Rangeley Friends of the Arts Lakeside Theater UPDATES

Projects completed in 2025

• Improvements to our sound system at our theater and soundproofing and area for a band.
• Successful completion of our Main Street façade, installation of double doors, a new weather-proof front entrance and new signage with the RFA name on our building.
• Installation of all new theater seats and an expanded Handicap accessible seating area.
• Installation of movable dance mirrors, so that the Lakeside Dance Academy can hold their lessons on our stage. 

More info on our new theater seats:

Thanks to our generous donors at our annual July Fundraiser as well as the additional support from the Davis Foundation, the RFA we replaced our old, worn and in disrepair theater seats with brand new seats, which include the option to have a personalized and dedicated chair plaque mounted to a new seat for donors who wish to commemorate the lasting impact their support makes for generations to come.

[News from 2024]
Rangeley Friends of the Arts lakeside Theater finishes a complete renovation of the exterior facade.

The new RFA Lakeside Theater facade, designed by Ellen Albrecht of ENS Associates, created a traditional theater marquee. While contending with our heavy snow loads, it allows for easy-to-read signage, clearly marks the bu8ilding as a theater, and provides space to put our name, The Rangeley Friends of the Arts, clearly on the building for the first time since we acquired it in 2014. The exterior lighting is all LED and conforms to our local Dark Skies lighting ordinances. The new entrance is more accessible, with hands free entry and our new airlock provides a weather-safe area for package drop off and keeps our lobby cleaner. We feel the design is classy and classic, improving Main Street’s appeal. Please come enjoy a movie, the Art Gallery, or one of our many events. 

• Due to our renovations and upgrades, the RFA expands the limited opportunities of the youth in this geographically isolated and underserved community. Giving them a safe place environment to take risks through the creative process. Many of the local youth grow up in the theater, learning useful skills and free technical training on state of the art equipment that follows them into their futures

Tours of the RFA Lakeside Theater.
You may have come for a show or a movie, but have you seen our tech room, backstage, costume and prop rooms, refinished basement with more costumes and many instruments? The RFA is an incredible resource for the entire community to enjoy! We welcome you to schedule a tour of the theater.
To schedule your tour contact us at ranegleyarts@gmail.com or call (207) 864-5000

1. We have a ground level/ no step entry, ramped access to our facility.
2. We have automatic, hands-free opening doors to our lobby.
3. We have wheelchair accessible box office, meeting room space, theater, backstage, dressing rooms and stage.
4. We have accessible workspaces for employees.
5. We have a wireless control system for our lights and sounds, that can be operated from the theater or flex space.
6. We have wheelchair accessible restrooms.
7. We have assisted listening devices available upon request for movies.
8. We offer a Closed caption option for Movies whenever available.
9. We bring arts experiences directly to our geographically remote area population who due to resources or advanced age, cannot make the 1.5-hour trip to the nearest theater, through mountain roads, often difficult to travel due to weather.
10. We offer a matinee for our live theater productions and movies to give our aging population that are also reluctant or unable to drive long distances, especially at night a chance to see the shows as well.
11. We have an accepting and welcoming environment and have opened our doors to youth that do not feel comfortable in other settings due to being gender fluid or have interest that go beyond sports.

[News from 2014]
Inspiration and commitment by Rangeley Friends of the Arts has changed the fabric of our community and created an enhanced sense of place for the Rangeley Lakes Region.

The Rangeley Friends of the Arts invites the community to come to the Grand Opening at the RFA Lakeside Theater on May 24^th to celebrate our NEW HOME.  There will be two opportunities to join the RFA Board in this celebration; Saturday afternoon 2-4 PM and Saturday evening 7-9 PM.  The reception will include refreshments, appetizers, docent-led tours of the improved facility, a glorious display of art work by the RLRS students and a small taste of the spring musical “SHOUT! The Mod Musical” at 8:30 PM.

During the fall months of 2013, many exciting changes took place at Lakeside Theater, the new home of the Rangeley Friends of the Arts.

Thanks to longtime RFA supporters Jeff and Valerie Zapolsky, a trade was made so that the RFA could take over ownership of the theater and the Zapolskys would become owners of a lake front property formerly owned by RFA.  This most generous offer was hugely in favor of our organization and is greatly appreciated.  The entire community will benefit by having an arts center situated in the downtown area of Rangeley.

As part of the process, the old white barn that used to reside behind the theater was demolished and removed from the site.  The gray barn formerly belonging to John Parker was moved and set on top of a new foundation right up against the back of Lakeside Theater.  A construction crew under the direction of Randy Goodwin joined the two buildings together.

Some of the monumental upgrades to the benefit of Rangeley Friends of the Arts include:

• Storage space on site (We no longer have to schlep costumes and equipment from the airport storage unit.)
• Dressing area directly behind the stage (We formerly had to go up and down stairs to change.)
• New exit/entrance at the back of the stage
• Leveled back stage flooring (No more risking lives when running backstage between scenes!)

During the first work party in January, a crew of 16 community members repainted the entire lobby area and organized costumes and set pieces.  More work parties will be planned for the spring.  We look forward to welcoming the public to an Open House in late May.  Stay tuned!