Racine Theatre Guild

Getting the band back together!

What's a little flirtation and fondness without some live music? During First Date, Douglas Clum plays piano and leads Steve Feiler on drums, Tim Ipsen on bass, and Jay Ku**er on guitars as they strike a chord for lovey-dovey and laugh-out-loud moments on stage.

Don't let it be the show that got away! Tickets are available online, https://racinetheatre.org/event/first-date/, over the phone, (262) 633-4218, or at by the Box Office, Monday - Friday, 12 - 6 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance.

**Some adult material and language may not be suitable for younger patrons

Ghosts of relationships past

The commitment-phobe men in Casey's dating history gave her everything she thought she wanted. She keeps a safe distance from the chance at real a real connection but maybe, just maybe, Aaron will make her break-up with her old habits and give love a chance.

Tickets to the final weekend of First Date are available now at https://racinetheatre.org/event/first-date/, (262) 633-4218, or the Box Office, Monday - Friday, 12 - 6 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance.

**Some adult material and language may not be suitable for younger patrons

We've got a crush on this crew

Sparks fly when all the chemistry backstage meets the energy on stage. We are incredibly grateful to have a match made in heaven with our "First Date" crew to make each zany performance come to life. Thank you!

Dinner served up with a side of soft shoe

Getting to know someone on a date is difficult enough, especially when the whole restaurant keeps breaking out in musical numbers. With a little song, a little dance, this waiter may help point cupid's arrow in the right direction so Aaron and Casey can build more than a little love connection.

Performances of the hilariously entertaining First Date continue today and next weekend:
• Sunday, July 21 – 2 p.m.
• Friday, July 26 – 7 p.m. (ASL Interpreted Performance)
• Saturday, July 27 – 2 & 7 p.m.
• Sunday, July 28 – 2 p.m.

Tickets are available online, https://racinetheatre.org/event/first-date/, over the phone, (262) 633-4218, or at by the Box Office, Monday - Friday, 12 - 6 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance to get your tickets.

**Some adult material and language may not be suitable for younger patrons

There's plenty of love to go around in First Date as it opens tonight! Swipe through to meet the cast and get ready to fall for them, plus our crew and band, in a musical that will take your breath away with laughter.

You'll be smitten as the comedy and tragedy of dating intertwines with rock ballads, rap verses, folk jams, and showtunes. Don't play hard to get! Visit https://racinetheatre.org/event/first-date/, call (262) 633-4218, or stop by the Box Office, Monday - Friday, 12 - 6 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance to get your tickets.

**Some adult material and language may not be suitable for younger patrons

Friends don't let friends awkward pause

When the voices in your head come to life, they might not always give the most sound advice. But whether they drive you crazy or push you out of your comfort zone, having them third-wheel on date night may end up helping you find something that will last.

From slapstick to sincerity, join the search for love during First Date when it opens this weekend. Get your tickets online, https://racinetheatre.org/event/first-date/, over the phone, (262) 633-4218, or at the Box Office, Monday - Friday, 12 to 6 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance.

**Some adult material and language may not be suitable for younger patrons

The pursuit of romance can leave you caught in a pickle

Welcome to a blind date between two people who have nothing in common. Buttoned-up Aaron is looking for a meaningful relationship, while the free spirited Casey jumps from bad date to boring date not really expecting much from anyone. Will opposites attract in First Date? Find out:
• Friday, July 19 – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, July 20 – 2 & 7 p.m.
• Sunday, July 21 – 2 p.m.
• Friday, July 26 – 7 p.m. (ASL Interpreted Performance)
• Saturday, July 27 – 2 & 7 p.m.
• Sunday, July 28 – 2 p.m.

Take a bite out of this musical comedy with tickets at https://racinetheatre.org/event/first-date/ (262) 633-4218, or the Box Office, Monday - Friday, 12 to 6 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance.

**Some adult material and language may not be suitable for younger patrons

All's fair in love and dating - right?

"First Date" brings the horrors, humiliations, and occasional happy surprises searching for "the one" to life for Aaron and Casey. A quick drink is accompanied by a Greek chorus of sorts, comedically revealing thoughts of the past, pathways for the future, and emotional baggage.

No need to swipe right to secure tickets! Visit https://racinetheatre.org/event/first-date/, call (262) 633-4218, or stop by the Box Office, Monday - Friday, 12 to 6 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance to grab your seats.

**Some adult material and language may not be suitable for younger patrons

Love is in the air at RTG!

Share your best (or worst) date moment in the comments for a chance to win two (2) tickets to any performance of First Date, running July 19 – 28, 2024, and a $25 gift card from our friends at Uncorkt Wine All You Want! to create a new date night memory!

