SVP at 50 years:
Setting the Stage for Excellence
“When a few people met in 1972 to start a community theater group, we had no idea that we would still be entertaining audiences with our own theater home fifty years later.”
Tony Hill has a unique perspective on this group and its evolution since he was there at the beginning and is still an active board member. The statistics are amazing:
Known as the North Church Playhouse, the building had the senior center in the lower level as well. When they moved to their current location on Main Street, the city offered the building to SVP but the cost of renovation to bring it up to code (over $200,000) was beyond the group’s means, so they passed and the church was ultimately torn down and replaced with the current Cornerstone businesses.
The Opera House was next but their big renovation project meant closing the space for many months and SVP was, again, without a home. In 1999, the group was offered the use of the old Badger movie theater on Main Street at no charge. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1921 at the height of the silent movie era.
It served Stoughton for three quarters of a century as a movie house, then SVP moved in. At first this was viewed as a temporary move, but after five very successful years staging over a dozen fantastic shows in the space, the group decided to make this arrangement permanent.
Not only did the group plan to take ownership of the building, but they also decided to restore the facade of the aging structure to its original look and condition. In 2010 Stoughton Village Players proudly completed the second phase of the building's major renovation made possible with the ongoing support of the audience, patrons and volunteers. Additional improvements included upgraded bathrooms, new seats, carpeting and paint, new sound and lighting system, backstage dressing rooms, improved props and costume areas… and so much more.
“It is rare to have local theater group in a small town have a continuous performing streak of fifty years. We are happy that the hard work of our volunteers, the creative arts community, production craftspeople and dedicated civic leaders is recognized,” said Tony Ketterer, SVP President.
Village Players have had many open houses/tours and hope to continue showing off this small-town treasure to the public. If you haven’t been inside the theater to a production, their current calendar indicates 3-4 shows from Sept-May with the Syttende Mai production capping the season. This show is written by four SVP members who have fun with Stoughton, Norwegians, small towns, midwestern culture and many other modern life annoyances. Other fare includes classic musicals and plays, comedies, recent Broadway shows and intense dramas… hopefully, a little something for all tastes.
The new season begins with a bang as Elf, the Musical (November, 2022) explodes on the stage followed by the psychological thriller, Angel Street, in March, 2023. They have an active and social group but are always looking for new people to join the fun… especially for projects beyond acting like costumes, make-up, lights, sound, set design and construction, publicity, painting, art design and building maintenance to name a few areas that always need fresh ideas and energy.
According to Tony Hill, “We have a unique bond with our audiences who like the intimate 155-seat auditorium and the professional quality of our productions. While fifty years is a milestone, we are already planning for the future with new and exciting offerings.”
Tony Hill has a unique perspective on this group and its evolution since he was there at the beginning and is still an active board member. The statistics are amazing:
- Over 130 shows
- Hundreds of members, volunteers and contributors
- Almost 25 years in their own historic theater space
- Every show has been profitable
- No grants have been used for funding productions
- Named the Best of the ‘Burbs theater group by Madison Magazine readers
- Added a hearing loop years ago to assist the hearing-impaired
- Refurbished and upgraded a 100-year-old building in the heart of Stoughton
Known as the North Church Playhouse, the building had the senior center in the lower level as well. When they moved to their current location on Main Street, the city offered the building to SVP but the cost of renovation to bring it up to code (over $200,000) was beyond the group’s means, so they passed and the church was ultimately torn down and replaced with the current Cornerstone businesses.
The Opera House was next but their big renovation project meant closing the space for many months and SVP was, again, without a home. In 1999, the group was offered the use of the old Badger movie theater on Main Street at no charge. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1921 at the height of the silent movie era.
It served Stoughton for three quarters of a century as a movie house, then SVP moved in. At first this was viewed as a temporary move, but after five very successful years staging over a dozen fantastic shows in the space, the group decided to make this arrangement permanent.
Not only did the group plan to take ownership of the building, but they also decided to restore the facade of the aging structure to its original look and condition. In 2010 Stoughton Village Players proudly completed the second phase of the building's major renovation made possible with the ongoing support of the audience, patrons and volunteers. Additional improvements included upgraded bathrooms, new seats, carpeting and paint, new sound and lighting system, backstage dressing rooms, improved props and costume areas… and so much more.
“It is rare to have local theater group in a small town have a continuous performing streak of fifty years. We are happy that the hard work of our volunteers, the creative arts community, production craftspeople and dedicated civic leaders is recognized,” said Tony Ketterer, SVP President.
Village Players have had many open houses/tours and hope to continue showing off this small-town treasure to the public. If you haven’t been inside the theater to a production, their current calendar indicates 3-4 shows from Sept-May with the Syttende Mai production capping the season. This show is written by four SVP members who have fun with Stoughton, Norwegians, small towns, midwestern culture and many other modern life annoyances. Other fare includes classic musicals and plays, comedies, recent Broadway shows and intense dramas… hopefully, a little something for all tastes.
The new season begins with a bang as Elf, the Musical (November, 2022) explodes on the stage followed by the psychological thriller, Angel Street, in March, 2023. They have an active and social group but are always looking for new people to join the fun… especially for projects beyond acting like costumes, make-up, lights, sound, set design and construction, publicity, painting, art design and building maintenance to name a few areas that always need fresh ideas and energy.
According to Tony Hill, “We have a unique bond with our audiences who like the intimate 155-seat auditorium and the professional quality of our productions. While fifty years is a milestone, we are already planning for the future with new and exciting offerings.”