OUR NEXT CHAPTER

Writing the Future of Lake Country Playhouse & Academy

Once upon a time, in June of 1959, a small group of passionate community members came together to produce Sabrina Fair in the Arrowhead South Campus gymnasium. That first production sparked what would become Lake Country Playhouse & Academy—a home for storytelling built not by a single space, but by a shared belief in the power of theatre.

Over the next four decades, performances took place in venues throughout Lake Country, including Hartland Community Hall, Oconomowoc High School, Lakeside Country Club, and Arrowhead’s Little Theatre. In 2002, that journey led to the acquisition of the historic Masonic Lodge—transformed into the intimate 82-seat black box theatre we proudly call home today.

For more than 65 years, Lake Country Playhouse & Academy has been a place where stories come to life, artists and audiences connect, and arts education thrives.

And now, once again, we are growing!

BURSTING AT THE SEAMS — AND READY FOR WHAT’S NEXT

Our beloved Playhouse has served us well, but as our programming, education offerings, and community engagement continue to expand, the limitations of our current space have become increasingly clear.

We face challenges with:

• Accessibility for patrons, performers, and volunteers

• Rehearsal, classroom, and backstage space

• Scheduling capacity for productions and educational programming

• Flexibility to support new works, innovative staging, and community partnerships

These challenges are not signs of strain—they are signs of success.

They tell us it’s time to imagine what comes next…

A THEATRE BUILT FOR STORYTELLING, ACCESS, AND COMMUNITY

As we look to the future, we envision a dedicated Black Box Theatre expansion—a flexible, accessible space designed to support the full scope of what Lake Country Playhouse & Academy has become and what it is ready to be.

This future theatre is about more than square footage. It’s about creating an artistic home that:

• Welcomes everyone, with accessibility woven into the experience from front of house to backstage

• Supports education, with dedicated spaces for learning, rehearsal, and collaboration

• Encourages creativity, allowing for intimate storytelling, innovative staging, and new works

• Strengthens community, providing space for partnerships, outreach, and shared experiences

• Honors our legacy, while ensuring sustainability for generations of storytellers to come

From first-time performers to seasoned artists, from lifelong patrons to new audience members, this space will serve as a creative home for all.

ROOTED IN LEGACY. SHAPED BY LISTENING.

Lake Country Playhouse & Academy has always grown thoughtfully—guided by community need, artistic vision, and a deep respect for the generations who built what we have today.

This next chapter is no different.

We are currently in a quiet planning and vision-sharing phase, focused on:

• Listening to our community

• Refining design concepts and long-term needs

• Exploring timelines and possibilities

• Ensuring that what we build reflects our mission, values, and future growth

As this vision continues to take shape, we look forward to sharing more—including renderings, plans, and opportunities to be involved.

Full details will be shared in the new year.

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE STORY

Everything Lake Country Playhouse & Academy has accomplished over the past 65+ years has been made possible by people who believe in the power of storytelling. Whether you’ve been on our stage, in our audience, enrolled in a class, volunteered behind the scenes, or supported us from afar—you are part of this story.

We can’t wait to write the next chapter together.

✨ Be Part of the Story.

Lake Country Playhouse & Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to storytelling, education, and community through theatre.