American Players Set to Open Season of ‘Greatest Hits’

Escape to the rolling hills of Spring Green where APT is set to open its 47th season in early June.

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Theater

As warmer temperatures beckon us to get outdoors, Milwaukee theatergoers may start thinking about an escape to the rolling hills of Spring Green where American Players Theatre (APT) is set to open its 47th season in early June. This month, the company will receive a Tony Award for Best Regional Theater. Their production last year of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a mere prelude to what’s ahead this season. This Shakespeare play was the most produced in APT’s history, and it also was the company’s first show.

Likewise, the current roster is filled with an abundance of past favorites (with more contemporary work in APT’s indoor theater). At least on the outdoor stage, one could think of this as a summer of APT’s “greatest hits.”

A theater that’s nearly at its half-century mark will undoubtedly contain some repeats. This season’s As You like It will be APT’s sixth production of the Shakespeare play (including a virtual production in 2020). Coming in second place is Shakespeare’s The Two ‘Gentleman’ of Verona (fifth production in 2026). Two other plays will receive their second APT productions, after a lapse of about two decades: Thornton Wilder’s The Matchmaker, and Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya.

What’s more, there’s a definite shift this year towards more comic fare, some of it dating back a mere 400 years. In the outdoor Hill Theatre, you’ll find Shakespeare’s comedy, As You Like It, paired with another popular Shakespeare favorite, The Two ‘Gentlemen’ of Verona. Apparently, this version of Gentlemen contains so much music that it is announced as “the almost-musical hit of the summer.” APT will assemble a jug band for the show.

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Not to be outdone by the Bard, the late Wisconsin-born playwright, Thornton Wilder, is represented by one of his biggest hits, The Matchmaker. Many theater patrons will remember that this was the play which inspired the hit 1964 musical, Hello, Dolly!

APT is one of the state’s artistic treasures. There’s something here for the entire family to enjoy, especially families with older children. The experience of seeing a play performed “under the stars” by this award-winning theater troupe is one that will be remembered for years.

For best ticket prices, place an advance online order (or call the box office). Tickets for the entire season—which stretches into fall—are currently available. Individual advance tickets are priced from about $75 to +$100 (plus a service fee). Weekend ticket prices are higher than weekdays. APT staffers note that it’s important to purchase tickets directly from the APT website, and not from some lookalike, third-party sellers. If in doubt, call the box office.

The friendly box office staff can answer almost any questions (including advice on which shows are best for kids). The box office is open Monday-Friday at 10 a.m. before the season begins at (608) 588-2361. During the season, the box office is open daily. Or contact boxoffice@americanplayers.org for tickets and information. A pro tip: Sign up for the free APT e-newsletter, which sometimes contains last-minute ticket deals for certain performances.

Here is a schedule of productions by month to help plan your summer. Performances are held in two distinct spaces: the larger, outdoor Hill Theater, which rests in a natural amphitheater; and the more intimate indoor Touchstone Theater.

Hill Theatre (+1,000 seats)

June

As You Like It, by William Shakespeare. A pair of best friends and cousins, Rosalind and Celia, are torn apart when one is deemed less suitable for marriage than the other. In typical Shakespeare fashion, one of the cousins dresses up as a young man as the pair flees to a forest. One of Rosalind’s male suitors is also forced to flee to the very same forest. Mixed identities and a band of merry forest misfits create a sublime comedy. It has been called the “rom com” of the season. Directed by company member Laura Rook.

The Matchmaker, by Thornton Wilder. A character named Dolly Levi stars as the funny, irrepressible “matchmaker.” In a time that existed long before internet dating, Dolly had a knack for uniting couples—for a price. In her quest for romance, the widowed Dolly also seeks a new partner for herself. Dolly brings a sense of adventure to everyone in her life, including the curmudgeonly hardware store owner, Horace Vandergelder. Directed by Madison-based Brian Cowing.

Uncle Vanya, by Anton Chekhov. A new adaptation (by company member Nate Burger) brings to life the tale of longing, regret and missed opportunities. Tensions simmer between family members who live together at a large, country estate. This production contains adult themes and language. Directed by APT’s artistic director, Brenda DeVita.

July

The Two ‘Gentlemen’ of Verona by William Shakespeare. This is about as close to a musical as an APT play will ever get. Renowned playwright Aaron Posner directs his own adaptation of this magical adventure. It stars two longtime friends, Proteus and Valentine, who set out to make their fortunes. One follows his heart towards Julia, but they both wind up in the same town and fall in love with the same woman, Silvia. The women have some remedies for this situation, as do some willing clowns, a group of outlaws, and a dog.

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August

Sueño, translated and adapted by José Rivera. This play is based on an older play written by Pedro Calderón de la Barca. Prince Segismundo is imprisoned at birth, based on a prophecy that he’d grow into a tyrant. Eventually, the king wonders whether this decision was a good one, or not. He wonders whether releasing the prince is a better choice. This play promises to be a funny, absurd and strangely beautiful take on a 17th century classic. Contains adult themes and language. Directed by Marcela Lorca.

Touchstone Theatre (200 seats)

June

Casey and Diana, by Nick Green. The “Diana” in the title is Princess Diana, who is scheduled to visit a Toronto AIDS clinic in 1991. As the patients and caregivers await the big day, they share stories of hope, fears and coping with a sickness that unfortunately bears a social stigma. Their memories and present circumstances are offered in a play that’s sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but eventually satisfying. Directed by Michael Herwitz.

The Chairs, by Eugene Ionesco. The last time APT offered an absurdist comedy was in 2018 (Exit the King). Now another absurdist play is in the Touchstone Theatre. It’s by one of the greats, Eugene Ionesco. What begins as a practical exercise—finding chairs to seat arriving guests—becomes increasingly surreal. Contains adult themes and language. Directed by Vanessa Stalling.

August

Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea. By Nathan Alan Davis. Driven by dreams, a teenage Dontrell searches for connection to his past as his family attempts to anchor him to the present. It has been called “lyrical, funny and theatrical.” Contains adult themes and language. Directed by Tyrone Phillips.