Fantasy Playhouse expands with acquisition of historic Merrimack Hall
Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & Academy (FPCTA) has announced that a significant milestone in its capital expansion campaign, Spotlight on the Future, has been reached as First Horizon Bank has been chosen as the official naming sponsor of the Access and Community Engagement Office.
Karen Mockensturm, chief executive officer of FPCTA, shared her thoughts on the announcement.
“Ginger Harper, Eric Sanders, and the entire First Horizon Bank team have demonstrated long-standing support of FPCTA and our capital expansion project since we first announced our plans in 2019,” said Mockensturm. “We, at FPCTA, felt that it was only fitting that we honor First Horizon Bank’s financial commitment to this project by aligning their naming sponsorship in the new building to our organizations’ shared goals of community development through educational empowerment and quality of life.”
In 2024, FPCTA purchased the historical Merrimack Hall as part of their capital campaign. Merrimack Hall is over 24,000 square feet and its theater seats 300. The building will be renovated to add classrooms, a catering kitchen, ADA-compliant bathrooms, a public lobby, and a wing for offices.
The relocation to Merrimack will enable FPCTA to enhance its live theatrical productions, offer free and accessible parking for patrons, and expand its performing arts training and STE(A)M-based technical theater curriculum. Expanded family-focused event programming and increased rental income opportunities will support FPCTA’s long-term sustainability while also promoting economic development in the Merrimack Mill Village Historic District.
Renovations are on schedule to be completed by May 2025 so that summer camps can be held in the new facility. The project is led by Principal Architect Greg Kamback of ArcSpace Studio and Brent Snyder, President of JS Building Company. Financing is provided by SmartBank.
