Outreach
Four Seasons Theatre Company, with its focus on learning and its connections to the community, encourages the development of drama, music, dance, and technical skills through educational outreach, workshops, and performances. Using musical theatre as a means of engagement, our goal is to create a strong organization which provides a consistent, high quality experience for everyone involved onstage, backstage, in the audience, and in the community.
Outreach Concerts
As part of our continuing commitment to community outreach and audience engagement, Four Seasons Theatre is proud to present a series of outreach concerts throughout the season.
Past Season Sampler program venues have included service organizations (Madison Breakfast Rotary Club), retirement communities (Oakwood West, Capitol Lakes & Attic Angels), and local concert series events (First Unitarian Society's Noon Musicale Series & the Rural Musicians Forum Unity Chapel Concert Series).
We'd love to present our Season Sampler program for your next function! Please contact us for information about program scheduling and costs.
Wisconsin Letters from the Civil War (available now)
150 years have passed since the Civil War was fought, and yet the echoes of this conflict still resonate today. Developed in partnership with the Wisconsin Historical Museum, this 50-minute program features readings of letters written by Wisconsin soldiers and families during the Civil War interspersed with Civil War-era songs.
The Great American Songbook: Irving Berlin (available now)
For the 2011-2012 season, our Great American Songbook series focuses on the music of Irving Berlin. From early Tin Palley hits like "Alexander's Ragtime Band" to tunes from Broadway hits like "Annie Get Your Gun" and songs from the movies including "White Christmas" and "Top Hat," our Irving Berlin revue covers decades of music from America's greatest songwriter.
The Great American Songbook: George and Ira Gershwin (available September 2012)
We continue our Great American Songbook series by turning our attention to the songwriting team of George and Ira Gershwin. From beloved ballads like "Someone to Watch Over Me" to toe-tapping tunes like "I Got Rhythm" to the sounds of Catfish Row in PORGY AND BESS, this revue of Gershwin songs has something for everyone.
Lecture Series
In August 2005 Four Seasons Theatre presented the Ragtime Lecture Series which helped give context and meaning to a socially relevant show through discussions led by our featured speakers Professor Sandra Adell, Professor Michael Leckrone, and Professor Diane Lindstrom.
In August 2006 the Sweeney Todd Lecture Series featured "Sweeney Todd: Musical or Opera" with FST Artistic Director Andrew Abrams and Madison Opera General Director Allan Naplan and "The Music of Sondheim" with Jim Tucker, Director of Opera at Northern Illinois University.
In March 2007 FST Artistic Director Andrew Abrams and Madison Opera General Director Allan Naplan spoke about the history of the story of Madame Butterfly and how this served as the basis for Miss Saigon.
In August 2007 Maestro John DeMain, who conducted the 1980 Broadway revival of West Side Story spoke about his own experience and working with Leonard Bernstein.
In February 2009 Maestro John DeMain offered an entertaining history of Candide.
In August 2009, Professor Glen Close spoke about "Eva Peron: A Revolutionary Icon," an exploration of her celebrity and rise to fame in a preshow lecture for Evita.
In August 2010, FST partnered with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum for a special presentation on military life in the South Pacific during WWII. In addition to viewing and learning about artifacts from the war, Tim Hamilton presented an overview of life on the home front and in the military and staff from the Museum facilitated a discussion with WWII veterans in attendance.
Behind The Scenes Workshop
In December 2005 veteran actor and teacher Michael Bofshever presented "The Journey of a Working Actor," sharing insights from his extensive career in television, film and on stage.
In March 2006 Telly Leung, whose Broadway credits include Pacific Overtures and Flower Drum Song, led a musical theatre masterclass, working with four singers from the UW-Madison and the community. Following the workshop, Mr. Leung, who starred as Tobias in FST's August 2006 production of Sweeney Todd, participated in an audience talkback.
In February 2008, multiple Tony nominee Tom Wopat spoke about his path from Lodi High School to Broadway.
In January 2009, Broadway veteran Caitlin Hopkins and actor/songwriter James Price worked with nine community members in an acting in musical theatre workshop at Capitol Lakes.
In February 2010, Broadway veterans Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley worked with three local singers as part of a musical theatre masterclass.
Backstage Arts Internship
Our internship program provides exposure to technical theatre careers as students learn about the production process from design to final product. Supervised student interns work with theatre professionals who serve as both educational mentors and production staff for FST. Internship areas include Stage Management, Costume Design and Construction, Wig and Make-up Design, Lighting Design, Scenic Design and Set Construction, Sound Design and Properties.
