Final 2 shows to be performed Friday, Saturday
By Donnie A. Lucas
With two shows under their belts including one sellout, the cast and crew of the Ft. Griffin Fandangle are gearing up for the final two performances set for Friday and Saturday, June 23-24 at the Prairie Theater.
Tickets are still available for both shows of the 85th anniversary edition of the outdoor musical.
“We are over 70 percent sold for Friday night and about 80 percent sold on Saturday, “Fandangle office manager Jamie Parsons said on Tuesday. “The phones have been ringing off the hook, so local people who still need tickets need to get them as quickly as possible.”
The ticket office in the Depot is open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and tickets are also available on the Fandangle website www.fandangle.org. Reserved seats cost $20 each, with group pricing available for groups of 20 or more. Special pricing is also available for active military and veterans.
Phone orders are also accepted with a credit card by calling 325-762-3838.
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 safe and more comfortable experience, plus all new sound equipment, walkways, and restroom facilities.
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 starts 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, which is located one-half mile northwest of Albany on FM 1084.
Artistic director Lorna Ayers said that both performances last weekend were very well received.
“Everything went so well, even with the threat of bad weather on Saturday just before starting,” she said. “We had a brief bit of hail and rain which sent the audience to find cover, but they came right back.”
The audience included some celebrities who came to judge the parade earlier on Saturday, including Red Steagall, an American actor and musician, Tim Long, president of the Cowtown Coliseum, and Rep. Jodey Arrington.
“They all said they loved the show,” Ayers said. “Tim Long was blown away by the professionalism of the show and the quality of local talent, and Red Steagall quickly became quite a fan. He really was impressed with the authenticity of the history the show tells.”
Ayers also was pleased that the crowds were so responsive, especially during the Saturday performance.
“The cast hit their cues and really looked like they were having a good time, which translated well to the audience,” she said. “I was really impressed with the performances.”
Ayers said this is one of the largest casts in a number of years.
The ticket office crew serves double duty selling official Fandangle merchandise including caps, t-shirts, tumblers, and candles, as well as manning the concession stand. The concession stand offers cold drinks, water, chips, candy, hot dogs, and Opa’s sausage on a stick.
Free programs and free parking are included in the ticket price. 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 both visitors and locals, however, two popular establishments are closed for remodeling currently.
The cast and crew will have a run-through on Thursday (tonight) starting at 7:30 p.m. Costumes are not required. The rehearsal will be preceded at 6:00 p.m. with a hamburger supper prepared by Joe Allen’s Barbecue compliments of the Fandangle board of directors.
