New Shows for AFT

“Lumberjacks in Love” will make its first appearance at the Door Community Auditorium this fall. Submitted photo.

American Folklore Theatre (AFT) has announced its 2015 musical comedy line up for the summer and fall seasons.

AFT, which will be officially renamed “Northern Sky Theater” in January, will present three shows in repertory during the summer and one in the fall.

“It’s fitting that we celebrate our new era as Northern Sky by doing what we do best,” noted AFT’s managing director Dave Maier. “Offering up two brand new hilarious musicals is our way of doubling down on the mission to create shows that our fans know were written for them and their families.”

No Bones About It, a “rib-tickling” new musical set in the world of competitive barbecue, is the sixth offering from the Richard Rogers award-winning writing team of Dave Hudson and Paul Libman, the creators of Cheeseheads, the Musical and Muskie Love.

When Butter Churns to Gold, written by new collaborators Peter Welkin, Ron Barnett, and Randi Wolfe, brings a “dash of dastardly drama and dairy delights” to the stage.

“This is our second premiere that has emerged from our collaboration with New Musicals, Inc. in Los Angeles. The trio of writers has given us something new for Northern Sky, a musical done fully tongue in cheek with plenty of audience interaction,” stated Artistic Director, Jeffrey Herbst.

Back for a second summer, Strings Attached, written by Dave Hudson and Colin Welford, is a comic tale of mistaken identity set in a Northern Wisconsin lodge.

Northern Sky’s summer season runs from June 11th – August 29th at the Peninsula State Park Amphitheater in Fish Creek. There is no park sticker required to attend performances.

In fall, Lumberjacks in Love makes its first indoor appearance at the Door Community Auditorium in Fish Creek. This Fred Alley/James Kaplan musical is one of AFT’s all-time box office hits and celebrates a world where bath time is once a month and the blast of a dinner bell brings the boys running.

“It’s especially appropriate for our 25th anniversary season to bring back a show with book and lyrics by our co-founder Fred Alley,” said Artistic Advisor, Doc Heide. “This musical is rambunctious, hilarious, and down-right delightful.”

The performance schedule and casting will be announced early in 2015. Tickets for both the summer and fall season will go on sale April 1st in the Northern Sky box office at the Green Gables shops in north Ephraim, via phone at 920.854.6117, and online at NorthernSkyTheater.com.