The name "Zane Trace Players" links our history to the Appalachian Ohio area. Colonel Ebenezer Zane constructed a path through Ohio in 1797 that served as a gateway for settlers to move west. This road was named Zane's Trace and made way for new cities to be developed in Ohio. Ebenezer Zane was issued 640 acres of land which became Zanesville. The Renner Theater, Home of Zane Trace Players, sits on the edge of the original acreage in present-day downtown Zanesville.

The Renner Theater was originally a synagogue built in 1924. In 1958 the congregation of Beth Abraham Synagogue outgrew their building and sold it to the congregation of The First Apostolic Church. The building went up for sale again in the 1980s when the congregation found a new church home. The Zane Trace Players bought the building from the congregation in 1987 and transformed it into the theater it is today with a stage and additional new fixtures.

The founding member of Zane Trace Players, Dorothy Renner, wrote melodramas for a traveling troupe to perform around the Zanesville area. Originally, the troupe was a component of the other local theatre, Zanesville Community Theatre. Creative differences led to Mrs. Renner starting her own organization, Zane Trace Players. In 2010 the present building was renamed The Renner, Home of Zane Trace Players, in honor of the immeasurable impact Mrs. Renner made to the performing arts in the Zanesville community.

Today, the Renner continues to present shows, concerts, and other events to support the community. Zane Trace Players has also teamed with Zanesville Community Theatre to support the Salvation Army's Angel Tree since 1991 and other community endeavors. Plans are also underway to turn the neighboring building into The Renner Appalachian Arts Center to support local artists and showcase their works in a gallery.