Press Release - FPCTA “Spotlight on the Future” and New Theatre Arts Campus

Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & Academy 

Megan Carter

megan.carter@fantasyplayhouse.com

256-539-6829

www.fantasyplayhouse.org

For Immediate Release 

November 16, 2020

Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & Academy

Announces “Spotlight on the Future” and New Theatre Arts Campus

(Huntsville, AL) – This afternoon, city leaders joined the Board of Directors and staff of Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy (FPCTA) to announce a new home for the 60-year-old performing arts organization. At a media event held on the new property, FPCTA’s leadership shared building plans and launched the official capital campaign to fundraise for the project.

While the pandemic has slowed down much of Huntsville’s performing arts activity, hopes are high for a triumphant return to the stage. Prior to shutting its doors to the public in March of this year, Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy had served over 27,000 stakeholders and was on target to break records for enrollment and attendance in classes, workshops and performances. Like so many organizations and businesses, FPCTA has adjusted their programming to suit protocols demanded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s good news is an indicator of the continued growth of the arts and cultural scene in the greater Tennessee Valley area despite the current crisis.

At the media event, Karen Mockensturm, Executive Director of the organization, shared FPCTA’s reasons for expansion. The non-profit organization has experienced over 400% growth since 2014, outgrowing their current building on Long Avenue. Coupled with FPCTA’s long-term vision of presenting in a venue that is family-focused, this growth inspired FPCTA leadership to take action. FPCTA purchased 5.5 acres at the corner of Holmes Avenue and Triana Boulevard for a new, state-of-the-art performing arts facility. The project includes a 35,700 square foot theatre arts campus and performance venue complete with a 355 seat theater with an arts access viewing room for nursing mothers, vocal toddlers, or sensory-sensitive children and fully-equipped production support areas that double as technical theatre teaching classrooms. This new home for the organization will bring all of FPCTA’s arts education and live children’s theatre production programming under one roof.

“Our community is the most important part of why we do what we do,” Mockensturm said. “The new Fantasy Playhouse campus will be a high-profile, accessible arts and culture destination for families, building on our organization’s legacy and providing the exact theatre arts education programming opportunities that families relocating to our area expect for their children.”

In addition to the need for performing space, FPCTA currently lacks the facilities to host more advanced instruction for important aspects of technical theatre: lighting design, set design and construction, properties fabrication, and sound design. In addition, FPCTA doesn’t possess the space/equipment to facilitate instruction in other technology-based curriculum related to theatre arts, namely film and music production. This highly sought-after STE(A)M curriculum would be a game changer for engaging students in workforce development training that could lead to careers in advanced manufacturing, engineering, or technical theatre. Expanded programming and space rental income would increase revenue and expand occupational opportunities for artists and non-artists alike.

City planning and economic development staff and city council members joined Mayor Tommy Battle for the announcement. The City has pledged $2 million in support of the project due to the importance of the Holmes corridor to Huntsville’s master planning efforts.

“We are grateful to Fantasy Playhouse for making this significant investment in this area, paving the way for more economic development in this neighborhood,” Battle shared during his remarks. “Fostering creativity is necessary for our future workforce.”

The organization also has deep roots in the Terry Heights/Hillandale neighborhoods, adjacent to the property where the new facility will be built. FPCTA has served residents of those neighborhoods for 18 years through their arts education programs. The Cornerstone Initiative and Second Mile Development – two non-profits focused on serving these areas – are strong partners of FPCTA and working together, have impacted students across the 35805 zip code. 

Today’s event was the kickoff for the organization’s fundraising campaign, titled “Spotlight on the Future”. While final numbers have yet to be determined, FPCTA’s leadership shared that the recent estimates for construction costs range between $11 - $12 million. Torch Technologies, The Daniel Foundation, Alabama State Council on the Arts, Facebook, Kiwanis Club of Huntsville Foundation, PPG, several private donors and the City of Huntsville have already pledged support. 

To enable a free community space where ARTS and STEM education combine to create STE(A)M, Facebook is donating $150,000 to a technical suite. “We've been absolutely inspired by the vision of the Fantasy Playhouse and its innovative new arts campus," said Katie Comer, Facebook’s Community Development Regional Manager. “Its impact on Huntsville will be profound, reimagining the opportunities beyond children’s theater, extending into technical education, workforce development and community building, which aligns perfectly with Facebook’s mission to build community. We've been so proud to be part of the Huntsville community since we broke ground on the Huntsville Data Center in 2018 and can’t wait for this new arts campus to open.” 

“This building, strategically set on the corner of Holmes Avenue and Triana Boulevard, will be a community asset to the Terry Heights neighborhood, prioritizing theatre arts access for all by engaging local underserved communities,” Dale Strong, Madison County Commission Chairman shared. “It is proven that an appreciation of theater arts builds in children self-confidence, academic success, creative-thinking processes, and future investment in their  communities as adults. Arts appreciation lasts a lifetime. The Madison County Commission heartily endorses this project!”

More information about Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theatre and Academy and the Spotlight on the Future building project can be found at www.fantasyplayhouse.org/spotlightonthefuture. 

Please contact Megan Carter, Advancement Director
megan.carter@fantasyplayhouse.com or 256-683-7146 for additional information.

Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy (FPCTA) provides theatre arts access through production, education and outreach. FPCTA’s core programs include live children’s theatre productions, classes, camps, workshops, and educational outreach through school partnerships.

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