Judy E Lewis is a theatremaker and community builder. Judy directed her first professional play at the age of 19 and has spent her life since finding ways to bring theatrical pedagogy to the people in her life. Judy is a lifelong learner and holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University, as well as a master’s in applied drama and theatre for the young from Eastern Michigan University.
Before moving to North Dakota, Judy worked in the arts in New York City and San Diego, and more recently served as the Theatre Director at the Lamphere School District in Michigan for ten years, where she developed music curriculum, implemented reading strategies, and directed and produced school productions. In August 2019, she moved to Fargo, ND to join the team at the Fargo Moorhead Community Theater (FMCT) as the Education Director, and was promoted to Executive Director in December 2020. Judy believes that the FMCT is the perfect place to bring people together to build a strong and thriving community through the art of theatre. In addition to working in the theatre, she enjoys serving on community boards, having served on the arts and culture board and has been involved in the Women’s Club, City Round Table, and Parks and Recreation.
Judy’s Favorite Annual Events and Activities
10-Minute Play Festival at FMCT
“This two-weekend event is a great way to bring a global perspective to the FM Area. It gives brand-new directors an opportunity to grow and learn, and it’s a very small time commitment for anyone interested in taking a chance at acting. If you’ve ever thought about being on stage—this is your chance to give it a try! Be sure to get your tickets early, as seating is limited and it sells out quickly each year.
Ten Minute Plays
The 10-Minute Play Festival typically takes submissions for scripts and holds auditions in the fall, with performances taking place in January of the following year.
FM Opera’s Gate City Bank Young Artists Performances
“The Executive Director of the FM Opera travels to top opera schools, bringing groups of young professionals to Fargo from late January through April of each year. The Young Artists perform at schools and community events, and are featured in two FM Opera productions each year. Many of these young artists go on to perform on some of the largest opera stages in the world and it’s special that they got their first professional experiences right here in our community.”
Fun Fact:
The Gate City Bank Young Artist Program doesn’t actually have an age limit for auditions, but typically chooses performers between the ages of 23 and 35.
FM Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”
“Each year, the FM Ballet stages the classic Nutcracker with a blend of professional dancers and some of the best student dancers that the region has to offer. There is nothing more magical at Christmas time than this beautiful classic brought to life in our community.”
Red River Market
“The Red River Market is the best of everything we have to offer in the FM Area! It’s a perfect example of what and who we are in this community—a display of commerce, ingenuity, entrepreneurial spirit, agriculture, hard work, talent, crafters, makers, musicians, food, and artists all coming together to share the best parts of our humanity. It’s inspiring to see so many people living their best lives by meeting the needs of others.”
Symphony Rocks at Bluestem Amphitheater
“This is one of the things that we earn for enduring such a long hard winter! The amphitheater out at Bluestem is inspiring, the FM Symphony is incredibly talented, and the way that the ‘Symphony Rocks’ event includes dancers of all ages and abilities is truly special. The joy and excitement leading up to the event is felt all over town, and the energy at the event is electric. There’s no better place to be on a perfect summer evening! It’s a fun event for the entire family.”
This year’s “Symphony Rocks” event, to take place on August 17, is inspired by the Grammys duet by Stevie Wonder and Chris Stapleton. It’s a combo of country and funk you won’t want to miss!
Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) at the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre
“In March every year, we entertain 3,500 K-2 students. Our TYA is often the very first theatre experience of these young people’s lives. It’s my favorite and most rewarding theatrical experience year after year!”
The FMCT already has next year’s TYA show planned— Junie B. Jones, The Musical! The show will be performed in schools all throughout the FargoMoorhead area from February 29 to March 10, 2024.
Pangea at the Hjemkomst Center
“This event, hosted by the Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County, is held in November every year and brings culturally diverse music, storytelling, and dance from all of the communities in and around the Red River Valley. It’s an incredibly inspiring event.”
This year’s “Pangea” event is set to take place on November 18!
Judy’s Favorite Bars & Restaurants
Drekker/Brewhalla
“My number one favorite bar/restaurant is Drekker and the new Brewhalla! At Drekker, the vibe is about ‘just being together.’ There are no TVs—just a welcoming space, music, board games, and really unique and delicious beer. The new add-on Brewhalla space has everything anyone could need. Whether I’m in the mood for upscale or fast food, the Brewhalla marketplace always has what I’m craving. The vibe is upbeat and eclectic—it’s like being in the center of a thriving community and I love supporting so many different risk-takers all at the same time.”
