In the spring of 1992, the Mathena family and Princeton community lost a remarkable young man. Charles T. “Chuck” Mathena II was the only son to Charlie and Marquetta Mathena, and an avid performing arts participant and supporter. Through this tragedy, the Charles T. “Chuck” Mathena II Foundation was formed, with the original intent of to aid educational and extra-curricular opportunities for the students of Mercer County, West Virginia. To date, deserving students have received nearly $300,000 in scholarship funds, enabling them to pursue their educational interests.

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Over the years, the need for a performing arts venue in southern West Virginia became more evident, and with the support of the entire community and state, the dream of the Chuck Mathena Center became a reality. On July 11, 2008, CMC opened for its inaugural performance, and now hosts over 60,000 visitors annually.

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With a nearly 1,000 seat theatre, state-of-the-art audio and visual capabilities, and stunning architecture, CMC is a one of a kind experience in southern West Virginia. The CMC stage plays host to year-long national touring productions, including off-Broadway theatre and musicals, concerts, comedy, dance, and more. The entire facility is available for rent, and offers divers space for parties of 10 to nearly 1,000.