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Causes: Arts & Culture, Theater
Mission: American players theatre of wisconsin (apt)'s work is founded on the great plays of the western canon, the works of shakespeare in particular. By exploring the extraordinary qualities that have allowed these works to endure through the ages, we expect to make them vividly accessible to a large and varied audience.
Programs: Theatrical performances and education of the public and actor relating to classical theatre. The 1148-seat outdoor theater sits in a natural amphitheater on 110 wooded acres near the wisconsin river, as does the 200-seat touchstone theatre indoor space. Shakespeare is the foundation of american players theatre of wisconsin, inc. 's (apt) repertoire, although other masters (shaw, chekov, and others) are heard from as well. Producing artistic director david frank, as well as the artistic director brenda devita, and the company of professional actors focus on making the language of these works understandable and accessible. Apt's work is intensely poetic, great stories of love, life and humanity. The theater annually produces nine plays in rotating repertory. The staff numbers nearly 190 at the height of the season, including an acting company of 38. Each season, apt welcomes more than 110,000 patrons including 15,000 school students, making it among the most popular outdoor classical theaters in the country.