Welcome to the NEW Lake Country Playhouse & Academy!

You may have noticed something different—our name and logo have a bold, new look! After 65 years of growth, transformation, and artistic excellence, it was time for our brand to reflect who we truly are today: a place where pathways open, doors lead to new opportunities, and stories come alive.

What hasn’t changed is our heart. Lake Country Playhouse & Academy remains a home for creativity, storytelling, and community. At the center of it all is you—our artistic staff, volunteers, students, performers, and patrons. Your passion and dedication are what make this theater thrive.

Thank you for choosing to Be Part of the Story. Here’s to the next chapter—and to all the doors it will open.

HARTLAND'S HOME FOR THEATRE

Lake Country Playhouse (LCP) and its dedicated group of volunteers, the Lake Country Players, have been providing live theatre to audiences for over 65 years—presenting more than 100 productions of dramas, comedies, and musicals across the Lake Country of Waukesha County.

In spring 1959, Arrowhead High School English teacher Marvin Solomon placed an article in the Lake Country Reporterinviting those interested in forming a community theatre group to meet. Roughly 40 people attended, electing officers, creating committees, and holding auditions. That June, LCP presented its debut production, Sabrina Fair, with Solomon as both director and the founding president. By the end of the year, the Lake Country Players were incorporated as a nonprofit arts organization.

Finding a Stage Home

The first five years were spent at Arrowhead’s South Campus gymnasium before increased enrollment forced the troupe to relocate. For the next four years, productions took place in the upstairs of Hartland Community Hall, remembered fondly for its “saloon-style” staging of Deadwood Dick. When that space was condemned in 1967, LCP performed wherever space was available—Swallow and Merton Schools, Lakeside Country Club, and Oconomowoc High School—before settling into Arrowhead’s newly built Little Theatre in 1971. For the next three decades, Arrowhead provided a consistent and supportive home.

A Home of Our Own

In 2002, a long-held dream came true when LCP acquired the former Masonic Lodge at 221 E. Capitol Drive in Hartland. Following renovations, the new Lake Country Playhouse opened with a revival of And the World Goes ’Round. Programming expanded rapidly: from two annual shows pre-2002 to a full 8-show season by 2006–07, blending musicals, plays, and special events.

Generations of Growth

Among LCP’s founding members was Ruth Behrend, who began directing children’s shows every summer—a tradition that grew into something larger. Her granddaughter Katie carried on this legacy, directing youth productions beginning in college and later launching workshops with Kathryn Mooers. What began with 18 students has since grown into the year-round Performing Arts Academy, now serving roughly 800 students annually. Guided by the “7 C’s of Theatre”—Creativity, Confidence, Communication, Compassion, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Challenge—the Academy provides a safe, inclusive, and inspiring home for young artists.

Celebrating Milestones

LCP marked its 50th season in 2009–10 with a return to Sabrina Fair. In 2019–20, we celebrated 60 years of storytelling. And in 2024–25, we proudly honor 65 seasons of Mainstage productions alongside the 10th anniversary of our Academy programming. Today, our mission remains clear: to engage, educate, and entertain while building community through the arts.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate our past, we continue to invest in the future. With a bold new season theme, “Legends & Legacies: The Stories That Shape Us” (2025–26), and a growing vision for expanded facilities and programming, Lake Country Playhouse & Academy looks forward to many more decades of inspiring, inclusive, and high-quality theatre.

If you haven’t yet joined us, we can’t wait to welcome you. If you’ve been part of our journey, thank you for making Lake Country Playhouse a home for theatre in our community.

This history was compiled from articles and reports from Phyllis Agnew, Ruth Behrend, Barb Christensen, and Katie (Behrend) Berg. Additional thanks to LCP historian Barb Lancelle for gathering and providing these documents.