The Orpheum Theater which was operational continuously from 1922 closed its doors in 1971. The city of Marion purchased the property in 1973 and did a complete renovation. The theatre building and the restoration was unveiled to the public on August 16, 1974 with the Miss Southern Illinois Pageant. The Marion Cultural and Civic Center, as it is was named, booked a variety of acts including children’s plays, travelogues and gospel music groups.

On March 10, 1997, a local misguided citizen decided to deprive the city of its fine theater building and set it on fire with the result being a total loss.

The City of Marion along with the Marion Cultural and Civic Center Foundation expeditiously started fund raising to support the rebuilding of the Center. The decision was made that if rebuilding was going to occur; that it should be constructed bigger and better than the old facility. The City of Marion purchased two properties directly to the east of the former center. This land purchase allowed for expansion of the plans to build a much larger building.

White and Borgognoni Architectural firm developed the design and plans for the new Marion Cultural and Civic Center. This design was the recipient of The American Institute of Architects 2005 Southern Illinois District Design Award. It was chosen for its integration of salvaged section of the historic terra cotta façade into the entrance of the modern facility, along with creating a state of the art theater facility which is both easy to perform in and comfortable to be an audience member. This award winning design was implemented on March 10, 2002 with the ground breaking ceremony for the new Marion Cultural and Civic Center.

The new MCCC covering 33,000 square feet dwarfs the old center which occupied only 8,450 square feet. 24,550 square feet is a formidable difference in the size of a performance venue. Construction of this new facility was completed in 2004. In May of 2004, the first event was held on the stage when hundreds of high school students traversed the stage for the Marion High School Promenade. The community had been so eager to use the new facility that they would hold the promenade prior to the carpet being along with many other details that needed to be finished up.

Upon completion the City of Marion now possesses one of the best theatrical facilities and concert venues in Southern Illinois. This facility comfortably seats 1065 with hardly a bad seat in the house. The theater is sufficiently equipped with state of the art sound and lighting equipment along with a fully functional fly gallery above the stage. In addition the orchestra pit in front of the stage caters to musical theater by allowing for a live pit orchestra

(Data and some photos from Marion Cultural and Civic Center, remaining photos courtesy of the Williamson County Historical Society)