Volunteer Work Day at the Historic Rodgers Theatre
By Historic Poplar Bluff
This weekend the Historic Poplar Bluff team had the opportunity to spend the day helping with some maintenance and preparation work inside the iconic Historic Rodgers Theatre. As one of the most recognizable historic landmarks in downtown Poplar Bluff, the Rodgers Theatre continues to serve as a gathering place for events, concerts, and community activities.
Members of the theatre board were present throughout the day, including Kim Hill, Rhonda Hillis, Sandra Taurone, and Corey Norris, working on a variety of tasks as preparations continue for upcoming events. With the Randy Travis "More Life Tour" scheduled for Thursday evening, March 19, 2026, there has been plenty of work underway to make sure the historic venue is ready.
Corey Norris spent part of the day constructing a new accessibility ramp to assist with event logistics, including loading and unloading equipment. Other board members were busy handling planning, general maintenance, and organizing details for the upcoming performance.
The Historic Poplar Bluff crew — which in this case was mostly our family team (my wife, our three children, and my aunt) — focused primarily on interior painting and touch-up work. Several areas of the theatre walls had experienced water damage in the past, likely from earlier roof issues. Fortunately, the roof has been repaired within the past few years, though we are not certain exactly when those repairs occurred.
Our goal for the day was simple: carefully remove damaged paint and deteriorated materials where possible and freshen the walls with new paint that matched the existing color as closely as possible. Matching paint that is more than 70 years old is no easy task, and while it may not be a perfect match, we hope the improvements help the space look a little cleaner and more presentable for upcoming events.
One of the things we always enjoy about spending time at the Rodgers Theatre is the chance to visit with the dedicated people working to keep this historic building active and alive in the community. Behind the scenes, there is a great deal of effort involved in maintaining a venue of this age, and it is inspiring to see volunteers and board members continuing that work.
We are grateful for the opportunity to lend a hand and spend some time inside such an important piece of Poplar Bluff history. Every visit also offers a chance to explore a few more corners of the old building, and it is always fascinating to see the details and craftsmanship that have survived decades of use.
The Historic Rodgers Theatre has been a centerpiece of downtown Poplar Bluff since it first opened its doors in 1949. Thanks to the dedication of the theatre's board members, volunteers, and supporters, the building continues to host events and performances that bring people together.
We look forward to seeing the theatre filled once again as preparations continue for the upcoming Randy Travis More Life Tour performance next week.
If you have memories, photos, or stories about the Rodgers Theatre, we would love to hear them. Community contributions help us continue building a living archive of Poplar Bluff's history.
You can share your stories with the Historic Poplar Bluff project here:
https://historicpoplarbluff.com/SubmitStory
