OUR STORY

Strengthened by community partnership, Treehouse Theater (THT) has been supporting youth education and development through quality performing arts programming since 2012.  THT instruction with the guiding principles of respect, trust, leading by example, healthy communication, and teamwork produces students that can then strengthen the casts of area arts organizations and their own public or private school theater programs.

To date (summer 2023), THT has produced 30 high-quality local musical productions, won awards at ten of the past eleven Junior Theater Festival national competitions, designed and built their first rehearsal studio on Franklin St, launched theater education classes, hosted several specialty arts workshops, worked numerous fundraising events, and purchased the building at 910 Washington St to create their own rehearsal studio and small-scale performance venue.  Once limited to the lakeshore, families now come from Sheboygan, Brillion, Green Bay, and beyond to participate in programming and join in the audiences.

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The Board of Directors focus on strategic initiatives and year-round operations are guided by the full-time founder of the organization, Executive Director KAREN ROHRER.  Part-time staff members include Education Director ERIN NYCZ, Office Manager/Costume Rental Coordinator DANIELLE FRAHM, and Facility Manager JOHN IANNITELLO.  Believing that youth will thrive from the opportunity to work with a variety of area arts enthusiasts, THT secures a fresh directing team for each musical, play, and class.  Interested students can choose to audition for the opportunity to appear onstage as cast members, apply as Jr. production team members, or volunteer to assist as members of the stage or technical crews.  Each cast is a blend of new and returning student actors, all of whom are encouraged to explore their artistic individuality, be creative and responsible, improve their listening skills, and gain self-confidence while making new friends.  Each cast and crew work together to develop a high-quality music theater production for sharing with the local community and/or showcasing at the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta.

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THT offers the student leadership development program and all hours served qualify for area high school's community service requirement.  When accepted as Jr. production team members, students between ages 14-18 can observe the organizational process and grow to appreciate the many challenges encountered during each production. Under the guidance of an adult mentor, some of these students have later stepped forward to lead one aspect of a THT summer KIDS musical.  The two sessions of the 2023 summer productions of Seussical KIDS were led by students in the positions of Director, Music Director, Choreographer, Stage Manager, Set Decorator, Props Design, Make up Design, and Hair Design.

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Each THT educational class and performance opportunity serves to strengthen the extended community by attracting students from multiple public and private schools as well as from home school settings.  The April 2023 production of Shrek JR  featured 60 student actors who attend 27 different schools or are home schooled.  THT takes great pride in exceeding the commonly low expectations for youth theater and audiences are repeatedly impressed by the high-quality sets, costumes, lighting, sound, and talent level of the student performers.

BRANCHING OUT

THT purchased the building located at 910 Washington St in downtown Manitowoc during the summer of 2019.  Thanks to 5,000 hours of volunteer labor, generous sub-contractors, and financial supporters of the capital campaign, THT now operates within this 11,000 sq. ft. facility on two floors, plus a full basement for storage.  The Executive Director designed a floor plan that focused on expanding future income streams, including a Community Room and Kitchenette that are available for rent, four one-on-one vocal and instrumental instruction rooms, and a huge room for storing and packaging all of our fabulous costume sets that are available for rent via www.TreehouseTheaterCostumes.com.

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Progress photos of the building's transformation can be found on our Facebook page.

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