Belmont Abbey College Dedicates The Simon & Debbie Donoghue Theatre Belmont, N.C. (October 5th, 2026) – Belmont Abbey College has renamed its Haid Theatre as The Simon & Debbie Donoghue Theatre, honoring the legendary director of the Abbey Players and member of the college community for nearly 50 years. The celebration, held in the college’s 150th anniversary year on October 3rd, also unveiled the theatre’s newly refurbished stage. Alumni, students, faculty, and friends of the college gathered to commemorate the Donoghues’ legacy and inaugurate a new era for Belmont Abbey College Performing Arts.  Simon Donoghue served for 48 years as Director of the Abbey Players, one of the longest-running theatre troupes in North Carolina, which has had 143 consecutive seasons. In addition to his considerable gifts as playwright, actor, and director, Simon is an exceptional teacher and mentor, and his impact on the last fifty years of Abbey Players and Belmont Abbey students cannot be overstated. The theatre’s new name also recognizes his wife, Debbie Donoghue, his longtime behind-the-scenes partner, whose support has helped sustain the Abbey Players for decades.  Throughout his tenure, Simon built a substantial and thriving campus community and developed collaborative relationships with the local performing arts. Under his faithful leadership, the Abbey Players brought together not only students, faculty, staff, and monks but also local professionals, enriching the student experience and expanding the network of community theatre in the Carolinas. He also played a vital role in both the full renovation of the Haid Theatre in 1987 and the establishment of the performing arts as a recognized academic department, minors, and a premier scholarship named for Fr. John Oetgen. “For nearly half a century, Simon has enriched the artistic and cultural life of this college and served as a mentor, counselor, and director to generations of...