FMCT 2020 Summer Newsletter

PG. 5 FEATURE STORY

ROOF RAISE THE

what’s INSIDE

PG 2. REMODELING AND ADDITION OF THE FMCT BUILDING The FMCT building is silent and our board and staff are ready to bring it back to life. You, our volunteers, patrons, and community members, can help by joining us in the renovation of FMCT.

PG 4. A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR In these 244 days, I have been reflecting on how FMCT has brought joy to so many, how it has healed people and how it has created new friendships.

PG 9. A LETTER FROM THE EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR

SUMMER 2020

Theatre teaches us to be flexible. It demands that each participant adapt to new challenges and ever-changing situations with strength, creativity, and confidence.

REMODEL AND ADDITION OF THE

FMCT BUILDING Phase One

Phase Two

Main Theatre

Education Center

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•

• • • • • • • • • • •

Demo and replace the auditorium roof; raise the total roof height six feet.

Replace catwalk system with redesigned layout.

Improved lighting/sound/communication systems and equipment.

Addition of a scenic fly loft above the center back of the stage.

Increase the height of the stage proscenium.

Rebuild the thrust stage permanently to one uniform height.

Relocate the sound mixing position to the center of the auditorium.

Increase the number of seats available in the theatre.

Reconfigure the lower seating into five sections; add center upper seating section.

Enhanced aisle and house lighting.

Added handrails to lower seating sections.

New, wider seats with cupholders.

Lobby •

New and relocated men’s bathroom.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning •

New HVAC mechanical and distribution systems throughout the building.

•

• •

Demo east side of building (4th Street facing) for expanded square footage.

Construction of three classrooms total: - Two, 500 square foot classrooms.

- One, 1000 square foot dance studio equipped with sprung wood floors and mirrors.

Additional space for storage and a small office/studio.

Equip each space with audio/visual technologies for in-person and virtual learning.

Lobby Area • • • • • • •

Renovate and improve concession and bar area.

Renovate and secure box office space.

Fully outfit existing pavilion to serve as a waiting lounge.

Add a single occupant restroom to the east concourse.

Construct a new west concourse and lobby area.

Improve access and security at stage door entrance.

Update interiors throughout the lobby concourse.

Backstage • •

Add new green room for additional cast/crew space during productions.

Install elevator to provide access to second floor workspaces.

• •

Increase the size of the scene shop.

Remodel the dressing rooms and backstage restrooms.

Administration Offices •

PLEASE DONATE AT

FMCT.ORG/DONATE

• • •

Relocate to the north side of the facility using former classroom space and new construction.

Provide space for all administrative offices and workspaces.

Space also to be used for storage of archives and records.

Addition of a large conference/board room.

CONCEPT RENDERING

BENEFITS OF THE

RENOVATION Main Theatre •

Current damaged wood roofing trusses are replaced with steel beams.

•

maneuver through.

Production quality is improved through new lighting, sound, and scenic enhancements.

•

• •

Redesigned catwalk layout better positions lighting, sound, and video equipment and make above stage areas easier to access and

•

Lobby Area

Ability to attract and train individuals interested technical theatre on

• • •

unique and modern theatre technologies.

•

Show production areas are more connected through improved

•

communication systems.

•

Additional roof and proscenium heights accommodates two-story scenery more easily.

•

Reinforced and rebuilt stage increases the weight bearing load for

• •

heavier scenery pieces and equipment to be used.

•

Sound technicians can more effectively mix microphones, music, and sound effects when positioned in the center of the auditorium.

•

Increased seating allows for additional patrons to enjoy FMCT productions each year.

•

Audience experience becomes more inviting, comfortable, and safe.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

Backstage • • • •

• • •

Increased capacity to circulate outside air in all spaces.

Modern HVAC equipment will provide cost savings and a smaller equipment footprint.

Properly heat and cool neglected areas of the theatre.

