Huntsville Magazine
  • WHERE TO FIND THE MAGAZINE
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ADVERTISE
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
ABOUT US
  • WHERE TO FIND THE MAGAZINE
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ADVERTISE
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
Categories
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Bar & Lounge
  • Business
  • Children's Event
  • Comedy
  • Community
  • Contest
  • Editor's Pick
  • Events
  • Family + Kids
  • Featured
  • Food + Drink
  • Guide
  • Health + Fitness
  • Home + Real Estate
  • Huntsville Attractions
  • Huntsville Museum of Art
  • Live Music
  • Local Artist
  • Local Band
  • Love and Marriage Huntsville
  • Music
  • Orion Amphitheater
  • People
  • Photoshoot
  • Print Magazine
  • Printed Story
  • Recurring
  • Rocket City
  • School
  • Small Business Spotlight
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Stovehouse
  • Style + Shopping
  • The Camp
  • Things to Do
  • Travel + Outdoors
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Weekly
  • Weekly Roundup
Meta
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
  • WHERE TO FIND THE MAGAZINE
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ADVERTISE
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
Huntsville Magazine
SUBSCRIBE
Huntsville Magazine Huntsville Magazine
  • Entertainment
  • Family + Kids
  • Food + Drink
  • Health + Fitness
  • Home + Real Estate
  • Sports
  • Shopping
  • Travel
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Family + Kids

Behind the Curtain with Fantasy Playhouse Theater

  • February 27, 2023
  • 3 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
written by sarah chase

Inclusiveness, diversity, kindness and integrity are just a few values of the Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy. The summer and after-school program do more than just host play productions. They are focused on empowering children through education and the arts.

VIEW UPCOMING PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Founded in 1961, the program has become the leading arts education organization in North Alabama according to their website. The FPCTA has reached 31,000 residents annually and that includes 21,000 children and youth.

“Our goal is to teach students life skills through stage skills, encouraging them to become self-confident, academically successful, creative thinking citizens who are more likely to invest in their communities as adults,” executive director Karen Mockensturm said. “FPCTA’s core programs include live children’s theater productions, classes, camps, workshops, a fine arts preschool and educational outreach through after school classes and touring programs.”

Two funny playful children, boy and girl, smiling while acting as monsters with claws, on a purple stage, in a theatrical representation

Holding the belief that “all children have the right to see themselves in stories,” the program is now bringing theater accessibility to the stage through sensory friendly performances. The decision came after the program wanted to welcome the differently-abled community who may not have been able to experience live theater.

“Sensory friendly performances will have all the magic of Fantasy Playhouse production, but with sound effects lowered and house lights dimly lit,” artistic director Stephen Davis said. We will have a special host to introduce actors, characters and talk to audience members through logistics of how theater productions work. Audience members will also receive sensory kits with fidget toys, weighted blankets, headphones, and communication white boards.” The accessibility does not stop at the performances. It reaches all the way to the classroom. Each day class time is devoted to working on an abundance of things such as creative movement, music therapy, critical thinking skills and acting classes. Each month the preschool hosts lecturers to spend time with students and to focus on a multitude of concepts including art, dance, science and story time.

“The program uses dance, music, movement, mixed media processing and theater to help kids explore concepts in a safe and fun environment,” preschool education coordinator, Meagan McLaughlin said. “STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. All of these are highly important subjects of study in helping people change and shape the world around us. However, without art these subjects of study exist as one-dimensional concepts that can only be read about in a book. With the introduction of art comes imagination of what could be, the ability to try something new even if it isn’t perfect on the first try, learning how to cooperate with others, and the development of a love and passion for a project that will last for years to come.”

The program will be expanding soon with their “Spotlight on the Future” campaign. The new 35,700 square foot home will provide more classroom space as well as a 355-seat theater.

“The new facility is a one of a kind, regional destination for family-friendly entertainment and educational programing, including a low-cost fine arts preschool to prepare students for a successful early academic career,” Mockensturm said. “It will be a center dedicated to the development of our future workforce, regardless of career, as well as acting as a theater arts training feeder program for Alabama colleges and the growing film industry and a catalyst for revitalization of one of our state’s most diverse, yet under-resourced communities. The location in Terry Heights is key as FPCTA has been providing free services and tickets to the community for 20 years through a partnership with Second Mile Development.”

Hoping to develop better humans, Mockensturm shares that they know not every child who joins the program will want to go to Broadway, but they are focused on molding children to become successful in what they decide to do.

“I am incredibly proud of the way our organization has grown over the last decade to build on the amazing legacy of our founding and meet the needs of today’s families,” Mockensturm said. “It is an honor to witness the magic our education and production teams, staff and volunteers, make every day with our families.”

To learn more, please visit https://www.fantasyplayhouse.org/

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • featured
Takara Swoopes

Takara Swoopes is Publisher, Editor in Chief of Huntsville Magazine. A Decatur, Alabama native, Takara recently returned to North Alabama after twenty years of living in Washington, DC, San Diego, Tokyo, Japan and most recently Honolulu, Hawaii. She is a graduate of Howard University, a Fulbrighter, and mom of four and is happy to call Huntsville, Alabama home.

