FMCT Spring 2019 Playbill

fargo moorhead community theatre

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Winter/Spring 2019

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Eloise Breikjern

Executive Director Welcome to the theatre. I hope you enjoy tonight’s performance and return to enjoy the remainder of our shows this season. In the spring of 1946, community members identified the need for a theatre where live performances could take place. 72 years later, this organization still stands, providing theatrical opportunities to the entire community. Throughout the years, FMCT has maintained a mission similar to that which we have today, “to enrich our greater community through engaging theatrical and educational opportunities.”

This season we are having record numbers of participants in our auditions, performers on the stage, and children in our education programs. The season is not over, in March we have our Theatre for Young Audiences and our Sensory Friendly performances of Miss Electricity.

The summer brings children and adults of all ages to the stage performing in everything from Cinderella to Jesus Christ Superstar. The theatre is active, just as the founders 72 years ago imagined it could be.

Thank you for attending this evening, for donating funds, and attending our fundraisers.

Without the community’s support, this organization would not have survived for 72 years. It is now our responsibility to keep FMCT alive, active and relevant to the community and its needs. I invite you to participate in our mission, to enter the doors and understand that this is your theatre and we all hold a responsibility to maintain this organization into the future.

See you at the theatre!

We believe art should be shared with the community.

That’s why we are proud to support Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre and their mission to enrich lives through experiencing the performing arts.

Need a venue?

Studio 6 Broadway has the space for you!

Located on the south end of Broadway in downtown Fargo, this is a convenient location with front door parking and access to several flat surface parking lots.

Space available for:

Graduation Parties • Music Recitals Vocal & Instrumental Lessons Bridal & Baby Showers • Product Parties Anniversary Parties • Receptions Theatre & Dance Classes • Art Courses Community & Corporate Events

SUMMER PRODUCTION CAMPS ELEMENTARY CAMPS Grades K-2 AM Half Day (9am-12pm) or PM Half Day (1-4pm) Program Dates: June 5-21

Kids

Grades 3-5 Full Day (9am-4pm) Program Dates: June 5-28

MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMP Grades 5-8 Full Day (9am-4pm) Program Dates: July 15-August 9

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CREATIVE CAMPS Musical Theatre Intensive: HAMILTON Grades 5-8 | July 8-12, 9am-4pm

Spotlight Stories: HARRY POTTER Grades 3-5 | July 29-August 2, 9am-4pm

Stage Creations: MINECRAFT Grades 3-5 | August 5-9, 9am-4pm

Program enrollment on a first-come basis

Registration open now at fmct.org

333 4th St S

|

Fargo, ND 58103

|

701-235-1901

FARGO MOORHEAD COMMUNITY THEATRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS President................................................................................................Jay Nelson Vice President.....................................................................................Jaime Aasen Treasurer / Immediate Past President....................................................Karin Rudd Secretary.............................................................................................Caryn Hewitt Board Members at Large.....................................Shelby Cochran, Daniel Damico, Shelby Ellsworth, Lori Koenig, Adam Montgomery J. D.

FARGO MOORHEAD COMMUNITY THEATRE STAFF Executive Director...........................................................................Eloise Breikjern Artistic Director..................................................................................Adam Pankow Gaming Manager...............................................................................Rick Stenseth Technical Director..................................................................................Tanner Lind Costume Director..........................................................................Shelly Hurt-Geist General Manager................................................................................Lucas Rutten Executive Director Assistant...................................................................Kayla Rice Apprentice..........................................................................................David Harvey Apprentice........................................................................................Brenna Lahren Apprentice..........................................................................................Katie Spokely Front of House Staff......................Sydney Arends, Tara Bennett, Michaela Burns, Cheryl Julien, Amanda Kadrmas, Amanda Leftridge, Rick Mangahas, Tami Mangahas, Haley Pacholl, Katie Sanda, Reid Strand, Vanessa Warling Gaming Analyst.....................................................................................Linda Vogle Gaming Consultant...........................................................................Earlyne Hector The activities of the Northern Plains Performing Arts are supported in part with proceeds from charitable gaming. In accordance with the North Dakota Games of Chance Administrative Rules, all financial information and tax returns are made available for inspection at The Stage at Island Park by appointment. This information is updated quarterly. NPPA gaming sites include: O’Clevy’s, SouthTown PourHouse, Space Aliens, and the Windbreak Saloon, located in Fargo, North Dakota; Brick and Barley, The Loft, Parrots’ Cay, and Shotgun Sally’s in Grand Forks; and Happy Trails in Argusville.

