While the Junior High was still located on 4th St. in Faribault, in 1974 Thomas Casper became the director of the Junior High Theatre program. Originally it was an activity class within the school day. In the mid 1970's it became an after school activity. The productions were performed on the old stage/basketball court in the old Junior High building. There were two productions a year with approximately 15-20 students being involved per production. In the late 1970's Mr. Casper took the productions on the road. They traveled to all of the elementary schools and produced a great interest in the theatre program at the junior high level.
The Faribault Middle School was completed in 1985 and with its unique layout plan, was the inclusion of a 350 seat theatre. The school district had a small theatre at the high school at the time, so this new theatre was utilized by both the high school and middle school programs from 1985 until the spring of 1998 . Casts and crews for the middle school during this time grew to 70-80 students. An assistant director was hired to work with Thomas Casper - Mark Swedberg. They worked together for eight to nine years. Marcia Morris Beck, and Gary Hoganson also assisted for a number of years.
When the high school finally finished building their own theatre and other additions, Mr. Casper moved to the high school as the media specialist. In 1998, the theatre at the middle school continued to produce two plays a year - one in the fall and one in the spring - under the direction of Gary Hoganson.
The Faribault Area Community Theatre (F.A.C.T.) also produced their shows in the middle school facility from 1985 until 2007 when they moved into the Paradise Center for the Arts as a permanent partner in that venture.
The theatre at FMS has gone through some recent updates - new curtains, new flooring, new seats and repaired seats. Next up for updating will be the lighting and sound systems.
Ms. Mary Schneider directed the FMS theatre since 2002 when she began teaching a class entitled "The Arts" at the middle school. Her goal for the middle school program is always to get as many kids on stage as possible. She has had both smaller casts from twenty to thirty students on stage; but her largest cast was one hundred students on stage for the production of Steppin' Out. Her favorite undertaking to date was the musical Into the Woods. She collaborated with two other directors - a music director and stage craft director for this production.
Mr. T. J. Lombard wrote and directed the spring musical/play MOVIES ON STAGE in the spring of 2010 with the assistance of Amanda Hirdler, Scott Christensen, and Barb Piper. T.J. Lombard continues to direct the tehatre program at FMS.
More picture thumbnails below
The Front Entrance into the Theatre
(Click on thumbnail below for larger picture)
The Audience House
The Stage Craft Area
Booth and Lighting
