Almost 40 years ago, Carol Fraser watched the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts be built. As she watched the building grow, she made a vow - one day she would perform on that stage!

She continued to go see shows at ACPA, and when her son was 12 he had a similar experience. Together they saw David Copperfield perform, and at the end of the show he said, “That’s what I’m going to do when I grow up - I’m going to be a magician like David Copperfield.”

Fast forward to 2025 - Carol is the founder of the Trend Alaska Fashion Show, an organization that holds a fashion show once a year and gives the proceeds to a local non-profit. This year, Trend Alaska chose the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts as their non-profit and we hosted the event.

Over 800 people attended this event that raised $310,000 for ACPA, but more importantly, a dream was made - Carol played on our stage for the first time. Even more special - her son, now a professional magician in Las Vegas, also performed on our stage that night. Mother and son, two dreams made and realized, right here on our local stages.

“That building is truly Alaska’s Center for the Performing Arts – it’s all of ours……where we can make our dreams come true, where we can find our passion, and we can watch our children’s talents and lives grow.”

—Carol Fraser

Magic is everywhere, especially in our theaters and shows.