This activity is supported in part by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

This activity is funded by The Arts Partnership, with support from the Cities of Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo.

On the Cover Photo 1 - April Maertens in Mary Poppins, September 2018 Photo 2 - Jay Nelson in The Laramie Project, October 2018 Photo 3 - Seth LaMont in A Christmas Story: The Musical, December 2018 Photos courtesy of Perry Rust

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Adam Pankow Artistic Director

Welcome to our 72nd season! This year, FMCT celebrates storytelling with works drawn from literature, interviews, and real-life moments both personal and shared.

February marks the regional premiere of 2015’s Tony Award-winning Best Play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Innovative and affecting, FMCT is proud to present this captivating contemporary detective tale to our audiences.

Our annual Theatre for Young Audiences production will radiate with humor and fast-paced action in March. Presented for area school groups as well as for two public performances, Miss Electricity will have audiences young and old charmed with its positive message about having confidence in your unique, extraordinary self.

March also brings Tuesdays with Morrie to the stage in a dramatization of the best-selling book by Mitch Albom. Veteran actor Doug Hamilton takes on the role of a terminally-ill college professor whose weekly ruminations with a former student serve as a series of poignant final master classes.

Joyful reverberations will fill the spring air as Mamma Mia! storms the FMCT stage this May. Featuring the music of ABBA, this stage and film musical sensation bursts with high-energy song and dance and a funny, memorable story of one girl, three dads, and three dancing queens.

Make sure to mark your calendars for other one-of-a-kind events as we close out our current season: Cocktails + Cabaret, Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, Silver Follies, and the Shaken, Not Stirred Martini Party. Summer 2019 features expanded educational programming as well as productions of Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar. Plus, we look forward to a dynamic lineup of plays, musicals, and special events as part of our next season, season 73!

FMCT is your community theatre. Thank you for being a part of the excitement!

A PLAY BY SIMON STEPHENS BASED ON THE NOVEL BY MARK HADDON

ABOUT THE SHOW Based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Mark Haddon, this five-time Tony Award-winning play follows 15-year-old protagonist Christopher John Francis Boone. Christopher knows all the countries in the world and every prime number up to 7,057. He possesses an extraordinary brain, exceptional at math while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, detests being touched, distrusts strangers, and has little understanding of human emotions. When a neighbor’s dog is found speared to death with a garden fork, Christopher is determined to investigate the mysterious death, forcing him to confront his fears along a frightening journey that upturns his world.

FEBRUARY 1-3 & 7-9, 2019

MEMBER TICKETS AVAILABLE: JANUARY 2 PUBLIC TICKETS AVAILABLE: JANUARY 14

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was first presented by the National Theatre, London at the Cottesloe Theatre on August 2, 2012 and transferred to the Gielgud Theatre, West End, London on March 12, 2013. The play opened in the USA at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on October 5, 2014.

This play is presented by kind permission of Warner Bros. Entertainment.

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service Inc., New York

a play by KATHRYN WALAT

ABOUT THE SHOW Ten-year-old Violet is determined to show the world, not to mention the cool kids at school, just how special she is. With the help of her assistant Freddy, she sets out to break a world record, but becomes accidentally extraordinary when she’s struck by lightning -- twice -- and gains control over all things electric. Under the name Miss Electricity, Violet zaps her way through circuits, bullies, and tests, but could lose everything when the power goes to her head.

