Catching up with Door Shakespeare’s Ryan Schabach

Q: Where are you right now?

A: I’m in Madison rehearsing In the Next Room with the Forward Theater Company, which shows November 4 – 21. I’m also flying back and forth from Houston, where I’m rehearsing Panto Pinocchio, which plays November 23 – January 9.

Q: And then you come back to enjoy Door County’s winter?

A: Then we jump in our car and get back to Fish Creek to start rehearsing for Abridged Shakespeare at TAP. The show goes up February 11 and plays through the 20th. The nice thing is that because I’ve done the show in Texas, I can pick up props and costumes on my way north.

Q: You’ve acted in the show before. What will be the challenges of both directing and acting?

A: I’m very passionate about this show. I’m familiar with the script, and I firmly believe that theatre is a collaborative art. I’ll be in a position to get other people who are invested in the project to sit in the audience and help solve technical issues.

Q: What brought you back to Door County?

A: When I started my MFA at UW-Madison, Door Shakespeare – this was 10 years ago – was just starting out. I kept in touch, knowing that I wanted a chance to work with them. There are three professional, union theater houses in Door County, all within several miles of each other. It’s such a rare oddity that this quality of work is being done here.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)!

37 Plays, 3 Actors, 2 Hours!

Performances will be held at Third Avenue Playhouse, 239 N. Third Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, on February 11 – 13 and 18 – 20. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees are at 2pm. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students.

For more information call 920.743.1760 or visit http://www.ThirdAvenuePlayhouse.com.