The auditorium, now known as the FDFAA Phillips Luxury Apartments Auditorium, is part of a 10-year agreement between the FDFAA and the owners of the apartment building. The FDFAA leases the space for no rent in exchange for committing to make $150,000 in improvements in the auditorium, said Shelly Bottorff, executive director of the FDFAA.

Over the last three years, the FDFAA has put a lot of work into the auditorium, including cleaning and replacing the stage curtains, replacing and painting the stage flooring, replacing the carpeting and cleaning the audience seating.

“This has been a labor of love,” Bottorff said.

The FDFAA breathed life back into the 100-year-old auditorium, which will be available for rent as a place for rehearsals, dance and music recitals, theater and live music performances, community events and more. The FDFAA also received a liquor license so it can sell adult beverages during events.

-Messenger file photo by Kelby Wingert
Esther Laupp plays Judy in Comedia Musica’s production of “9 to 5: The Musical” at the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association Phillips Luxury Apartments Auditorium.

“This is an amazing project … a tremendous community project,” said Randy Kuhlman, CEO of the Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way, noting all the community organizations that contributed to the fundraising.

The Fort Dodge Study Club held two fundraisers in the space, raising $44,000, he said. The Community Foundation gave a $20,000 grant, the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust gave a $25,000 grant and MidAmerican Energy Co. gave a $10,000 grant.

A grand opening ribbon cutting was held Nov. 10 with the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. Following the ribbon cutting was the opening showing of Comedia Musica Players’ production of “9 to 5: The Musical.”

“This has been a really emotional week,” Bottorff said then. “Getting ready for the show and the grand opening.”

Now that the first phase of the Phillips Auditorium improvements are complete, the FDFAA is looking toward the second phase, which includes raising the approximately $100,000 needed to install an in-house sound and lighting system.

The next production on the Phillips stage will be “The Vagina Monologues” presented by the FDFAA in collaboration with Fort Dodge Pride. Shows will run Feb. 9-11 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available at the door or at Shiny Top Brewing. The show is for mature audiences only.