MARCH 2 & 3, 2019

MEMBER TICKETS AVAILABLE: JANUARY 28 PUBLIC TICKETS AVAILABLE: FEBRUARY 11

Miss Electricity Sponsored by Earlyne Hector and

Carrie Hector MISS ELECTRICITY was originally commissioned and produced by La Jolla Playhouse, California (Christopher Ashley, Artistic Director; Steven Libman, Managing Director).

Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)

by JEFFREY HATCHER and MITCH ALBOM based on the book by MITCH ALBOM

ABOUT THE SHOW Accomplished and career-focused journalist, Mitch Albom, learns his former professor, Morrie Schwartz, is battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Prompted by this information while feeling guilty that he had lost touch for all those years, Mitch reconnects with his terminally-ill teacher for a simple visit. That turned into another visit, and another, and every Tuesday Morrie had left in his life. Their wise and loving conversations—a last class in the meaning of life—became the basis for the best-selling novel on which this play is adapted from.

MARCH

21-24, 2019 MEMBER TICKETS AVAILABLE: FEBRUARY 18 PUBLIC TICKETS AVAILABLE: MARCH 4

Original New York production produced by David S. Singer, Elizabeth Ireland McCann, Joey Parnes, Amy & Scott Nederlander, Harold Thau, Moira Wilson, Shadowcatcher Enterainment. Originally presented by New York Stage and Film Company and the Powerhouse Theatre at Vassar, 2002. TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE was supported by a playwright’s residency and public staged readings at the 2001 O’Neill National Playwrights Conference of the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, Waterford, CT. “The Very Thought of You” Words and Music by Ray Noble Copyright © 1934 by Range Road Music, Inc. and Quartet Music All rights in the USA administered by Range Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP) All rights in Canada administered by Redwood Music Ltd. (PRS) TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.New York

music and lyrics by

Benny Andersson

Bjรถrn Ulvaeus

and some songs with STIG ANDERSON book by

Catherine Johnson

originally conceived by

Judy Craymer

additional material & arrangments

Martin Koch

ABOUT THE SHOW On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. Heartfelt and funny, this vibrant musical about love, laughter, and friendship is set against the gorgeous backdrop of the Greek islands and underscored by ABBA’s timeless hit songs, including “Dancing Queen,” “Super Trouper,” “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme,” “Voulez Vous,” “The Winner Takes It All” and the title song, “Mamma Mia!”

MAY

3-5, 9-12, 16-18, 2019 MEMBER TICKETS AVAILABLE: APRIL 1 PUBLIC TICKETS AVAILABLE: APRIL 15

MAMMA MIA! was originally produced in London by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Bjorn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal. Music published by Universal Music Publishing Group and EMI Grove Park Music Inc. and EMI Waterford Music Inc. MAMMA MIA! is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com

passion for our community

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Spotlightmedia spotlightmediafargo.com

Jay Nelson

FMCT Board President From our earliest memories, stories have been an important part of our lives. From a child pleading for a bedtime story, a teenager telling scary ghost stories, an adult tracking down his or her family story, to a grandparent completing the circle and reading a child a bedtime story. Here, at your community theatre, we tell stories. To make you think, to make you laugh and cry, to connect us.

We all have a story. Here’s mine: I’ve never been a theatre guy. In school, I was interested in sports, not music or theatre. I never gave performing a thought. As an adult I’ve lived eight blocks from the theatre for 35 years, but had rarely set foot in the building, much less thought of performing.

Six years ago something happened that changed the trajectory of my life. A tragedy really, the loss of a family member. A story too long for this purpose, but an incident that accelerated my bucket list, which included “audition for a show”. Somehow, against all odds, I was cast, and found my tribe. That was six years and 14 shows ago.

As we conclude our 72nd season at this theatre, I think about those that came before us: the risk takers, the visionaries, the volunteers…that helped establish FMCT as an integral thread in the fabric of our community. A place for performances. A place to make art. A place to tell stories. For me…all of the above, plus, a place to heal.

