Nov 11, 2022
-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Esther Laupp plays Judy in Comedia Musica’s production of “9 to 5: The Musical” at the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association Phillips Luxury Apartments Auditorium. Other showtimes include 7 p.m. today and Saturday, and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
Theater has returned to the stage in the former Phillips Middle School Auditorium thanks to the hard work of the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association.
The auditorium, now known as the FDFAA Phillips Luxury Apartments Auditorium, is part of a 10-year agreement between the FDFAA and the owners of the apartment building. The FDFAA leases the space for no rent in exchange for committing to make $150,000 in improvements in the auditorium, said Shelly Bottorff, executive director of the FDFAA.
Over the last three years, the FDFAA has put in a lot of work into the auditorium, including cleaning and replacing the stage curtains, replacing and painting the stage flooring, replacing the carpeting and cleaning the audience seating.
“This has been a labor of love,” Bottorff said.
The FDFAA breathed life back into the 100-year-old auditorium, which will be available for rent as a place for rehearsals, dance and music recitals, theater and live music performances, community events and more. The FDFAA also received a liquor license so it can sell adult beverages during events.
-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
The cast of Comedia Musica’s production of “9 to 5: The Musical” at the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association Phillips Luxury Apartments Auditorium takes the stage on Thursday’s opening night. Other showtimes include 7 p.m. today and Saturday, and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
“This is an amazing project … a tremendous community project,” said Randy Kuhlman, CEO of the Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way, noting all the community organizations that contributed to the fundraising.
The Fort Dodge Study Club held two fundraisers in the space, raising $44,000, he said. The Community Foundation gave a $20,000 grant, the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust gave a $25,000 grant and MidAmerican Energy Co. gave a $10,000 grant.
“You’ve turned it into a great facility, a much needed facility for fine arts and for Fort Dodge,” Kuhlman said to Bottorff.
A grand opening ribbon cutting was held Thursday afternoon with the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. Following the ribbon cutting was the opening showing of Comedia Musica Players’ production of “9 to 5: The Musical.”
“This has been a really emotional week,” Bottorff said. “Getting ready for the show and the grand opening.”
-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Lindey Krug plays Violet and Esther Laupp plays Judy in Comedia Musica’s production of “9 to 5: The Musical” at the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association Phillips Luxury Apartments Auditorium. Other showtimes include 7 p.m. today and Saturday, and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
Now that the first phase of the Phillips Auditorium improvements are complete, the FDFAA is looking toward the second phase, which includes raising the approximately $100,000 needed to install an in-house sound and lighting system.
Comedia Musica’s production of “9 to 5: The Musical” will continue to run with showtimes tonight and Saturday at 7 p.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
The Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association held a ribbon cutting with the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance on Thursday afternoon to celebrate the end of the first phase of renovating the FDFAA Phillips Luxury Apartments Auditorium.
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