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BY LUCIA MAURO
At American Players Theatre (APT) in Spring Green, Wisc., the density of classical texts is energetically illuminated amid a densely forested setting with its own power to stir the soul. Located atop 110 acres of a wooded hill near the Wisconsin River in a rural area 40 miles west of Madison, this outdoor, arena-style summer theatre–featuring 1,133 cushioned seats–enters its 23rd season Jun. 8 through Oct. 6 with five plays performed in repertory: Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, Antony and Cleopatra (directed by William Brown) and Love’s Labours Lost (directed by James Bohnen); Mrs. Warren’s Profession by George Bernard Shaw; and A Penny for a Song by John Whiting.
Casting director Brenda DeVita says that, in addition to a core company of 24 Equity actors, APT auditions actors in Chicago, New York and Milwaukee and accepts resumes year-round. She notes that APT typically hires four actors and two interns from the Windy City every season.
"We look for actors with special skills in classical work," says DeVita. "Classical verse-speaking is not just being able to articulate well but infusing into the verse the very best part of what American actors have to offer–spontaneity and realism. [Especially in Shakespearean plays], actors must fill the audience’s mind with pictures; actively play the poetry and make it real.
"Vocal power is also needed to fill the outdoor space. But clarity of thought will reach almost as far."
Artistic director David Frank connects APT’s artistic mission to the belief that "much of what the 20th century has learned about the art of acting can be adapted and applied to difficult classical texts in such a way as to make them accessible and rewarding to a broad and varied audience."
More specifically, Frank states that it is "the precision, rigor and technique which provide the best foundation for fresh, joyous and accessible classical works."
So the theatre is rooted in a very specific approach–one that is sparse, tough-minded and rigorously text-centered. Pageantry and visual gimmicks are not part of the equation. And the APT administration consistently commends its sophisticated and energetic audiences.
While Chicago auditions were held before press time, tryouts in Milwaukee take place Jan. 21. So local actors still have time to send DeVita a resume and catch the Milwaukee auditions. Intern positions are also available. And production manager Michael Broh points out that there are openings for technicians, designers and a variety of jobs in the costume shop. At the height of the season, cast and crew can total 120. He stresses that artists and technicians are treated with respect and work reasonable hours.
Broh explains that the season is selected based on variety within the classical genre. Shakespearean comedy and tragedy are at the core of APT’s work, interspersed with featured canonical playwrights like Shaw, Chekhov, Gogol and Racine.
"We’re always conscious of how it will play outdoors," says Broh. "But we generally keep within the classical genre and offer plays we know our audience will enjoy while pushing their limits. We like to think we’re bringing Shakespeare (and other monumental playwrights) to everybody."
APT was founded in 1979 by Anne Occhiogrosso, Randall Duk Kim, Charles Bright and Dusty Priebe with the goal of developing a popular classical theatre company in an aesthetically pleasing Midwest setting. DeVita reports that, over the past 10 years, the theatre has tripled its audience base. And Broh adds that, while APT’s marketing efforts are concentrated in the Midwest, a long-term goal is to attract audiences from across the United States.
After the June-October season, APT will take Taming of the Shrew on tour throughout the Spring Green-Madison area for the remaining month of October. Chris Salzwedel, director of operations, heads a comprehensive outreach/education program including performances and lecture-demonstrations at area schools, pre-show workshops and special family-oriented events.
The last several years have been a period of tremendous growth for APT. Attendance, revenue and expense budgets have continued to increase. The amphitheatre was rebuilt and a new facility called "The Bravo Center" was constructed to house production shops, offices and rehearsal spaces.
In addition to high quality performances, APT has enjoyed great popularity due primarily to the events and amenities surrounding the play. They include gourmet picnic dinners, chili nights, early Thursday-night specials, family activities, extensive concessions, free parking, a gift shop, pre-show events and walking tours along a nature trail. Visitors also can experience Frank Lloyd Wright’s nearby Taliesin.
So APT, like the enduring plays it produces, is an all-encompassing experience. According to Frank, its text-centered aesthetic makes a complex text immediate so that "the 400 years that separate us from Shakespeare and his audience 'to nothingness do sink.’ He adds, "Where better to stretch for this than in the vastness of a starry night at APT?"
Actors should send resumes to the attention of Brenda DeVita; technicians to Michael Broh; and designers and directors to Roseann Sheridan at American Players Theatre, P.O. Box 819, Spring Green, WI 53588. Tel: 608/588-7401; Fax: 608/588-7085. For more information, visit www.playinthewoods.org.