Center Theatre for the Performing Arts

About Us:

The Center Theatre is a historic movie theater and local landmark located in downtown Dover-Foxcroft, the County Seat of Piscataquis County, Maine. The theater was built circa 1939 and enjoyed a long run as the area’s cultural hub. Unfortunately, due to the advent of television and other forms of entertainment, Center Theatre closed in 1971 and was essentially forgotten. Abandoned and obscured from public view, Center Theatre was in danger of being torn down to make room for new development.In 1998, a group of citizens formed a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization called Center Theatre, Inc. to protect and raise awareness of the historic landmark. They also recognized a lack of cultural activities and entertainment in Piscataquis County and saw an opportunity to use Center Theatre as a way to make such activities available. To that end, in 1999 Center Theatre Inc. bought and began renovating the building, and started planning the creation of Center Theatre for the Performing Arts, a regional performing arts center.

After 8 years and 2 Million dollars raised, the Center Theatre for the Performing Arts held it's grand opening in August of 2006. Since then, it has provided a year-round schedule of affordable entertainment, arts, education, and cultural programming. Our community theater group, The Slightly Off-Center Players produce several productions every year along with a variety of educational programming including the Center Theatre Children's Summer Drama Camp.

In 2009, the Center Theatre hosted the first ever Maine Whoopie Pie Festival. That first festival drew 600 people to the parking lot behind the Center Theatre. Now the largest festival in Piscataquis County, the annual festival draws over 8,000 to downtown Dover-Foxcroft on the 4th Saturday in June. Visitors celebrate the taste of Maine's Official State Treat, enjoy a wide variety of other food vendors, artists, and crafters, listen to live music and children enjoy bounce houses, rides, and activities.