Spring Green, Wisconsin
Thursday, June 15, 2023 | Vol. 4, No. 10 FREE, Single-Copy
Inside this edition
American Players Theatre opens 44th season
First summer community calendar of the year!
BEST OF THE RIVER VALLEY READER POLL
Pages 1, 9
Pages 6, 7, 8
Enclosed
American Players Theatre opens 44th season, unveils final phase of infrastructure project Patty Heaston, American Players Theatre American Players Theatre’s (APT’s) 44th season opened on June 10 with the first performance of William Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor. Also playing in June and July: David Ives’ farce The Liar; Marco Ramirez’s The Royale, based on the life of Black heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson; Wisconsin playwright Thornton Wilder’s American Classic Our Town, and the U.S. Premiere of Sonya Kelly’s Once Upon a Bridge. In addition, audiences can add to their experience with APT’s Beyond the Plays Events, including tours of the shops and theaters, discussions about the plays and talkbacks with the cast and artists. More information at americanplayers.org/events. Tickets are on sale now, online at americanplayers.org 24/7, or by calling the Box Office at 608-588-2361 from 10:00 AM CT – 5:00 PM CT. Tickets and information at americanplayers.org.
A Newly Upgraded, More Accessible Parking Lot
In late 2021, the state of Wisconsin announced a special grant program for capital projects that would promote tourism. In February of 2022, APT received word that the theater would receive nearly $1 million for improvements. The project, which began
Photo by Liz Lauren Left to right: Kelsey Brennan, Reginald André Jackson, David Daniel, Dee Dee Batteast & Josh Krause, The Merry Wives of Windsor, 2023.
in October of 2022, is nearing completion, and should be ready when the first audience arrives this week. Upgrades include: Better lighting; more parking spaces; an additional exit; improved water management to prevent washouts; an accessible picnic area; and around 50% has been asphalted for improved accessibility. Managing Director, Sara Young said of the project, “Parking lot improvements are one of the number one requests of APT patrons. Indeed, the parking lot has been on the list of needed improvements for years. Decades, even. Last year we were delighted to receive funding for the project from the Tourism Capital Grant program through the State of Wisconsin. APT’s Operations Manager Cari
Stebbins got to work immediately, working with our partners at Jewell Associates Engineers and getting contractor bids. We broke ground last October as soon as the Hill season closed, and everything seems to be on schedule for the start of the season. We’re so excited for these improvements, and I know our patrons are going to benefit from the upgrades – even the ones they may not notice.”
The 2023 Season
In the Hill Theatre June 10 – October 8 The Merry Wives of Windsor By William Shakespeare, Directed by Terri McMahon June 16 – September 29
The Liar By David Ives, Adapted from Le Menteur by Pierre Corneille, Directed by Keira Fromm August 11 – October 7 Romeo & Juliet By William Shakespeare, Adapted by Joshua Castille & John Langs, Directed by John Langs June 23 – September 22 Our Town By Thornton Wilder, Directed by Tim Ocel August 4 – October 6 Anton’s Shorts Brief Plays & Vaudevilles by the Young Anton Chekhov, Freely Adapted for the Stage by Aaron Posner, Directed by Jake Penner In the Touchstone Theatre June 16 – September 27 The Royale By Marco Ramirez, Directed by Tyrone Phillips June 27 – October 7 Once Upon a Bridge By Sonya Kelly, Directed by Laura Rook August 12 – October 5 Mala By Melinda Lopez, Directed by Rosa Joshi October 28 – November 19 Proof By David Auburn, Directed by Brenda DeVita
Make Music River Valley returns on June 21, free public music making events to be held across the River Valley Marnie Dresser, River Valley ARTS Make Music River Valley will return for its second year with a wild and wonderful mix of free musical events on Wednesday, June 21. Make Music River Valley is part of Make Music Day, a global music celebration that takes place on the summer solstice each year and brings people of all ages and skill levels together to make music. This year, over 100 U.S. cities will host thousands of Make Music performances across the country as part of the world’s largest annual music event.
Make Music Day began in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, and has spread to over 1,000 cities across 120 countries. Completely different from a typical musical festival, Make Music concerts are performed by anyone who wants to take part and enjoyed by everyone who wants to attend. From classical to folk, hip hop to opera, Latin jazz to punk rock, live music of all kinds resounds on streets, sidewalks, porches, plazas, parks, gardens, store fronts and other public spaces on the longest day of the year.
Last year, there were several performances (ranging from interactive crafts to rollicking local groups to one that was mind-blowingly creative) for Make Music River Valley and many, many more are expected this year. Highlights of Make Music River Valley 2023 will include: • You Uke Too at the Spring Green General Store at 2:00 p.m. • Family Music/Story Time at the Spring Green Community Library at 4:00 p.m. • Nath Dresser and friends on the front
porch of 337 E. Jefferson Street Backyard String Band, Wild Love, and many, many more! Any musician, amateur or professional, young or old, is invited to take part by contacting Nancy Cullen at nancy.cullen@ icloud.com. Likewise, businesses, buildings, schools, churches, and other institutions can contact Nancy to offer their indoor or outdoor spaces as concert locations. The full schedule of events is still growing and can be viewed at https://www. makemusicday.org/rivervalley/. •