations of families, and this Centennial Season is a celebration of everyone who has helped keep it alive,” McCoy’s Grand President John Brennskag said.
Brennskag said the anniversary will give longtime patrons opportunities to revisit familiar memories while introducing new audiences to the theater.
“We’re proud to honor our history while creating new memories that will carry McCoy’s into its next hundred years,” he said.
That history will be particularly visible early in the year, when McCoy’s returns to one of its original roles as Moorefield’s hometown movie theater.
Casablanca will be shown Jan. 16, followed by Singin’ in the Rain Feb. 20. Both begin at 7 p.m., and in another nod to an earlier era, admission will be just $1.
The live theater season will move from the locally rooted Higher Ground to three familiar productions. Grease takes the stage for six performances in July, followed by the comedy-mystery Clue in October. The season closes in December with Always… Patsy Cline, featuring the music of the country singer and the story of her friendship with fan Louise Seger. Tickets for those productions will be $15 and $10.
Music will also figure prominently in the anniversary year. The Flashbacks return April 17, followed by The Fly Birds May 15. McCoy’s annual Veterans Day Concert is scheduled for Nov. 13, with veterans admitted free.
One of the more personal centennial events will come June 5, when former performers, volunteers and others who have been part of McCoy’s over the years are invited back for Alumni Day. The evening will include a backstage barbecue, a screening of the new documentary Making McCoy Grand, and a sing-along featuring songs from past productions.
The documentary will get a broader public showing during Hardy County Heritage Weekend, with free screenings Sept. 24 and 25. Built around memories and stories from people associated with the theater, the film traces McCoy’s history and the generations of performers, volunteers and supporters who have kept it operating.
Other familiar traditions will continue during the centennial year. A free West Virginia Day concert featuring StreamLine is scheduled for June 19; Missoula Children’s Theatre returns June 26; and the free outdoor Summer Concert Series will run on five evenings in August and September in the Courtyard Plaza and Gardens.
The year’s community events also include the Fall Fest Open House Oct. 24, with live music, vendors, food trucks, family activities, museum tours and a finale concert on the main stage.
Now a nonprofit performing arts center, McCoy’s Grand is also home to the McCoy–McMechen Museum, Eunice D. McCoy Lounge and Courtyard Plaza and Gardens. In addition to its performances and community programming, the organization provides an annual scholarship to a Hardy County graduating senior.
For McCoy’s, however, the centennial is intended to be more than a look back at what happened inside the theater over the past 100 years. It is also a celebration of the community that kept the doors open, the stage active, and the Grand part of downtown Moorefield. According to planners, the whole celebration is also an invitation to the community to help kick off its second century.
Tickets and reservations for the 2027 season are now available through McCoy’s Grand website at www.mccoysgrand.org.
