American Players Theatre - September 2026

I went to American Players Theatre over the weekend. Made my annual trip with my theater going friends,  

2026 Program Cover

some who are also bloggers with the pages Cherry and Spoon, and Minnesota Theater Love. I did have plans to see all eight shows of the 2026 summer season, but between the transmission puttering out on my vehicle and some rain, I ended up only seeing five out of the eight plays. That’s okay. I was able to make lemonade out of the lemons life gave me. 

I have been blogging for over a year now, and I have written many mini reviews on my personal Facebook page for several years. Let’s talk about APT and the town of Spring Green, WI. APT produces plays annually June through early October. APT is celebrating their 47th season. In 2026, they are also the recipient of the 2026 Regional Theater Tony Award, which is well deserved. APT is known for their productions of Shakespeare and classic theater. They will also produce more modern plays too. What I love about APT is being able to picnic either between

The Tony Award

plays or before plays with friends. There are tables set up all over the grounds with grills that can be used by the patrons, along with some shelters. That is where some of the magic happens. Being able to talk about the shows with your friends and family. Another part of the magic in the Core Company, the Apprentice Company and the rest of the cast. The company members can appear in up to three shows during the main part of the season. It’s fun to see the actors in different roles throughout the course of the weekend. APT also has two stages, the Hill Theatre is what I refer to as the flagship theatre which holds just over 1000 seats. The second stage is the Touchstone Theatre, which opened in 2009. It’s an indoor stage with around 200 seats. APT started producing an extra play in the Touchstone Theatre, during the October/November timeframe. It’s nice to come back to APT one more time. This years extra play is Witch by Jen Silverman.

Spring Green is a small Wisconsin town to the west of Madison. Not only is APT located at Spring Green, but so is Taliesin (Frank Lloyd Wright’s home) and just down the road is House on a Rock. There’s the Wisconsin River, Tower Hill State Park, and plenty of trails nearby. This weekend my friends and I did some shopping and eating at Los Amigos, The Spring Green General Store, The Wisconsin Riverside Resort, Arcadia Books, Simply Rooted, Reunion Family BBQ, Peck’s, Anita’s, the River Valley Market and Birds of Paradise Tea. Check out the town. It has a lot to offer. Who knows, you may see cast members from APT out and about as well. 

Day 1, Friday September 18, 2026. 

My first play was a matinee peformance of Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea by Nathan Alan Davis at the Touchstone Theatre.

Photo by Ernest Edwards

The play takes place present day in Baltimore, MD, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. 

Dontrell Jones III has a vision of an ancient ancestor and wants to know what the message means. His parents really want him to start college now that he just graduated from High School. 

This play had a strong cast with Dontrell Jones III played by Derrick Moore, Erika played by Jamie Herb, Dontrell Jones Jr, played by Gavin Lawrence, Sophia Jones played by Dee Dee Batteast, Danielle played by Samantha Newcomb, Shea played by Jazzma Pryor, and Robby played by Kayla Mariah Fifer. 

This play runs for just over 90 minutes and was a very powerful and moving play. 

The evening play was the William Shakespeare play As You Like It at the Hill Theatre, directed by Core

Photo By Ernest Edwards

Company member Laura Rook. 

What is great about the Hill Theatre during evening performances is seeing theatre under the stars, the occasional bat flying around, and illuminating the trees behind the stage with various colors. 

I noticed during intermission, that the trees in the lobby were filled with Orlando’s letters to Rosalind. When I came back to my seat, the scenery on stage was also full of letters by Orlando. 

Fun play. The cast includes Rosalind played by Samantha Newcomb, Celia played by Sola Thompson, Orlando played by Derrick Moore. 

Day Two, Saturday September 19, 2026. 

The matinee play did get rained out. 

My evening performance was the Thornton Wilder play The Matchmaker.

Photo by Ernest Edwards

Which is the play that the musical Hello Dolly is based on. APT’s production is a play with music, which is a nice homage linking the play to the famous musical. 

The Matchmaker was utterly delightful. 

It is also the only play to use the trap doors on the Hill Theater after a few years. 

I don’t think I have ever seen this before at APT, but The Matchmaker had a sponsor for the Costumes. The character Dolly Gallagher Levi does have some impressive dresses that she wears throughout the production. 

This play was perfectly cast. Dolly is played by Traci Michelle Arnold, Horace Vandergelder is played by Triney Sandoval, Cornelius Hackl is played by Colin Covert, Barnaby Tucker is played by Trevyn Wong, Mrs. Irene Molly is played by Phoebe Gonzales, Minnie Fay is played by Ama J. Kuwonu, Ambrose Kember is played by Jonathon Gardner, Ermengarde is played by Kelly Simmons, and Rudolph is played by Josh Krause. Lots of APT favorites in this cast. 

Day Three, Sunday September 20, 2026. 

My matinee play was Casey and Diana at the Touchstone Theatre, written by Nick Green. 

This play was the tear jerker of the weekend. Such a wonderful play. 

Photo by Ernest Edwards

It takes place in Toronto, Ontario in October 1991. The week leading to when Princess Diana visits the Casey House, which was a hospice facility for those suffering from HIV/AIDS. Today it’s now a speciality hospital for those living with HIV/AIDS. 

The story focuses on Thomas, played by La Shawn Banks, and his new roommate Andre, played by Joe Meyer. Knowing that Princess Diana will be there in a week gives them both something to live for. Vera, played by Elizabeth Ledo, is a nurse at the Casey House. Marjorie, played by Colleen Madden, is a volunteer at Casey House, Pauline (Thomas’s sister) is played by Dee Dee Batteast. Diana is played by Hanna Ruwe, Such a great cast for this play. Bring the tissues. You will need it for this play. 

The evening play was The Two “Gentlemen” of Verona, which is an adaption of the Shakespeare play by Aaron Posner. 

This was a fun play to close out my big APT weekend. 

Photo by Ernest Edwards

Crab, the dog, was played by Elizabeth Ledo. The host was played by Nate Burger, Valentine was played by Colin Covert, Proteus was played by Jonathan Gardner, Julie was played by Maggie Cramer, Silvia was played by Ama J. Kuwonu, Speed was played by David Daniel, Launce was played by James Ridge, The Duke was played by Brian Mani, Antonio is played by La Shawn Banks, Thurio is played by Casey Hoekstra, and Eglamour is played by Tim Gittings. Tim Gittings, Nate Burger, and Ellen Dobias do a great job as the band for this play. 

If there is an overarching theme connecting all of the plays together this season. Of those that I was able to see, I would say the them is love. 

Not only is the company of actors pretty amazing. So is the design staff, the directors, the technicians, the front of house staff. It takes a lot of people in various roles to make all of these plays being performed in repertory to happen without a hitch.  

My friends and I already have our tickets for Witch in October. The main APT season still runs through October 4, 2026. Check out www.americanplayers.org for tickets.