The Monroe Community Band in the Wagner Auditorium perform its June 22, 2024 concert of Sea Shanties.
Photo courtesy Michael Whitney
MONROE — The Wagner Performing Arts Center is getting a lot of love from the all-volunteer Monroe Arts Council nonprofit and an army of community volunteers. Together, they are making the Wagner beautiful again — one seat at a time.
It is slowly refurbishing the 700-plus chairs in the auditorium that date to its opening in 1939, and has public work parties scheduled for March 22 and April 19. To volunteer, please email info@
monroeartscouncil.org or leave a voicemail at 360-799-3434.
Replacing the seats is financially impossible, but something had to be done. The group leases and operates the auditorium is doing this with a grassroots plan.
In 2023, the group enlisted the help of Monroe Upholstery, spent $1,700 on fabric, and went to work. Volunteers removed and stripped the seats, and Monroe Upholstery recovered them, pro bono. Two weeks later, the worst 52 seat cushions in the auditorium were finished. It was a good start.
Last year, a fundraiser by The Naatya Pushp Academy of Bharatanatyam, an East Indian dance school from Bothell, raised $7,400 to buy enough fabric to cover more seats.
Since then, another 93 seats and backrests have been finished with the help of volunteers from the Rotary Club of Monroe, the Monroe Historical Society, the Monroe Community Band, and Sky Performing Arts, along with many individuals from the community.
On each workday, upwards of 25 seats can be completed at a time.
The Wagner Performing Arts Center and adjoining school opened in 1939. The school was once Monroe’s junior high.
