HUNTSVILLE — Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & Academy cut the ribbon Wednesday for its new location in the historic Merrimack Mill district and to celebrate its 65th year.
“It’s not just a move, it’s an investment in the creative future of North Alabama,” said CEO Karen Mockensturm.
Fantasy Playhouse provides theatre arts access through production, education, and outreach, reaching tens of thousands of residents annually, the majority of whom are children and youth.
“Children’s Theater and Academy is an organization that basically serves the families of Madison County and beyond,” Mockensturm said. “We foster arts education and live theater, arts entertainment for families.”
The new Fantasy Playhouse home spans 24,534 square feet. The facility features a fully functioning, accessible 278-seat theatre and classroom spaces, nearly doubling the organization’s usable space.
The move to Triana Boulevard, affectionately referred to as “the Boulevard,” was a long time coming, according to Mockensturm.
“We ended up purchasing a piece of property (at the corner of Triana Boulevard and Holmes Avenue) with the help of the city in 2018, and we were getting ready,” she said. “We had just launched our silent phase of a capital campaign that we thought was going to be about $9 million when COVID hit.”
Mockensturm said by the time the final decision came in 2023, the cost had become “astronomical and unattainable.”
“And lo and behold, on June 5, 2024, we found out that Merrimack Hall was being sold and we jumped on it,” she said. “And we are incredibly grateful we were able to purchase it. We were able to put together an amazing renovation plan and it all happened really quickly.”
The new updated space includes a full build-out of the building’s previously unfinished bottom floor, which houses a new office wing and dedicated classroom spaces.
The organization offers year-round classes, summer camps, private lessons, and workshops for ages 3–18, plus specialized programs for differently-abled students and underserved communities.
Mockensturm said they are excited to launch the 65th season of Fantasy Playhouse.
Upcoming productions include “Cinderella,” “Winnie the Pooh,” and a modern favorite, “Disney’s Descendants: The Musical.”
Meanwhile, FPCTA ‘s annual holiday tradition, “A Christmas Carol,” will return to the Von Braun Center Playhouse for a limited two-weekend run in December.
The inaugural public celebration in the new space is the annual fundraiser, Cocktails Under the Stars, on Saturday from 6–9 p.m. Guests enjoy live entertainment, signature drinks, local cuisine, and a first-hand look at the new facilities — all while supporting arts education for children across North Alabama.
Event tickets and information on classes and upcoming shows are available at fantasyplayhouse.org.
