our History
Our organiztion was founded in 1963, primarily by Hap Ryder and Marlene Bell, as a community theater organization with a mission statement “to teach, produce, present, and support quality theater for children and adults in the Fairbanks area and the State of Alaska.”
In the year 2000, the FDA realized a long-time dream and long-range plan to purchase property in the heart of downtown Fairbanks and operate this as our organization’s production, education, and local performing home. The Hap Ryder Riverfront Theatre property at 1852 2nd Avenue has been our home venue ever since.
We offer year–round, back–to–back programming, without hiatus, including a five-production season, the
Annual 8 x 10 Alaska Playwrights Festival, the annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre Under the Big Top Tent fundraising event that happens on the second Saturday of July, and a seven-week summer youth camp called “Drama Project” which is a professional theater training program for children ages five through 18 years.
More about our Executive Director and a list of Board Members.
More about us
All productions and programs are volunteer-operated. FDA is always recruiting volunteer actors, directors, technicians, designers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, groundskeepers, janitors, ushers, concessions and bar salespersons, costumers, properties masters, and stage managers. It’s easy to get involved: Just call 456-PLAY and let staff know you are interested in being a part of the collaborative team. We need folks of all talents and ability levels!
The main stage performing season consists of five productions between September and April annually. Each production has a three-weekend run of performances for our community audiences.
Additionally, each summer, we produce THE DRAMA PROJECT – a professional theatre training program for children and young people that runs from May through July and features a staff of professional theatre educators.
FDA-FCT also produces fundraising events annually such as our Hearts Round-Up Mortgage Makers Party in January, the Spring Fling fundraiser on April 1, and the Mystery Dinner Theatre event in July.
Our Mission Statement: To teach, produce, present and support quality theatre for children and adults in the Fairbanks area and the State of Alaska.