Esther’s Follies, the iconic Austin comedy theater, has established a foundation dedicated to supporting performers and enhancing creative education for young individuals. With nearly five decades of transforming global headlines into comedy on its Sixth Street stage, the theater is now launching a nonprofit initiative aimed at preserving its rich history while developing educational programs and training opportunities for aspiring talents.
The newly formed Esther’s Follies Theater Foundation will concentrate on three primary objectives: documenting the theater’s history, expanding arts education initiatives for youth, and creating fresh opportunities for emerging performers and writers. This move is particularly timely as the theater approaches its 50th anniversary, prompting organizers to reflect on how best to safeguard its creative legacy.
“Our preparations for the upcoming 50th anniversary have initiated this momentum,” stated Ellana Breedlove, a long-time performer at Esther’s Follies, who is collaborating with co-founder Shannon Sedwick to spearhead the foundation’s launch.
“There are so many people who have cherished the Follies over the years,” she continued. “With a strong base of support for Shannon and [her husband] Michael’s work, it feels like the perfect moment to harness our collective talents and history as we move forward.”
Shannon Sedwick emphasized the urgency of preserving the theater’s legacy, noting, “It’s so easy for history to fade away, like photographs being damaged by rain. We are committed to ensuring that we don’t leave behind a legacy that is forgotten.”
The foundation’s motivation has also evolved from experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the theater was compelled to close its doors and pivot to online sketches funded by audience donations. This shift to digital performances allowed the company to remain active while audiences were confined to their homes.
“We received support from about 1,500 to 2,000 people each month,” Sedwick shared. “This enabled us to produce comedic content weekly and keep our entire team engaged without having to leave town.”
The preservation efforts of the foundation will include a documentary project that is currently underway. Sedwick noted that this initiative will involve the organization of decades’ worth of photographs, video recordings, and news articles that chronicle both the theater itself and the broader landscape of live performance in Austin.
Local educational institutions are anticipated to be the foundation’s main focus for introducing comedy and performance programs to students. Breedlove indicated that the goal is to collaborate directly with educators and theater departments, particularly at the high school level.
Potential programs may include brief performances followed by classroom discussions, as well as extended workshops designed to help students craft their own original material.
“We take current events and discover the humor within them or find ways to make sense of them in our own lives,” Breedlove explained. “A significant aspect of our youth programs is fostering kindness and empathy, focusing on how we can uplift one another rather than tear down.”
The foundation’s third key focus will be nurturing new artistic talent in Austin, with plans to offer workshops, writing labs, and performance training tailored for comedians, actors, and musicians at the beginning of their careers. Additionally, Sedwick mentioned that the foundation is considering scholarship opportunities for young performers still in school.
This archival initiative is driven by the understanding that cultural history can easily vanish without proper documentation. “It’s all too easy for memories to fade, like photographs getting ruined,” Sedwick remarked. “We are determined to ensure that we leave behind a legacy that others can recognize.”
Currently in its early development stages, the foundation has initiated a fundraising campaign with a target of $25,000 to support the documentary project and archival efforts. Simultaneously, the foundation’s leaders are pursuing grants and forming a small advisory board.
Breedlove mentioned that discussions with local schools are set to commence this summer as the organization readies its initial program offerings. “We are genuinely enthusiastic about the direction this is taking,” she said. “This foundation represents a means to continue our legacy while giving back to the community in ways we have yet to explore.”
