Fandangle Sampler moved to Whitney
Due to a day of rain, the annual MembershipSamplerand dinner for the Fort Griffin Fandangle Association was moved indoors to the Whitney Theatre in Albany last Saturday.
While the crowd of members and guests may have been slightly smaller than planned, the success of the “members only” preview of the 86th anniversary of the Fandangle was not dampened, according to organizers.
Originally planned for the Main Street at the town of Fort Griffin on Collins Creek Ranch, the cast and crew boxed up the show for an indoor performance.
“It all went so great,” said Lorna Ayers, artistic director. “The cast and crew did an amazing job of adjusting to a much smaller stage with just one last-minute rehearsal.”
Ayers said that the majority of the rehearsals for the Sampler were held at the Prairie See Fandangle, pg. 8A Theater until last Friday.
“All the entrances and exits, and the blocking of theshowhadtobechanged, and everyone did an unbelievable job adapting,” Ayers said. “I even had to edit the script down by seven pages to make changes for the move inside. This was such a team effort.”
The audience was very receptive to the performance, she added.
Fandangle office manager JamieParsonsagreed.
“Everyone enjoyed the show, the meal, and the dancing afterwards,” she said. “Our numbers were downsomefromthosewho had sent an RSVP, but we still had several new members join at the doors and some membership renewals as well.”
The event was catered by the Icehouse Restaurant, and music for the dance that followed provided by the local group, the Clear Fork Boys.
Summer Show Rehearsals
Ayers said that rehearsals for the four summer performance in late June will start Monday, May 13.
“Iencourageeveryoneto gototheFandanglewebsite and look at the rehearsal schedule,”thedirectorsaid. “It is very different from the past.”
The cast page can be found at the bottom of the home page of the new website at www.fortgriffin fandangle.org. Cast information can be found at the bottom by clicking the Cast link, which is printed in green. Ayers emphasized the importance of registering all children planning to be in the summer show.
“Weneedparentstosign up all kids from pre-school tohighschoolwiththeform on the website,”Ayers said. “This really needs to be done before they come to rehearsals.”
Castmembersareasked to join this year’s new Remind app to receive the most recent notifications about rehearsals.
Ayers explained that the Fandangle had to set up a new account this year, which means everyone must sign up again to get the text reminders about rehearsals or any changes to the schedule.
Anyone wanting to join Remind in order to receive information and reminders about rehearsals can text 81010 with the message @fandang included. If successfully sent, the new member will receive a confirmation text.
Memberships, Tickets Memberships are still open to anyone at the following donation levels: Pioneer $25, Longhorn $75, Patron $175, Bronze $250, Silver $500, Gold $1,000, Platinum $2,500, and Diamond $5,000.
Membersarerecognized in local newspaper advertising that the Fandangle places prior to the summer show, as well as in the program handed out at each performance.
Performance dates this summerareJune21-22and June 28-29.
Ticketsfortheshowsare available online or can be purchased in person or by callingtheFandangleoffice at 325-762-3838.
“Oursocialmediaadvertising started this week, and we have already sold a lot of tickets,” said Parsons.
Ticket prices are $20 for reserved seating and $25 forboxseats.Boxseatingis only available for members to purchase.
Tickets are online at www.fortgriffinfandangle. com.
The annual Fandangle parade is set for June 22, which is already drawing themostattentionbyticket buyers.
