Tickets to all shows are available online April 15th at www.FolkloreTheatre.com or by phone by calling the AFT Office at 920-854-6117.
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2010 Summer Sponsors
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2010 Fall Sponsors
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 20 YEARS
& COUNTING!
This summer, AFT will celebrate
its 20th Anniversary of "theatre under the stars" at the outdoor AFT Amphitheatre in Peninsula State Park. The summer
season will include a world premiere musical - Life on the Mississippi, a reprise of last summer's smash hit - Cheeseheads, the Musical, and the
ever-haunting AFT audience favorite - Bone
Dance, last seen on the AFT stage in 2005.
 Life on the Mississippi will take audiences on
a journey with young Samuel Clemens as he leaves his home
in Hannibal, Missouri to be a cub pilot on a Mississippi steamboat in 1958.
With this production, American Folklore Theatre welcomes newcomers Douglas M.
Parker and Denver Casado to the AFT playwriting family. Douglas (book/lyrics)
and Denver (music) have taken Mark Twain's book Life on the Mississippi and fashioned a heartfelt coming of age
story. Follow Sam Clemens as he navigates his way through steamboat piloting,
love and romance, and the life-changing circumstances of challenges unforeseen
to become the writer, Mark Twain. Life on
the Mississippi plays Mondays at 8 p.m., Wednesdays at 6 p.m., and Fridays
at 8 p.m. starting Friday, June 18th, with a special opening
performance on Wednesday, June 16th at 8:30 p.m.
 Cheeseheads, the Musical, billed as a "modern
day dairy-tale with a lotto heart," revolves around the lives of fellow workers
at Schnaybel's Famous Cheese, a family-owned factory set in Sheboygan, WI.
Their beloved founder has passed away and there are rumors the factory may be
shut down. With typical Wisconsin good humor, the workers carry on while
keeping their fingers crossed that something better will come their way. Dave
Hudson and Paul Libman's wildly popular show literally had people leaping from
their seats to state out loud and proud, "I'm a Cheesehead!" It truly is a
testament to a show's success when we decide to bring it back for a second
season in a row. The veteran writing
team of Hudson and Libman has also authored A
Cabin with a View, Muskie Love,
and Main-Travelled Roads for AFT, and
are recipients of the prestigious Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theatre. Cheeseheads, the Musical is a touching
and joyful Wisconsin "gouda-luck fable," sure to delight families and fans of
all ages. It will play on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 6 p.m., with a
special opening performance on Thursday, June 17th at 8 p.m.
 Bone Dance, created by Artistic Director
Jeffery Herbst, is a funny and frightening musical carnival of mystical ghost
stories gathered from campfires around the world. Originally presented in 1995,
Bone Dance played to record crowds at
Peninsula State Park. Ralph Lee, master puppet designer from New York will be
augmenting his creations from the 2005 production with new creatures as the
ghosts, goblins, and skeletons repossess the AFT Amphitheatre. "This show is scary,
funny, and even touching - sometimes all at once. But," creator Jeffery Herbst
adds, "kids should not be afraid to
bring their parents." Bone Dance will
play Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m., Thursdays at 8 p.m., and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m.
beginning on Wednesday, June 23rd.
This
year's company will feature AFT veterans Doug Mancheski, Lee Becker, Doc Heide,
Jeffrey Herbst, Chase Stoeger, Molly Rhode, and Pamela Niespodziani. Joining
them will be local Door County actors
Chad Luberger and Mark Moede, local musicians Pat Judy, and
Craig McClelland, and newcomers Alissa Rhode, Michael Birr, Jolyn Sherman,
Bobby Johnson, Kelliann Kary, Sean Smith, and Chuck Larkin.
The door is always open, and I'm always eager to
hear your feedback, your opinions and your suggestions. I look forward to seeing you "under the
stars" this coming summer!
Regards,  Dave MaierManaging Director |
Some Tickets Still Available for May 30th
"Raise the Curtain" Event
Join American Folklore
Theatre as they kick off their 20th Anniversary Season at their
annual "Raise the Curtain" kick-off party, set for Sunday, May 30th
at the Alpine Resort in Egg Harbor. A social hour will begin the evening at
5:00 pm, with a sit-down dinner to follow at 6:00 pm. Following dinner AFT company members will entertain you with
songs from their 2010 season productions as well as favorites of their own.
See You Under the Stars, a book written by dedicated fan and local writer
Patty Williamson, will be unveiled at "Raise the Curtain" and Patty will be on
hand to autograph copies. The book chronicles the growth of AFT, from its gutsy startup in 1990 to the success it enjoys today. This very funny 174-page
book reveals the behind-the-scenes story of AFT. It's a tribute to
creativity, entrepreneurship, hard work, heartbreak, perseverance, and most of
all talent. The book includes over 90 colorful photos as well as warm anecdotes,
review snippets, uproarious recollections from cast and crew, and intriguing capsule
biographies of key company members.
Since it's inception in
2003, "Raise the Curtain" has been a huge success - over 175 people
have attended each of the last six years - and a combined total of over $30,000
has been raised to ensure that AFT ticket prices remain affordable for
families. The event is a great way for the Door County community and visitors
to join in the excitement of AFT's upcoming season, enjoy dinner in a beautiful
lakefront setting, and mingle with fellow AFT supporters and company members.
The night also features a silent auction with items donated from Door County businesses
and Wisconsin theaters.
