Who are the friends of the saenger?
Friends of the Saenger (FOS) formed in the early 1980s to save our cherished theater from demolition. Through a partnership with the City of Pensacola and the University of West Florida, we successfully rescued one of Pensacola’s preeminent landmarks.
In the years since, FOS has raised funding for much-needed upgrades throughout the venue, from the lobby expansion and digital projection systems to assistive listening technology and new tile in the Palafox arcade. During the major 2007–2009 renovation and expansion, FOS led the charge, raising over $1 million to revitalize the space.
A cornerstone of our preservation mission centers on “Lola,” our vintage Robert-Morton theatre pipe organ. Her majestic presence helped spare the theatre from the wrecking ball in 1980, but decades of wear and water damage from Hurricane Ivan left her largely unplayable. In 2012, FOS raised $350,000 to fully restore the organ’s console, north chamber, and relay system.
Today, Lola remains playable and well-maintained through ongoing support, with our sights set on restoring the south chamber to bring her full array of specialty pipes and percussion instruments back to life.
Join Friends of the Saenger
The Friends of the Saenger has always been and continues to be, a completely volunteer organization. We keep our expenses to a minimum so that the majority of funds raised can be put directly into capital improvements for the historic Saenger Theatre. We hope that you will become a member of FOS and support our quest to keep the Saenger beautiful and accessible to all!
Support Friends of the Saenger with Your Donation
100% of all money donated to Friends of the Saenger is used to improve our beautiful theatre. There are no administration fees, and our all-volunteer board works without payment of any kind.
Personalized Saenger Seats
Friends of the Saenger is offering the opportunity to name a seat for yourself, a loved one, or a business for just $1,000. Your information will be engraved on a 3-inch oval plaque and placed on the seat of your choice for future generations to see (we will contact you after your purchase for a personal tour of the theatre to select your seat). Of course, there are a limited number of seats, so purchase your seat while they are still available. You can have up to three lines of text, so there is plenty of room to engrave your name in history.
Saenger Pipe Organ Fund
Friends of the Saenger continue to work toward the complete restoration and enhancement of The Great Saenger Pipe Organ, which was a part of the theater’s original construction in 1925. In 2012, we raised $350,000 to restore the North Chamber, where the majority of the organ pipes live. Now, we are starting a new capital campaign to restore the South Chamber and complete the organ restoration. When finished, the pipe organ will rival any of the great theatre organs in the country, and the “Heartbeat of the Saenger” will be restored.
Sherri Hemminghaus Children’s Fund
The Sherri Hemminghaus Children’s Fund was created in 2008 to honor Sherri Hemminghaus-Weeks to recognize her 25 years of dedication to the Saenger. Founded by local businessman R. Clark Thompson, this fund provides underprivileged children with an opportunity to experience the theatre for selected cultural events. Please join our wonderful community organizations such as Communities in Schools, Families First Network, and Arts Quest to help enrich the lives of these very deserving children. For more information, contact fund director Jonathan E. Thompson at (850)723-3284 or jonathan@thompson-briggs.com
Friends of the Saenger news
The Saenger is more than a theatre. It’s a treasured part of our community, and keeping it beautiful, vibrant, and here for generations to come takes all of us.
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Saenger Theatre Pensacola to celebrate 100 years with events honoring its rich history
Read More: Saenger Theatre Pensacola to celebrate 100 years with events honoring its rich historyBuilt from the ruins of an opera house, the Saenger Theatre turns 100, complete with silent films, the historic pipe organ, and a block party.
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The South Chamber Campaign
Read More: The South Chamber CampaignDid You Know? When you are listening to The Great Saenger Pipe Organ, you are only hearing half of the instrument?
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Friends of the Saenger: A History of Volunteer Preservation
Read More: Friends of the Saenger: A History of Volunteer PreservationIn the late 1970s, the Saenger Theatre was on the brink of being razed until a citizens’ effort to save her — and the Morton Theatre Organ housed within her walls — from the wrecking ball.