Education Center • •

• •

•

Green room serves as a separate space to host special guests and speakers.

Elevator will improve safety and accessibility to the costume shop and costume storage, as well as the catwalks and tech booth.

Extra square footage for the scene shop provides additional build space, and new storage, electrical, and paint areas.

Remodeled dressing rooms can accommodate larger casts more comfortably.

New backstage bathroom configuration to include ADA compliant toilets and stalls.

Administration Offices •

Brings all education programming back to FMCT, keeping all programs in one location.

Additional classroom space and technology expands ability to deliver new opportunities for participants of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

Classrooms can double as rehearsal spaces to accommodate multiple shows/events in production Large windows in each space attracts awareness to the varied activity happening at FMCT and creates an inviting learning environment.

Men’s bathroom has additional toilets, urinals, and washing stations Concessions and bar will be able to serve patrons more efficiently with additional service lines and one-stop ordering.

Point-of-sale stations will be added for food and bar sales making additional payment options possible in the future.

Pavilion and lobby updates create a memorable welcome to FMCT productions and events.

West concourse and lobby addition will provide access to seat patrons on each side of the auditorium, streamlining ingress/egress plans and reducing choke points.

The west concourse connects backstage more easily to front-ofhouse and provides a new access point to the upper level control booth and catwalks.

The addition of a single occupant restroom will be an inclusiven update for families and other individuals.

Updates at stage door entrance provide a safer point of entry/exit for our staff and volunteers.

•

Provides additional, secure office space with considerations for future employees and positions.

Conference room space doubles as a volunteer center for those who work front-of-house or other production positions.

Rentals •

Renovated and expanded facility will better accommodate corporate and theatrical rentals and make FMCT a first-class gathering place for our community and region.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ELOISE BREIKJERN As of August 13, Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre’s doors have been closed for 244 days. For seven months, our building has been silent. During this time, the staff has moved offices twice. COVID-19 hit, creating a new normal for everyone. Performances have been canceled, the Black Lives Matter movement has come to Fargo, and costumes, archives, props, and shop materials all moved out of the theatre and were placed in storage.

All this in 244 days.

In these 244 days, I have been reflecting on how FMCT has brought joy to so many, how it has healed people and how it has created new friendships. People who have never acted or have not been on stage since high school find renewed self-confidence and a family of supportive individuals in their fellow actors. In our abbreviated 2020 season, over 160 individuals worked their full-time jobs before coming to the theatre to spend their evenings rehearsing a show

for their community. The production staff, costume and lighting designers, directors, musicians, and choreographers who bring our shows to life are all waiting to once again share their creative skills at FMCT. I have often thought of the children who come to the theatre and are quiet and shy, or maybe they have more energy than most adults can manage. At the theatre, they meet other children with whom they can create stories and act out those stories, giving them confidence to know they can do anything.

I have often thought of the 15,255 patrons who attend shows at FMCT. Some come alone, some bring friends, but they all share the experience of live theatre. This experience cannot be matched by any television show or movie. This is live, it’s happening in front of you, and you are sharing your laughs and tears with everyone else in the audience.

FMCT is about people. People sharing an experience, whether they are on stage or in the audience. I miss this shared experience.

The FMCT building is silent and our board and staff are ready to bring it back to life. You, our actors, patrons, and community members, can help by joining us in the renovation of FMCT. Repairing and renovating our 52-yearold theater comes at a cost and we need your financial assistance. Whether you make a one-time contribution or set up monthly gifts, donations of all sizes are welcome as we renovate and renew our facility. If you appreciate or love coming to FMCT, please go directly to our website and give from your heart as we work to restore the facility we love.

