GIRARD, Ohio – Millennial Theatre Company on Thursday signed an agreement with the city of Girard to make the Wellman Theater its permanent home.

Joe Asente made the announcement on Facebook on Thursday after meeting with city officials.

Under the terms of the agreement, Millennial and the city will work together “to bring the Wellman Theater back to life and, after years of false starts and endless amounts of traveling, give MTC its final, permanent home.”

No other details were released, and there is no estimated timeline as to when the theater will open. 

Asente said last year that MTC could begin producing shows at the Wellman as soon as the 2026-27 season.

Millennial, which is known for presenting high-quality musicals, has staged shows at several venues since it was founded in 2016. For the past few years, most have been at the Hopewell Theatre in Youngstown.

The city purchased the former Wellman Theater building in 2023, with plans to renovate and reopen it as a performing arts venue. It has had a handshake agreement with Millennial for at least a year, pending a rental agreement.

The 90-year-old building on West Liberty Street, downtown, needs a thorough overhaul that will top $1 million, Mayor Mark Zuppo said in an earlier interview.

The city has a head start on raising money for the project. It received $300,000 from last year’s state capital improvements budget for the theater renovation, and City Council had earlier earmarked $150,000 of its American Rescue Plan money for the project.

The building – which the city purchased for $72,000 – needs a new roof, heating and air conditioning systems, restrooms and seating. The city has retained MS Consultants to do engineering work for the project.

Originally a movie theater, the Wellman building was most recently used by a local church, which moved out earlier this year. It has 250 seats.

The theater has very little space along the sides and rear of the stage, but Asente has said he could make it work for live theater. Millennial would have to bring in its own sound and lighting equipment.

Having a nonprofit such as Millennial as a partner would make more dollars available from foundations for grants for the renovation work, according to Zuppo.