You must be 21 and older to enter and no purchase is necessary. Only one entry is allowed and the contest will close on Friday, July 12 at 5:00 p.m. CST. We will pick two (2) winners at random and contact them via a direct message with details as to how to receive their prize.

**Some adult material and language in “First Date” may not be suitable for younger patron

⚠️ NOTE:️ Beware of scam accounts and those pretending to be Racine Theatre Guild that may comment on this post and include a link. This giveaway is not sponsored, run, or associated with Facebook/Meta in anyway.

Head-over-heels hilarious!

The nerves, the butterflies. The hope, the heartache. In just two weeks, "First Date" will capture the emotional dating rollercoaster of mishaps and matchmaking in a fun-filled musical.

Tickets are available now online, https://racinetheatre.org/event/first-date/, over the phone, (262) 633-4218, or the Box Office, Monday - Friday, 12 to 6 p.m.

**Some adult material and language may not be suitable for younger patrons

ASL Interpreted performances will be a part of Racine Theatre Guild's mainstage season once again!

American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreted shows have special seating held for deaf, hard of hearing, and other individuals with full view of the interpreters and performances. Be sure to share the 2024 - 2025 schedule with your friends, family, and neighbors so they can mark their calendars and come enjoy the shows!

To purchase the seats or for more information, patrons can stop by RTG or contact the Box Office at [email protected] or (262) 633-4218.

Don't forget that RTG has assisted listening devices and a Bluetooth assisted listening app as well! More details can be found here: https://bit.ly/RTGAssistedListening

Ricardo Morales was awarded the 2024 John Maccanelli Volunteer of the Year Award last week during the Racine Theatre Guild’s 86th Season celebration. Recognizing Ric’s work on and off stage this season, the honor is named after a volunteer whose “can do” spirit and commitment inspired the award and is given out annually to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and versatility.

Ric first joined RTG during 2007’s production of “Stand and Deliver,” portraying Jaime Escalante. He has since made onstage appearances in “You Can’t Take It With You,” “A Bad Year for Tomatoes,” and “Stand and Deliver” once again in 2023, plus exploring behind-the-scenes during many productions. This season, Ric joined the board of directors, served on the playreading committee, helped at community events, was props run chair for “The Cemetery Club” and “The Little Mermaid,” worked on props during “Seasonal Allergies” and “Cabaret,” was sound tech for “Now and Then,” and played Professor in “Stargirl.”

Ric is a retired RUSD educator, but frequently substitutes throughout the district, connecting with and inspiring thousands of students throughout the years. We are grateful for Ric’s kindness, willingness to try new things, and continued dedication to RTG!

The Racine Theatre Guild celebrated out 86th season last night by applauding, awarding, and honoring the volunteers and members that were part of every aspect of the theatre this year.

Ric Morales joined the ranks of the John Maccanelli Volunteer of the Year, and you'll get to learn more about him next week. In the meantime, please help us share gratitude and appreciation for the dedication and talents of our front of house, scene shop, ushers, cast, crew, tech, board of directors, and all the volunteers who made an impact at RTG!

First impressions just might be worth a second chance!

Rehearsals are underway for the musical romantic comedy, First Date, which will kick off the Racine Theatre Guild's 87th Season. Exploring the hilariously exhausting rituals through the ups and downs of the world of dating, performances run:
• Friday, July 19 – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, July 20 – 2 & 7 p.m.
• Sunday, July 21 – 2 p.m.
• Friday, July 26 – 7 p.m. (ASL Interpreted Performance)
• Saturday, July 27 – 2 & 7 p.m.
• Sunday, July 28 – 2 p.m.

Don't just flirt with the idea of getting tickets! Buy them now at (262) 633-4218, https://racinetheatre.org/event/first-date/, or the Box Office, Monday - Friday, 12 to 6 p.m.

**Some adult material and language may not be suitable for younger patrons

It's summer, which means its also road construction season!

Over the next two years, the WIS 38 Bridge over the Root River will be replaced/reconstructed from Rapids Drive to County MM/N Green Bay Rd in two phases. Construction should only impact the summer months with both sides of the bridge to reopen in the fall and then construction will resume on the other half of the bridge next year.

While WIS 38 will be reduced to a single lane of traffic in each direction, rerouting your travel plans to avoid delays is recommended. From the North, take WIS 38 to WIS 31, turn left on Spring Street, and take the third exit on the Spring Street/WIS 38 roundabout to make your way to RTG.

Visit https://projects.511wi.gov/38bridge/ to learn more and we will keep the "Plan Your Visit" page on our website, https://racinetheatre.org/plan-your-visit/, as up-to-date as possible with details. Call the Box Office at (262) 633-4218 with any additional questions.