Blackbird Woodfire
“The first restaurant I visited when I moved to Fargo was Blackbird; the owners are outstanding community-minded people who know how to make delicious pizza! The sausage and apple pizza is my favorite. I always say I’m going to get something else—but I never do.”
BernBaum’s
“BernBaum’s is my go-to when I need something quick and tasty. Whenever I miss a New York deli, I take a trip to Bernbaums—the counter, the bagels, lox, soup, and that vinaigrette side salad take me right back to the city.”
Rustica Eatery & Tavern
“Rustica is the weirdest restaurant that I’ve ever been to, and I love it! From fancy filets to fingerling potato poutine and pizza, Rustica has something that literally everyone will enjoy. When I think of the FM Area, this restaurant sums us up: cultured and appreciative of the finer things, but hardworking and humble enough to know what’s good.”
Vic’s Bar & Grill
“Vic’s is the cleanest dive bar that I love to frequent. As a former restaurant manager, I know exactly what a clean restaurant does and doesn’t smell like and I can confidently say that even though I haven’t seen it, the kitchen at Vic’s is clean; they keep that deep fat fryer (that is getting a lot of use) smelling fresh! The Crowne Club sandwich is my go-to order with a side of waffle fries—delish!”
“I’ve been to Vic’s a few times, and I absolutely love the atmosphere! It’s cozy and never too busy, plus their food is delicious and not too expensive.” – Sam Kise, Editor
Judy’s Entertainment Recommendations
1. Explore Downtown Fargo
“Walk downtown and go shopping at all of the very cool stores on Broadway: the Mason Jar, The Nines, Zandbroz… and of course, we should have a little coffee from Young Blood and maybe some ice cream from the Silver Lining Creamery enjoyed on the lawn at Broadway Square.”
2. Watch A Theater Performance
“Go see a play! Almost any Wednesday-Sunday in the FM area, all year round, a person can see a play: at the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre, any one of the high schools or colleges, Theatre B, West Fargo Events, Act Up, Straw Hat, Tin Roof, Wheelhouse, Studio Vibe Arts, Harwood Prairie Players, Trollwood, Gooseberry, or the FM Opera. Every group offers something unique, wonderful, and excellent.”
3. Go To A Derby Event
“I love to go to the John E Carlson Coliseum to see the FM Derby Girls! They’re a group of women who are about empowering individuals to fulfill their potential, both on and off the track. It’s radical, good, clean fun!”
4. Attend A Concert at The Bluestem Amphitheater
“To be able to sit on the lawn with friends, food, and wine enjoying our favorite music together on a perfect MN night—well, it just doesn’t get better than that! Even though the venue seats 3,000, it still feels intimate.”
The Bluestem Amphitheater also hosts a plethora of theatre events—most notably, Trollwood Performing Arts School’s summer mainstage musical. This year, Trollwood will be performing “Singin’ in the Rain” from June through August!
Judy’s Must-See Musicals
1. Phantom of The Opera
“As a theater history buff—‘Phantom of the Opera’ is a must-see because it’s the longest running show on Broadway with breathtaking spectacle.”
2. The Secret Garden
“‘The Secret Garden’ was one of the first musicals to bring a woman’s voice to the forefront in theater. The score is haunting and beautiful.”
3. On Your Feet!
“‘On Your Feet!,’ the Gloria Estefan Musical, is a must-see because it’s a high-energy true story about a woman. One of my favorite onstage moments is the laundry scene—beautiful.”
4. The Hello Girls
“‘The Hello Girls’ has THE hardest score and most beautiful music I’ve heard in a very long time, and the story is inspiring and true.”
The Hello Girls was FMCT’s most recent mainstage musical, having run from June 1 through June 11!
5. Bright Star
“‘Bright Star,’ written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, is the music of my family tree, and Steve Martin is one of the most underrated musicians of our time.”
Q&A with Judy E Lewis
I read on the FMCT’s website that you spent time in Michigan, New York, and California before ending up in Fargo-Moorhead. How did you end up moving here? What was that process like for you?
I was born in Michigan and moved to New York right after college. My husband had an interview at Playwright Horizons, [an Off-Broadway theater company in New York City]—we packed two backpacks with enough clothes for our twoday trip, and when he was offered the job, we never went back home. I went to Macy’s, bought a dress from the clearance section, put it on, and applied for a job as a make-up artist and that’s how our great NYC adventure began. We took in everything the city had to offer and learned as much as we could.
After an all too common “me too” moment with a very famous movie star, I decided that I was meant to be an educator to help young women know that they’re worth more than their figure. So back to school I went, and I began a career in educational theatre.
