Arts and Culture

Fans of art and culture have a varied palette of concerts, plays and exhibits from which to choose in the Huntington region. From broadway to ballet, the arts community has it all.

Thanks to the Marshall Artists Series, Huntington Symphony Orchestra, Big Sandy Superstore Arena and the Paramount Arts Center, world-renown entertainers visit the region regularly.

The Marshall Artists Series regularly presents popular Broadway plays along with an International Film Festival each spring and fall. Marsgall University also features the Birke Art Gallery which presents a number of exhibits each year in addition to conducting lectures and symposiums.

Lovers of live drama can choose from outdoor productions to professional theater thanks to the efforts of Marshall University Theatre, the Musical Arts Guild, Musical Arts Guild Children’s Theater, Huntington Outdoor Theatre and many other groups. Broadway musicals often visit Huntington as guests of the highly acclaimed Marshall Artists Series.

The Huntington Museum of Art presents world-class exhibits and sponsors a number of educational workshops and classes. The museum also boasts West Virginia’s first and only plant conservatory which opened in 1996. It is regarded as one of the finest small museums in the nation.

The Big Sandy Superstore Arena has featured many top performers including Kid Rock, Brad Paisley, 3 Days Grace and more. The arena also hosts a variety of sporting events and is home to the Huntington Heroes Indoor Football team.

The Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Ky. is home to a wide variety of great performers including Loretta Lynn, Patty Loveless and Linda Ronstadt. The Paramount has also seen acclaimed performances by The Moscow Symphony as well as the broadway hits “Fame” and “Grease.”

Marshall University Theatre at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center presents traditional and modern theatrical productions year-round.

Marshall’s Department of Music hosts events that range from student and faculty recitals to symphony performances. The department includes University Chorus and Choral Union and a combination of singers from MU and the community. Many Smith Recital Hall musical events are free to the public.

Huntington Outdoor Theatre presents outdoor musicals during summer months at the Ritter Park Amphitheater. Past productions have included “The Sound of Music” and “Oklahoma!”

The cultural choices in the Huntington region are as rich and varied as the landscape.