Info

American Folklore Theatre is a non-profit professional theatre organization. Our mission is to create, develop, and present professional musical and dramatic productions which will further the knowledge and appreciation of the culture and heritage of the United States. We create all original musical shows - everything you see on our stage has been created for AFT and has been performed on our stage before it has been seen anywhere else. What is the history of AFT? How long has it been around? The story of American Folklore Theatre begins with a group called "The Heritage Ensemble." This group was created by Dave Peterson, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who assembled the group after discovering a pine-rimmed theatre while camping at Peninsula State Park. Feeling the magic in this wooded setting, he assembled a group of singers and musicians to perform on the stage. The Heritage Ensemble would go on to perform on the Peninsula State Park stage for the next 20 years. During these 20 years, the troupe produced and performed original concerts and reviews covering many aspects of Midwestern folklore. In 1990 long-time members of The Heritage Ensemble morphed into American Folklore Theatre with the emphasis on the creation and production of book musicals as well as concerts. The group's name was changed to American Folklore Theatre to broaden its scope while still depicting its roots in the traditions of populist culture. This year marks the 17th anniversary of American Folklore Theatre. Is AFT a professional theatre company?