About the Community Theatre
The Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre is a non-profit organization established in 1947 to provide entertainment, education and recreation to the region through the opportunity to experience and participate in live theatrical entertainment. We are listed as one of the ten oldest community theatres in the nation ("Millennium Theatres" by Theatre USA).
From 1947 until 1983 performances were held wherever they could find a performance space, mostly halls, churches and hotels. The Westward Ho was one of the most popular venues as the manager of the hotel was very interested in and supportive of community theatre.
In 1982 the organization bought the Number One fire hall from the City of Grand Forks and renovated it into a one hundred seat theatre, The Fire Hall Theatre, opening in 1983. Thus, we became one of the few community theatres in North Dakota, in fact North America, to own its’ own facility. With control of the building, the season was extended to four shows per year starting in September and running until May. Though we call the Fire Hall home, we perform in various community venues, including the Empire Arts Center.
All our actors and crew are volunteers and we'd love you to join our family!
community theatre programming
The Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre operates three main programming components.
Community Theatre Mainstage: The Community Theatre produces three major amatuer productions per year (fall, winter, spring), including one amatuer musical. Community Theatre productions are open to the public at large, and no prior experience is needed to audition. Production time is voluntary. Rehearsals typically run five weeks, with a three weekend production run.
Spotlight Players: The Spotlight Players are the Community Theatre's young performers. Designed for ages 4-14, the Spotlight Players present a winter musical designed to give young performers stage experience as well as teach valuable life skills.
Crimson Creek Players: Crimson Creek is a non-equity professional theatre troup that produces one-two major summer musicals (June and August). While auditions are open to the public, Crimson requres a more experienced performer (singing, dancing, acting). Productions rehearse for fourteen intense evenings and perform for one-two weeks. Performers, staff, musicians, and technical crew are compensated for their time. The purpose of Crimson Creek is to give pre-professional experience to performers who are persuing post secondary education, or who have completed their education. The Crimson Creek rehearsal schedule is restricted to mirror typical Broadway production schedules.
Staff and management
Kathleen Coudle-King
>e-mail Kathyking
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Executive Director
Coudle-King has been involved in theatre since childhood. She holds a B.F.A. in Playwriting from New York University, and an M.A. in English from the University of North Daktoa. She moved to Grand Forks from NYC in 1989, and she and her family have enjoyed participating in the theatre community ever since.
A co-founder of the ND Playwrights Co-op, she and colleagues have produced, directed, and performed in work in rural ND, and competed in theatre competitions in ND, MN, and IA. She has toured work with the Hatton Community Theatre to Chicago and Phoenix.
Coudle-King is also an educator, and has taught in the English Department at UND since 1994. She has also led community writing workshops, retreats, and has taught creative writing at the Int'l Music Camp for the last two years. The director of the UND Moviemaking Camp for Youth, she enjoys working with youth and adults to bring words to life on stage and screen.
And award winning playwright, she is thrilled to take on this role behind the scenes to create theatrical events for the community she loves. |
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Sharon K. Bures
>e-mail
Sharon
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Finance Director, Controller
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| Jeff
Kinney |
Technical
Director, Set, Lights & Sound |
| Jerry
Lowe |
Technical
Director, Set and Construction |
| Eric Voight |
Technical Director, Bell, Book and Candle |
| Marlys
Murphy |
Musical
Director |
| Nicole E. Quam |
Production
Director, Bell, Book & Candle |
| Jared Kinney |
Production Director, A Christmas Carol |
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| Mare
Thompson |
Production
Director, Cinderella |
| Jane
Syverson |
Production
Director, Cinderella |
| Kathy Coudle-King |
Production
Director, Almost, Maine |
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Board of Directors
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer |
Jeff Kinney
Jeff Kinney & Associates
Mare Thompson
St. Michael's School - Music/Spanish
Laura Netz
Dr. Jeffrey Weatherly
University of North Dakota |
| Director |
Charlotte Helgeson
Campbell Library, Director |
| Director |
Julie McWalter
Grand Forks Air Force Base |
| Director |
Jean McGurran
Altru Hospital |
| Director |
Heather Helgeson
UND Nonprofit Leadership Program |
| Ex-officio |
Laura Dvorak
North Dakota Ballet Company |
| Director |
Jared Kinney - Independent
Flooring Installation |
| Director |
Deb Pfluhoeft-Hasset Environmental Sustainability Director, City of Grand Forks |
| Director |
David Paukert - Heritage Arts & Crafts |
| Director |
Dave Kary - Altru Health Systems |
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Interested in Joining
our Board or Staff? |
We
are always looking for skilled volunteers
to serve on our board or help out with
our productions.
Production
positions include: Costuming, Set Design,
Painting, Box Office, Props, and Directing.
If
you are intested, let
us know!
We are excited to launch "Friends of the Fire Hall" this season. This group would assist and the Executive Director and Board in various fundraising efforts. We believe fundraising can be "Fun!" Please consider helping us as we look forward to planning events this season.
If
you are interested in joining our board,
or being an active member of a nonprofit
board in the Grand Forks Region, your
first stop is the Volunteer
Leadership Connection Board Bank,
championed by the Community Foundation.
The Board Bank is a clearinghouse where
information about people thinking about
leadership opportunities and nonprofit
board service can be connected to organizations
seeking new board members.
Check
it out online,
or contact us!
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About The Fire Hall
Theatre
In the early 1980s, the #1 Fire Hall in Downtown
Grand Forks was purchased and renovated into
the 100 seat Fire Hall Theatre. The Theatre
has served as the home of the Community Theatre
since.
 In 1997, the region suffered through a terrible
flood, and as reported, ther was much concern
about the Theatre's ability to recover. With
over three feet of water in the building, "the
Fire Hall Theatre sustained substantial water
damage and some feared the building will be
condemned... a determination to be made 'later'
by the powers that be. As of May 5 that year,
the degree of damage to equipment, costumes,
etc. could not be determined because the site
could not be visited. The Theatre had to cancel
performances and spring fundraisng efforts and
were short of current operating funds to use
for the recovery period." However, the
theatre re-opened in September of that year.
The Fire Hall underwent another major change
in the Spring of 2008, when the lobby was renovated.
an excerpt
from...
"The Beginnings of the Fire Hall Theatre"
by Paul J. Schwartz
"I first
became aware of the existence of the Fire Hall
at a cast party at Fanny Gershman's house, in
October, 1981. Fanny, the widow of Grand Forks'
most successful "bottle shop" owner Happy Harry
Gershman, was an active board member and generous
hostess, who graciously opened her home for
parties and fundraising events.
At this particular
party, given for the cast and crew of 6 Rms
Riv Vu, I was sitting at some distance from
a group dominated by former GGFCT Board Treasurer
Rick Winant, which was discussing the Fire Hall,
inspired by a Chris Jacobs editorial in the
local weekly chronicle.
In that editorial,
Chris, who had an active interest in promoting
the arts in Grand Forks, suggested that the
city should, instead of demolishing the no longer
needed fire hall next to City Hall, turn it
into an arts center..."
read
the complete story [PDF]
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