Hutchinson was a busy place this week. A very busy place.
The Reno County 4-H Fair concluded on Monday. The Fox Theatre brought “One Night of Queen,” one of the most fun live shows I have seen in a year. Stage 9 held four performances of “Androcles and The Lion,” with the final performance taking the stage at 2 p.m. today.
The 135th Emancipation celebration kicked off Thursday evening with a discussion about the event’s history and why it is distinct from Juneteenth. Friday brought a family fun night, a 3-point shooting contest in Rice Park, and jazz music in the Avenue A Park pavilion. Saturday’s parade moved up Main St., followed by a community picnic at Stringer Fine Arts Center and a dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall. The commemoration ends today with a Gospelfest and ice cream social at the Stringer Fine Arts Center at 3 p.m.
The Family Community Theatre held the first fundraising gala in its history at the Cosmosphere. The non-profit is raising $100,000 needed to remodel the Flag Theater bathrooms, which have never been updated since the building’s initial construction in 1936. The theatre troupe filmed a humorous black-and-white silent video showing the awkwardness of the closet-sized men’s bathroom, though the women’s and ADA-compliant restrooms will be updated, too.
The gala included a silent auction, a live auction, a jazz ensemble and performances of songs from the theatre’s past shows. Hutchinson has a very talented performing arts community, and the entertainment, like the shows, was top-notch. The FCT is 100 percent volunteer; everyone donates their time, talent and, in some cases, money toward fulfilling the theatre’s mission, which is proudly displayed on its website:
“We are a non-profit community organization that promotes and inspires personal and family growth by providing educational and creative opportunities through quality theatrical arts.”
Enjoying a banquet dinner and entertainment under the beautiful SR-71 Blackbird airplane in the main lobby was one of the more unique events I have experienced. I hope the theatre reached its fundraising goal or came very close.
