The American Players Theatre (APT) is currently running its 47th season as a language-based theater company. Originally producing exclusively Shakespeare, APT has expanded over its 47 years to incorporate classic plays from the past and contemporary works. The company operates on a rotating repertory model. At the peak of its season, APT runs five shows in the outdoor Hill Theatre, which seats 1,075 people, alongside three rotating shows in its smaller indoor space, the Touchstone Theatre. APT maintains a year-round staff of roughly 35 people and expands during the season by bringing in approximately 200 seasonal employees. On average, around 10 students from the University of Wisconsin – Parkside work with APT each season, depending on yearly production needs and student interest.
Laura Arnold, production manager at American Players Theatre, graduated from UW–Parkside in 2015 with a degree in theater arts concentrating in stage management and direction. Arnold frequently hires talent for APT from UW–Parkside’s Theatre Arts program because of the proven track record of providing hands-on experience. Arnold notes that UW–Parkside students gain practical skills, preparing them to seamlessly interact with professional designers. Furthermore, Arnold values that UW–Parkside graduates remain open to learning new skills and gaining new experiences.
Multiple UW–Parkside alumni and current students hold positions across various departments at APT. Kennedy Frick, a stitcher at APT, credits her collaboration with UW–Parkside faculty members Misty Bradford and Leslie Vaglika for developing her skills, work ethic and confidence, enabling her to design mainstage productions while still in school.
Savannah Anderschak, a 2025 UW–Parkside graduate serving as head electrician at APT, highlights how the university hosts guest lecturers and employs faculty active in the industry to ensure the curriculum reflects current professional standards. James Hyde III, a sound assistant at APT and a Theater Design and Technology major at UW–Parkside, credits a campus production operations position with providing industry experience, technical leadership opportunities, and valuable connections with Chicago and Milwaukee talent.
Other UW–Parkside alumni emphasize how the university’s broad curriculum prepared them for multifaceted careers. Scenic carpenter Quincy Wilson notes that the program clearly outlined the steps required to stand out in the professional job market. Scenic carpenter Jeff Brain, who originally enrolled as an actor, benefited from UW–Parkside’s company model, which allowed him to branch out into scenic builds and prop design—skills he now uses while doing scenic design work in Chicago. Similarly, APT lighting associate Cami Kringle, a generalist theater graduate, credits UW–Parkside with encouraging her to explore disciplines outside her primary focus, giving her broader insight into the theater industry as a whole.
Academic staff member Leslie Vaglika trains costume shop assistants and costume-focused students at UW–Parkside. She emphasizes that the department trains students to grow as artists while actively preparing them for positions in the professional theater community. Supported by the university, the department connects students directly with industry professionals, facilitates travel to professional shows in Chicago and Milwaukee, and assists students with entering graduate programs or securing employment immediately after graduation.
Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/bCfvoVx2mUA
Learn more about the Theatre Arts Program: https://www.uwp.edu/departments/theatre-arts/
About the University of Wisconsin–Parkside
Since 1968, the University of Wisconsin–Parkside has been turning ambition into achievement. Through undergraduate and graduate degrees, certificates, and hands-on learning experiences, UW–Parkside empowers students to launch careers and strengthen the regional workforce. Located in the Milwaukee-Chicago corridor, UW–Parkside connects students with employers, internships, and partnerships that drive innovation and economic growth across southeastern Wisconsin.