'Something out of a movie': Flagler Playhouse president describes night of fire, what's next

Jerri Berry received a call Sunday night from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, who told her that “an extensive fire” had engulfed the Flagler Playhouse in Bunnell, where she serves as president.

She quickly arrived at the scene and remained there until 3 a.m. Monday, watching what she described as “something out of a movie.”

“Just sitting there and watching four different fire departments and ladder trucks was like watching a scene in a movie,” Berry said in an interview. “It’s really surreal — an overwhelming feeling of loss.”

Playhouse hit by fire: Flagler Playhouse destroyed in overnight fire, cause under investigation

She returned later that morning, when fire officials were still at work trying to secure the space while she was in contact with the insurance representatives.

Berry has been with the Playhouse since 2016, when she started as a patron and actor. She became president in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which she said was another challenging time.

On Wednesday, fire officials were “trying to determine the exact location and cause of the fire,” Berry said.

Even though an official cause has not yet been determined by authorities, Berry said she has heard “speculations” that it might have been due an electrical problem, “possibly near or around an attic area.”

No civilians or firefighters were injured during the fire, according to Flagler County Fire Rescue.

“(Fire officials) are being very diligent in their jobs and very thorough,” Berry said.

She said the biggest feeling of loss for her is the use of the theater itself.

“All the material things can always be replaced, way easier than the structure itself,” Berry said, adding that one building that was completely unaffected houses props, set pieces and other furniture. “The roof essentially is now caved in. There is not much to salvage at all.”

She said there is also extensive water and smoke damage throughout the theater building.

“The smell of the smoke, just sitting in the parking lot, is overpowering,” she added.

Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker told The News-Journal Monday that firefighters from Flagler County, Palm Coast and Ormond Beach contributed to fighting the fire. The Bunnell Police Department, Flagler County Emergency Management and the Flagler County Sheriff's Office also assisted.

He said crews initially attacked the fire from the inside but within 10 minutes the conditions deteriorated, and for safety reasons crews exited the building and went into defensive mode from the outside to contain the fire and prevent its spread.

"I left the scene at 5:30 a.m. and we still had a couple of crews out there mopping up," Tucker said. "It took us about six hours before we were able to put out that fire."

What is next for the Flagler Playhouse?

Berry said officials are still interviewing people who were at the Playhouse on Sunday preparing for the opening of the venue’s second production of the season on Friday, Nov. 3, “The Play That Goes Wrong.”

“This production is probably completely lost,” Berry said. “Because it is called ‘The Play That Goes Wrong,’ the whole set is designed to go wrong as these people are putting on the play. It’s so set-dependent that we are not going to be able to have that one.”

The show’s cast and crew were preparing for tech week (when dress rehearsals and final preparations are made), Berry said.

“Everybody was so excited,” she said. “The director is devastated; the actors are sad. When you spend two months of your life, three to five days a week, rehearsing with people, you become really, really close … It’s hard for everybody.”

Three other productions were scheduled for the early months of 2024. Berry said the Playhouse is already trying to find an alternative way to put on the shows.

“We are fortunate enough that Flagler County Schools have reached out and offered to help us with venues and anything that we need,” Berry said. “Other venues are reaching out to see if we need space if it’s compatible … We might be able to continue with some of our future productions for the rest of the season.”

Berry said the Playhouse is scouting locations to see if the next production of “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” could make its scheduled January/February opening.

She said right now there is not even a precise time estimate on when the Playhouse can get “people in to clean out the building.”

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“I’m not even sure what that entails at this point,” she said.

Berry said the Playhouse staff will meet soon to discuss ideas to seek the public’s help moving into the recovery process.

“I’m really just overwhelmed with how many people in the community and in the Central Florida theater communities have reached out wanting to help,” Berry said. “We’ll be putting together some fundraising events and information within the coming days.”

More information will also come on “how people can donate financially; as we move closer into being able to get into the building, how people can assist with their time; and as we plan for the future of the Playhouse, how people can have a voice in how that should look like,” she added.

For information about the Flagler Playhouse, visit flaglerplayhouse.org.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Flagler Playhouse president talks fire and what's next