10/29/2026
Introducing Stage Kiki! At our October capital campaign close, we celebrated the naming of our new stage for Angelique "Kiki" Petropole, a pediatric nurse, community volunteer leader, and celebrated local actress who had starred in productions such as Hello Dolly!
With lead support from the R.H. Ledbetter family, Fox Gives (the charitable giving arm of The Fox Theatre, The Georgia Council for the Arts and many other local Kiki lovers, the stage has been transformed.
Wright Ledbetter spoke movingly about Kiki's impact on the community and all the young people who called her "nuna" (the Greek word for godmother). Wright told those assembled to celebrate the DeSoto's capital campaign close about Kiki's work as Dr. Harlan Starr's pediatric nurse (Kiki was one of the first pediatric nurses in the entire state) and her establishing "Kiki's Kids" summer camp for children with Type 1 diabetes through an estate gift to the Floyd Healthcare Foundation (now known as Floyd Spirit Foundation).
The new stage is framed by a lovely new proscenium arch and will delight theatre-goers now and for the DeSoto's next 100 years (make plans to join us for our Century Celebration in 2029)!
