The latest renovations to the historic Ro-Na Theater in downtown Ironton are under way.

Rick Jansen, president of Friends of Ironton, who oversees the theater, said the current phase of work comes from the $3 million directed to the theater last year by Gov. Mike DeWine as part of the state’s investment in its Appalachian counties. The funding was part of a larger package for Ironton, which also included other downtown projects.

He said engineers have been on site the past few weeks and a detailed plan and timeline will take shape this week.

Jansen said, once these renovations are complete, there will be seating available on the balcony, as well as restrooms on the second floor.

New ceilings are to be installed, as well as a replacement HVAC system, he said.

Jansen said the project has been a collaboration with the City of Ironton, the Lawrence County Commissioners and others.

“There have been a lot of people in the mix,” he said. 

He said after the work is done, the next step will be to come up with a plan to keep the theater sustainable, through booking acts and following a model like the Keith Albee in Huntington, West Virginia and the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Kentucky.

Jansen said work is expected to be complete on this phase by the end of the year or early next year.

He said if the work runs past November, plans are being made for Ironton Wizardfest, which makes heavy use of the theater, to work around it, should that event be announced to return this fall.

Jansen said, outside of government entities, the Ro-Na project has had help from many in the community, such as Glockner car dealerships and Clark’s Pump-N-Shop.

“None of this would be possible with out everyone pulling together,” he said.