Throughout the year, those passing North Junior High School in
Menomonee Falls may be puzzled as to why the parking lot is full.
They may not know that the school's 700-seat theater is home to
one of the community's largest stages, as well as the Falls Patio
Players, a community theater that has been entertaining the area for
more than 30 years.
Recently the theater went out on a limb, becoming its own entity and freeing itself from the Menomonee Falls School District, on whose budget it had relied until three years ago.
According to Falls Patio Players President Curtis Yorkey, the transition has been difficult, but thanks to support from area restaurants and businesses, the Falls Patio Players remain strong.
The theater is run by a five-member board that makes all decisions about shows, directors and actors. There is also a chief consulting executive who seeks outside musicians and directors for the company. Although the theater does have regular actors and directors, Yorkey said that auditions bring in many new faces.
{INSERT_RELATED}The group stages five shows a year, including a straight play in the fall, a musical in the Spring, and its own rendition of "A Christmas Carol" each December.
According to Yorkey, the original musical rendition of the Dickens classic is their most popular show.
"We have been doing it for 10 years and it practically sells out every performance," he said.
Every summer, the theater has a two-week program for children ages 5-16. From 9 a.m.-4 p.m., campers learn acting, staging and placements, and at the end of the program they stage a free performance.
This April, the theater will perform the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
"Webber's work appeals to the masses and is not for the deep theatre people," Yorkey said. "However, this area just wants to be entertained, and this is his biggest musical, and it's extremely funny."
The show runs on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. from Fri., April 12 through Sat., April 27. It also shows on Sunday the 21 and 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults and $12 for seniors and children. For more information call (262) 255-8372.
North Junior High School is located on Garfield Drive, just south of Appleton Avenue, in Menomonee Falls.
