Peninsula Players Theatre Announces $15,000 Grant Award from The Shubert Foundation

Peninsula Players Theatre, America's oldest professional resident summer theater and Door County's theatrical icon, is proud to announce it has received a $15,000 award from The Shubert Foundation. The Shubert Foundation awarded a record total of $26.8 million to 533 not-for-profit performing arts organizations across the United States. The Shubert Foundation provides grants only to organizations that have established artistic and administrative track records, as well as a pattern of fiscal responsibility.

This award marks the third year Peninsula Players Theatre has received support from the Shubert Foundation.

The Shubert Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to sustaining and advancing the live performing arts in the United States, with a particular emphasis on theater.

Since 1977, over $413 million has been awarded to not-for-profit arts organizations throughout the United States. Every organization receiving a foundation grant has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the performing arts. "We want to help lift some of the financial burden so that the companies we support are able to focus on producing thought-provoking, relevant work for the widest possible audience," said Foundation Chairman, Philip J. Smith on its website.

The Shubert Foundation is dedicated to sustaining and advancing live performing arts on a national level and is especially interested in providing support to professional resident theater and dance companies that develop and produce new American work. Peninsula Players' commitment to new play developments and artistic achievement, its contributions to the field of professional theater and its internship program were examined by the Foundation.

"The Shubert name is synonymous with excellence in American Theater," Managing Director Brian Kelsey said. "It is an honor for us to be recognized by one of the most highly respected foundations and organizations in our field.

"The vital support that the Shubert Foundation provides helps to sustain and advance the performing arts across the nation. We are honored and very thankful that they recognize our commitment to create, develop and produce new works and our belief that the Peninsula Players does and should have an impact on our community."

The Foundation does not earmark its awards. "Our longstanding practice of providing help in the form of general operating support remains unchanged," stated Shubert Foundation President, Michael I. Sovern on the Shubert's website. "We are convinced that talented artists and administrators are best able to decide how to use the funds we grant."

The Shubert Foundation is the nation's largest private foundation dedicated to unrestricted funding of nonprofit theaters, dance companies, professional theater training programs and related service agencies. The Shubert Foundation, Inc., was established in New York City in 1945 by Lee and J.J. Shubert in memory of their brother Sam. It is the sole shareholder of The Shubert Organization, Inc., which currently owns/operates 17 theaters on Broadway and six-Off-Broadway theaters. The Little Shubert Theatre was the first off-Broadway theatre owned by The Shubert Organization.

"The honor affirms what Brian and I, along with our Board of Directors, have known for a long time - that patrons and supporters of Peninsula Players cherish and appreciate the artistry, craftsmanship and theatrical works the theater has produced for 83 years," said Artistic Director Greg Vinkler.

Peninsula Players was awarded a $10,000 grant in 2016, $15,000 in 2017 and is excited to once again be a recipient of such a prestigious honor.

"Peninsula Players is thrilled to play an important part in creating and sustaining a vibrant arts community in Door County," said Kelsey. "The arts provide a distinctive, powerful contribution to a vibrant, inclusive and empathetic society, which we believe Door County to be."

Peninsula Players is celebrating its 83rd season in 2018. Founded in 1935 by brother and sister Richard and Caroline Fisher, the theater has produced more than 500 staged works including world premieres, dramas, comedies and musicals. Recent world premières at Peninsula Players include its current offering "Now and Then," by Sean Grennan; "The Actuary" by Steven Peterson, "The Outsider" (formerly "A Real Lulu") by Paul Slade Smith; "Making God Laugh" and "The Tin Woman" also by Sean Grennan; "Once a Ponzi Time" by Joe Foust, and of note, the regional première of "Butler" by Richard Strand and "Alabama Story" by Kenneth Jones.

Peninsula Players is a unique professional theater known for its diverse productions, continuing loyalty to a resident company and its beautiful setting on 16 wooded acres along the cedar-lined shores of Green Bay. In the past 83 years, the theater has become a Door County landmark and its cornerstone arts institution, attracting audience members from throughout Wisconsin and across the country.

The 2018 season at Peninsula Players also includes "Miss Holmes" (July 4 - July 22) a thrilling mystery by Christopher M. Walsh, based on characters by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In this murder mystery with a twist, Walsh's Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson are intelligent, independent women in 19th Century England. "The Drowsy Chaperone" (July 25 - August 12) is a delightfully smart and merry Jazz Age musical with show-stopping song and dance numbers by Lisa Lambert, Don McKellar, Bob Martin and Greg Morrison. "Living on Love" (August 15 to September 2) is a sparkling new romantic comedy by two-time Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro, based on the play "Peccadillo" by Garson Kanin. "Salvage" (September 5 to October 14) is an intriguing drama by Joseph Zettelmaier closes the season. For more information on the Peninsula Players 2018 season, visit www.peninsulaplayers.com or call the Box Office at (920) 868-3287.

Photo: Sean Fortunato, Erica Elam and Greg Vinkler in the world première of Sean Grennan's "Now and Then" on stage now at Peninsula Players through July 1. Scenic design by Sarah E. Ross, costume design by Rachel Lambert, lighting design by Stephen Roy White, sound design by Mike Tutaj and properties design by Pauline Olesky. Photos by Len Villano.