Support Northern Sky Theater

Our 2025 End of Year Letter

Hello dear friends,

What an honor to write this year-end letter for the first time. My inaugural year as artistic director has been full of successes, surprises, and celebrations, all thanks to you.

Successes? The most laugh-filled season I can remember, a 20% bump in attendance, and robust energy around new collaborations. You joined us night after night – despite one of the rainiest seasons on record.

Surprises? A visit from The New York Times, and a feature story in their publication in August. Were you in one of the great audience photos, by chance?

Celebrations? My favorite night of the summer: Jeff’s Playlist Concert, where we honored Jeff Herbst in the best way we know how—through music, stories, and community. A sold out amphitheater and a reunion of artists made it a heartfelt night to remember.

Celebrating Jeff brought something home for me: what a privilege it is to do this work. Yes, we make shows—but more important is how we make them—with laughter, good spirit, and you in mind. Your smiles, your glee, the memories you make on our wooden benches…that’s what fuels us. At heart, our job is simple: we’re joy-makers.

And the joy ahead? It’s going to be good.

Summer in the park: The Thing with Feathers, a world premiere by Robin Share and Clay Zambo, will take flight. This musical follows a group of devoted birders gathered for the annual peak migration count—and each tallies more than they bargained for. Along side human characters, creative bird puppetry will be featured in the storytelling of this radiant tale. 

Fall indoors: Another world premiere—George & Gracie: A Love Story by Tami Workentin, created in partnership with our friends at Milwaukee Rep. This sparkling tribute to comedy legends George Burns and Gracie Allen is a reminder of how joy evolves. Starring Wisconsin theater icons Jim Pickering and Tami Workentin and featuring some magic (literally—my first time working with a magic consultant!), it’s going to be something special. 

If these projects sound ambitious, you’re right. The cost of our basic materials has risen at an alarming rate, and puppets and magic will cost more than typical premieres. But we know the artistic payoff will be worth it. If you’re able to increase your gift this year—or give for the first time—we’ll gratefully put your support to work. 

You can see the full season line-up on the back, but I want to highlight one last thing here. 

Next spring marks twenty-five years since our co-founder Fred Alley passed away. We’ll honor him with a one-week-only concert in the Gould in June—celebrating his extraordinary song catalogue. It will be a chance for longtime friends to remember him and for new fans to discover the heart of his work. Joy. Making. I guarantee it. 

None of this happens without you. You make this good work possible. In order to meet those rising costs, make up for the rain, and ensure next season is our most joyful yet, we need your support. Any amount truly matters. 

This year, you’ll find three ways to give, including the Under These Stars Campaign – our way of honoring the remarkable Jeff Herbst. If his work has touched your life, this is a beautiful moment to give back. You can even choose to give monthly or annually—spreading out your gift to support us year-round. 

Thank you for your trust, for welcoming me as a leader, and for being part of this abundant, creative family. This is the best job in the world at the most unique and beloved company I’ve ever known. Together, we are Northern Sky—Door County’s Joy-Makers. 

With love and gratitude

Molly Rhode, Artistic Director

Board of Directors

Mailing Address: 9058 County Road A, Fish Creek, WI 54212

To learn more about what including Northern Sky in your estate plans might look like, please contact Holly Feldman at holly@northernskytheater.com or 920-633-3228.

Company Match

Many companies will match their employees’ donations to non-profit organizations. If your employer participates, please contact them and let them know you would like them to match your donations to Northern Sky. They will have some paperwork for you to complete.

Fred Alley New Musical Fund

Northern Sky produces original musical works. A new show can take three years of writing and workshopping before it is ready for production. Northern Sky needs to provide for our authors and directors with financial resources and time to continue bringing you the excellent shows that have become a standard for Northern Sky. 

Consider a Gift of Stock or Securities

A gift of stock can provide much needed support for Northern Sky and offers you financial benefits as well. Publicly traded securities (stocks, bonds, etc.) may be transferred to Northern Sky, entitling you to an income tax reduction for the full market value of the securities. For more information on how to transfer your securities to Northern Sky, contact Dave Maier at the Northern Sky Office, (920) 633-3227.

If you have any questions, please call Holly Feldman at (920) 633-3228 or send an email to holly@northernskytheater.com.

Our Mailing Address: Northern Sky Theater, 9058 County Road A, Fish Creek, WI, 54212