At St. Croix Festival Theatre

Inspiration envelopes the arts and Festival Theatre is no exception

The New Doors program, with its debut in 2005, was created to include an eclectic variety of high quality performing arts events that don’t fit neatly into our Theatre or Music series.

This program was conceptualized as a way to present new works, new artists, established artists with new works, and established artists who are new to our audience, all the while prioritizing the presentation of artists who live or hail from the St. Croix Valley.

Artists from Wisconsin and Minnesota counties bordering the St. Croix River hold priority, but the invitation extends to those beyond the Valley when the opportunity seems right.

If you are such an artist, or know of someone who is and you have interest in a presentation at Festival Theatre, we’d like to hear from you. Inspirations for New Doors programming can be sent to info@festivaltheatre.org or simply pick up the phone and call 715-483-3387

For more information and/or an application to be considered for a New Doors performance, download this form:
Application and Guidelines

2010 New Doors Past Performances

The Big Read

Festival Theatre and St. Croix Falls Public Library are proud to announce they have received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to host The Big Read in February 2010. Its third consecutive award, the partnership between Festival Theatre and the St. Croix Falls Public Library is one of 269 nonprofit's across the nation--including arts, culture, and science organizations; libraries; and municipalities--to receive a grant to host a Big Read project between September 2009 and June 2010.

The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 30 selections from U.S. and world literature. The Big Read in Polk and Burnett Counties in WI and Chisago County in MN will focus on the literary and dramatics works of Thornton Wilder, "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" and "Our Town."

To visit the Big Read Website, Click Here!

Festival Arts
Arts learning through arts making.

We believe learning through the arts develops individuals that are team players, innovative thinkers, multi-versed interpreters, and compassionate, tolerant members of society.

Socially, intellectually, creatively, and emotionally, individuals who experience the arts on a regular basis are better equipped to meet the challenges of our changing world…

And it’s also a whole bunch of FUN!

We use process-based activities and focused, quality arts instruction to teach new skills and build on established ones.

A multi-disciplinary program brings a unique meshing of environmental themes and character education through group arts making activities.

Visual art, theatre, literary arts, music, and movement activities heightens awareness to the creativity all people are naturally capable of.

Youth and Family Theatre Series
Youth and adults from surrounding communities experience the professional stage by participating in a educational, 6 week rehearsal process. Casts are joined by professional actors who mentor in workshops and in the production. The result is a high quality theatrical celebration of human spirit.

The BFG
April 10 – 18, 2010
2:00 pm shows: April 11, 15, 17 and 18
7:30 pm shows: April 10, 15, and 16

It's the witching hour and little orphan Sophie is suddenly snatched by the hand of a hungry giant! Finding herself in Giant Country with huge, ugly child-eating giants, Sophie is much relieved when she learns her snatcher is a Big Friendly Giant. Adapted from the popular children’s novel by Roald Dahl, The BFG is story of snozzcumbers, frobscottle, bellyhoppers and all kinds of redunculous fun! Guest Artist Joe Wiener is the BFG and joins a host of area youth actors.

Tickets: adults $13.50/youth $8.50.


Shake It Up: A Youth Musical

September 2nd – 12th
2:00 pm shows: September 5, 9, and 12
7:30 pm shows: September 2, 4, 9, and 11

Festival’s Youth & Family Theatre program is offering our first musical for youth ages 12-18.

This is an original work by the production team of Jana Lensing, Bill Perron, Jaclyn Johnson and Gina Bonin. It tells the story of a summer music theatre camp on the brink of bankruptcy and the gutsy kids who save the day! Directed by Bill Perron.

Tickets: Adults $13.50 / Youth $8.50

Theatre Resource Guides
Festival Theatre invites students to get the most out of their theatre visit by understanding the world beyond the play. Theatre Resource Guides introduce the playwright, characters, themes and issues raised in the play via classroom activities, discussion questions, and scenes to read aloud. The guides are designed to be classroom-ready, allowing educators to duplicate materials for easy distribution to students.

• Charlotte’s Web Resource Guide
• A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas Resource Guide
• Ama & The White Crane Resource Guide
• A Christmas Story Resource Guide
• The Wind in the Willows Resource Guide
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Summer Creativity Camp
Our 5 day, all day, multi-disciplinary camp for ages 5-12 emphasizes environmental themes and the joy of imagination. Locations throughout the St. Croix Valley.

Five full days fresh air and sunshine,
brushes, paint, paper, glue,
a pile of great stories,
frogs, bugs, silliness,
a bag of props,
friends, laughing,
and a whole lot of ideas!

Arts Classes and Workshops in visual art fundamentals, movement, improv, literary arts, inter-generational experiences and more! Tailor-made opportunities for home school families are available.

Artist in Residency programs custom-built for classrooms or youth groups.
The performing and visual arts enrich virtually any curricular subject and set of educational standards. Collaborate with one of our Festival Arts faculty artists to create a program that makes math, language arts, environmental science, social studies or science class a stage for arts making. Bolster academic achievement for all learners! Planning is part of the package!

Festival Theatre wishes to thank the following for their support of Festival Arts programming:

• Anchor Bank
• Best Buy Children’s Foundation
• East Central Energy Operation Round-Up
• Gionis Law Firm
• Hugh J. Andersen Foundation
• Loreen Clayton-Morell
• Luck Dental Clinic
• Margaret Rivers Fund
• Polk Burnett Operation Round-Up
• The River Bank
• WalMart
• Xcel Energy Foundation

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