Folly Theater

The Folly Theater's primary strategic goals are: 1. Elevate the Folly's historic integrity with improvements that modernize the facility in order to improve and enhance the patron and artist experience; 2. Actively cultivate an inclusive culture of diversity, creativity, and enthusiasm so that everyone feels represented by the artists on our stage and a sense of belonging; and 3. Achieve and manage sustainable financial results.

We have for several years embarked on the Folly 2020 Campaign, and currently have approximately $950,000 in Endowment Funds, and $2.5 million in Capital Funds, which has been utilized to enhance and update our lobby spaces and Shareholders Rooms and install an entirely new HVAC system.  We have created a leadership team who have helped us designate funding support, and have approached those funders.  We have been successful in achieving our current goal of updating the downstairs lobby spaces, restrooms, bar area, HVAC system and Patron's Lounge and are now embarking on Phase II fundraising for the replacement of the theater seats, refurbishing the upstairs lobby space, restrooms and bar area, newly refurbished dressing rooms for our artists and a new stage curtain, which will cost approximately $2.7 million. In addition, during COVID, the theater had to shut down, and we utilized this time to come up with options to create a safe and healthy environment for our patrons, staff, volunteers, crew and artists when we could return to doing performances. Some of the enhancements: new filters, upgraded cleaning protocols, different entry points to avoid congestion, no bar service (for the time being), touchless ticketing, plexiglass for box office, enforced mask-wearing, social distancing signage in restrooms, and on floors, and more.

Although we are a small organization (6 full time paid staff), we have strong board support and community support for the Folly Theater.  Our Development Director, Brian Williams is strategically mapping out our approach with myself and the Folly 2020 leadership team in order to accomplish our goals. We are fortunate to have several key community funders who have continued to support the Folly through the years, due to our demonstration of success in achieving our goals. We have also now added new board members (for a total of 20 board members) to our team, with additional contacts in the community, and knowledge of the arts.

As with any historic facility, there are always opportunities for improvements. Unfortunately, during COVID, we had to delay our Phase II renovation plans, but we now are working toward our Capital Campaign goals in order to do this project in summer of 2022. At that time, we look forward to installing new theater seating in the future for more comfort for our patrons, refurbished (original) wood floors, new carpeting, new lighting, enhanced and updated dressing rooms for our world-class artists, an updated mezzanine lobby to enhance the patron experience, and updated directional signage.
We have accomplished installing a new HVAC system (the first since 1981), and refurbishing and updating our downstairs lobby spaces, restrooms and bar area and  installing a new elevator to the Patron's Lounge.
The Folly is working towards Phase II of our renovation, which would include new seats, carpeting, an updated bar, lobby and restroom area on the balcony level, updated dressing rooms, stage curtains. Due to the coronovirus, the Folly has had to put these plans on hold temporarily, but will be moving forward on our fundraising plan in 2021.
We have also installed two Thomas Hart Benton reproductions in our theater lobby, thanks to the Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts, Commerce Bank, Trustee, , which highlights the Folly's burlesque history and brings alive the lobby space.