11/22/2024
Dear Flagstaff Community,
With the passing of our beloved benefactor and board member Randy Beaumont, Flagstaff Music Theatre’s board has reached the decision to take our final curtain call before the Flagstaff community. Over the last 30 years, as both Flagstaff Light Opera Company and Flagstaff Music Theatre, we have been honored to bring live musical theatre to Flagstaff. This past year has been a high mark for us. We celebrated our most successful show since the COVID lockdown with Urinetown, and now we are going into our first and last collaboration with a sister company with Spitfire Grill co-produced by Simon Says Theatre, opening December 13th at White Dove Coffee. None of this would have been possible without Randy Beaumont’s tireless support over the last dozen years providing us with a home and with countless amazing sets.
The thriving theatre community of Flagstaff has grown and evolved as audiences have gradually returned these last three years. The FMT board feels the best way we can carry our mission toward the public accessibility of musical theatre forward is to throw our support behind the momentum of other expanding companies. Our actors, our directors, their vision, and our resources will remain active parts of local theatre bringing you shows for years to come.
Under the circumstances we are cancelling our scheduled General Meeting, scheduled for Monday the 25th.
We are beyond grateful to everyone who has made our history possible, and everyone who will carry our legacy forward. We could never hope to name everyone who deserves it, but we can name a few.
First and foremost, Randy Beaumont. May his memory be a blessing.
Our final president, Simon Cunningham, whose leadership allowed us to end our run on such an incredible high note rather than tapering off the wake of all local theatre’s struggle to bring in audiences after the COVID lockdown.
Kathleen Leatherwood, whose presidency carried the incredible burden of bringing us back from the COVID lockdown in the first place, and whose unbelievable hard work laid the foundation for our subsequent success.
Chase Coleman, our longest serving board member who has been with us through thick and thin.
Doug Riddle who has kept our core mission burning with relentless devotion and focus.
Our co-founder Mike Casey, who has remained behind the scenes supporting us continuously.
Our sister companies who will carry our torch forward at Stargazer, Theatrikos, and Simon Says Theatre.
More actors, crew, directors, choreographers and musicians than we could ever hope to name or count, whose brilliance and devotion to the arts and to their community made everything we ever brought you possible.
And finally, you, our audience and patrons. You are who all of this has been for, and to whom we are forever indebted.
With love, the show goes on,
The board of Flagstaff Music Theatre
