Are you ready to step up to sponsorship at Third Avenue PlayWorks in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin to help us produce theatre worth talking about?
This past year at Third Avenue PlayWorks in Sturgeon Bay has been a resounding success—and it is a success we owe entirely to our patrons, sponsors, and playbill advertisers. The generous support and belief in the power of live theatre have fueled a truly remarkable year. 2025 was the best-attended season in our theatre’s history – truly a testament to our shared community.
We are nearly ready to launch another exciting theatre season in 2026! “When we began planning this year, we kept returning to the idea of adventure — not just in the stories we tell, but in the spirit of gathering together for live theatre,” says Jacob Janssen, Jackie & Steve Kane Artistic Director, “Theatre asks us to leap, to imagine, to follow twists we could never predict. This season, I’m thrilled to share a lineup that embraces that sense of discovery.”
If you’ve been a long-time patron and donor, we invite you to tap into the momentum we experienced in 2025 and the adventure in store for 2026 with these new sponsorship opportunities. It is through individual and corporate sponsorships that we are able to bring our productions and programming to life. We are grateful to partner with local businesses and individuals to ensure we continue to produce live theatre worth talking about in Sturgeon Bay.
Join others who are committed to building our community. Most receive:
- Recognition in digital and printed marketing materials
- Tickets to theatre productions and special events
- Tickets to our annual gala
- Special engagement opportunities
- Access to theatre facility for use (as available)
- Special event invites (first rehearsal, season launch, and more)
Sponsor the whole season or add your name to one of our individual shows. The holiday radio play offers a unique opportunity for us to develop a custom jingle commercial to be acted out on stage during the show!
APRIL 22 – MAY 10: Heroes
By Gérald Sibleyras, Adapted by Tom Stoppard
Gustave, Philippe, and Henri—three aging WWI veterans, tired of dull routines, fading memories, and the oppressive atmosphere of their retirement home, hatch an elaborate plan: a great escape! Their ambitious scheme to break free becomes a brilliant, comic battle against time and infirmity. Winner of the 2006 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, this funny and tender tribute to lifelong friendship and the enduring human spirit proves it’s never too late for one last, glorious caper.
JUNE 3 – JUNE 21: Moonlight and Magnolias
By Ron Hutchinson
It is three weeks into shooting Gone With the Wind and everything is falling apart. To save the film, Producer David O. Selznick stops production, locks his director and screenwriter in his office, and forces them to rewrite the entire script in five days! Based on (mostly) true events, this riotous, high-stakes comedy about the chaos and genius of moviemaking will leave you laughing out loud! And cheering!
JULY 15 – AUGUST 9: Red Herring
By Michael Hollinger
1952, Boston, a hardboiled female homicide detective finds herself caught in an impossible situation: catch a killer, recover a stolen atomic secret, and keep her fiancé—an FBI agent—from discovering her latest suspect may be his own father. Three couples’ lives collide as love and loyalty are put to the ultimate test. If you love Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett—with a dash of screwball mayhem—you’ll be hooked from the first clue.
SEPTEMBER 23 – OCTOBER 11: The Call List
By Brian James Polak
Part of The World Premiere Wisconsin Festival
Meet Sam—a restless dreamer, anxious doodler, and professional wanderer in search of purpose. When her law firm boss hands her a simple list of names and one chilling task—call them all and announce a client’s death—her mundane workday takes a bizarre turn. Curiosity pulls Sam into a mystery that’s equal parts darkly funny and unexpectedly heartfelt. Armed with only her notebook and razor-sharp wit, she chases clues that lead to something far deeper – and more personal – than she expected.
DECEMBER 2 – DECEMBER 27: It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Door County
Adapted by Neil Brookshire
We’re back with an all new version of It’s A Wonderful Life! With the helpful assistance of a multitalented musician and foley artist, our top-notch ensemble of actors once again brings the lovable and irascible residents of Bedford Falls to captivating life in this staged 1940s radio broadcast where you are the live studio audience! This unique spin on one of America’s favorite films is great fun for the whole family!
5 Reasons to Support the Arts
(From artsactionfund.org)
The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They inspire us—fostering creativity, empathy, and beauty. The arts also strengthen our communities socially, educationally, economically, and improve health and well-being.
Arts Strengthen the Economy
The nation’s arts and culture sector—nonprofit, commercial, education—is a $1.2 trillion industry that supports 5.4 million jobs (2023). That is 4.2% of the nation’s economy—a larger share of GDP than powerhouse sectors such as Transportation, Education, and Agriculture. Similar results are found at the state level (source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis).
Arts Drive Revenue to Local Businesses
Arts attendees spend an average of $38.46 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission on items such as meals, parking, and lodging—vital income for local businesses.
Arts Unify Communities
72% of Americans believe “The arts provide shared experiences with people of different races, ethnicities, ages, beliefs, and identities.” 63% agree that the arts “help me understand other cultures in my community better”—perspectives observed across all demographic and economic categories.
Arts Strengthen Mental Health and Wellbeing
More than half of Americans (60%) say the arts have “helped them cope during times of mental or emotional distress,” and 69% believe the arts “lift me up beyond everyday experiences.”
Arts and Culture are Tourism Drivers
Arts travelers are ideal tourists, staying longer and spending more to seek out authentic culture experiences. 53% of Americans say, “When planning a vacation, I consider the destination’s arts and culture experiences when deciding where to visit.”