After some years spent working in California and Michigan, I took a group of students to Scotland and saw a production from Fargo. After that, I began to follow FMCT on social media, and soon I saw a position posted to be their Education Director. I applied and interviewed; from the moment I arrived in Fargo, I knew this was where we are meant to be.
How does your experience in those other areas of the country, especially in theater/ performance hubs like New York and California, translate into your current role as Executive Director at FMCT?
It’s sometimes difficult to realize and appreciate what you have when you’re in the middle of it. I think as someone who has lived in places that are considered art meccas, I have a very unique perspective on the FM area. And honestly, of all of the places I’ve ever lived, the FM area is the most artistically saturated community I’ve ever been a part of. I’ll never forget the morning of the first Saturday classes I was teaching at FMCT, as parents and students were waiting for classes to begin, most of them were reading—small children, teenagers, and parents, all reading books! I was stunned! I’ve spent my adult life telling people that theatre builds foundational reading skills, reading skills are the foundation to all learning, and learning is the key to a successful life—and here was a room full of new theatre students who were already reading! Perhaps it’s that we have nine months of winter, so reading and the indoor sport of theatre are important to the community across the board; it is something that everyone can do, regardless of age or ability. But in the FM area, attending the theatre appears to be a norm and that’s inspiring! Theatre experiences consistently begin in the elementary schools throughout the FargoMoorhead region, and by the time a student gets into high school, the quality of what gets put on the stage is higher than a lot of what I saw in NY—the auditoriums are certainly nicer than most of the theatres I performed in. So, the best part of having been a part of the art world in NY and in CA is that I can easily recognize the greatness that we enjoy here in the FM area. The expectations are high, the experiences are vast, and the opportunities are plentiful. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. As the Executive Director from out of state, I’m expected to be an artist and the community rightly expects to be a part of what we create.
Aside from the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre, what other local/ regional theatres, performing arts venues, or theatre events should people be aware of?
The Hennepin Trust operates the Orpheum, State, Pantages, Hennepin, and Dudley Riggs theatre venues, bringing fantastic, professional performances to our community about three hours from town in the Twin Cities area.
There are 11 high schools with theatre programs in the FM Area, two colleges, Theatre B, West Fargo Events, Act Up, Straw Hat, Tin Roof, Wheelhouse, The Knaves Iambic, Harwood Prairie Players, Trollwood, Studio Vibe Arts, Gooseberry, and the FM Opera. Every one of these organizations reaches and includes a different piece of our community.
“I didn’t realize there were so many theatre in the Fargo-Moorhead area. I know what I will be doing for date nights for the foreseeable future!” – Sam Kise, Editor
At FMCT we have students as young as three years old, and they are in year-round classes with us. When these students get into high school, we feel like we’ve done them a great service when they participate in the theatre at their schools, or Trollwood, or Gooseberry. The entire theatre community in this region operates in this way. We all do something unique at different times throughout the year and we support each other in those endeavors. It’s truly a community that strives to make one another better. We share resources and talent and cheer each other on as we serve our community.
How would someone interested in theatre in the area get involved in FMCT or other theatre companies?
The simple answer is… Show up! Put yourself on each theatre’s volunteer list. Call them and ask to be on their volunteer list. Go to a show and offer to volunteer as an usher, or as a backstage hand, or with costumes and makeup. There’s something for everyone. When you sign up, show up with a positive attitude—be ready to learn and grow. A community of wonderful people awaits!
If you’d like to try your hand at acting: follow each of the theatre companies you are interested in on their social media or websites and pay attention to audition dates. And remember, auditions are SO intimidating… for everyone! The trick is to remember that everyone is nervous and insecure; we’re all just people, and the director just might be looking for you.
Prepare an audition: select a monologue from a play, just one minute long. Something that speaks to who you are as a person. A monologue that fits your age and look is always preferred. Memorize that monologue and think of it as telling the director a story about yourself. If you don’t know how to find a monologue, call FMCT and we’ll give you several.
If you’re auditioning for a musical: Prepare a one-minute monologue and a song. The song should be in the same style as the musical that you’re auditioning for. You should cut your song down to 32 bars (NO MORE—directors don’t like it when actors sing an entire song for an audition).
If you’re not ready to audition for a fulllength play or musical, sign-up for an acting class at FMCT. We offer acting classes for all ages. FMCT also has open auditions for our 10-Minute Play Festival. The festival offers new actors a chance to get onto the stage with very little commitment, and a 10-minute play is an easy way to see if you enjoy the craft of acting.
