January 10, 2025
by Vanessa Schultze

Heidi Stevermer makes waves in campaign support! 

When you can’t donate towards the preservation of the opera house, online and social media advocacy for the Fairmont Opera House’s four-million-dollar mission can move mountains, and mobilize others to do the same and chip in. Heidi Stervermer, an engaged fan of the Fairmont Opera House, has done a favor for a theater, drawing attention to the Fairmont Opera House’s goal to keep the theater thriving and prevent a permanent closure. With Stevermer’s tenacity, she has assembled more attention to the Opera House with each passing day, urging patrons and those whom the historical theater has positively touched to collaborate towards its protection. 

Like many people within the Martin County community, the Fairmont Opera House means a lot to Stevermer and her family, who have been involved with events both as a performer and a member of the audience. 

“Many people for years have come just to watch the shows the Fairmont Opera House puts on,” Stevermer commented. 

Not considerably long ago, Stevermer and her family were exposed to the magic of the Fairmont Opera House for the first time during a leisurely visit to one of the popular shows in the autumn of 2023, just months before the beloved theatre would temporarily close its doors to make way for generous amounts of beams and scaffolding for its pending construction.

“It was date night, and we went to go see these Christian artists,” She recalled her first show experience, explaining how the remarkability of the performance made her both appreciative and contemplative, “Seeing the potential [of the theater], it’s such a unique thing to have.” 

Stervermer explained that her daughter was eager for the annual FACT children’s theater program that takes place during the summer, where she played the role of an old woman in The Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly (directed by Megan Potthoff and Ellen Germain). The shows, both children’s and adult productions combined, garnered hundreds of attendance per showing night. Stevermer remarked her family enjoyed the livelihood and concurred wanting to continue watching the long-standing theater thrive. 

This summer, Stevermer herself greatly contributed to the success of the Mary Poppins (directed by Sara Gudahl) musical which performed in late July and welcomed more than 100 individuals into its cast list. As a lively member of the ensemble cast, Stevermer and several others brought overwhelming vibrancy to the stage, attracting hundreds of Martin County audiences during the performance week, and even potential donors for the capital campaign. 

Discussing the community’s connection to the Fairmont Opera House, Stevermer concurred that people who have been ‘touched’ by the theater should consider donating or raising awareness. 

“It’s something that can’t be sacrificed,” She said, “It means too much to the people.” 

Since she and her family are so attached to the longstanding theater, she noted they couldn’t watch the Fairmont Opera House be torn down. Additionally, many people have adopted the theater as their ‘second home’, building a sense of comfort among fellow cast members and house workers. Without the theater, affiliates lose a home and Fairmont loses a significant part of its history. 

Considering joining Stevermer’s goal to bring proper awareness to the Fairmont Opera House’s mission to keep the Fairmont Opera House from inoperability. Social advocacy can be made on social media, word of mouth, and leaving information in public spaces. There is not a generous amount of time to do what you can to save the opera house. The community must act now. 

How You Can Help

Even a gift as small as $5 gets us closer to our goal. Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Make a Donation: Whether you can give $5, $50, or more, every dollar counts—and every donation helps us get closer to reaching our $4 million Capital Campaign goal.
2. Share the Cause: Help us spread the word about Fairmont Opera House! Share our campaign with your friends, family, and colleagues through social media, email, or word of mouth. The more people who give, the better our chances of reopening our doors.
3. Set Up a Facebook Fundraiser: Love Fairmont Opera House? Create a personal fundraising page and rally your own network to give. It’s an easy and impactful way to show your support!

Looking to set up a matching gift? Give us a call at 507-238-4900. We would love to hear from you!