A Tradition of Arts, Theatre and Community in Franklin County
The Franklin County Arts Council (FCAC) in Hampton, Iowa, was founded in 1989. It operates under the Windsor Theatre Development Corporation's 501(c)(3) non-profit organization promoting local arts, hosts community performances, and provides fine arts scholarships for graduating high school seniors in the area.
The mission is to promote, encourage, and increase public knowledge, participation, and appreciation for the arts and cultural events throughout Franklin County.
FCAC utilizes the historic Windsor Theatre in downtown Hampton for live plays, touring acts, and musical shows.
Annual Events and Traditions
Young Performing Artist Scholarship Benefit Concert: An annual spring concert held at the Faith Baptist Church in Hampton featuring guest vocalists, musicians, and Hampton-Dumont-CAL High School and West Fork High School choirs to fund $1,000 student art scholarships.
Community Concerts & Cabarets: Coordinates collaborative local performances, such as traditional community Christmas choir programs ("Silent Night, Holy Night") and guest artist showcases featuring groups like the Cedar Summerstock Theatre.
Community Outreach: Works with groups like Ballet Des Moines and local schools to bring dance, theater, and music events directly to the rural public.
Franklin Players
FCAC frequently partners with the local community theater group, the Franklin Players, to bring live theatrical productions to the historic stage at the Windsor Theatre.
Because the Arts Council focuses heavily on youth outreach and community-written works, their historical lineup at the theater includes a unique mix of original holiday plays and licensed productions.
Original & Holiday Youth Productions
Since 2021, the Arts Council has hosted an annual youth Christmas theater production written and directed by local playwright Nathan Pralle, giving area students the chance to perform live on stage:
The Tradition Collision (December 2025): An original multicultural holiday comedy following the comedic chaos of four diverse families rooming together in a fictional Midwest town.
A Colorless Christmas (December 2024): Follows the story of what happens when someone loses the spirit of the season and threatens to bring down an entire town of right before the holidays -- can one eternally optimistic girl and the spirits of the season save Christmas?
Barely in Time for Christmas (December 2023): A young physicist girl's experiment with time manipulation goes wrong and unknowingly she has sent Santa whirling backwards in time. Can she and her best friend, the crew at the North Pole, and a cast of other fairy tales and mythical creatures get Santa back to the present in time for Christmas?
An Enchanted Bookshop Christmas (December 2022): A magical holiday story where iconic storybook characters come to life to help save a local shop.
Closed for the Holidays (December 2021): A motley crew of travelers find themselves stranded at the local community center days before Christmas.
For more information or how to be a part of the Franklin County Arts Council or FCAC events contact Windsor Theatre manager Jim Davies (cell: 641-425-4707) or email the Windsor Theatre at windsortheatre@msn.com.