The Fort Stockton Community Theatre Board of Directors is happy to report that the stage in The Nelson Street Theatre has been re-assembled and is ready for performances.

The stage floor was flooded on Oct. 10 when the combination of hail and torrential rain caused the drains around the theatre to overflow, sending rushing water under the backstage doors. FSCT Board Member Ray Griffith singlehandedly dismantled the stage and stacked the flooring in such a way that air could circulate through the pieces to dry out.

The theatre’s youth group, The Paisano Players, performed their Christmas play on the bare concrete foundation before SRO crowds.

The Abell-Hanger Foundation provided an emergency $15,000 grant so that a crew could be brought in to re-assemble the stage under the direction of Griffith, who had carefully numbered stage pieces to be put back in order.

The grant also provided help with electricity used to run shop fans and air conditioning to help dry the boards, and money was included to build the concrete wall behind the theatre to help prevent flooding again.

Alice Duerksen, President of FSCT, said that the flooded stage showed the worst and the best of Fort Stockton Community Theatre: the worst being that the stage and part of the carpet had to be dismantled and/or dried out and the best being the willing volunteers and the generosity of area charitable foundations and local donors that allowed the repairs to be made.

The next performance on The Nelson Street Theatre stage will be an original musical, “Boomtown,” written and performed by Texas Comedies of Austin Saturday, Jan. 28, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2:00 p.m. “Boomtown” is about the oil boom and is being sponsored by Vida Hodges and family to honor Delmon Hodges, their husband and father, and his long career in the oil business. First National Bank will host a reception following the Saturday night performance to remember Delmon as one of the bank’s board members.

Tickets for the musical will be $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students. Online ticket sales will be available again. Watch for more information or call Alice Duerksen at 336-3180 for information.