And I love a cabaret!

Before we bid auf wiedersehen, a bientot to “Cabaret,” we'd like to say thank you to all of your for immersing yourselves in all the irresistible spectacle and foreboding despair intertwined throughout the show. We are incredibly grateful for our cast and crew who were able to find beauty and art in tragedy, never losing sight of the core message of the musical. And special thanks to Rasmussen Diamonds who has been a continued community partner for their sponsorship once again.

Tickets for today’s conclusion are available at https://racinetheatre.org/event/cabaret, (262) 633-4218, and the Box Office 90 minutes prior to the performance.

Hearts grow hard. Lips grow cold.

Can hopes, dreams, love, and life itself survive amongst fear and hate? As a darkness settles, masking the sparkling songs and exuberant dancing, "Cabaret" manifests into a parable, holding a mirror to us all.

Final performances take place today at 2 and 7:30 pm. and tomorrow at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online, https://racinetheatre.org/event/cabaret/, over the phone, (262) 633-4218, or at the Box Office 90 minutes prior to each performance.

**Some adult material may not be suitable for younger patrons

So - life is disappointing? Forget it!

Tomorrow may belong to someone else, but for tonight, life is beautiful as the Emcee works as a sort of puppeteer - misdirecting the audiences' and characters' attention. As everyman, he molds a world with no rules and no boundaries that is unstable and uncertain, destined to implode.

Meet "Cabaret's" host as he bids you willkommen, bienvenue, welcome by getting tickets at https://racinetheatre.org/event/cabaret/, (262) 633-4218, or the Box Office 90 minutes prior to each performance.

**Some adult material may not be suitable for younger patrons

Do tell mama it's the final weekend of Cabaret!

Right this way, your table's waiting in a seedy little dive with plenty of allure. A place where anything can happen, the rich characters, iconic music, and hopeful and heartbreaking story leave you with many important lessons in the end.

Start celebrating by grabbing your tickets online, https://racinetheatre.org/event/cabaret/, over the phone, (262) 633-4218, or at the Box Office, Monday - Friday, 12 - 6 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance.

**Some adult material may not be suitable for younger patrons

The Racine Theatre Guild’s long, successful history has been made possible through Norm McPhee's legacy as the managing/artistic director of RTG from 1969 – 2001. Due to the rising costs of his recent health challenges, his family and friends have launched a GoFundMe campaign to support his care.

Over the last couple of weeks TMJ4 News collected pieces of Norm’s story and the impact he made on RTG and Racine as a whole. Follow the link below to watch and visit https://gofund.me/8107c8ba to learn more.

Racine theatre community rallies behind 'absolute giant' as former director battles with dementia Seeing the dozens of photos with Norm McPhee’s face and the long list of shows with his name listed as director on the walls of the Racine Theatre Guild, it’s hard to overstate his impact there.

A perfectly marvelous crew!

Happy to see and have so many people helping bring the Kit Kat Klub to life in Cabaret. Somebody wonderful is part of each light cue, costume change, set piece construction, make-up swipe, prop creation, and all the elements that make life beautiful in the theatre. Thank you!

Money, money, money, money!!

Rich, poor, extravagance, barebones - the juxtaposition of the reality of getting what you need and want in life comes down to money. See how it makes the world go 'round in "Cabaret" as it runs:
• Sunday, May 26 – 2 p.m. (limited availability)
• Thursday, May 30 – 7 p.m.
• Friday, May 31 – 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, June 1 – 2 & 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, June 2 – 2 p.m.

Tickets are available now at https://racinetheatre.org/event/cabaret/, (262) 633-4218, or the Box Office, Monday - Friday, 12 - 6 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance.

**Some adult material may not be suitable for younger patrons

The Box Office will be closed Monday, May 27.

"It [has] universal themes and story beats: A burgeoning romance cut short, fear of commitment, ignoring the problems of the world until they're at your doorstep..." - Phil Evreniadis on "Cabaret" in an interview with the Journal Times

Playing Cliff Bradshaw, Phil's character arrives in Berlin looking for inspiration for his writing. Cliff soon finds himself drawn in by the electrifying ease of life there, but cannot disregard the undercurrent of hatred masked by b***y song and dance.

Read more about the seductive, yet haunting musical, https://journaltimes.com/cabaret-continues-on-stage-in-racine/article_51d487de-1798-11ef-ae2a-8b64a8ea4a10.html, and get your tickets online https://racinetheatre.org/event/cabaret/, over the phone, (262) 633-4218, or the Box Office, Monday - Friday, 12 - 6 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance.

**Some adult material may not be suitable for younger patrons