Debut Theatre’s Vision for a New Home Featured on KRFC & BizWest
We’re thrilled to share that Debut Theatre Company has been featured across Northern Colorado media — including BizWest and KRFC 88.9 FM — highlighting the launch of our $3 million capital campaign to build the Debut Arts Centre, the region’s first permanent home for youth performing arts.
For 34 years, Debut has given young people a place to grow — onstage, backstage, and everywhere in between. Our mission has always been simple but profound: to prepare young people for life through creativity, communication, and teamwork.
🎙️ Hear the Vision on KRFC
If you missed it, Debut’s Executive Director Lee Osterhout-Kaplan joined KRFC’s Community at Work program to share the story behind our new home — a 17,000+ square-foot former AMC movie theatre in midtown Fort Collins, generously donated rent-free in perpetuity.
In the interview, Lee paints a vivid picture of what this space will mean for our community — a place where students can learn, rehearse, and perform under one roof for the very first time.
She was joined by David Shurna, a Debut parent and advisory board member, who shared why now is such a rare and time-sensitive opportunity:
“When a building of this size and visibility is donated to a small arts nonprofit — it’s a once-in-a-generation moment. If we rise to meet it, we can create a regional hub for creativity that will serve young people for decades.”
🎧 Listen to the full KRFC segment here →
📰 BizWest Spotlights Our Campaign Launch
BizWest covered our announcement in a feature story titled “Debut Theatre launches $3 million drive to build youth performing arts hub.”
(Read the full article →)
The article details our plans to transform the former theatre into a vibrant multi-use arts center with classrooms, a black-box theatre, costume and scene shops, and — in the next phase — a 300-seat mainstage.
🚀 Where We Are Now
Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Edward M. Warner and Jacalyn D. Erickson, every dollar donated through December 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $250,000.
Meeting this match will help us move into our new home by Fall 2026 — bringing this dream to life and opening the doors to the next generation of young artists.
We’ve already raised $247,000, putting us well on our way.
💛 How You Can Help
Donate today at debuttheatre.org/raisingthecurtain and double your impact.
Listen and share the KRFC segment or the BizWest article with friends who believe in youth, creativity, and community.
Follow our progress as we transform this midtown landmark into Northern Colorado’s hub for youth performing arts.
Every great story has a turning point — and this is ours.
Thank you for helping us raise the curtain on Debut Theatre’s next act.
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Debut Theatre Company
Building Northern Colorado’s first home for youth performing arts
debuttheatre.org/debutartscentre