Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & AcademyReceives $10,591 in funding for STE(A)M-based program — Technical Theater Cohort: Stage Craft 101

L to R: Matlin Niemann, Associate Education Director; Kailey Burkhardt, Education Director; Karen Mockensturm, CEO; Sam Givhan, State Senator of Madison County, District 7 | Photo Courtesy of FPCTA Staff

Huntsville, AL — Senator Sam Givhan of Madison County, District 7, pledged $10,591 from his Community Service Grant (funded by his discretionary Tennessee Valley Authority funds) to support Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & Academy’s (FPCTA) latest STEAM-based programming, Stagecraft 101.

FPCTA’s Technical Theater Cohort aims to bridge the gap between theater arts and STEM education. This semester-long, project-based course will focus on technical elements of theater, including lighting, sound, scenic design, and costume design.

Enrolled students will gain hands-on experience with industry-standard software and real-world applications while supporting the acting and musical theater showcases. The course is designed to develop students' competency in areas such as sound engineering, stage management, costume and prop design and construction, and theatrical marketing through structured design units.

These units will culminate in applied production leadership during showcase performances.

The support from Senator Sam Givhan enabled FPCTA to purchase the necessary equipment to enhance its current Technical Theater Cohort offerings.

Senator Givhan represents State Senate District 7, which includes portions of Huntsville, Gurley, Owens Crossroads, and unincorporated Madison County.

“I am so grateful that my children had the opportunity to participate in Fantasy Playhouse when they were younger, and I am delighted to designate some of the public funds that can be expended at my discretion to help the next generation of children explore their creativity and develop as well-rounded individuals. Additionally, I am so pleased with the manner in which Fantasy Playhouse restored and repurposed a magnificent building in our community, and I wanted to be a small part of their project that both preserved the community’s heritage and improved it for more effective utilization.”

FPCTA CEO Karen Mockenstrum commented on the senator's donation and the impact of it,

“We are incredibly grateful to Senator Givhan for his support of this program. The impact of this curriculum will reach far beyond the walls of our theatre, deepening FPCTA's commitment to our community and K-12 education goals by closing the gap in arts access and highlighting technical theatre as a viable career pathway."

FPCTA Education Director Kailey Burkhardt shared her thoughts on the senator’s investments in the arts:

“We are so excited to get this program off the ground, especially with Senator Givhan's generous support! At FPCTA, we often discuss the importance and value of giving students advanced technical opportunities that directly tie into STEM, and this program will make that possible. One of our biggest goals is to set our students up for success in life, whatever professional career they choose. Through Stagecraft 101, students will attain many new "Life Skills Through Stage Skills." With this donation, we will finally be able to take our current tech classes to the next level, a dream many years in the making”

FPCTA is grateful for Sen. Givhan's investment in its programming and future workforce development. 

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Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy (FPCTA) provides theatre arts access through production, education, and outreach, reaching tens of thousands of residents annually, the majority of whom are children and youth. FPCTA enriches the lives of children and families through theatre and arts education, encouraging students to become self-confident, academically successful, creative-thinking citizens who are more likely to invest in their communities as adults. FPCTA’s core programs include live children’s theatre productions, year-round classes, camps, workshops, private lessons, and educational outreach through after-school classes, touring programs, and a workforce development partnership with Alabama A&M University. Recognizing the transformative power theatre arts can have in the life of a child, FPCTA prioritizes theatre arts access for all by engaging local under-resourced and differently-abled communities.FPCTA’s 65th season is presented by Redstone Federal Credit Union with additional support from Alabama State Council on the Arts, Huntsville City Arts & Culture Grant Program, The Daniel Foundation, Rocket City Mom, and Minuteman Press.