December 16, 2008
TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY…
This past weekend I had the pleasure of working from the Keefe Real Estate office in the Abbey Resort and Spa, Fontana, Wisconsin. Visitors and “locals” were arriving to view the production of Christmas with a Twist, presented by the Lake Geneva Theatre Company as part of the Abbey's holiday festivities. This reminded me of the wonderful history of live theatre in the Geneva Lakes area.
Perhaps one of the oldest and most well-known theatre venues was The Belfry Theatre in Williams Bay. During its heyday of summer stock productions, it claimed Paul Newman, Harrison Ford, and Gary Burghoff among its distinguished talent. Unfortunately, the theatre is no longer viable, but its memory lives on.
Perhaps the newest addition to the performing arts scene in the lakes area is the Music by the Lake series presented at the Aurora University Campus, nestled on the shores of Geneva Lake, again, in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. The concert series, originally produced in the 1950's and 60's featured such notables as Isaac Stern, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and John Denver. Revived in 2001, productions showcase well-known artists from all musical genres, as well as aspiring opera and musical theatre artists from area colleges and universities, supported by an abundance of “local talent”. In 2008, The Ferro Pavilion opened. It “celebrates the beautiful surroundings of the campus and Geneva Lake while increasing the number of seats under cover.” If you've never experienced the performing arts “under the stars”, this should be your first stop!
The Lakeland Players perform in the historic Sprague Theatre in downtown Elkhorn, Wisconsin. 1300 people attended The Sprague's grand opening in 1928. Built in the ornate architectural style of the times, it hosted silent movies, vaudeville acts and various radio and movie personalities. In 1929 it even hosted the premiere of Tillie the Toiler, starring a local actress who had found fame in Hollywood. Having fulfilled its purpose as a community movie house, in the late 1970's the theatre transitioned into a home for a vibrant community theatre troupe, The Lakeland Players. Three productions are scheduled for 2009.
The Young Auditorium, located on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus is another theatrical gem. From the Russian Ballet, to productions such as The Little Mermaid, to student-faculty recitals, it “serves as a presenting organization for the performing arts and as an educational and cultural center enriching the lives of the campus and regional communities.”
Whether you live in the Geneva Lakes area full-time, own a “get-away” retreat, or simple come to visit, be assured you'll be entertained!
Posted By: 
Janet Giovannetti
Tagged With:
abbey resort and spa,
lake geneva theatre company,
the belfry theatre,
williams bay
and wisconsin
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