Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre

Celebrating 40 Years!

Some BDCT/BDACT History Highlights

1964	First production, "Harvey," rehearsed at Girl Scout House, performed at local Wisconsin movie theater (then a singular theater). Incorporation of Beaver Dam Community Theatre.
1965	Two shows: "Arsenic and Old Lace," and first musical, "South Pacific," performed at the Wisconsin theater; rehearsals above *"One-Hour Martinizing," on Front Street, in a warehouse on N. Center, and in a grocery store basement on S. Spring.
1966	Three show season established: fall and spring shows, plus a summer musical.
1967	St. John's Lutheran Church, corner of Lincoln and Maple, purchased and renovated as BDCT's workshop and rehearsal building. Performances continued at movie theater.
1974	Tell-A-Tale Children's Theatre originated. A permanent BDCT Management Staff initiated.
1981	In addition to its two "in-school" shows for children, TAT season increased its number of summer shows -- one by grade school children and one by Jr/Sr High students. BDCT established the "spotlight," in show programs, giving special recognition to long-term BDCT supporters.
1982	Tell-A-Tale Council established.
1982	Tell-A-Tale Council established.
1983	In its twentieth season, BDCT purchased its present building (formerly the Baptist Church) on the corner of Spring and Third Streets.
1984/85	TAT conducted a pilot drama class as part of the Beaver Dam Junior High School curriculum.
1985	Major community fund drive conducted to support the building improvements needed to transform the church into a workable theater. Tell-A-Tale expanded its "in-school" program beyond Beaver Dam, touring to other area schools. BDCT "On Call" traveling entertainment troupe established. STAGE II concept introduced for alternative, experimental, and small budget programs. BOWS AND HOLLY holiday variety show, now a tradition, initiated.
1989	25th anniversary year-long celebration.
1991	BDCT presented "Do You Remember," celebrating Beaver Dam's Sesquicentennial. (First production in the new Beaver Dam High School auditorium; the main season summer musicals continue to be presented in the auditorium.)
1997	BDCT premiered a full-scale original musical, "Any Color You Like As Long As It's Black."
1998	To emphasize area participation and support, BDCT became Beaver Dam AREA Community Theatre.
1982	Tell-A-Tale Council established.
2000	Replacement of church pews with 219 real theater seats.
2002	BDACT employed a half time Managing Director..
2004	TAT celebrates its 30th Anniversary and BDACT celebrates its 40th Anniversary Year with many shows and programs, including STAGE II "Roots and Wings" concerts showcasing its "alums."
*Other performance locations throughout the years: Wayland Academy, Dreger's Village Square (now the Elks Club), Wilson School, the Beaver Mall, the Beaver Dam Junior High School gymnasium (now the Middle School).
From the first BDCT review about its first show, "Harvey," published in the Beaver Dam Citizen in 1964 - (The same could be said in 2004!) "It was gratifying to read in the program how many Beaver Dam area citizens and families participated in some phase of the production… Perhaps the best aspect of the whole thing was that the cast and staff seemed to enjoy doing the play as much as the audience enjoyed seeing it."

Spotlight on the charter members of Beaver Dam Community Theater

On August 12, 1964, the charter members of Beaver Dam Community Theater opened their first show, Harvey. They had no money and no theater. (They just "borrowed" the local movie theater for two performances.) What they did have was endless enthusiasm, deep commitment, the willingness to work very hard, and a very appreciative audience. Forty years later, the Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre continues to thrive because of that heritage. This spotlight acknowledges all of those who, on August 12, 1964, invested in a very important, very rewarding future. They included the first Board of Directors: Annette Kamps, Jerry Kamps, Joyce McDermott, Thomas W. Wells, Richard Goetsch, Richard McDermott, Don Perkins, John B. McKinstry, and Mrs. Ronald Ulbricht; Show director Chuck Helfert; Assistant Director John B. McKinstry; Cast: Nancy Ritsch, Peg Doering, David Proctor, Muriel Sierk, Joel Kent, Judy Zimmerman, Lee McConaghy, Roger Van Haren, Carl Stehling, Joyce McDermott, Dean Drescher, Richard Goetsch; Production staff: Edith Bedker, Helen Gloudeman, Ralph Percifield, Tom Spellman, Sue Nienhuis, Pat Schlicher, Mary Kay Sustman, Elaine Faile, Tom Faile, Phyllis Goetsch, Ron Gruber, Lenny Lutzke, Barb Miller, Bill Henderson, Marilyn Van Haren, Gloria Waddell, Jane Zick, Dennis Sieja, Lynn Linke, Joan Brudhal, Doris Callies, Chuck Gietzel, Sue Klatt, Lee Braemer, Russ Grow, Terry Maier, Dave Short, Carol Young, Becky Byrnes, Charlotte Deppeler, Rochelle Dreger, Sue Gamble, Mary Klug, Marilyn Kurtz, Rita Magyar, Diane Miller, Mary Reier, Arlene Stowell, Carole Yngsdahl, Ines Helbing, Joel Kent, Janice Zick, Joan Elliot, Ann Fitch, Beverly Gentz, Barabara Klatt, Barbara Maier, Alice Paquette, Jackqui Skoy, Kathy Trejo, Judy Voss, Clayton Worden, Carol Hanlon, Mary Mayr, Lee McConaghy, Marilyn McKinstry, Bruce Radke, Jeff Radke, Dennis Sieja, Tom Spellman, Carol Young, Don Yngsdahl, Jim Bayley, Dave Schultz, Bob Edward, Tom Hayes, John Parfrey, Bob Treleven, Mike Braemer, Gloria Waddell, Shirley Caves, Sherri Deppler, Rochelle Dreger, Linda Kailing, Mary Klug, Sharon Miller, Arlene Stowell, Darlene Wheeler, Chris Wiencek, Sam and Betty Wallendal.

Our building at 219 N. Spring Street, Beaver Dam WI, acquired in 1983, represents a quest for our own place that began forty years ago. In 1964, our community theater began its years of rehearsals in any temporary spaces we could beg or borrow. The Beaver Dam Community Theatre, recently named the Beaver Dam AREA Community Theatre, opened its first show, Harvey, on a converted, temporary stage at the local movie theater and also performed at schools, in the mall, in restaurants, and any other available venues. Throughout those “roving” years and to the present, the commitment of our volunteer members and patrons has made it possible to consistently offer a three show season and a broad variety of high quality productions.

The BDACT building, formerly the First Baptist Church, provides an ideal intimate theater with excellent acoustics and two floors of work, storage, and performance space. In recent years, to accommodate our increasingly larger audiences, we present our summer musicals at the state-of-the art Beaver Dam High School auditorium.

With the help of our new half-time Managing Director and a strong volunteer base, BDACT is pursuing a number of goals outlined in its action plan. Some of those include training workshops, field trips, expanded programming, and the further development of our management and organizational structure. True to our commitment as an AREA theater, BDACT encourages and welcomes volunteer staff, performers, and audience from many surrounding communities.