When the lights come up on a Fayette County Community Theatre production, you’re watching a lot more than a play. You’re watching a decade of volunteer hours, a rotating cast of neighbors young and old, and a nonprofit that has quietly become one of the cultural anchors of La Grange.
Founded in 2016 as a 501(c)(3), FCCT is a predominantly volunteer-run organization built on a simple idea: theatre should be for everyone, regardless of background or experience. That philosophy shows up in the numbers. Since 2017, FCCT has staged 32 theatrical productions across 12 performance venues, hosted more than 50 community events — fairs, downtown festivals, open mic nights, classes and workshops — and forged partnerships with more than a dozen schools and nonprofits. The organization has also awarded $9,500 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors and provided funding support to the La Grange ISD Drama Club.
FCCT organizes its work around four goals — Learn, Perform, Connect, and Grow — and each one is backed by real impact. On the student side, 47% of participants stick with FCCT programming for two to five years or more, building confidence and teamwork along the way. On the volunteer side, nearly 250 adults have gotten involved since 2017, spanning ages 20 to elderly, with almost half of those who remain in the area still engaged with the theatre today. For many, it’s become an antidote to isolation and a genuine source of connection.
Over its history, more than 1,500 individuals have supported FCCT, and more than half of them have continued that support over the past two years — a sign of just how deeply the theatre has woven itself into the community. All told, FCCT estimates its economic impact on Fayette County at well over $250,000.
A Permanent Home on the Square
Now, FCCT is taking its biggest step yet. In partnership with the City of La Grange, the theatre is transforming a building at 253 W. Travis Street — right on the historic downtown square — into a permanent home: an intimate 80–90 seat theater with its own box office, lobby, concession area, and backstage and storage space, all under one roof for the first time. It’s a project the organization calls “a cornerstone of cultural life” for La Grange and Fayette County residents and visitors alike.
Getting there requires a $2,000,000 capital campaign, funding the project in three phases: critical infrastructure work (plumbing, electricity, and HVAC), installation of theater-specific equipment and furnishings, and the eventual transfer of ownership from the City of La Grange to FCCT.
Our chamber is proud to spotlight FCCT this month — and we encourage members and neighbors to consider supporting this campaign as it builds a lasting home for the arts on our downtown square.