Sincerly,

Eloise Breikjern Executive Director, Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre

On with the

RAISESHOW THE

ROOF A vintage red Radio Flyer scooter. Stacks of TIME Magazine dating back as far as 1963. A United States Army cot, presumably from World War II. These are just a few of the treasures we’ve unearthed while packing up our beloved theatre. Each prop and costume piece carries with it a memory of a performance gone by, their stories surrounding us as we empty closets and clear shelves. We can almost hear them: the giddy laughter of the dressing rooms on opening night, the chatter of an audience filing into their seats, the breathless anticipation of a full house as the curtains part.

As we look ahead toward a new era of FMCT, we are also taking time to look back at the stories, and people, that have brought us this far. Over the past 74 years, thousands of performers, volunteers, staff, and patrons alike have found home at FMCT. They have come together from across ages, backgrounds, and

experiences to work toward one common goal: creating beautiful art.

production.

“From there, well, I just kept going,” Joyce said.

We have asked current and former FMCT participants to share their stories of the theatre. These stories will be archived and shared in their entirety for our upcoming 75th anniversary, but for now, as we reminisce on the past and look with excitement toward the future, we would like to share just a few of their memories with you.

From Stage Fright to Family Joyce and Ed Westfall are two of FMCT’s most passionate supporters and performers; anyone who has attended a Silver Follies production over the past two decades is likely familiar with their infectious smiles and impressive dance moves. But the two were not always so eager to appear on stage.

Joyce first became involved with FMCT in 1990, when a friend talked her into ushering for a

Joyce continued to volunteer as an usher and served as a dresser for several years before joining Silver Follies, a program of FMCT Ed which provides performance and outreach opportunities for senior citizens. When she began seeing her soon-to-be husband Ed Westfall in 1996, she encouraged him to get involved with the theatre, too.

“I always worked in computers, electronics, mechanics, stuff like that. I had nothing to do with theatre. I couldn’t even give a book report in high school. I hated it,” Ed said. “She talked me into helping out, so I said, ‘Oh, I’ll help in the back with dressing and stuff like that. But I cannot go out on stage.’”

Then, one year, Silver Follies was short on performers. They needed Ed to fill in for a scene.

“All I had to do was walk on stage, do a

Continued on next page

Save Me A Seat Continued

handshake, and walk back,” Ed said. “I thought, ‘Well I could do that.’”

And Ed walked on stage—but his scene partner was nowhere to be found. It was Ed’s worst nightmare. He was standing all alone, smackdab in center stage, with no idea what to do

For many, such an embarrassing debut would mark their first and last appearance on stage; but for Ed, it was just the beginning.

“He’s come a long way,” Joyce laughed.

find home in the theatre, no matter their age or experience level.

“We’ve made so many good friends through the theater and through being in plays,” Joyce said. “I don’t know how to say it better—it’s just like one big family.”

A Home Away From Home While some FMCT participants discover their passion for theatre later in life, many, like Shelby Cochran, begin performing at a young age. Shelby grew up in a very musical family, and had her own breakout role (the titular character in a kindergarten production of Little Red Riding Hood) at the ripe age of five. She continued to perform throughout her childhood, and went on to pursue a degree in theatre art from Concordia College in Moorhead.

But when Shelby graduated in 2011, she found herself suddenly missing the stage and craving the community theatre provides. On a whim, she auditioned for her first FMCT production, Gypsy, in 2012. Since then, she has acted in at least one FMCT production every single year, including The Addams Family, Sweeney Todd, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and The Wizard of Oz. “Part of the reason I keep coming back to FMCT is the strong friendships that I’ve made,” Shelby said. “You walk in the building and you just feel this sense of community and belonging. It’s like a second home away from home.”

next. After a few moments’ silence, a sound emerged from the audience: Joyce’s young grandson yelling, “Hi, Ed!” “The whole audience started laughing,” Ed said.

“Well, finally my partner ran on stage, we did our handshake, and it was all over.”

