A Note From The Executive Director...
Waukesha Civic Theatre's 65th Season has something for everyone, and there's still plenty more to see! Upcoming Mainstage productions are Silent Sky, Psych, and Mamma Mia! In addition to these full plays and musicals, make plans to see Joel Kopischke, The Four Guyz in Dinner Jackets ®, and Lisa Gatewood and Jimmy Kaplan. There is plenty more to see before the end of the season, including a cabaret and an Academy musical! We also welcome back our friends from the ACAP PlayMakers, Milwaukee Metro Voices, and Outskirts Theatre Company, who will produce a holiday cabaret and the musical [title of show] (yes, that’s really the title)! Wow, what an exciting year ahead and we cannot wait to share it with our community!
There is something special about every city – it’s a sense of community, the reason why we put down roots, why we’re proud of our hometown, and why we work together to make it better. We live in a great community – Waukesha is a wonderful place to live and work. The Waukesha Civic Theatre is one of its jewels! From its earliest days on Washington Street to its 65th Season, Waukesha Civic Theatre has been a home to thousands of children, teens, actors, artists, volunteers, and patrons. When WCT moved to historic Downtown Waukesha, the revitalization of the area began. Business began blooming, restaurants opened, galleries and more shops began popping up.
WCT has been a home for thousands of theatre kids and the adults who work with them. In a typical year, the Margaret Brate Bryant Civic Theatre Building is bursting at the seams with classes, rehearsals, movies, and performances. But, as we all know, this is not a typical year. While there have certainly been challenges, WCT has also been given a “once in a lifetime” opportunity, and we intend to take full advantage of it.
Waukesha Civic Theatre has been the center of the arts community in Waukesha for 65 years, and we are building the foundation, looking ahead to the 100 year milestone. In early 2021, we launched the Academy Expansion Project to raise $3 million to expand our building and $2.5 million for an endowment for financial security.
The Academy Expansion Project will include a big and bright rehearsal and reception area, a new studio theatre with backstage and technical areas for performers and technicians – and a collaborative office suite. In addition to these additional elements in the new footprint, WCT will remodel the existing lobby, making the guest services areas of the box office, bathrooms, and concession and bar area more suited to larger gatherings.
The Board of Directors and staff are also excited to explore additional opportunities so that Waukesha Civic Theatre can provide an economic development tool in Downtown Waukesha, developing additional educational and artistic opportunities that will bring more people to the area. Partnering with local businesses and restaurants, WCT can be the venue for many downtown events and can expand its role in the vibrancy of downtown. All of this is possible only with expanded space, so please consider joining us.
Thank you for being here and we look forward to an incredible 65th Season!
Rhonda Schmidt
Executive Director