It’s also a great opportunity for people who want to try their hand at directing. Reach out to us at FMCT if you’re interested in directing a 10-minute play at next year’s festival. Directors will all be selected every year in August.
The Fargo-Moorhead area is rich with theatrical opportunities. From elementary school students through senior citizens, the FM area has countless opportunities for all of its residents. At the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre, we offer theatrical opportunities for people as young as 3 and this year our oldest participant was 93.
What resources are available in the area for aspiring theater performers?
All of the summer production programs for K-12 students in the FM area are fantastic for aspiring theatre performers. It’s really important that artists have the opportunity to work with many different companies, programs, and directors because it prepares them to work with the many different types of people they’ll encounter in the future.
Trollwood offers summer classroom curriculum for grades K-12 and FMCT offers year-round classroom curriculum for ages three through senior citizens and is the only program in the region to offer year-round educational opportunities for theatre.
FMCT’s mission is to engage the community in educational and artistic opportunities of high artistic quality and strives to create opportunities that are not only focused on the final product, but also on the process. Many people spend several years on the FMCT stage and then audition for roles in other companies, too. FMCT creates a lot of opportunities for artists to emerge on the scene.
What resources are available in the area for aspiring theatre performers?
All of the summer production programs for K-12 students in the FM area are fantastic for aspiring theatre performers. It’s really important that artists have the opportunity to work with many different companies, programs, and directors because it prepares them to work with the many different types of people they’ll encounter in the future.
Trollwood offers summer classroom curriculum for grades K-12 and FMCT offers year-round classroom curriculum for ages three through senior citizens and is the only program in the region to offer year-round educational opportunities for theatre.
FMCT’s mission is to engage the community in educational and artistic opportunities of high artistic quality and strives to create opportunities that are not only focused on the final product, but also on the process. Many people spend several years on the FMCT stage and then audition for roles in other companies, too. FMCT creates a lot of opportunities for artists to emerge on the scene.
I think when a lot of people think of theatre, they think of musicals. I know a lot of the theaters around here, their main draws are mainstage musicals. What theater options or resources are there in Fargo-Moorhead that aren’t musical-related?
This is a huge problem in the FM area! The struggle is real. I don’t hate a musical, but it sure isn’t my favorite form of theatre! Unfortunately, I think too many people in this region have been forced to sit through “On Golden Pond” too many times. Plays are often thought of as long and boring. To make that obstacle worse, we’re living in a digital society that gets answers and info in a matter of seconds, so theatre has to change in order to keep up! At FMCT, we are working hard to include two short mainstream plays in each of our seasons. We’re working to keep the run time under 90 minutes, the content/ subject matter relevant and meaningful, and the production as entertaining as people think a musical would be. This is a huge goal and will take time to build some social capital. We know that it will take time before patrons trust that a play won’t bore them to death or make them feel dumb.
A really exciting theatre experience happening in the FM area is the theatre happening at Theatre B. It is Theatre B’s mission “to ignite conversations that transform our community through intimate and courageous stories.” And that is exactly what they do. For people looking for an artistic experience that challenges social injustices and norms, Theatre B provides a high level of artistry and meaning.
“I love Theatre B! I saw a two-person performance of 1984 there years ago, and I have loved that theater ever since. I highly recommend it, too!” – Sam Kise, Editor
If you love a farce, the Harwood Prairie Players put on one of the best and most zany.
Who are some big names in the local theatre community, or people who are doing big things in theatre who originally came from FargoMoorhead?
- Nina Grollman
- Becky Gulsvig
- Angie Dickenson
- Josh Duhamel
- Cody Gerszewski
- Dustin Hoffman directed three plays at
FMCT right after he filmed “The Graduate”
before it was released in theatres.
What would you recommend as a theatre actor/actress’s “must-haves,” or things to always keep on hand if you want to make it in the theatre world?
- A great attitude!
- A tough character.
- A realistic view of oneself.
- Dance/rehearsal shoes.
- Paint clothes.
- A book to read.
- A water bottle.
- A pencil.
- A highlighter.
- Make a habit of being on time (that means at least 10 minutes early).
- Always rehearse outside of rehearsal— memorize your lines early.
- Follow directions. (Being a great leader means being a really good follower.)
- Learn how to listen to understand, not to be understood.
- A spoonful of courage.
- A few hugs—sorry, theatre people tend to be huggers
Support Judy and the FMCT!
Website: fmct.org
Instagram: @fmctheatre
Twitter: @FMCTheatre
Facebook: /FMCTND
