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"It shall be the purpose of Fantasy Playhouse Children's Theater to develop, foster, and encourage the education, interest and ability of the children of Huntsville and North Alabama in creative theater arts and crafts." --From the Fantasy Charter
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Throughout its history, Fantasy has earned a position of community respect through its award-winning stage productions, responsibility in working with young people, financial stability and cooperation with other arts groups and civic organizations. Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater clearly contributes to the quality of life in the Tennessee Valley.
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Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater is a non-profit organization. Our goal is to bring the love of theater and stagecraft to the youth of north Alabama. Fantasy Playhouse has three major branches, Productions, The Fantasy Academy, and the Fantasy Players.
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Starting its first year with a $5000 budget, Fantasy Playhouse grew to a $250,000 annual budget operated entirely by volunteers, except for contracted educational instructors. Originally housed in temporary facilities, we now own a 10,000 sq ft building which houses our office, rehearsal space, costume construction and storage, classrooms as well as renting office space to another non-profit arts group. We also own a 7,500 sq ft warehouse that houses our scene shop. Both these buildings were paid for through capital campaigns and generous donations from the community and board members. Recent purchases of two other properties adjacent to our main building have led to future plans to create an Arts Campus that would include a Technical Theater Center and provide rehearsal and performance space for us as well as other arts groups. This year we hired a new employee, an Executive Director, to give needed help to the volunteers to manage the operation and focus on growth, while continuing to provide quality theater experiences and education.
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- 12,500 + people attend 9-10 sold out performances of our 3 season shows and annual season extra, A Christmas Carol
- Renewing season ticketholders represent 47 zip 75 active volunteers with an additional 15-20 working on technical production of each show
- Fantasy Theater provides technical expertise, props and set pieces to local high schools and other arts organizations
- Ticket prices are the lowest in the area and are kept low to provide family affordable outings. Casts are selected in open auditions with children and youth filling age-appropriate roles. No fees are assessed for costumes or for appearing in productions, thus removing economic barriers to participation.
- Fantasy offers groups of economically disadvantaged children access to our fully staged dress rehearsals, free of charge. We have also sponsored a summer theatre program for low income children at Lincoln School.
- Fantasy Academy of Theater offers over 100 classes, reaching 700 students per year, provides 7 - 10 scholarships to the their classes, as well as, 50 scholarships through the Second Mile Preschool outreach program
- The Fantasy Players, a performing troupe of young people, serve as ambassadors for Fantasy Playhouse and the Arts as they perform at schools, libraries, day care programs and community events and have been especially helpful with reading programs in our public schools.
- Two cash scholarships are available for outstanding college bound students who have participated in Fantasy Playhouse on stage and behind the scenes.
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