West Bend Theatre Company is thrilled to announce its return to live and in-person performances with a trio of productions to finish off 2021.
The productions are “Every Brilliant Thing” (Aug. 20-22 and Aug. 27-29), “Our Town” (Oct. 8-10 and Oct. 15-17) and “A Christmas Carol” (Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 10-12).
“We’ve waited a long time to make this announcement,” said Nicholas Dettmann, communications and marketing manager for the West Bend Theatre Company and president of the board of directors. “We are so excited for the opportunity to perform again, but also to do so in front of a live audience. We can’t wait to see everyone who has supported us throughout this difficult time.”
Each of the three shows will be held at the West Bend Masonic Lodge. At this time, it is expected seating capacity will be at 100 percent.
Ticket information, as well as audition information, for “Every Brilliant Thing” and “Our Town” will be available soon. The cast who was casted for last year’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” which was eventually canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be given the opportunity to return to their roles. If there are roles to be filled, auditions will be made available. Ticket information for “A Christmas Carol” will come at a later date.
For each production, interested performers will be required to be vaccinated at time of audition.
Audition materials and signups are available on our audition page.
“Every Brilliant Thing” is a story by Duncan Macmillan that focuses on a son that creates a list of things worth living for, all in an attempt to raise the spirits of a mother battling depression. That list includes something as simple as a bowl of ice cream or the love of a loved one. It was first produced by Paines Plough and Pentabus Theatre on June 28, 2013, at Ludlow Fringe Festival in England.
The show will be directed by Nancy Storrs, executive director of the West Bend Theatre Company.
“Our Town” is a three-act play written by Wisconsin native Thornton Wilder. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1938. The play tells the story of a fictional town and the lives of its citizens in the early 1900s. Jim Johnson, a veteran actor and director, will direct the play.
“A Christmas Carol” is the West Bend Theatre Company’s staple and most popular annual performance. This year’s show will be directed by award-winning actor Alan Jordan. The Charles Dickens classic tells the story of a disgruntled old man who is ultimately convinced to admire the message and love of Christmas with the help of three spirits.
These three shows are the first in-person performances for the West Bend Theatre Company since “An Act of God” in September 2020.
“These three shows are a great way to restart our performance schedule,” Dettmann said. “We’re excited to bring these award-winning productions to the West Bend and Washington County communities.”
Each show will have a nonprofit partner, which fits the mission of the West Bend Theatre Company. Those partners will be announced in the coming weeks.
Founded in 2010, incorporated in 2017, the West Bend Theatre Company is a non-profit theater entity presenting live theater, camps, workshops and special events. The mission of the West Bend Theatre Company is to celebrate, enhance, and inspire by producing excellent theatre and by giving back to our community.
For more information about the West Bend Theatre Company, as well as upcoming shows, visit our website: www.westbendtheatreco.com. Be sure to also follow us on Facebook (@wbtheatreco), Twitter (@WBTheatreCo) and Instagram (@westbendtheatrecompany).