Ray, a longtime resident of the Felicians, sensed a real desire among local residents for new cultural stimulus. Ray believed that the Moonlark Theater could serve the community as a performance space, an educational organization, and an artisitic landmark. A new theater would provide cultural opportunities for residents of the Felicianas, and would draw audiences from the nearby Baton Rouge area.

Beginning in December 2000, Ray began to clear the X acres adjoining his home in order to make a site for the new theater.

A spirit of volunteerism.

The Moonlark Theater is being constructed entirely by volunteers (except, of course, for heavy equipment operations such as bulldozing). Small teams of volunteers have been making their way out to Ethel nearly every weekend since the groundbreaking. Though the work is sometimes exhausting, the rewards more than make up for the hard work. Volunteers are able to watch a place of art, a place of beauty rise from the ground - the product of their own sweat and toil.