A group from The Odyssey Project at UW-Madison with actors from APT's 2023 production of Marco Ramirez's The Royale.
American Players Theatre: Eliminating Barriers Through Community Engagement
Spring Green, WI – American Players Theatre (APT), nestled on 110 acres of picturesque landscape just outside Spring Green, Wisconsin, proudly announces its commitment to equity, belonging, inclusion, and accessibility through its innovative Community Engagement initiatives.
“What struck me most was the play’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity. As a minority and a Latino I loved seeing Black Americans, Latinos, and the incorporation of sign language. It added a beautiful layer of representation and accessibility to the performance. It truly highlighted the universality of Shakespeare’s timeless tale of love and tragedy, making it an unforgettable experience for me.” -Luis Perez-Olguin (The Odyssey Project)
Founded with a mission to perform timeless classics to the broadest audience possible, APT has embarked on a journey to eliminate barriers to theater attendance for systemically marginalized demographic, age and socio-economic groups. Helmed by Community Engagement Coordinator Anna Gonzalez, APT aims to expand access to classical and contemporary theater, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and represented.
Anna is the 2024 Wisconsin fellow for the National Leaders of Color Fellowship program (LoCF). LoCF is a leadership development experience designed to establish multicultural leadership in the creative and cultural sector.
The Community Engagement Department establishes mutually beneficial community partnerships to provide programs and events that reflect the richness of experiences in Southern Wisconsin. These initiatives include discounted ticket prices, assistance with transportation, one-on-one visits to discuss the themes and ideas of the plays, and opportunities for community dialogues with actors and artists involved in productions.
Over the past decade-plus, APT has broadened its repertoire to include works such as August Wilson's Fences and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom; Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun and Marisela Treviño Orta's series of Grimm Latinx Fairy Tales, The River Bride and Wolf at the Door. Notably, APT's ASL-integrated adaptation of Romeo & Juliet featured two Deaf actors in leading roles and the production further enhanced accessibility by providing Closed Captioning for all performances.
“Once again American Players Theatre is living their DEI beliefs. It’s an incredible experience. This is so great for our scholars to have this opportunity. Thanks to APT for allowing us to be part of the magic.” -Jeff Rothstein (The Bridge Scholars)
Beyond the stage, APT provides ample opportunities for patrons to engage with each other and the natural surroundings. Approximately 50% of the audience enjoys picnics on the grounds before or after performances, making the most of the beautiful surroundings and fostering community bonds. New initiatives include coordinating with community partners to host birding events and nature walks on our grounds during the summer season.
Current Community Partners include: BIPOC Birding, Briarpatch Youth Services, Bridge Scholars, Centro Hispano, Culture by Design, Madison School Community and Recreation, Operation Fresh Start, UW-Madison Odyssey Project, and the Wisconsin LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce.
For more information about APT's Community Engagement initiatives, please contact Community Engagement Coordinator Anna Gonzalez at agonzalez@americanplayers.org or 608-588-9272.
For photos or interviews, please contact: Patty Heaston, pheaston@americanplayers.org
About APT
American Players Theatre (APT) is a renowned theater company located just outside Spring Green, Wisconsin. Home to two theaters – the outdoor Hill Theatre and the indoor Touchstone Theatre – APT is committed to performing timeless, challenging, and poetic texts to a diverse audience, fostering connection and understanding through the power of storytelling.
For more information, visit www.americanplayers.org