Taproot honors those who saved the theater on Opening Night | Arts & Culture

Firefighters kept a massive fire from turning the Taproot Theatre into a total loss.  But just a few months after it burned at an arsonist's hands the theater reopened with an unforgettable opening act.

Some thought the building would be lost, but there it was, the marquee lit up.    

There were some very special guests for this opening night, but they ended up having to make an early exit.

The doors open to a brand new start.  A bustling box office means the taproot theatre is back in business.

“I'm really excited to be back here,” says Sarah Adams. “It's like coming home.”

Many worried it might be a final curtain call for the building.

Last year, an arsonist targeted Greenwood.  In October, fire raced through a group of buildings along 85th. Four structures were lost, the theatre was damaged, but fire crews managed to keep it standing.

“It's amazing the work they did to save the theatre,” Adams said. 

“I think we often treat firefighters as heroes,” says Scott Nolte, Taproot’s CEO and Artistic Director, “but they don't often get a chance to look their public in the eye and get that appreciation.”

So Nolte invited firefighters to the reopening, including Assistant Fire Chief A.D. Vickery.

“We banded together as a group, in the community and police and fire put a stop to it,” Vickery said. “This opening is an absolute wonderful rise out of the ashes.”

The plan was to bring these men on stage, and thank them.  But things don't always go according to script.

Right before the show, there was some confusion.  A fire call meant the crew was off racing down the street to do their job.

“What are the chances of that?” said Nolte.

But the show must go on, in this case with a solo act.  Chief Vickery accepted the thanks of this theater community.  He gave the appreciation right back.

“We honor you,” Vickery said, talking to the audience. “You're the ones who brought this theatre back.  Bless your heart.”

It was an opening night, a new beginning worthy of a standing ovation.

A man has been arrested accused of starting the fire here and several others in the area.  The play, The Great Divorce, runs through the end of February.