Tickets for "Raise the
Curtain" are $50 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. If patrons would like to make a further
donation, they can choose to sponsor an AFT company member for an additional $50. AFT invites all company members and
administration to attend the event free of charge - to thank them in advance
for the successful season that is to come. Reservations are due Monday, May 24th. For more information, or to register
for "Raise the Curtain" please call the AFT office at (920) 854-6117.
Please reserve your seats early - this event will sell out quickly.
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AFT's Smash Hit "Guys & Does" at
Door Community
Auditorium This Fall!
The Deer Hunting Musical
Book & Lyrics by Frederick Heide and Lee BeckerMusic by Paul Libman
Guys &
Does,
American Folklore Theatre's smash-hit musical comedy about Wisconsin deer
hunting, is moving to Door Community Auditorium this coming fall.
After
garnering rave reviews, Guys & Does sold out its entire
7-week run last fall. Almost 10,000 people saw the world premiere musical.
"We're thrilled that our 2010 fall season is relocating to the very
comfortable Door Community Auditorium," commented Mary Seeberg, AFT's Board
Chairperson. "While we'll miss our cozy Ephraim Village Hall digs, the DCA will
allow us to welcome the demand we're anticipating for this very popular show."
AFT
Managing Director Dave Maier added, "We're very grateful to the DCA Board for
the extraordinary accommodation they've extended to AFT to make this exciting
venture possible. Not only will the auditorium enhance the theatricality of the
show itself, the additional capacity will enable us to keep tickets prices
affordable for the whole family."
According
to Maier, "at least 3000 people were unable to get tickets last fall. And there
were undoubtedly scores more we don't even know about."
Kaaren Northrop, DCA Board
President, echoed the enthusiasm, "We are very excited about the
opportunity to host AFT's fall season - the idea has been floatingg around
"out there" for a long time. They are a first class organization and
DCA has a first class space; it should make a great combination!"
The
Door Community Auditorium seating capacity will be reduced to 280 seats for the
52-performance run of Guys & Does.
"Our intention is to modify the hall
some to make it a little more intimate. It's all a grand experiment and
definitely something worth staying tuned into for further details as they
unfold," said Jeffrey Herbst, AFT's Artistic Director.
Promising
more bang for the buck, Guys & Does tells the story of Fritz Dingleheimer, a paper-mill worker eager
to escape his dull routine by taking a hunting trip to the northern pines. But
he finds himself traveling with Duane Puddles, a local oddball who knits and
loves self-help books. Duane wants to marry Fritz's daughter, Susie, and hopes
to gain his blessing on the trip. Along the way, the two hunters encounter a
magical talking deer, and tuneful hilarity ensues.
"This
show apparently has legs---four of them," quipped co-author Lee Becker.
The
book and lyrics for Guys & Does are
by Frederick "Doc" Heide and Becker, who together created the blockbuster AFT
hits Packer
Fans from Outer Space and Belgians
in Heaven. Music is by Paul Libman, composer of AFT favorites A Cabin
with a View, Muskie Love, Main-Travelled
Roads, and last summer's very successful Cheeseheads, the Musical. Libman is a two-time winner of the
Richard Rodgers Award for Best New American Musical.
"Fred,
Lee, and Paul worked furiously last summer and right on into rehearsal in the
fall to ready Guys & Does for its opening in September," recalled
director Jeffrey Herbst. "It was a classic AFT new works process with much
having been done in preparation but also some critical discoveries being made
literally hours before we opened."
"The
Auditorium is a pretty classy venue for a show about guys who hunt deer, drink
beer and eat red-squirrel stew", said Heide. "But we're confident that with whitetails dancing around the
stage, nobody will 'does' off."
Guys & Does will
open at Door Community Auditorium in Fish Creek on September 3 and continue
through October 23. Performances take place Mondays through Saturdays at
7:30PM, with additional Saturday matinees at 4:30PM.
Tickets
are $22 for adults or $11 for children (age 12 and under). All seats are
reserved. Advanced tickets can be purchased at the AFT office, located at the
Green Gables shops in north Ephraim. Tickets can also be purchased via phone at
(920) 854-6117 or online at www.FolkloreTheatre.com. Remaining tickets will be sold at
Door Community Auditorium beginning 60 minutes before each show.
DOOR COMMUNITY AUDITORIUM
3926 Highway 42, Fish Creek, WI
September 3 - October 23
Monday through Saturday @ 7:30PM
Saturday Matinee @ 4:30PM |
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2010 Creative Kids Day - Two Sessions!
On Friday, July 19, 2010 kids will have a chance to look behind the scenes
of a professional theater at American Folklore Theatre's Creative Kids
Day in Peninsula State Park. This annual "casting call for creative
kids" provides an opportunity for children ages 5-16 to spend a few
hours with AFT company members and volunteers. Participants will spend
the day playing theater games, joining in on cast singalongs, and
sneaking a rare peek inside the AFT dressing room.
Creative
Kids Day will take place on and around the AFT stage in Peninsula State
Park on July 19. There are two sessions: 9:30AM-Noon and 1-3:30PM.
Admission to the event is $20 per child, or a maximum of $50 for 3
siblings or more.
To register or get more information, please call the
AFT office at (920) 854-6117.
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| American Folklore Theatre is a non-profit professional theatre organization that produces original musical shows in repertory from June through August. AFT continues its performances into the fall with shows in Door County town halls September through October and over the Christmas holidays. American Folklore Theatre is a member of Theatre Wisconsin and the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), organizations that promote non-profit theatre groups. For more information on American Folklore Theatre, please call the AFT office at (920) 854-6117 or visit the AFT website at www.FolkloreTheatre.com. |
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