Fandangle board seeks funding

By Donnie A. Lucas

Some of the props and facilities of the Fort Griffin Fandangle are showing their age, prompting the board of directors to initiate a capital improvements drive to make needed updates.

Originated in 1938 by Albany playwright Robert Nail, the annual show held in June has been performed at its own Prairie Theater since 1964.

While minor improvements have been made to the theater over the years, the directors feel it is time to make more substantial and lasting repairs to safely see the show through its first century of performances.

 “The Fandangle’s Prairie Theater has been patched up numerous times since it was built in 1964,” board president Henry Musselman said. “We are looking at projects that can realistically be accomplished by June 1 when rehearsals begin, then after this year’s show we hope to start more long-term improvements.”

The goal set for the short-term improvements to be completed this spring is $300,000, with letters already being sent out in November to charitable foundations in the area and within the state.

Musselman said a letter will also be sent out to the Fandangle Association’s membership in early January outlining the improvements he hopes will be funded.

“We have had a couple of foundations request more detailed information, which we sent,” he said. “We haven’t secured any foundation money yet, but there are so many foundations out there looking for worthy projects.”

The largest project identified for the first group of improvements is to stabilize the hillside at the south end of the theater between the seating area and the concession stand.

“The main effort will be to rebuild the south end of the terraced seating, including retaining walls on the hillside, as well as the first three terraces holding the box seats,” Musselman said. “This will help stabilize the entire seating area, and we then hope to repair the entire seating area after this year’s show.”

The cost for the first portion of the rebuilding is estimated at $150,000, although more accurate estimates are expected in January.

“We are still trying to determine what we can complete before June 1 and trying to figure out what we can afford to do by then,” he said. “We want to do the most good that we can with the money we receive in the short term.”

There are also repairs to structures at the theater, the calliope, and costumes on the list for the spring.

“Our next focus will be to repair or rebuild several wooden structures and sets,” he said. “We are including needed repairs to the tower or production booth, the concession stand, the dugout ticket office, and the frontier cabin at the entrance. Also, there are more than two dozen sets that all need major overhauls.”

The cost for those repairs is set at $100,000.

“We are including another $25,000 for repairs to the steam-powered calliope and another $25,000 to upgrade costumes for the show.”

Also noted in the original letter sent to foundations were needed improvements to roadways and the parking area, along with other walkways and lighting.

Musselman said that the Fandangle has already received two grants that total $60,000 that will be used for the improvements.

“There will still be more to do after this, but this will be a good start,” he said. “Realistically, there is only so much that be can accomplished prior to the show in June, so that is what we have outlined to begin with.”

He added that completing at least a portion of the dirt work and retaining structures necessary to stop the erosion to the south end of the theater will not only help stabilize the entire facility, but will also provide a basis for cost estimates to complete the remaining 11 seating terraces later in the year.

Anyone interested in contributing to the effort can send a check to the Ft. Griffin Fandangle, PO Box 2017, Albany, TX 76430.

The association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.