Ed and Joyce have both performed with Silver Follies every year since, and Ed was even cast as a lead role in Anything Goes (“That one was a lot of fun,” he said). Both have participated in FMCT’s Encore Society, organizing activities and fundraising events for the theatre. And together, they are living proof that anyone can

In 2018, Shelby decided to give back to the theatre that had given her a second home by joining FMCT’s Board of Directors.

This role has provided Shelby with a new outlook on theatre, an awareness of the work that must be done off-stage to bring a show to life, and one of her favorite FMCT memories.

“When we did Mary Poppins in 2018, there was construction being done to the road in front of the theatre so people coming to the show had to park way up the road. We drove a golf cart

back and forth to bring them to the theatre,” Shelby said. “People just want to come to the theatre, no matter what they have to do to get there. And I think that’s a really great thing.”

It has been eight years since Shelby first set foot on FMCT’s stage.

In that time, she has witnessed an exciting evolution: the rebirth of FMCT’s education programs, the hiring of a full-time education director, the expansion of our theatre season. She has also experienced unprecedented obstacles with FMCT: a structural issue that forced the theatre to close, and in the months since, a pandemic that has delayed our efforts to recover and rebuild.

“Certainly we’re in a little bit of a transitional phase right now, but prior to that, there was a lot of momentum. It was getting harder and harder for us to cast shows because the pool of people auditioning got bigger, the crowds got bigger,” Shelby said. “In a few years, we will have a really awesome story to tell about overcoming the odds.”

Overcoming the Odds More than 70 years’ worth of memories have been folded neatly into cardboard boxes, taped shut, and lifted onto a moving truck. It is a bittersweet moment: as we close the heavy metal door behind these boxes, we remember that another door is opening, to an exciting new era of FMCT.

You walk in t he building and you jus t f e el t his s e ns e of communit y and belonging.

It ’s lik e a s e cond home away f r om home . - Shelby Cochran

In the coming months, we will move forward with plans to not just fix what is broken in our theatre, but improve our facilities and add a state-of-the-art education wing to better serve our community. But we cannot do this without your support.

Please consider making a donation today at fmct.org to support FMCT’s renovation efforts. And together, we will make 70 more years of memories at FMCT.

FMCT BOARD MEMBER PRESIDENT

JAIME AASEN

For many of us, family is most important. In the summer of 2006, wanting to be closer to family, my husband, children, and I moved to West Fargo.

Unbeknownst to us, we were about to become part of an even bigger family. After a few years of living here I saw an ad for an acting class with FMCT Education. Our oldest was six and full of energy and incredibly animated - we signed him up immediately. Eleven years and 30+ shows later, we have become a full-on theatre family and have not looked back.

Making your way into the theatre world with no prior knowledge can be a daunting task, but FMCT was there with open arms every step of the way. The support FMCT provides students reaches well beyond the walls of the theatre, reaching out to every corner of our community. Providing theatre education, students have the privilege to explore and practice storytelling, creativity, and interpersonal communication.

Contributing to the positive impact theatre had on my son and my elementary students, I decided to join the board of directors. As an educator my mission was, and is still, to expand on our opportunities for growth to all students. An example being the Sensory Friendly Programming we now provide. Over the past few years, I have witnessed FMCT evolve into an essential community partner, one who strives to support, reflect, and advocate for our area’s ever-changing population.

For 74 years, this theatre has been a part of the community that contributes to the culture and way of life. Unfortunately, FMCT underwent

major structural damage in December 2019 which rendered the building inoperable. We are using this as an opportunity to enhance our theatre for many years to come. Amongst other add-ons, an improved auditorium and addition of an education wing will catapult FMCT’s ability to provide for this community.

You are the heart of our community. We humbly ask you to join us in our capital campaign with a financial donation to assist in our renovation and restoration of our theatre for generations to come.

Jaime Aasen

Thank YOU for attending the show!

