Panel supports building for children's theater

The Daily Inter Lake

The Bigfork Children's Theater hopes to have a 3,500-square-foot workshop and practice building ready for use by this fall.

The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee recommended Thursday that the Flathead County Board of Adjustment grant the organization a conditional-use permit to overhaul and occupy a building at 833 Grand Drive in Bigfork.

The Board of Adjustment will discuss the matter on Tuesday.

The theater group currently stores items and performs at a few locations, including the Bigfork Center For the Performing Arts. It has no building of its own.

The group wants to set up an educational center - with no auditorium - where students can take acting and music lessons in Bigfork without having to go to Kalispell, according to Brach Thomson, the organization's artistic director.

The building's purpose is to provide cheap rental spaces for teachers to work.

Buying the building is expected to cost roughly $180,000 with the total price expected to be about $225,000 after the interior is renovated to hold music and dance rooms, Thomson said.

The organization has obtained several grants and has been conducting some fundraising efforts to get the money.