Angel Fire Mountain Theatre

Angel Fire Mountain Theatre was founded in 1996, under the auspices of the Moreno Valley Arts Council.

In a determined effort to stand on our own, we incorporated and filed for our own 501(c)3 non-profit status, in 2000. We received our final approval on that in 2005.

We began under the guidance and vision of Don and Judy Lambert, of McKinney, Texas, and Angel Fire and the cooperation and partnership with Texas Tech University Dept. of  Theatre and Dance, under the direction of Dr. Fred Christoffel. With Judy at the helm for more than 6 years, we gained sure footing and a developed a steadfast vision of promoting and producing LIVE THEATRE in this remote and under served area. Don and Judy will long be revered for what they gave in starting this organization.

Angel Fire sits at 8500 ft. in the Mountains of Northern New Mexico, North East of Taos. We also serve the nearby communities of Eagle Nest, Ocate’ and Black Lake, as well as attracting guests from Red River and Cimarron.

Ticket sales account for only about 30% of our annual budget, with the balance coming from private and business donors and grant funds from New Mexico Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, and the Village of Angel Fire Lodger’s Tax. One of our biggest challenges is suitable venue space. By 2000, we’d made our home at the Angel Fire Resort Children’s Ski and Snowboard School. In 2003, a fire destroyed the Resort’s Day Care, forcing the relocation of the Day Care to the Ski School….and leaving us in a quandry for performance space. The owners and staff of the East Moreno Ranch on Highway 38 came to the rescue, and Season 03 was saved. We converted their Big Red Barn to a Theatre for two Seasons, 03 and 04. We are all grateful for their hospitality and the extraordinary support they provided us.

Despite the graciousness of the Ranch, the 17 mile drive from Angel Fire, was a challenge for keeping and growing audience. As a result we began to look to Angel Fire once again for a venue. In the meantime, a brand new building was being constructed by Florida-based partners Alex Shather and Jerry Akdoruk. An eye catching bright yellow, the building is hard to miss and located in the heart of Angel Fire.Our 2005 Season was a great success at the Cove, but alas, no building owner wants a one month per year lease. We did our best to raise enough money to fund a year round lease, but fell short of what the owners wanted. So, with great excitement, we “headed home”. We opened Season X in the halls of the Angel Fire Resort Children’s Ski School. Our partnership with the Resort is a win/win for us, the Resort, the community and the visitors that come here.

We draw nearly 600 people to the area each year. 2007 was a season of growth as we continued to stabilize our theatre and returned to the Children’s Ski School once again.

Then came 2008.  After 11 years of partnership with the Texas Tech Department of Theatre and Dance, word came abruptly that they would be unable to mount a summer season of theatre.  The impact was far greater than what we felt, but for us it was nearly a crushing blow.  By the time we learned this, it was already April and most of our pre-season advertising was already off the presses.  Panicked, our President, Katherine McDermott, headed for the newspaper with the story.  “Two days later, my phone was ringing off the hook!” (McDermott)

To make an already long story, somewhat shorter, we forged a serendipitous partnership with two different theatre groups in Taos and Season XII was rescued…no resurrected!  With performances of “The Dining Room” and some fabulous song and dance  we completed the season with “A Director’s Review of Shakespeare”, and for the first time, live theatre graced the stage at America’s first Viet Nam Veteran’s Memorial…the Viet Nam Veteran’s Memorial State Park Amphitheatre, in Angel Fire!

Having survived a tumultuos history, we laid out the smartest plan of all….to reincorporate ourselves back into the Arts Council.  After much planning and research, Angel Fire Mountain Theatre, Inc. ceased operation on 12/31/08.  On 01/01/09, Mountain Theatre became a program of, and the performance arm of The Moreno Valley Arts Council.   This consolidation is a win/win/win.  The show will go on…and the efforts to make all the arts events sustainable and more, will be better funded, organized and managed.

And so, ONWARD we go.  Stayed tuned for Season XIII!