EDUCATION DIRECTOR

JUDY LEWIS Theatre teaches us to be flexible. It demands that each participant adapt to new challenges and ever-changing situations with strength, creativity, and confidence. Spring of 2020 put those ideals to the test, and the families and staff of FMCT Ed rose to the occasion. Over 100 students safely participated in The Addams Family summer production, a rehearsal process truly unlike any other. Seven casts stretched themselves to learn new ways of rehearsing and put together seven delightful and entertaining productions. Laughter bounced off the walls of Studio 6 and Gasper’s Studio South as young artists pushed themselves to grow, to give, and to create something they will remember for the rest of their lives.

During July and August, an additional 150 students participated in FMCT

We’ll get the schoolwork finished and have a great time doing it!

Ed’s week-long camps. Our camps focused on fun first, but like super-

$35 a day from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30p.m.

stealthy ninjas, we also infused grade-level core competencies into every camp. Our staff of certified teachers focused on expanding literacy, as

This fall also brings the return of our Saturday classes. From 10:00 a.m.

well as verbal and written communication skills. All the while, students

to 4:00 p.m. every Saturday, these classes offer something for everyone

learned to think more deeply and to collaborate more effectively.

interested in educational theatre. We offer magical storytelling classes full of make-believe and wonder, musical theatre intensives, and advanced

As we move into the fall, we’re offering Fall Day Camp & Educational

acting classes that will challenge and cultivate the artist in every student.

Support for Kindergarten - Second Graders & Third - Fifth Graders.

Whether you’re working full-time, opting to home-school, or developing a

As we enter a new school year, we will delight, entertain, challenge,

hybrid-plan of your own, FMCT Ed is here to support you with your child’s

and support each of our students at every level of their learning. We

learning.

will have fun and make lifelong memories as we work together in the theatre creating art. Additionally, through the practice of age-old theatre

Choose 1 or 2 days a week - all 5 days of every week.

principals, we will assist in the development of tomorrow’s workforce

We’re here to help your student with online math, science, and language

and prepare students to handle adversity with empathy, courage, and

arts lessons, guided reading, story invention, and plenty of theatre

confidence. There is no better teacher than the stage, and we are thrilled

activities that will entertain and ignite your child’s imagination!

to share it with you. Come play with us!

Need daytime support for your elementary school students during the week?

Check out our Fall Day Camp & Educational Support program. All day camp for $35 a day.

PLEASE SIGN UP AT

FMCT.ORG/EDUCATION

FALL CLASSES 2020 FMCT Saturday Education Class Sessions begin September 12th No classes on October 24th Class Sessions end November 14th One-Act: Enrollment by Audition Only go to fmct.org for audition information 5th - 9th grade; 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Showcase: November 14th @ 7:00 p.m.

Story Invention Fractured Fairy Tales 4,5 & 6 years old; 10:00 - 10:45 a.m.

Tuition - $100 ($11/week) Showcase November 14th @ 10:00 a.m.

Musical Theatre Intensive I Beauty & The Beast

Kindergarten - 2nd Grade; 11:15 - 12:45 p.m.

Tuition - $120 ($13/week) Showcase November 14th @ 11:30 p.m.

Musical Theatre Intensive II Hairspray

Story Invention Fractured Fairy Tales

3rd - 6th Grade; 11:15 - 12:45 p.m.

Tuition - $120 ($13/week) Showcase November 14th @ 12:15 p.m.

Story Invention Fractured Fairy Tales

5th - 8th Grade; 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Tuition - $120 ($13/week) Showcase November 14th @ 1:15 p.m.

2nd & 3rd Grade; 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Tuition - $100 ($11/week) Showcase November 14th @ 10:30 a.m.

4th & 5th Grade; 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Tuition - $100 ($11/week) Showcase November 14th @ 11:00 a.m.

Middle School Acting

Treble Show Choir

5th - 9th Grade; 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Tuition - $120 ($13/week) Showcase November 14th @ 4:00 p.m.

