hidden gem: community theater of fxbg

Surprise! Right in the heart of downtown Fredericksburg, at 810 Caroline Street, hidden away on the fourth floor is a new Community Theater which features live plays, musicals, and educational workshops among many other events for folks looking to be entertained.

The Allstate Community Theater of Fredericksburg was a GIFT to the community from the Manfredi Insurance Family Agencies. Ray Manfredi, once a child actor and now a theater supporter, and his wife Catherine have devoted a sizable portion of their community funding efforts to building a shared facility that would support the arts in downtown Fredericksburg.

The Manfredi's who operate insurance agencies for Allstate Insurance headquartered out of Springfield along with their son Thomas who represents 140 different Insurance Carriers out if an Independent Agency in Stafford, partnered with the oldest non-profit community theater group, Stage Door Productions Inc., to manage the facility, and to create content that was both family friendly and at times a little edgy.

The theatre incorporates a 6,000 square foot facility which features multilevel audience seating for up to 200, a 45foot wide black box stage along with concessions, bar, lounge, a smaller children's theater, dance studio, and three rehearsal areas as well as separate dressing rooms and a green room for performers.

The project, which started one week before the pandemic closed down the theater industry, is still undergoing its final stages, was created to provide shared facilities for multiple arts and entertainment groups, like Stage Door Productions, The Fredericksburg Improv Team, Fredericksburg Theatre Ensemble, The Fredericksburg Institute for Performing Arts, and Keep Your Heart Ministries, all of whom share the space along with other groups.

Over $70,000 was invested in professional sound and lighting equipment to provide audiences with a taste of Broadway, while in Downtown Fredericksburg. Also included is an 18foot screen, where cult classics like Rocky Horror Picture Show, Little Shop of Horrors, The Goonies, Casablanca, Beetle Juice, and other films are presented to audiences, often with a live shadow cast performing the scenes in unison.

Part of the community effort this facility is fostering, involves the partnership with The Fredericksburg Institute for Performing Arts, which provides educational workshops for both young and old, in all aspects of the performing arts. In 2023 students will be presenting live productions of Cats-The Musical, A Wrinkle in Time, and Annie Jr.

On any given weekend, patrons can see a live performance of an awardwinning play musical, or maybe a youth production of a family favorite in addition to some late night entertainment like Improvisational Comedy, performed by Fredericksburg's Only Improv Team, or enjoy a late night of Karaoke or a fun Voices and Vines Cabaret Event.

Hidden Gem

Allstate Community Theater

bY Lyndon Lansdowne

tale, A Christmas Carol, starring Richard Hamilton of ABC's All My Children. Families will enjoy this large-scale production, with 30 cast members, special effects, and a story true to Dicken's original novella.

The 2023 Season is already looking exciting, with Merry Wives of Windsor, Steel Magnolias, SpongeBob SquarePants - Musical, Clue, and Singing in the Rain, already slated for the stage, with about seven other more edgy

productions awaiting the securing of rights. Tickets to all these shows will come available online in January.

If you have a non-profit entertainment group looking for a venue to use, you could reach out to the primary benefactor, Ray Manfredi at 703-9718830 or email RayManfredi@Allstate.com. For show times and tickets to events, visit AllstateCommunityTheater.org.

Allstate Community Theater of Fredericksburg 810 Caroline St AllstateCommunityTheater.org

December Audiences can come out through the 18th and see a live presentation of Charles Dicken's classic