Trees on the side of the Augusta Ballet studio on Fury's Ferry Road after Hurricane Helene. Courtesy Ron Jones
Trees on the side of the Augusta Ballet studio on Fury's Ferry Road after Hurricane Helene. Courtesy Ron Jones

Performing arts groups continue to recover after Hurricane Helene

Saturdays in January at Augusta Ballet are typically packed with back-to-back rehearsals for the group’s annual trip through the wardrobe for the production of “Narnia.”

But thanks to Hurricane Helene and the severe damage of fallen trees at the Fury’s Ferry Road ballet studio, the first full Saturday of rehearsals wasn’t held until Feb. 1.

“We were able to get classes back running in two of the three studios as well as ‘Nutcracker’ on stage” in the weeks after Helene, said Ron Jones, executive director.

But after the “Nutcracker” performance in December, the studio closed for further repairs.

A tree-covered vehicle in the parking lot of Augusta Ballet right after Hurricane Helene hit. Photo courtesy Ron Jones

Jones said they’d initially hoped to reopen Jan. 6, but that date was pushed to allow the work to be completed.

“They have worked through this whole time with a generator, no power, no heat,” he said of the crews.

Power was restored on Jan. 29, and classes resumed Jan. 31.

And he’s looking forward to the performance.

“It gives us a few weeks’ late start, but we believe this year’s performance will be infused with the same unique unity and energized commitment that our Nutcracker was,” he said.

Inside the Augusta Ballet studios on Fury’s Ferry Road after Hurricane Helene. Photo courtesy Ron Jones,

While Augusta Ballet is preparing for its March 29 production at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center, other arts groups are still encountering issues in the storm’s aftermath.

At Flowing Wells Theatre on Flowing Wells Road, rehearsals are underway for a production of “Noah,” which will open in March.

The theater, which opened in November 2023, wasn’t damaged by the storm; however, about 100 trees fell behind the building in an area called “The Path” that had been used as an outdoor theater and held a puppet stage.

”We had over 100 trees down,” said Director Carol Rezzelle.

Trees down behind Flowing Wells Theatre. Photo courtesy Carol Rezzelle

About 85 of them crushed fences and the puppet stage.

“We were planning to do a spring show out there and do our autumn harvest, but it’s gone. It’s just gone,” she said.

And these aren’t trees that a chainsaw and a couple of volunteers can handle on their own. They need a company with heavy machinery.

“There’s trees everywhere. You can’t even walk in it; huge trees you can’t even climb over,” she said.

Rezzelle said clearing the initial pathway and setting up a space for the puppet theater as well as seating took she and her husband three years, doing it all by hand.

The remnants of the puppet stage lay under a mountain of trees behind Flowing Wells Studio. Photo courtesy Carol Rezzelle

While insurance is expected to pay some of the costs, Rezzelle anticipates a hefty bill. One estimate for the tree removal was $85,000, she said.

Donations are being accepted for the project.

And reports are that Fort Eisenhower’s Presidential Dinner Theatre sustained storm damage as well.

Augusta Good News reached out to Fort Eisenhower’s Public Affairs Office twice to set up an interview. Public Affairs said someone from Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) would need to answer any questions, but MWR declined the interview requests.

 The dinner theater website has a notification “Presidential Dinner Theatre is currently closed. Reopening date to be determined. We apologize for any inconvenience.”

Its Facebook page has not been updated since Sept. 9, 2024, when the cast list of the “Best Christmas Pageant Ever” was announced.

Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.

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