Kudos to those that preceded us. They did their part. Now it’s our turn. Thanks to those that volunteer and donate today. Maybe you’d join us? Volunteer. Donate. Become a sustaining member. Sign up your kids for education programs. Attend the performances. Audition! We’re your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers. We’re all here for our own reasons and welcome you. Be a part of the tribe!

What does theatre mean to me? Everything. That’s my story. What’s yours?

FARGO MOORHEAD COMMUNITY THEATRE CONTRIBUTORS

JANUARY 2018 - DECEMBER 2018 LIST INCLUDES FMCT MEMBERS, CONTRIBUTORS, AND GIVING HEARTS DAY DONORS FROM 2018

$5,000+

Jane Dynes Earlyne Hector Jay Nibbe Karin Rudd Jerald Stewart

$1,000-$4,999 Anonymous Gifts Shanna Franzen Jolette Olig

$500-$999

Jaime & Mike Aasen Patricia & Burton Belknap Eloise & Arne Breikjern Elair Brothen Alice Klingenstein Eric & Jenni Momsen Jay Nelson Perry Rust Mike Sacrison The Cast of Calendar Girls

$200-$499

Becky Barry Robert & Linda Christman Yvonne Condell Shelby Ellsworth Tom & Carolyn Espel Caryn Hewitt James Kapitan Lori & Hardy Koenig Terry Koppang (In honor the

Mike Aasen family and Rachel Rebischke)

Courtney & Adam Montgomery Jeff & Alissa Nibbe Nyla & Roger Olson Erik Opdahl Tim & Claudette Peterson

Shelia Remboldt Denis Richardson Carol Rudrud Brian Shawn Kevin Skunes Reid Strand M Blake Strehlow

Up to $199

Karen Andersen Gail Anderson Brooky Anderson Ricky Anderson Brady Archer Patricia Arnold Sarah Arnold Sue Austin Winnie Austin Susan Bachmeier Shannon Bacon Arlene Bakker Joan Baltezore Joey Bartram Casey Bartz Linda Basler Darren Baumgartner Amber Bender Mavis & John Bennett Sarah Benson Jody Berg Steffanie Berg Mark Bibelheimer Mary Bjorgaard Richard & Carolyn Blaine Connie Blank Kathy Blouin Phyllis Boatman Courtney Boe Diane Boit Steve Borgen Shawn Borud Tweiten Linda Boyd Michelle Boyer

Brent Brandt Cherryl Braton Nicholle Breikjern Gurnee Bridgeman Robert Broad Scott Brusven Shelly Burchill Amber Burgad Pam & Michael Burns Suzanne Castilla Kathy Christianson Jaci N Christman Roxie Chudy Andrew Clevenger Mary Cochran Shelby Cochran Erin Conwell Faye Crume Janna & Jake Curry Louise Dahl Daniel Damico Debra Dawson Dayna Del Val Teresa Diers Katie Diiro Bryan Domholt Richard Dunkirk Jessica Ebeling Elaine Ebsen Nancy Eide Troy Elseth Leslie Enerson Tim Estenson Chelsey Ewen Chad Fischer Mary Fitzgerald Gina Folla Noah Ford-Dunker Gloria Fornes Audra Freeman Wendy Frensko Lois Fritz Tracy Fuller Claire Garcia Lacy & Matthew Gasper Robert Gerke Justin Gibb Brenda Jo Gillund Christina Gordon JJ Gordon

Justin & Jackie Grams Jeremy & Heidi Gregoire Marcy Grewe Nikkie Gullickson Dawn Gunderson Brenda Hagel Helen Hagemeister Shelley Hagen Jennifer Halda Murill Halvorson Doug Hamilton David Hamilton Kathy & Dave Hanson Harley Hanson Kandy & David Hartson Susan Hartwick Beth Haseltine Laura Hausmann Marlys Heck Becky Hecker Jewel Hecker Chelsea Heide Jill Hofer Rachel Hoffman Stanley Hoglund Larry Holmstrom Christine Hoper Steve Horst Bruce & Diane Houglum Julie Hudson Shelly Hurt LeRoy Jackson Laure Jahner Ralph Jameson Kay & Al Jastram Kara Jeffers Alixandra Johnson John Johnson Lori Johnson Nancy Johnson Erica Johnsrud Janet Jones Anja Kalvoda Korey Kautzman Stacy Keeping Anne Keller Kathleen Kelsh Jessica & James Kendall Beverley Kerber Sarah Kjos

