In every small town, there are places that hold our stories. Places where families gathered, where young people discovered their talents, and where a community felt connected.

For Estill County, The Mack Theater is one of those places.

Donate to the Mack

To donate to the Save the Mack Fund, please click one of the buttons on this page labeled "Donate to the Mack." All Mack donations are currently going into a match fund to help us qualify for additional grants we need to get the Mack auditorium finished so we can finally bring the entirety of this historic building back to life and breathe its magic into downtown Irvine once again.

River City Players/Save the Mack are part of Estill County 21st Century, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Your donation is tax deductible to the extent the law allows. Please consult your tax professional.

The floating button labeled just "Donate" at the bottom right of this page will take you to a donation page for EDA and is for general donations to the larger organization.

Built in 1939, The Mack has stood on Main Street for generations—first as a vibrant movie house, then as a beloved local landmark. Though its doors closed in 1993, its spirit never left us. In 2013, River City Players (RCP), a division of Estill County 21st Century, Inc., made a promise to bring The Mack back to life. Today, after years of dedication, volunteerism, and community support, we are closer than ever to fulfilling that promise.
Thanks to generous donors, countless volunteer hours, and major grants—including a $200,000 EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant and a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)—The Mack has undergone environmental cleanup, structural stabilization, a new roof, façade restoration, accessible restrooms, and lobby repairs. We are now just one payment away from owning the building outright, and will be applying for an additional $850,000 CDBG grant in our quest to make the theater fully operational.

But we cannot complete this journey without you.

Restoring The Mack is more than a construction project. It is an investment in:

• Arts and culture for all ages
• Tourism and economic growth for downtown Irvine
• A gathering place for plays, concerts, art shows, meetings, and community events
• A future where our youth have a stage—literally—to shine

We are asking for your support to help meet our cash match for the CDBG Application. Your donation—whether $25, $100, $500, or more—directly impacts this phase of restoration and brings us closer to reopening The Mack’s doors for the first time in over 30 years. Every gift matters. Every dollar brings the marquee lights closer to being turned back on! You can easily donate by check, P.O. Box 161, Irvine, KY 40336,  estill.org, add THE Mack to the note/comment section, or the QR Code that is attached to this letter. 
If you believe in preserving our history, strengthening our community, and creating opportunities for future generations, we invite you to join us in this mission. Together, we can SAVE THE MACK. Thank you for your generosity, your belief in the arts, and your commitment to Estill County.
With gratitude,
River City Players
Save The Mack Theater Campaign​​

Donate to the Mack

Save the Mack Project Information

2016-2025

The River City Players (RCP) established in 2013 as an operating division of Estill County 21st Century Incorporated, is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Its primary purpose was to promote all facets of the arts to the citizens of Estill and surrounding counties. Since its inception, RCP’s goal has been to purchase The Mack Theater building located at 114 Main Street, Irvine KY. The theater will be used as a hub of activity for citizens by hosting various attractions including a welcome center, plays, concerts, art shows, small conventions and meetings.

The purchase of The Mack, built in 1939, was made in 2016, with the previous owner selling the building at a reduced cost of $50,000 and providing an interest free loan.  RCP is now one payment away from owning the building! Saving and redeveloping this historically significant building in Irvine will be beneficial to the citizens of Estill County from a cultural, tourism and economic standpoint.

Over the years, River City Players have performed 10 full length plays in various locations throughout the county, three plays were directed and performed by local youth ranging in ages 6-18 years old, and nine Mystery Theater Dinner Shows.  We have also sponsored and partnered with other organizations to provide seven Free Youth Theater Camp’s with over 125 youth participating. All productions and activities are volunteer based and countless hours are spent rehearsing, building sets, making costumes and selling tickets.

RCP’s involvement in the community, local partnerships, the countless hours of volunteer work and our ongoing commitment to the restoration of The Mack are quite impressive.  

In addition to the theater productions, RCP has partnered with 13 community organizations, government entities and participated in numerous events throughout the years.

River City Players are proud of our fundraising activities, especially since we are located in an economically challenged area of the Commonwealth. Since 2013, we have hosted a number of fundraising events from Hot Dog Dinners, Holiday Tea’s, Dinner Theater, Raffles, Derby Day Brunches, Picnic in the Park and have raised $74,273.72.  We have also been active in soliciting direct donations from citizens in Estill and surrounding counties and have raised $73,412.10. Theses fundraisers and donations have been used to support programs and restoration of the Mack. Below you will see the impact Grant’s and In-kind contributions have made to the success of our mission to SAVE THE MACK!

GOVERNMENT AND FOUNDATION GRANT

2016-$200,000, EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant: Environmental Cleanup of the site.
2019-$66,000, Schmidt Family Foundation used as a match for the 2020 CDBG Grant. 
2020-$750,000, CDBG Grant, used to stabilize the building, new roof, repaired brick and mortar, restored façade, installed 2 handicapped accessible bathrooms, repaired lobby and HVAC for lobby.
2025-Applied for a 850,000 CDBG Grant to make the theater operational and to secure a Certificate of Occupancy.

IN-KIND DONATIONS

There have been numerous in-kind donations over the years to RCP and specifically The Mack Theater Renovations

2015-$110,250, the previous owner sold the building to RCP at a reduced cost of $50,000 and is carrying the interest free note himself. RCP is one payment away of owning the building free and clear
2018-$3,000, three Billboards located in Estill and Madison County were donated to RCP to create awareness and assist in fundraising for The Mack
2024-present, $1,620 internet and phone donated by the board chairman
2024-present, $300 flowers in front of the building, board chairman and community volunteer
2024-$350, removal of theater seats in the auditorium, community volunteer
2024-$1,200, materials and labor to install new guttering, local business
2024-2025, $10,500, three hours a week for 5 years and 10 hours a week for one year, time and expertise of a community board volunteer to act as a liaison between the board, contractor and architect during the construction phase of The Mack