FA4FA 2025 Production Costs

It’s not every day that kids step up to make a difference in their communities and work toward something bigger than themselves. Fine Arts for Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA for FA) is a Sioux Falls student run, led, and directed organization devoted to raising awareness and money for Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA) research. We are looking for support in our journeys to cure FA.

The idea for FA for FA began with a beloved girl, Raena Brendtro. Raena, a fellow musical theatre performer in our community, was diagnosed with FA on May 30th of 2013. FA is a debilitating, life-shortening neuromuscular disorder that affects about 50,000 people worldwide. Students from the Sioux Falls area were touched by her struggles and felt that far too many people were unaware of the life altering effects FA has on people. As students, we wanted to inform the community about the seriousness of Friedreich’s Ataxia through creative means. As a result, Fine Arts for Friedreich’s Ataxia was born.

For the past nine years, FA for FA has been able to produce the fundraiser, Curtain Call for a Cure. Our original event featured high school performers staging musical theatre numbers from well-known Broadway musicals; however, over the past few summers, we expanded our program and presented Sioux Falls with brand new theatre experiences, including FA for FA’s full-length musical performances. Over our nine-year history, we have raised over $90,000 for Friedreich’s Ataxia research. Our goal this year is to raise another $15,000 to directly donate to the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) for FA research. FARA is dedicated to the pursuit of scientific research leading to treatments and a cure for Friedreich's Ataxia. FARA fosters the development of the most promising discoveries to slow, stop, and reverse the damage of this disease. Currently, there are several clinical trials and prospective treatments in the pipeline. FARA funded research is also providing insight into curing other neurodegenerative diseases that share common mechanisms such as ALS, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s.

The leadership committee for FA for FA is composed of five high school students working together to plan all aspects of this event. We feel that the concept of a student led and community supported event will not only add potency to the message we hope to deliver about Friedreich’s Ataxia, but it will also set this event apart from anything the state of South Dakota has ever seen before. The committee is inspired by community and high school theater role models, and Ann Musheno, the FARA Grassroots coordinator. The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance has already named us a Grassroots Fundraiser.

In honor of our 10th year as an organization, we are more ambitious than ever, with costs of performance materials, rehearsal and performance space rentals, costuming, scenic properties, and more, your financial support is crucial, as it will allow Curtain Call for a Cure to become a reality. We are hoping to raise $5,000 total, as well as a strong community to come alongside us on this journey of raising awareness for Friedreich’s Ataxia. We would be honored to have your support.

Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration, as well as the countless other events you have made possible in the Sioux Falls area. For further information about FARA, please visit www.cureFA.org

Sincerely,

The FA for FA Leadership Committee