Leslie Klingenstein Lee Klocke Natalie Koch Ski Kostman Jean Kramer Max Kringen Susan Krueger Mila Kryjevskaia Nikki Kurtz Amy LaBounty John Lamb Tracy, Mike, & Seth LaMont Eric Leedahl Shirley Leiphon Marcia Lindquist Heather Lindsay Brian Litton William Lucas Karla Maertens Aliceyn Magelky Timothy Mahoney Rick & Tami Mangahas Lisa Market Sarah Mayfield Camey Mcauley Christine McClellan Marcia McMullen Emily Mercier Dianne Millar Angela Mills Fischer Brent & Boots Montgomery Scott Morrissy Dawn Morton Sarah Nelson Stephen & Clem Nemeth Charles Newman Gayle Noraker Diane Nordeng Ashley Nowacki Myra Nowak Amy Nubson Gene Okerlund Pamela OLeary Melissa Olheiser Michael Olsen Ardell & Audrey Olson Karen Olson Michael Olson

Jeannie & Larry Orke Judy Orvik Linda Orvik Sara Owens-Granger Adam Pankow Tim & Connie Pankow Sharon Parkhouse Jamie Passanante Allen Pederson Kellie Pifer Katie Pipinich Kathleen Pratt Rachel & Sean Rebischki Russ Rensvold Kayla Rice Natalie Rick Bill Roden Jane Rosales Linda Rothschadl Cody Rowe Alison Rowell Kailyn Rudd Lynn Rustad Lucas Rutten Robert & Caryl Rutten Mormen Salana Donna Samuelson Jean Sando Gretchen Schatz Mark F Schlader Mary Jo Schmid

Davis Scott Todd & Alana Sears Stephanie Shea Sherry Shirek Lynae Sims Matthew Skadberg Jeanette Smith-Murphy Gustav Staahl JoAnn Stack Lindsey Stacklie Gretchen Stafslien Brian Stavenger Janet Stebner Keith Steinberg Mary Stende Miller Karen Stennes Richard Stenseth Mary Stenson Karen Storhoff Theresa Strong Curt & Margaret Sveum Michelle Swanson Steve & Mary Anne Swiontek Paul Tebben Tim & Doreen Tennancour Shelby Terstrip Sandi Teske Sandy Thiel Haylee Thompson

Val Thomson Tally Tinjum Elizabeth Torguson Colleen Tupper Jeremy Ulmer Karla Underdahl Jane VanHatten Jillain Veil-Ehnert Nancy Vesel Emily Vieweg Peeranut Visetsuth Linda Volness Christopher Voorhees Donna Wawers Tanya Weets Shelley Weidner Charles Weingarten Christine Welsand Pam Werre Sandra White Marsha Wilke Ann Willeson Robin Williams Anne Williamson Robert Wilson Andrew Wyne Mali Yahnke Peggy Zavadil Carol & Allan Zimmerman Duane Zwinger

Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre makes every effort to be as accurate as possible with our donor list.

Should there be any discrepancy in these listings or if there are any questions, please contact us at 701.235.1901.

