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THE HISTORY OF THE FOUNDERS PARK AMPHITHEATER
| History of the Founders Park Amphitheater Anyone who attended the inaugural opening of the TIB Bank Amphitheater in Islamorada Founders Park likely will never forget it. Fifteen years ago on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006 at 5 p.m., a white Rolls Royce brought Conductor Keith Brion and Emcee John Philip Sousa IV to the stage. They joined the uniformed New Sousa Band who filed onto stage, and after the appropriate thank yous to sponsors, donors and everyone who made the free concert possible, a rousing concert filled with patriotism, marches and a professional soprano vocalist rang out across the lawn for hundreds of listeners. See the musical program here. After the concert, fireworks enthralled the crowd who had driven from Key West to Key Largo to join Islamoradans for this grand opening. The fireworks display was coordinated with the 15-minute-long 1812 Overture and Stars and Stripes Forever, which was written in May 1896 by John Philip Sousa. A committee comprised of Islamorada residents Bill and Candy Parker, George and Linda Geisler, Cheri Tindall and Jill Zima led by the incomparable Candace Parker of Lower Matecumbe Key held six months of meetings to organize the event, get the word out and make the event happen. Zima, marketing director, orchestrated the publicity campaign using newspaper and radio coverage, but also chamber of commerce and school newsletter announcements. (See local coverage here and here). Even vocalist, Soprano Lee Merrill, was noticed by The Weekly. With any free Keys event, a committee can’t be sure whether 10 folks or a thousand will show up. To witness the happiness among the enthusiastic crowd and surprise and awe during the fireworks at the concert’s conclusion was everything the committee wished for. To hear 500 people singing in unison three George M. Cohn songs: I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy, Give my Regards to Broadway, and You’re a Grand Old Flag, guided by the lyrics provided in the hand-out/program produced goosebumps in anyone given to emotion and the grandiosity of the moment. And, as ever, attendees’ applause and appreciation for the fantastic and memorable evening was all the reward the event committee needed. Local high school band students benefited by having a music session on Nov. 1, 2006 with Conductor Keith Brion and the New Sousa Band as well. Read story here. |
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The New Sousa Band later added photos from the Islamorada event to its website here.
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Getting to the inaugural concert was a test of stamina in financing and construction and filled with its own drama. While Village Hall’s senior staff publicly stated the cost of the one-of-a kind hammock design was to be $250,000 in 2001, the amphitheater’s cost was actually between $511,000 and $1 million. Resident David Feder said June 18, "I just looked in my files and I have every piece of paper from the beginning until completion and total cost including the 300,000-ish ICE donors contributed is $511,470."
The Brown-Demandt architectural design was so innovative that contractors balked at the work, and start and stop construction plodded on from 2001 to 2006. Local contractor C&E Construction finished the amphitheater. Lawsuits were filed and worked their way through the legal system, but the end product delivered the architect’s vision: incorporating the grandeur of Keys sunsets and water views with the equally special showplace.
The passing five years until the grand opening allowed the City of Marathon -- which opted for a simpler bandshell design for its Community Park -- to nearly catch up to the timing of the grand opening of Islamorada’s entertainment venue. Islamorada showcased its new amphitheater, followed five days later by Marathon’s amphitheater grand opening on Friday, November 19, 2006. Marathon’s event featured Musician John Bartus along with Dave Howell and Glenn Faast, and was a benefit for the Marathon Rotary. (See Marathon story here).
15th Anniversary of the Amphitheater is this November
The Florida Keys Community Band comprised of talented volunteers who play myriad instruments plan to mark the 15th anniversary of the grand opening of the amphitheater with a nod to the New Sousa Band by playing a couple marches in its repertoire tentatively set for its season-opening concert Saturday, Nov. 27, at the Founders Park amphitheater. Conductor Susan Bazin leads the Pops in the Park events and Emcee Kathy Miller will announce the 15-year amphitheater anniversary.
