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Fairfield Youth Performing Arts launches new choral group, YouTube channel
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
FAIRFIELD – Fairfield Youth Performing Arts has big plans in store for the coming months, not just its play in December but also the creation of a youth choir and a brand-new YouTube channel.
Tommy Brower, who founded FYPA in 2024, is excited for the organization’s second production called “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood,” to be performed at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center Dec. 11-14. And even while Brower and director Amber Adkins are in the final month of rehearsals for that show, Brower is also busy starting other ventures through FYPA.
One of those is a new singing group called The FYPA Cherub Society for children in grades K-12. Brower said the organization’s first production, “Mary Poppins Jr.,” revealed an immense amount of local singing talent. Members of the cast are still singing songs from the musical months later, and Brower felt like there should be more avenues for them to share their gift with the community.
The Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce reached out to Brower to ask if some of the FYPA kids could go caroling this Christmas season. At the next rehearsal, Brower asked the 18 or so kids present how many wanted to participate, and they all raised their hand. But even before the Cherub Society carols in Central Park on Dec. 20, the group will make its performance debut at Dee Sandquist and Doug Daller’s Holiday Sing-Along Nov. 29 at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center.
Brower said he’s directing the Cherub Society at the moment but wants to find a permanent director. In the coming months and year, he foresees the Cherub Society performing at care facilities, singing the national anthem at sporting events, and doing pop-up concerts.
“This is a way for the kids to give something back to the community that supports them,” Brower said. “We’re just going out and doing something fun that we would be doing anyway.”
Apart from the newly formed Cherub Society, FYPA is launching a YouTube channel called FYPA Vision, where members will show off their latest content, such as promoting upcoming shows while partnering with the group’s sponsors.
“Our young artists, apart from being singers and actors, are also dancers, filmmakers, storytellers and designers,” Brower said. “All of the content on [FYPA Vision] will be kid-generated, and they’ll learn some of the hard skills regarding video production. It will be another avenue for them to tell their stories and express their creativity while promoting ourselves and our sponsors.”
Brower said FYPA Vision is still in its infancy, and it will require community buy-in to get it off the ground.
The other important piece of news Brower is keeping close to the vest for now is the 2026 season, which will feature two productions just like 2025. Brower will announce the two shows at the Dec. 11 premiere of “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood.” That show will be performed at 7 p.m. the first three days, Dec. 11-13, and then at 3 p.m. on Dec. 14. The show is being produced by FYPA and MidWestOne Bank. Tickets are on sale online at fairfieldacc.com and at the FACC box office.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
