Fandangle to open Friday
By Donnie A. Lucas
The sound of the bugle call will once again open each performance of the 85th anniversary edition of the Fort Griffin Fandangle on Friday (tomorrow) at 8:30 p.m. at the Prairie Theater.
Audience members will be treated to specially scripted and prepared Fandangle songs and scenes woven together to highlight the anniversary of the outdoor extravaganza.
Those attending the show will also benefit from the recent improvements made to the Prairie Theater including the terraced seating area in the amphitheater that will provide a safer and more comfortable experience, plus all-new sound equipment, walkways, and rest room facilities.
The 2023 Fandangle is set for Friday and Saturday nights, June 16-17 and June 23-24 at the outdoor theater located one-half mile northwest of Albany on FM 1084.
The gates open at 7:00 p.m., with a concert on the newly restored steam-powered calliope starting at 8:00 p.m. The performance will begin at 8:30 p.m.
The ticket office will open at 7:15 p.m. on each day of the show at the Prairie Theater.
Rehearsals for the show begin in March, with nightly practices held the last three weeks. Dress rehearsal is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. tonight.
“Rehearsals have gone really well,” artistic director Lorna Ayers said. “The cast is on point and seems really invested in the show. The main things we are battling are learning the new sound system and the weather.”
Ayers said this is one of the largest casts in a number of years.
Ticket Information
Ticket sales kicked into high gear this week, with this Saturday’s performance very close to being sold out.
“We have been very busy this week,” office manager Jamie Parsons said. “We are over 98 percent sold on Saturday, June 17, and the rest of the nights are filling up fast with about 75 percent sold.”
Only a handful of tickets were still available for Saturday’s show as of Tuesday.
The ticket office in the depot is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Tickets are also available on the Fandangle web site www.fandangle.org.
Parsons said that the office has official Fandangle merchandise for sale including caps, t-shirts, tumblers, and candles.
Merchandise will also be available at the theater prior to each show.
Reserved seats are $20 each, with group pricing available for groups of 20 or more. Special pricing is also available for active military and veterans.
Free programs and free parking are included in the ticket price. A concession stand will be open to cold drinks, water, chips, candy, hot dogs and Opa’s sausage on a stick.
Persons in need of handicap access are asked to arrive early if they require the use of the handicap vehicle entrance to unload passengers. Those with accessibility issues should notify the parking attendants for instructions.
The handicap entrance cannot be used after the show begins.
The Fandangle association is hosting Joe Allen’s Barbecue from Abilene to cater a barbecue meal with all the trimmings at the Bank Park in downtown starting at 5:00 p.m. on performance days. Prices are $20 for adults and $12 for kids. A brisket sandwich lunch with chips and drink for $10 will be served from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. each day.
Local restaurants will also be serving visitors and locals, although two popular establishments are currently closed for remodeling.
