History of the Racine Theatre Guild

Once upon a time -- in 1938, to be exact -- a small band of determined thespians pooled their resources – 50 cents each – and the Racine Theatre Guild was born. Thirteen dollars turned out to be a lucky number, and in their first season they put on a series of three one-act plays. Titles ranged from “The Bride Wore Red Pajamas” to “He Ain’t Done Right By Nell.” As a dividend to those first season patrons, the Guild added three more: “Good Night Please,” “A Husband for Breakfast,” and “A Cup of Tea.”

The plays were presented through a variety of venues by this homeless troupe: The Woman’s Club was used until 1942, at which time the Guild moved to the Main Street Theatre in downtown Racine; this required rehearsals to be held in the wee small hours after the movies were over for the night. By that time, the season had grown to five plays. RTG moved to the Uptown Theatre in 1947 and remained there until the group was able to purchase an appropriate building on High and Erie Streets in 1956. With that purchase, the Racine Theatre Guild became the first community theatre in Wisconsin to own its own building.

In 1976 a dream came true and the Guild moved into its very own newly built theatre on Northwestern Avenue, with a thrust stage and auditorium seating 405 patrons. When you see the stair-clad entrance to the Guild Playhouse, you will note an abundance of international flags gallantly flying – symbols of a heritage of international productions involving the Guild.

In 1979 the Guild represented the United States with its production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” at international theatre festivals in Austria and England. Six years later RTG hosted the Festival of American Community Theatres and in 1987, a production of “Seascape” traveled to Belgium and the Netherlands to represent the U.S. in international festivals. Shortly after that a theatrical troupe from Tbilisi, Georgia (at that time, part of the USSR) performed in Racine, and began an ongoing cultural exchange that took the Guild to the Soviet Union in 1989 and 1991. (It was during the time that Georgia began its exit from the USSR – then-director Norm McPhee recalls seeing Soviet tanks in the streets as they prepared their production!)

The Modi Nahke Theatre Company of Tbilisi returned once more to perform for a Racine audience, and in 1994 the Guild played host to the 2nd International AACT Fest with productions from eleven countries, garnering the State of Wisconsin Governor’s Award in Support of the Arts. The Guild also participated in another international competition in Yakumo Village, Japan and won directing and acting awards for “Androcles and the Lion.”

Not content to field a season of eight plays and musicals, RTG merged with the Racine Children’s Theatre in 1999 and presents four children’s plays annually. Harbor Fest of Racine began the Jean’s Jazz Series at the RTG in 2001, named in honor of the late Jean Mooney, a Guild volunteer and jazz aficionado. It’s a rare weekend that something is not jumping at the RTG.

Major renovations on the building were undertaken after a capital campaign brought in funding for these improvements. In the fall of 2001, the exterior of the building was stripped away and resurfaced. Antiquated HVAC equipment was replaced with a much more energy-efficient unit that insured cooler temps in the summer and heat in the depths of winter. In 2004, the box office was shifted to a larger, more comely space; the lobby and patron areas refurbished; office space updated; and largest of all these tasks, new, more comfortable seating was installed in the auditorium.

Behind all these activities, of course, lie the people who make things happen. One of the founders back in 1938 is still busy volunteering and serves on the Guild’s Advisory Board – the incredible Hilda Greenquist. Actor, activist, teacher and raconteur, there might never have been a Guild without Hilda.

While the Guild began with an all-volunteer group, including directors, in 1965 a full-time managing director was hired, subsidized by fund-raising efforts. In 1969 Norman McPhee was hired as managing/artistic director, and the Guild developed a reputation for high quality productions and a flair for international competition. McPhee continued in that post for 32 years, retiring in 2001, yet he continues to guest direct.

Douglas Instenes, who had been associate director and managed the Children’s Theatre productions up to that point, became managing/artistic director that year, and has continued the quest for high production values and popular plays, particularly musicals, in which he excels.

Musicals, in fact, may be the most complicated type of production the Guild presents; for example, when “Annie” was featured in 2001, the audition process alone was daunting. Set by appointments (10 per hour) starting at 8:00 a.m. on a Saturday, Director Doug Instenes, Music Director Judy Gasser, Choreographer Mary Forston and accompanist Greg Berg listened intently until 5:00 p.m. as hopefuls sang, danced and acted their hearts out. On Sunday the process was repeated. The following Sunday still more auditions were held, and then the callbacks began.

Of the 170 trying out, about 35 were selected, and rehearsal times set. By the first presentation of “Annie” on November 28, there had been 39 rehearsals, and by the end of the run in December, the cast had given 33 performances!

Other volunteers work behind the scenes. Each year they gather to assemble Children’s Theatre packets, putting together 29,000 brochures, counting and separating them for every K-5 classroom in the Racine and Kenosha Unified School Districts, as well as private and parochial schools. Then, more volunteers and staff deliver the materials to each individual school. It all pays off when those children (and often, the parents who used to come to the Packy Plays themselves way back when) come in with high expectations and leave with stars in their eyes.

