The Trollwood Performing Arts School has been a fixture of the Fargo/Moorhead artistic community since 1978. Operating within a mission “to inspire those we serve through the arts to realize their full potential and be a positive influence in the global community,” Trollwood has given hundreds of young people the opportunity to participate in arts education, youth leadership, and performance programs. A program of Fargo Public Schools, Trollwood was forced to deal with repeated flooding issues at its North Fargo location, which prompted a 2010 move to Moorhead at what became known as the Bluestem Performance Arts Center. Over the next few years, financial issues and administrative inconsistencies plagued the project, resulting in an organizational overhaul.
On August 1, 2012, the Bluestem organization, the group responsible for fund raising and general operations at Bluestem, dissolved after defaulting on their bond payment to Fargo Public Schools. The school district then took over all operations. Kathy Anderson, Executive Director of Trollwood since 2009, was put in charge of management and programming for Bluestem as well, and the two programs became known as “The Bluestem Performance Arts Center and home of the Trollwood program.” According to Dr. Jeff Schatz, Superintendent of Fargo Public Schools, the school district is now running all operations of the facility and has a long-term lease with the city of Moorhead for the land on which it is located.
Although the change in location has caused some administrative headaches, it appears to have been a positive move for Trollwood. “Having Trollwood at the Bluestem facility affords our summer program many more opportunities to provide fine arts experiences for our and the surrounding communities’ school age children,” Schatz said. “The old facility in North Fargo struggled due to flooding issues. The new facilities at the Bluestem site are significantly enhanced.”
Indeed, the summer program is Trollwood’s flagship, bringing hundreds of visitors to Bluestem every year. This year’s production of Shrek the Musical has once again received rave reviews. The summer program includes technical training in the areas of dance/movement, technical theatre, theatre arts, vocal music, and media arts; the culmination of which is the annual performance. Now at Bluestem, theatre goers are able to watch the performance in a 2,500 seat outdoor amphitheater, a venue that is unmatched in the area.
Paul Meyers, President and Financial Advisor with Legacy Wealth Management in Fargo, has seen the program grow and evolve over the past thirty-five years. Now a member of the nine person advisory board set up in February to assist with operations at Bluestem, Meyers was one of the original creators of Trollwood. “What began as an idea 35 years ago in 1978 for a high school summer theatre program in North Fargo has grown and evolved and moved to South Moorhead,” he said. “It still remains committed to the same high standards of education, arts, and personal growth for young people,” he said, adding that they are working every day to be a regional arts facility.
Creating a regional arts facility is exactly what the originators of Bluestem had in mind, envisioning a center that would be home to much more than just Trollwood. In 2011, area music lovers were given the opportunity to see such acts as Sheryl Crow, the Moodie Blues, and Alice Cooper in concert. 2012, however, was a different story as the successful promoter Jade Presents declined to work with the troubled venue. The recent organizational changes have once again secured that partnership, and concert goers can now keep Bluestem on their radar. Upcoming shows include country music star Dwight Yoakam on July 30, the FM Symphony Orchestra with Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome and Poitin on August 15, and radio personality Ira Glass on August 17. The future of the facility appears to be heading in the right direction. “Things are going very well this year and the future is as strong as ever,” Schatz said. “The facility is a great asset to both communities and will serve the public for years to come.”
Now that the division between Trollwood and Bluestem appears to have been eradicated, operations should theoretically be more seamless. The fact that both the City of Fargo and the City of Moorhead have a vested interest in the program will likely lead to a few bumps in the road, but the majority of issues appear to have been resolved. The commitment of those involved is something that has never wavered. “I want the public to know that the Bluestem facility is stronger than ever,” Schatz said,” and that Fargo Public Schools along with the City of Moorhead are committed to its success.” Meyers echoed those sentiments. “The future for Trollwood Performing Arts School and the entire Bluestem facility has never been brighter,” he said. “The facility continues to host more young people and more audience members and more diverse arts programs and the quality of the experience just keeps improving. It continues to be a jewel for the entire community.”
For those that have yet to take in a Trollwood performance or visit the Bluestem facility, it is not too late. Shrek the Musical will be performed on July 25 – 27 and July 31 – August 3.
More information on Trollwood can be found at www.trollwood.org. Upcoming concert information can be found at www.jadepresents.com.