Off-season Activities at AFT

• What is AFT up to during the off-season?

To put it simply, everything that we do at AFT in those months when the traffic slows and the wind blows is an essential part of meeting our mission of “providing original musical comedies to delight the whole family.” One of the newest things that we’ve taken on this past “off” season was touring.

As Guys & Does wrapped up in October at Door Community Auditorium plans were already well underway to take this highly successful show on the road….Travels in 2010/2011 took us to Oconomowoc, Madison, and Baraboo. Our technical crew and actors traveled with the show while our office staff maintained the details from our home in Ephraim.

• What are the staff and actors up to during the off-season?

Though most of our key company members are scattered across the country during the winter months, progress is always moving forward. Things like Skype make it possible to have meetings across great distances with only a few clicks of the mouse. Artistic Director, Jeff Herbst, “Skypes-in” regularly from Texas and reports on the newest developments with auditions, casting, and the creative process of our world premiers…

This year our cast and crew will be met with quite a surprise when they stop in at our office at the Green Gables Shops in Ephraim. During most of January and February our office staff could be found, more often than not, with a paintbrush or hammer in hand, assisting in a major office expansion.

• What are you most looking forward to for the 2011 season?

As things really heat up, both figuratively and literally, over the next weeks and months, we’re most excited to see the latest developments of our world premier musical, Bing! The Cherry Musical. Dave Hudson and Paul Libman, creators of Cheeseheads, The Musical and Muskie Love, have been hard at work developing this story of the hope, love and laughter that blossoms in the cherry orchards of Door County. Join us under the stars on opening night, June 15 at 8:30 pm and witness all the “fruits” of our labor!