The dream found words and a movement in 1988. What Door County needed was a professional performance facility to replace Gibraltar school’s tiny Old Gym: a place for school plays, assemblies, graduations, and honors ceremonies.
More than 1200 individuals, businesses, organizations, and foundations contributed 2.7 million during a two-year fundraising campaign, making it possible for the Door Community Auditorium to break-ground in 1990. The 750-seat Door Community Auditorium (DCA) opened in 1991, and made the arts available year round.
This year, the Door Community Auditorium celebrates its twentieth season with one of its most inspired and varied seasons yet.
Performances on the roster will transport audiences all over the world. From the craggy hills of India, to the rough islands of Great Britain, and the iconic sound stages of Hollywood’s Golden Age, the DCA will bring a truly unique cultural experience to the Door Peninsula.
The auditorium believes in the importance of community involvement and outreach education. To that end, the DCA works side-by-side with local schools and youth programs to give students an opportunity to be heard on stage or represented in the Link Gallery.
The Link Gallery not only serves as the connection between Gibraltar school and the auditorium, but also displays visual art from community members, students and guest artists. The gallery collaborates with local organizations and often exhibits youth art projects from places like the Peninsula School of Art. Other organizations throughout the county utilize the auditorium for their fairs, recitals, and fund-raising events.
The DCA provides the community with invaluable performances from up to the moment artists.
Kaaren Northrop, president of the DCA board, said in a press release, "I am excited about our mainstage season and the feedback from people in the community echoes my excitement. People are very passionate about some of the artists we are presenting, which is very cool-the buzz is getting louder and tickets are selling very well."
The Door Community Auditorium, where big names bring their talent to the stage: Chubby Checker, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles and Willie Nelson, just to mention a few. Through its commitment to offering a variety of artists and providing opportunities for social, educational and cultural growth, the DCA serves as a hub of arts activity in the county.
Entertaining audiences with extraordinary performances, the DCA opens minds and transform ideas. A visit to the DCA has the power to make you laugh, cry and put your hands together for a standing ovation. Performances reach out to young, old, and anyone in between. Come see us this year, and add seeing a performance by one of our wonderful artists to your life experience!
