Door County's Theater Scene: Six Venues for 2023 Shows

The Southern Door Community Auditorium, built in 1991, is a testament to the community's dedication and passion for the performing arts. Located on the campus of Southern Door County Schools, this 592-seat proscenium theater boasts a 40-foot wide orchestra pit and exemplary natural acoustics, able to host a wide range of performances. The auditorium is conveniently located in southern Door County, with quick access to State Highway 57, the main corridor connecting Green Bay and points south to Door County. 

Upcoming 2023 Performances 

• Broadway’s Next Hit Musical 
• Edwards Twins Present: The Ultimate Variety Show Vegas' Top Impersonators and Impressionists 
• The Addams Family

Third Avenue PlayWorks (TAP) is Door County's premier year-round professional theatre company hosted in Sturgeon Bay's historic downtown area at the newly-renovated Kane Theatre. It hosts a range of performances, including comedies, dramas, and musicals, making it a must-visit destination for theater lovers. TAP has established itself as an integral part of Door County's flourishing arts scene, boasting a growing reputation and a long-standing presence in the community. Additionally, TAP acknowledges that their theater is located on the ancestral lands of the Potawatomi Nation and other nations, highlighting the significance of the area's history and culture while seeking to support and strengthen Indigenous sovereignty.

Upcoming 2023 Performances

• I Carry Your Heart With Me

• Daddy Long Legs

• Boeing Boeing

• The Mystery of Irma Vep

• It’s a Wonderful Life.  

Northern Sky Theater creates, develops and presents musical and dramatic productions that celebrate and illuminate the culture and heritage of the United States. Founded in 1970 as "The Heritage Ensemble," Northern Sky has been a household name for summer audiences for over 50 years. The company recently celebrated the grand opening of its new home, the Northern Sky Theater’s Creative Center and Gould Theater, offering indoor theater productions year-round and seasonal outdoor performances. 

Upcoming 2023 Performances

• Outdoor Park Theater
  • The Fish Whisperer
  • Cheeseheads The Musical
  • Lipstick Optional.
• Indoor Gould Theater
  • Guys on Ice 
  • Guys & Does
  • When Pigs Fly!

For 88 years, the Peninsula Players Theatre has staged summer theater at its serene location along the shores of Green Bay, offering a unique theater experience. Instead of battling traffic and parking garages in the city, you can watch performances from the stunning 16-acre property in the woods, making for a surprising and breathtaking sight. You can arrive an hour early to fully appreciate the natural setting, grab a beverage at the beer garden before the show, watch the sunset, and even enjoy a bonfire during intermission, weather permitting. The theater is known for assembling an extraordinary cast of actors and designers, and it has become a tradition for many to combine their Door County experience with a visit to the Peninsula Players Theater.

Upcoming 2023 Performances

• A Rock Sails By
• Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit — A Witty, Haunting Comedy
• Dames at Sea
• Trying
•  Baskerville — a Sherlock Holmes Mystery

Under a magnificent maple tree along the banks of Lake Michigan is Door Shakespeare. This nonprofit theater company has been recognized for its excellence, with productions being ranked in the top 10 theatrical experiences in Wisconsin by The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This outdoor theater produces live shows of the works of William Shakespeare and other playwrights while enhancing the theatrical experience through interactive educational opportunities designed for audiences of all ages. Door Shakespeare also recognizes and pays respect to the indigenous communities who have stewarded the land upon which their performance space resides.

Upcoming 2023 Performances

• As You Like It by William Shakespeare

• The Old Man and the Old Moon

The Trueblood Performing Arts Center (TPAC) is a 253-seat theater on Washington Island. TPAC is a cherished asset to the Washington Island community, providing a safe, comfortable, and climate-controlled space for diverse talent to perform. The nonprofit center hosts theater, music, presentations, literary events, movies and more.

Upcoming 2023 Performances

• Shrek Jr. The Musical

• Rock the Raft!

• Island Archives with pictures on the stage

• Variety Show

• Jonathan Bass & Trio Voyager

• Lance and Lea

• A Thousand Clowns

• Big Mouth