| About
Theatre Frisco is a not-for-profit 501(c)3, professional theatre organization that stages four shows, two straight plays and two musicals, each year. Formerly Frisco Community Theatre, we are the same dedicated group of volunteers who have been putting on live theatre for decades in Frisco. Driven to provide the best theatre experience for you, our patron, we welcome you to our next production.
There are numerous ways to support our theatre group. We have season tickets and memberships available, and always welcome new supporters of our theatre through donations. Ticket sales alone are not enough to provide the support needed for each production, so we are always grateful to our members and supporters for their generosity!
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Shows are performed in the City of Frisco’s intimate 100-seat Black Box Theater located at the Frisco Discovery Center. A wonderful space with plenty of accommodations for everyone and lots of free parking.
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Our improv comedy troupe performs their brand of clean improv comedy – similar to the popular TV show, Whose Line is it Anyway? – each month at the Black Box Theatre. The improv shows are great fun and suitable for all ages. Get more information on the Frisco Improv Players here.
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| History
In the Beginning
Theatre Frisco began as the Frisco Community Theatre and owes its start to Jack Scott. In 1984 Scott approached Doug Zambiasi, the Frisco Community Education director, with the idea of doing a show. Scott said the idea of forming a community theatre was not necessarily the original intention but was “to do a major musical just to see what would happen.”
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Scott and Zambiasi called a planning meeting for all those interested in doing a show and were encouraged by an attendance of 25 or 30 people. Over the course of a few more meetings, Scott was named executive manager and a board of directors was formed that included Scott, Zambiasi, Judith Reedy, Edmund Burke and Catherine Fowler. The Frisco Community Theatre was adopted as the official name and the group decided the first show performed would be Meredith Wilson’s musical, The Music Man.
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After the first 3 productions the group began to realize it needed a permanent home and a relationship with the City of Frisco was formed. With the help of then Mayor, John Clanton, FCT was allowed to use the old youth center on Camellia Lane. The building was built in the late 50’s as a center for youth activities and had not been used for some time. The City spent about $30,000 to make the building habitable and FCT members donated their time and labor. For years numerous productions were presented from dramas to comedies, musicals to Shakespeare to entertain the citizens.
New Sheriff in Town
By 2007, none of the original organizers were still involved in the theatre and the leadership was assumed by Howard Korn, who had performed in several FCT productions and had just moved to Frisco. Right at that time the theater building was closed after structural weaknesses were identified that rendered it potentially hazardous for public use. Without a theater FCT’s productions were performed in Plano, Frisco City Council chambers and the Frisco Arts office on Main Street as the search continued for a new permanent home in Frisco.
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Rebirth
Out of money and with no stage, Korn and his wife Joyce appeared in several performances of Love Letters to raise funds for future productions. Finally, in October 2010, the Frisco Discovery Center was opened by the City of Frisco containing a Black Box Theater. FCT’s opening show in the new venue was Forever Plaid which played to sellout audiences. Frisco was clearly excited to have live theater back in the community and FCT was back in business.
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Since our ‘rebirth’ in 2010, Theatre Frisco has attracted amazing talent and have put on fantastic shows, such as The Fantasticks, The Sunshine Boys, Twelve Angry Jurors, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Don’t Dress for Dinner, Over the River and Through the Woods, A Broadway Christmas Carol, The Foreigner, Lend Me A Tenor, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Dial M for Murder, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, A Bad Year for Tomatoes, The Cemetery Club, Driving Miss Daisy, The Last Five Years, Broadway Bound, Evita, Crimes of the Heart, Every Christmas Story Ever Told, and Steel Magnolias.
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A Rose by any other Name
At the start of 2017, took several steps to retain local identity but to reflect the professional quality of the productions. A new name was adopted, Theatre Frisco, a warehouse/rehearsal space and a seasonal Technical Director was contracted. Long time DFW Director/Designer, Neale Whitmore, was named Artistic Director. Whitmore had directed numerous productions for FCT since their move into the Black Box.
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Theatre Frisco has continued to explore new ways to provide professional quality live entertainment for the citizens of Frisco and the surrounding area. Bringing in award-winning guest directors, scenic designers, and music directors, stretching the limits of the Black Box layout with full sets and large casts for Man Of La Mancha and A Little Night Music. And with Theatre Frisco’s production of A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder, they have continued their growth with their first 2 contracts with AEA (Actors Equity Association).
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Theatre Frisco is very grateful for the support over the years received from the City of Frisco, our sponsors, and most of all, our audiences that have all contributed to making all of this possible.