Devastating flood destroys years of sets, props & costumes at The Point Theater

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The Point Theater is facing a heartbreaking recovery after more than four feet of floodwater filled its Noblesville warehouse and remained there for days, destroying much of a collection which was built over more than a decade.

For nine years, the warehouse has been the behind-the-scenes home of The Point Theater, housing thousands of costumes and accessories along with the props, furniture and set pieces that bring its productions to life.

Among the losses were Cinderella’s carriage, Lord Farquaad’s throne from Shrek the Musical, the lockers from Footloose and countless pieces carefully built, collected, donated, and saved through the years. They represent thousands of volunteer hours and memories from decades of young performers.

“This warehouse holds so much more than stuff,” said Laura Baltz, Founder and Artistic Director of The Point Theater. “Every costume has been worn by a child who stepped onto a stage and discovered they could do something they didn’t know they could do. Every set piece has a story. Seeing so much of it destroyed was absolutely devastating.”

Photo provided

But almost immediately, The Point Theater’s community did what it does best: it showed up.

Parents rescued and washed more than 60 bags of costumes. Longtime supporter Classic Cleaners is dry cleaning costumes requiring special care at no cost, and Red Dawn Construction and Renovation will donate a complete industrial cleaning of the warehouse. MFR Properties, who owns the building, is working quickly to replace all the drywall, flooring, and the HVAC system so the theater can move back in as quickly as possible. Anderson University Theater has generously donated its space to build sets for The Point’s upcoming fall shows, Radium Girls and The Lion King, Jr., and theaters as far away as Michigan have offered to loan costumes, set pieces, and props until The Point is back on its feet.

The Point Theater serves thousands of young people between the ages of 4 and 18 through productions, classes, workshops, and camps, creating a place where students can build confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging. No student is turned away because of financial need, making the cost of rebuilding especially difficult for the nonprofit.

“We would much rather spend our resources putting kids onstage than replacing things we already owned,” said Kim Drake, the theater’s Managing Director. “Unfortunately, right now we have to do both.”

The Point Theater has created an Amazon Wish List to help replace what was lost. It can be found on the Donate page of The Point Theater’s website, where supporters can also make cash donations that will be used to repurchase destroyed props, set materials and other essentials.

For anyone who has watched a child find confidence under the stage lights, painted a set, driven to rehearsal, applauded from the audience or simply believes every young person deserves a place to belong, The Point Theater is asking for help.

A flood may have taken a warehouse full of memories, but it did not take the community that built them. With that community’s help, The Point Theater is ready to build again.

About The Point Theater
The Point Theater is the Midwest’s largest children’s theater, serving approximately 1,000 students each year through productions, classes, workshops and summer programming. It is dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive community where young people can grow in confidence, develop their talents, and experience the magic of live theater. No student is turned away because of financial need.