In 1978, a small group gathered on the Lockwood farm near Spring Green, Wisconsin. One person walked to the base of a steep hill and began to read; his voice reached those above with uncanny clarity. After looking at 43 sites, this was the one. The founders, Randall Duk Kim, Anne Occhiogrosso and Charles Bright, had found the spot that was to become American Players Theatre. The mission was to perform the classics, especially the works of Shakespeare, outside, under the sun, moon and stars. On July 18, 1980, American Players Theatre staged its first production: William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
If building a theater in a remote community is a challenge, developing and sustaining an audience was even more daunting. But word spread quickly about this very special venue and the quality of the work. By its second season, the stage was home to a mix of five Shakespearian comedies, histories and tragedies. Since then, the company has performed a steady mix of the greatest works ever written for the stage by luminaries the likes of Shakespeare, Ibsen, Shaw, Wilde, O’Neill, Williams, Sophocles, Miller, Stoppard and Wilson. From 1990 – 2006, the company also toured the state of Wisconsin following its summer season in Spring Green.
Through the years, the theater’s facilities have undergone a continuous series of upgrades. The amphitheater and seating were replaced in 2000 and in 2001 the 22,000 square foot Bravo Center was built, with rehearsal halls, production shops and administrative offices. In 2009, APT added the 200-seat indoor Touchstone Theatre, which allowed the opportunity to extend the season and expand the dramaturgy, increasing the number of annual productions from five to nine. And in 2017, APT finished its biggest construction project to date: a complete $8 million renovation of the stage, backstage and lobby at the flagship outdoor Hill Theatre. In 2023, APT finished work on a comprehensive parking lot upgrade to offer greater accessibility and better traffic flow.
Leadership has been remarkably stable at APT. Since the founders moved on from the company in 1990, the theater has had only two artistic directors and two managing directors. Sheldon Wilner was Managing Director from 1988 to 2005 and David Frank was Artistic Director from 1991 to 2005 and Producing Artistic Director from 2005 to 2014. David is now Artistic Director Emeritus.
In January of 2014, APT’s Board of Directors appointed Brenda DeVita as Artistic Director. Ms. DeVita has been with the company since 1995, and has played many roles, including Events Planner, Company Manager and Associate Artistic Director. In 2022, long-time Director of Communications, Sara Young, was promoted to Managing Director.
Today, American Players Theatre draws an annual audience of around 100,000 people from around the country and has earned a national reputation for presenting theater of the highest quality.