Register today by visiting fmct.org/education or calling (701) 235-6778

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

ADAM PANKOW In September I begin my fourth season as Artistic Director at FMCT. I am proud of the work we have done and the growth we have accomplished as an organization in these past three years. Our 20192020 season was on pace to be a record-breaking year for our education programs and productions both in terms of enrollment and attendance, and financially as well. Instead, our fiscal year closed with an unaudited loss of approximately $10,000.

All told, that is a slight sum when considering the one-two punch FMCT took with the shuttering of our building due to structural roof issues and the cancelation of five productions and a major fundraiser to end our year. Still, it is disappointing considering what could have been. Had we been able to carry out our full season, nearly 40,000 people would have likely passed through our doors.

Had we not had to cancel the last performances of A CHRISTMAS CAROL in December or FLANAGAN’S WAKE in March, we would have easily left our 73rd season financially in the black.

A $10,000 loss on last season would have been significantly higher and ruinous even just three years ago when I started with FMCT. Increasing our programming, special events, and outreach has connected us more fully to our mission of “enriching our greater community through engaging theatrical and educational opportunities of high artistic quality.” The changes our staff and board have made in advancing our organization artistically and educationally these past three seasons have deepened our commitment to the individuals we serve, and subsequently positioned our organization to be able to better adapt when faced with challenges. That deepened commitment has continued to

guide FMCT through the past seven months.

Rather than sink into the background and bemoan what has happened, we have taken the time to pivot our energies from what is not possible to what may be possible. There have not been easy or obvious decisions, but innovation has moved us forward as an organization in these times. As a staff we have remained active and have challenged ourselves to be forward-thinking. This future-minded attitude has greatly influenced the repair and renovation work about to begin on our building which, when completed, will better serve our growing metro and community of artists and art-lovers.

It is people that fuel the work of FMCT. Without its many volunteers and patrons, our non-profit’s capacity for life-changing and lifeaffirming programming would certainly be diminished, or possibly would cease to exist. However, if I have learned anything in my last three years as Artistic Director, it is that the many individuals who support FMCT do so with unbridled enthusiasm frequently inviting in as many as they can to share in their excitement. Our network of support is strong (perhaps stronger than it has been in decades), and I trust that network to hold up our organization through this time and will aid in building a bigger and better FMCT. When the first phase of construction is complete in the fall of 2021, our FMCT team and me will be there alongside all the individuals—past and present—who have believed in the power of community art. That celebration will be made even greater knowing that we not only fixed and enhanced a broken building, but we have made possible a safe and creative home for many generations to come.

Now more than ever, I am proud to serve your community theatre.

Adam Pankow Artistic Director, Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre

Nonprofit Org US POSTAGE

PAID

FARGO, ND PERMIT # 695

PO Box 1349 Fargo, ND 58107-1349

UPCOMING

Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre

EVENTS

“Girls Night Out” by Rick Artis September 25 & 26 | Radisson Hotel Dinner with a side of whodunit.

Popcorn Theatre

September 26, October 3 &10 Theatre for Young Audiences: “Jack and the Beanstalk” Join FMCT in parks and venues around town for popcorn and a show for the whole family!

10-Minute Play Festival

Every Friday, October 2-November 20 Eight, original, 10-minute plays presented virtually once a week.

CLUE + COCKTAILS Fundraiser

October 24 Featuring: “Clue: On Stage (Stay-at-Home Version)” Based on the Paramount Pictures motion picture, based on the Hasbro board game Clue Written by Sandy Rustin, based upon the works by Jonathan Lynn, Hunter Foster, Eric Price It’s a virtual cocktail party with drinks, chatter, and an online performance of “Clue”.

Holiday Virtual Variety Show & Telethon

Date TBA - December Celebrate the holiday season with a variety show and telethon reminiscent of days gone by!

More information will be shared soon with patrons via email, over social media, and on our website, fmct.org.

If you have any immediate questions, feel free to call us at 701-235-6778, or email at info@fmct.org