While the Guild began with a small core of volunteers, over the years as membership grew and people learned to expect the highest levels of professionalism, the Board expanded to deal with the complications and delights of five regular performances, three bonus shows, four children’s theatre productions and myriad special events. A 17-member board, aided by a seven-member advisory board, oversees everything from fund campaigns to concessions. A play reading committee tends to the culling of available scripts for future reference, while a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer perform the usual functions and often double as performers, backstage hands and set builders.

The full-time managing/artistic director and contracted set designers and guest directors are paid staff. The Guild also has a full-time general manager and technical director. Part-time help in the box office is also on the payroll, along with paid assistance part time for computer needs. All other functions, from ushering to acting, are unpaid, volunteer positions. Appreciation for these volunteers is shown in several ways, from free tickets to special year-end dinners to awards for outstanding efforts. But, of course, the best reward of all is – applause. After all, this is a theatre.

RTG contracts teachers for children’s acting classes, and offers a two-semester program from fall through spring, plus a two-week program for the lower grades in the summer. These classes teach the basics of the performance arts, and provide an appreciative audience of family and friends with musical productions at the end of the program.

In addition, RTG has begun a Student Performing Arts Kompany (SPArK), an advanced class formerly known as the Junior Production Company. Ranging in age from 11 to 15, troupe members auditioned for the program and tour a production based on their own personal experiences in the spring. There is no fee for enrollment. The Guild’s goal is to find sponsors and travel to schools in southeastern Wisconsin for the next several years, and after that to expand to other areas in the Midwest.

Funding for the Racine Theatre Guild comes largely from earned income (85% in season 2002-03). The Guild is concentrating more of its efforts now on development with hopes of increasing unearned income. Most contributions, with the exception of the annual patron campaign, come through the Racine United Arts Fund, established in 1984.

See the detailed timeline of RTG's involvement in festivals.

HISTORY OF THE RACINE THEATRE GUILD

1938 - The Racine Theatre Guild is founded by 26 people and $13.
1939 - The Guild has 100 members, presenting 3 full-length dramas each season at the Woman's Club.
1942 - RTG presents seasons of 5 plays at the Main Street Theatre. Because movies are shown in the theatre on weekends, plays are performed on Monday through Thursday nights. Dress rehearsals begin the week before, running from 11 p.m., after the movies, to about 4:30 am.
1956 –With the purchase of a building at High and Erie Streets, RTG becomes the first community theatre in Wisconsin to own its own building.
1961 - A professional director is hired to direct some of the plays.
1965 - Anita Grannis is hired as full-time managing director.
1969 - Norman McPhee is hired as managing/artistic director.
1976 - RTG moves into its own newly built theatre on Northwestern Avenue, with a thrust stage and auditorium seating 405.
1979 - RTG represents the US with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at international theatre festivals in Austria and England.
1985 - RTG hosts the Festival of American Community Theatres.
1987 - The RTG production of Seascape travels to Belgium and the Netherlands to represent the US in international festivals.
1988 - The season grows to 8 plays: 5 regular-season shows and 3 bonus shows.
1989 - The Guild invites a troupe from Tbilisi, Georgia, USSR to perform in Racine, beginning an ongoing cultural exchange which takes the RTG to the Soviet Union in 1989 and 1991.
1990 – An associate director/audience developer is hired to direct some plays and expand educational outreach. Modi Nahke Theatre Company from Tbilisi returns to Racine.
1994 - RTG hosts a judged, competitive international theatre festival with productions from 11 countries and receives the State of Wisconsin Governor's Award in Support of the Arts.
1999 - RTG participates in an international competition in Yakumo Village, Japan, and wins directing and acting awards for Androcles and the Lion. RTG merges with the Racine Children's Theatre and assumes its management, presenting 4 children's plays annually.
2001 - Norman McPhee retires after 32 years at RTG's helm. Douglas Instenes becomes managing and artistic director. Harbor Fest initiates Jean's Jazz Series of concerts held at and benefiting the Guild.
2003 – Jr. Production Company becomes SPArK (Student Performing Arts Kompany), a touring troupe of teen actors performing issue-oriented plays for elementary schools.
2004 - Lobby, offices and auditorium--with all new seating-- are completely remodeled. A three-year capital campaign (2000-2003) has also created an endowment and funded replacement of roof, HVAC, exterior building surface and sound system. RTG begins offering theatre trips to New York and Chicago.
2005 – Visiting Mr. Green cast and crew, under Norm McPhee’s direction, travel to Ireland for Dundalk International Maytime Festival. Comedy Tonight series begins with 2 performances, goes to 3 the next year and to 4 the year following.
2007-2008 –RCT celebrates its 75 th season with a summer play and birthday party for Packy, the Elephant mascot. RTG celebrates 70 seasons with historic displays, giveaways and promotions.