Previous Article
  • Editor's Pick
  • Style + Shopping

8 Top Makeup Artists in Huntsville to Know

  • February 26, 2023
View
Next Article
  • Featured
  • Travel + Outdoors

NEW! Breeze Airways Offers Non-Stop Flights to Orlando from Huntsville

  • March 1, 2023
View
You May Also Like
View
  • 1 min
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Events

Saint Heels Dance Class | March 25, 2023 at Campus 805

  • Takara Swoopes
  • March 15, 2023
View
  • 5 min
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Editor's Pick
  • Style + Shopping

Jordyn Brummett Pottery, Motherhood, Passion and Rerooting Through Art

  • Takara Swoopes
  • March 11, 2023
View
  • 3 min
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Editor's Pick

Deqn Sue, Rocket City’s Queen of Quirk

  • Takara Swoopes
  • March 6, 2023
View
  • 1 min
  • Events
  • Family + Kids

Hubert Family Farms You Pick Tulips Opening, 2023

  • Takara Swoopes
  • March 5, 2023
View
  • 2 min
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Events

Experience Origami in the Garden at the Huntsville Botanical Garden

  • Takara Swoopes
  • February 21, 2023
View
  • 1 min
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Events

FEB 22, 2023 | Rooted in History Preview Party at Harrison and Brothers

  • Takara Swoopes
  • February 21, 2023
View
  • 65
  • 4 min
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Family + Kids
  • Featured

Serengeti 3D Brings One of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders to Chattanooga

  • Takara Swoopes
  • January 10, 2023
View
  • 133
  • 1 min
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Children's Event
  • Style + Shopping

African-American Themed Wrapping Paper & Gift Bags by Clera’s Creative Gifts

  • Takara Swoopes
  • December 14, 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

about
Subscribe to Huntsville Magazine
One-Year Subscription (4 Issues) $24.99
Buy Now
Featured Posts
  • 1
    Easter Jubilee 2023 at Burritt on the Mountain April 8th at 11AM
    • March 15, 2023
  • 2
    Anthony Hamilton to Perform at the Orion Ampitheater, April 8th
    • March 15, 2023
  • 3
    MAR 30, 2023 | Enjoy a Four-Course Dinner with Wine at The Wine Cellar
    • March 15, 2023
  • 4
    MAR 20-26, 2023 | Huntsville Yoga Week
    • March 15, 2023
  • 5
    Huntsville FC Game Watch Party | March 26th at 2PM Yellowhammer Brewing
    • March 15, 2023
Recent Posts
  • Saint Heels Dance Class | March 25, 2023 at Campus 805
    • March 15, 2023
  • Enjoy Travel Pattern’s Brim Bar Workshops, March 23rd & 30th
    • March 12, 2023
  • Jordyn Brummett Pottery, Motherhood, Passion and Rerooting Through Art
    • March 11, 2023
About
    🌱 L O C A L - B U S I N E S S / / Meet Jordyn Brummett, mother, creative, small batch pottery creator, and owner of The Vessel located at @stovehouse 🌿💛 Gaslight Alley. Jordyn is crafting a life filled with passion and purpose one piece of pottery at a time. 124 16
    ✨ B E H I N D - T H E - S H O O T ✨ / / North Alabama’s Florence is home to iconic luxury Brand, Billy Reid @billy_reid . Known for its classic American style and high-quality fabrics, Billy Reid’s flagship store is located an hour and a half’s drive from Huntsville. Learn more about this “Lived-in Luxury” brand and its gorgeous store in our upcoming spring issue. #huntsvillealabama #florencealabama #billyreid #citymagazine #luxurystore #luxurystoredesign #fashion #ihearthsv 112 14
    🥳 🫶 💥 THANK YOU HUNTSVILLE! We're excited to share that come April 2023, Huntsville Magazine will be on the shelves and sold in 100+ stores across the Huntsville Metro Area! We are BEYOND excited with this news of distribution, but even more so inspired to keep going, sharing, and showcasing all of the amazing people, businesses, organizations, that make Huntsville special! 344 75
    ❤️ C O M M U N I T Y + C O N N E C T I O N / / Huntsville Magazine is proud to announce the nominees and winner of our First-Responders HomeTown Heroes Contest!   132 5
    🛸🚀❤️ B E H I N D - T H E - I S S U E - R E C A P / / The Winter Issue 2022 155 23
    💄Spring is upon us and the Huntsville Metro Area is buzzing with events and happenings. If you’re looking for makeup artists in Huntsville, here’s a great list to bookmark ❤️ Check out these eight talented artists who are sure to make you look your best. From glamorous looks to natural beauty, they have you covered. Get ready to be inspired!  Who did we miss? Who’s your go-to? Tag your favorite MUA! 347 90
    Huntsville Magazine

    Input your search keywords and press Enter.