2018/19 CORPORATE SPONSORS, FOUNDATIONS, & PUBLIC AGENCIES Alex Stern Family Foundation The Arts Partnership Bell State Bank & Trust The Elmer Berg Family Foundation Fargo Kiwanis Fine Arts Club The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

Gate City Bank Happy Harry’s Hornbacher’s North Dakota Council on the Arts Ottertail Power Company Spotlight Media West Acres Development

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325 7th St S Fargo, ND 58103 (218) 233-3646

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fmopera.org / 701-239-4558

Value Driven 2537 University Dr S 2537 University Dr S Fargo, ND Fargo, ND 58103 58103 701.280.2100 701.280.2100 www.fsw-co.com www.fsw-co.com

1623 38TH ST SW, Fargo (701) 277-1447

Hours Mon-Sat: 9:00am-9:00pm Sun: 12:00pm-7:00pm

The brief history of

Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre

1946 FMCT was founded in the spring of 1946.

The first production was My Sister Eileen.

For the next two decades, productions were held in the Fargo Arena, a church, school auditoriums, the Fargo auditorium, service clubs and Red River Playhouse, a former vaudeville theatre.

1950 Peter Schickele (a.k.a. PDQ Bach)— international composer, musician, author and satirist—performed in his first production at FMCT. He and his family continued to be active at the theatre throughout the decade.

1963 Dustin Hoffman directed two productions in the spring of 1963. The productions were not held in the current facility.

Plans were announced to build a theatre. The Fargo Park Board was approached by FMCT Board President George Nassif for the Island Park site.

1967 The FMCT building officially opens. The theatre was largely built with donated materials and labor as spearheaded by Wayne “Doc” Candor.

Generous financial contributions were made by the Herbst family, along with many other community members to complete this community-focused project.

1980 Prairie Theatre Academy was founded by Anne VanderMaten. This program introduced school-aged children to the world of performing arts. This program’s name was changed to the Children’s Studio Theatre in 2009 and in 2015 to FMCT ED Youth Conservatory Classes.

1981 NBC comes to Fargo to feature FMCT as one of the first in the area to open charitable gaming sites to support their non-profit operations.

1994 An expansion project added a gazebo, classroom, women’s restroom, and kitchen.

Additional projects were completed in the auditorium as well. FMCT paid for all of its construction for these projects.

2000 The STAR Program began working with various social service agencies to distribute tickets for preview performances to individuals who would otherwise be unable to attend the shows.

FMCT introduced Audio Description Performances, in which a narrator describes the visual elements of a production to patrons who are blind or who have low vision. FMCT was the first non-profit arts organization to own and utilize Audio Description equipment in the area. FMCT also has Assisted Listening devices for those with hearing difficulties.

In December the legal name of the organization was changed to Northern Prairie Performing Arts.

2011 FMCT received the largest monetary gift in its history. Through this donation the gazebo was enclosed, offering additional space for events, creating a more efficient box office area as well as updating the lobby area.

2012 The Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Pavilion was dedicated and FMCT now has a beautiful entrance to the facility.

2018 FMCT’s first sensory-friendly performance was presented in winter 2018. This special show gave access to children and adults on the autism spectrum with considerations made for lights, sound, facility, and person-to-person interactions.

This initiative marked a first in our regional arts scene.

FMCT opens a satellite space at 6 Broadway in Fargo. Named STUDIO 6, the space is first utilized for an expanded summer education program comprised of production and creative camps for ages 5-18. The space will serve FMCT’s growing education programs and provide a secondary rehearsal space as well.

2019 The Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre is driven by its mission of “enriching our greater community through engaging theatrical and educational opportunities.” This mission is realized through our primary goals: to create meaningful artistic opportunities on and off the stage at the highest quality possible, to produce plays and musicals that entice volunteers and patrons to participate in our organization, and to create programing for the youth and senior citizens of our community through educational classes, outreach, and/or performances. Long-range planning to best meet the demands of a growing community is also an important priority for our board of directors and staff as we position ourselves to create exceptional experiences for many more seasons to come.

1991 Silver Follies was created. This program supports theatre productions with a cast aged 55+ and remains the single largest avenue for the expression of performing art by seniors in this region.

flint-group.com

Located at The Stage at Island Park Park Located at The Stage at Island

SEASON 73 2019-2020

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Through acts of kindness that foster creativity, we pass on a better way of life.

Thank you, Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre, for strengthening our community through theatre.

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