Lake Country Children’s Theater (LCCT) grew out of the 1983 discussions of an enthusiastic and energetic group of Hartland area citizens, led by Catherine A. Coles.  This group wanted to offer quality, live theater experiences to area children in order to foster appreciation of theater and related arts.  They chose a life-size mascot, Dugan the Storytale Dragon, to appeal to children and promote the fledgling theater group.  Connie Casper, Jim Pierce, Diane & Steve Preisler, Joicelyn Schwager, and Katie Weber were some of the founding LCCT members.  

The founders stated LCCT’s goals as:

(1) To increase awareness of and appreciation of the fine arts among adults and children of the Lake Country area.

(2) To coordinate an annual season of theater experiences.

(3) To develop expanded theater programming for skill development.

LCCT has achieved these goals in a variety of ways:

·         A three-show season of live theater is presented during the school year at Arrowhead High School.

·         Since 1997, LCCT has brought in Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre from Minnesota to give area children the opportunity to perform in plays such as Beauty & the Beast (2008), Tom Sawyer (2007), Snow White (2006), Wizard of Oz (2005), Cinderella (2004), Jack and the Beanstalk (2003), Peter Pan (2002), Robin Hood (2001), Alice in Wonderland (2000).  Annie Jr. (1999) and Pinocchio (1997) were also presented.

·         LCCT partnered with Lake Country Players to present Music Man (2001) and Oliver (1995).

·         From 1984 to 2001, the Theater in the Park program offered live entertainers who performed in Hartland’s Nixon Park during summer weeks.

·         Area children were featured in Variety Shows in 1984, 1985, 1988, and 1992. LCCT has striven to keep live children’s theater affordable. Season ticket prices have always been reasonable.  The cost for a season pass for 2007 - 2008 was only $12 FOR ALL THREE SHOWS!  The cost to see one of the summer Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre shows is only $3.

Current Board of Directors

President:   Patty Giuffre

Vice-President:   Joicelyn Schwager

Treasurer:   Gay Ruby

Members at large:  

Connie Casper

Rennie Dittmann

Linda Hachtel

Barb Johns

Karen McInerney

Terri Schilling

Vicky Voelker

Katie Weber