Culture Club: Twenty-Five Seasons at Door Community Auditorium
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by Cari Lewis, executive director
In 1991, after years of planning, researching, gathering feedback, fundraising, and overcoming challenges and setbacks, Door Community Auditorium (DCA) opened its doors and a home for Door County’s cultural, educational, and social needs was shepherded from a vision to reality.
The monumental effort was completely funded by private donations from more than 1,200 individuals, businesses and organizations whose names are painted on the auditorium’s lobby walls. The lead donors insisted on an alphabetical donor listing, rather than by dollar amount, a permanent reminder that DCA is an inclusive space for the entire community.
This season, Door Community Auditorium commemorates its Silver Anniversary and celebrates 25 years of generous community support and inspiring performances. We invite you to take a stroll down memory lane with us by reviewing performance highlights from DCA’s first quarter of a century. And, if you have been a frequent flyer at DCA or have a great DCA story, we invite you to enter our 25th anniversary contest for a pair of season tickets.
Door Community Auditorium Main Stage Highlights 1991-2016
1991
The Nylons
Liz Story
Pamiro Opera Company
The Kingston Trio
Rhythm in Shoes
The Children’s Theatre Company
1992
Turtle Island String Quartet
The Ink Spots
Clarence Darrow
Riders in the Sky
Theatre Grottesco
The Chenille Sisters
Glenn Miller Orchestra
Second City National Touring Company
1993
Tom Chapin
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
Ko-Thi Dance Company
Trinity Dance Company
White Heron Chorale
A Door County Christmas Carol
1994
Ballet Folklorico
Pam Tillis
Tom Paxton
Taj Mahal
Paula Poundstone
Bill T. Jones with Arnie Zane Dance Co.
Big Top Chautauqua
Nutcracker – Chicago Festival Ballet
1995
Carlos Nakai
Leo Kottke
Trinity Irish Dance
Nnenna Freelon
Richie Havens
The Parsons Dance Company
The Platters
1996
The Tamburitzans
Taylor II
Patty Larkin
Doc Watson
Johnny Cash and the Carter family
Myron Floren
Iris Dement and Tish Hinojosa
Glenn Yarbrough
1997
Connie Dover
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Greg Brown
Victor Borge
Harry Belefonte
Rosanne Cash
John Prine
Leon Redbone
The Smothers Brothers
1998
Prague Philharmonic Children’s Choir
Rosemary Clooney
Bruce Cockburn
Rita Coolidge with Walela
Del McCoury Band & John Hartford
Ray Charles
Alison Krauss and Union Station
Neville Brothers
1999
Bobby McFerrin
Gordon Lightfoot
Luma Theatre of Light
Chanticleer
Ricky Skaggs
River North Dance Company
Martha Graham Dance Company
The Four Freshmen
Kathy Mattea
2000
Willie Nelson
Debbie Reynolds
Karla Bonoff
Pilobolus Dance
Parsons Dance
Asleep at the Wheel
The Lettermen
2001
Canadian Brass
Ricky Skaggs
Gaelic Storm
Loretta Lynn
Koko Taylor
EmmyLou Harris
Natalie MacMaster
Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company
2002
Don Williams
Livingston Taylor
Dervish
Bob Newhart
Garrison Keillor
George Winston
Doc Heide & Eric Lewis
US Air Force Jazz Band
2003
David Sanborn
Bo Diddley
Neil Sedaka
Tim Conway
Charley Pride
Branford Marsalis
Dallas Black Dance Theater
Jim Brickman
The Christmas Schooner
2004
Delbert McClinton
Natalie McMaster
Michael Martin Murphy
T.S. Monk
Peter Cincotti
Melissa Manchester
Patty Loveless
Fabulous Thunderbirds
2005
Chuck Mangione
Earl Scruggs
Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra
Paul Taylor Dance Company
Cherish the Ladies
Bellamy Brothers
BeauSoleil & Michael Doucet
2006
Chubby Checker
Hubbard Street Dance
Golden Dragon Acrobats
Cherryholmes
Rosanne Cash
Pam Tillis
2007
Red Feather Woman
Peking Acrobats
Smothers Brothers
Bill Haley’s Comets
American Bandstand
Mary Wilson
2008
Bill Anderson
Michael Feldman
Capitol Steps
Bobby Vinton
Marshall Tucker Band
3 Redneck Tenors
Lorrie Morgan
2009
Pure Prairie League
Bobby Vee & The Vees
Suzanne Vega
Paula Poundstone
Ed Asner as FDR
Nanci Griffith
BoDeans
2010
Different Drums of Ireland
Rich Little
Julian Hagen
Joan Baez
Los Lobos
2011
Under the Streetlamp
Jeff Tweedy
Indigo Girls
Rickie Lee Jones
Dailey & Vincent
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
African Children’s Choir
2012
Buckets of Rain
Brandi Carlile & The Lumineers
Leahy
Billy Collins
Keb’ Mo’
Ruthie Foster
2013
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Carolina Chocolate Drops
The Time Jumpers with Vince Gill
Shovels & Rope
Steve Earle & John Hiatt
Indigo Girls
2014
Don McLean & Judy Collins
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Ira Glass
The Oak Ridge Boys
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Jason Isbell
Ziggy Marley
Brubeck Brothers Quartet
Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre
2015
Mavis Staples
Josh Turner
Melissa Etheridge
The Charlie Daniels Band
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
The Wailin’ Jennys
The Wood Brothers
2016
Three Dog Night
Ben Folds
Sarah Jarosz & The Brother Brothers
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Bela Fleck & Chris Thile
Jake Shimabukuro
Jim Belushi & The Chicago Board of Comedy
More 2016 Main Stage Shows to Come!
This is quite an impressive list, especially for a 740-seat venue in a village with a year-round population of 997!
If you are interested in making more memories at DCA, enter our 25th Anniversary Ticket Giveaway. One pair of 2017 DCA Section A season tickets will be awarded to the contestants with the most DCA shows attended and the most compelling DCA memory.
To enter, circle the shows you have attended and list any additional DCA events that come to mind. Given space constraints, only season highlights appear above. Repeat performances, school and community partner events are not listed. A complete listing of DCA Mainstage shows can be found at dcauditorium.org/backstage.
Or, in 800 words or less, recount your favorite DCA memory.
Submit your name, contact info and entry to [email protected] or PO Box 397, Fish Creek, WI 54212.
Thanks for the memories!
Peninsula Arts and Humanities Alliance, Inc., which contributes Culture Club throughout the summer season, is a coalition of nonprofit organizations whose purpose is to enhance, promote and advocate the arts, humanities and natural sciences in Door County.