The Place
-The Red Barn Theatre at the junction of State Highway 48 and County Trunk M is visible evidence of the things that country folks treasure ---enterprise, cooperation, hard work, and native talent. From the time she first gathered a few actors around her to perform in St. Joseph's school gym in Rice Lake in 1961 until they moved into the barn in 1967, the Red Barn Theatre was
only a gleam in the eye of the director, Nina KIauss, mother of five with a background of professional training and experience. People responding to her invitation to form an amateur theatre group caught her enthusiasm and voted to form a non-profit corporation. The state charter was granted on 24 May 1962 for The Hardscrabble Players, Inc. An appeal for a place toe perform caught the fancy of Cap Hagen Hardscrabble ski hill owner, who allowed the Players to perform there rent-free for four summers, while the search was on for just the right barn. In 1966, the players performed in the Rice Lake High School auditorium. That was the year that Mrs. Klauss discovered the sturdy but faded little barn, nestled in the hillside beside a grove of pine. From the beginning the barn was a hit, as much as were the plays. Descendants of the builder have told of the homesteading of the property in about 1864. The first barn was made of logs, which was replaced by the present structure in 1904. To celebrate the barn raising on 4 July 1904, there was a dance on the new floor...the little barn's first public entertainment. When the Players moved into the barn it had been idle for about twenty years. The first necessity was a new floor and stage in the loft, built in 1967. In 1968 the concrete stable floor was removed and a new slab poured, followed by remodeling to divide the space into storage, dressing rooms, restrooms and lounge areas. The silo was converted into a stairway leading from the theatre to the lounge. Other improvements included a tiered floor for the audience, a succession of used theatre seats, a ticket office, and a light and sound booth. In 1973 a large pole-type building was built against the north wall to provide space for work on sets, storage, wardrobe and additional dressing areas. The lounge boasts of a concession stand and space for display of art by local artists. In 1978 a patio was added beyond the porch, and in both 1977 and 1978 landscaping was completed. The interior of the lounge was remodeled in 1988, and in 1992 a second remodeling was undertaken to refurbish the exposed south wall of the lounge. During the 1999 season a "red shed" for set construction, storage and rehearsals was built to the northeast of the Barn. More extensive landscaping was undertaken in 2002. The People
-While one's attention goes initially to the structure, a theatre is, first of all, people---the ones who desire dramatic art in the community, the ones who want to perform, the support staff of backstage workers, and the management to assure the theatre's continuation. Talent abounds and arrives from every walk of life and every age. Professionals share the stage with students, farmers, housewives, clerks, teachers, artists, and musicians. Summer people plan their vacations to attend or participate in Red Barn productions. Production
-The financial support of the theatre comes principally from the income of the plays. Also, in many recent years the Red Barn Theatre has been honored to receive grants from the Wisconsin Arts Board. Low ticket prices are made possible by the free work of actors and by the countless hours provided by behind-the-scenes volunteers. Honors
-In 1977 the Players realized a long-cherished intention: awarding scholarships to those with talent, ambition, and a record of service to the Red Barn. Following the director's death, the scholarship was renamed in her honor as the Nina Klauss Memorial Scholarship. Each year outstanding performers and one non-performer are awarded the "Barney" award. Appreciation
-The Hardscrabble Players are proud of the Red Barn Theatre, which is the result of the combined work and care of the company and the community. The Players appreciate and welcome friends and visitors as they strive to serve the cultural interests of a wide geographic area. Past Productions
Hardscrabble Ski Chalet
1962 Under the Yum Yum Tree
1963 Dirty Work at the Crossroads
Blithe Spirit
Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick
1964 Harvey
Night of January 16
1965 Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker
Abie's Irish Rose
Rice Lake High School
1966 Charley's Aunt
Everybody Loves Opal
Red Barn Theatre
1967 The Tavern
A Majority of One
Everybody Loves Opal
1968 But Not Goodbye
Teahouse of the August Moon
The Odd Couple
1969 The Madwoman of Chaillot
Lillies of the Field
U T B U
The Star Spangled Girl
1970 Arsenic and Old Lace
Three Men on a Horse
Breath of Spring
Come Blow Your Horn
1971 Don't Drink the Water
Never Too Late
The Hasty Heart
The Solid Gold Cadillac
1972 Everybody's Girl
Dumbbell People/Barbell World
Teahouse of the August Moon
Send Me No Flowers
1973 Ten Nights in a Barroom
Best Laid Plans
Cactus Flower
Blithe Spirit
1974 Showboat
Daddy, Dear Daddy
Born Yesterday
A Majority of One
1975 Harvey
See How They Run
Witness for the Prosecution
1976 Guys and Dolls
God's Favorite
Breath of Spring
The Sunshine boys
Sleuth
1977 Come Blow Your Horn
Inside Lester
The Rainmaker
Night Must Fall
The Good Doctor
1978 Li'l Abner
The Biggest Thief in Town
Busybody
Three Goats and a Blanket
Private Ear/Public Eye
1979 Treasure Island
Under Papa's Picture
Prisoner of Second Avenue
The Seven Year Itch
The Moon is Blue
1980 The Hasty Heart
Barefoot in the Park
Where's Charley
Catch Me If You Can
Bell, Book, and Candle
1981 U T B U
The Matchmaker
Exit the Body
Angel Street
Last of the Red Hot Lovers
1982 The Boyfriend
Everybody Loves Opal
Curious Savage
Plaza Suite
The Gin Game
1983 How to Succeed in Business
The Man in a Dog Suit
Laura
The Robin Hood Caper
Star Spangled Girl
1984 Teahouse of the August Moon
Deathtrap
God's Favorite
A Thousand Clowns
A Gentleman and a Scoundrel
1985 I Do! Play it Again, Sam
Bus Stop
Whodunnit
Tailey's Folly
1986 Mary, Mary
Oklahoma! Goodbye Charlie
On Golden Pond
Mass Appeal
1987 I Ought to be in Pictures
The Fantastics
Picnic
The Foreigner
Same Time, Next Year
1988 Barefoot in the Park
The Murder Room
The Robber Bridegroom
Romantic Comedy
The Owl and The Pussycat
1989 Blithe Spirit
The Nerd
Little Shop of Horrors
The Mousetrap
Educating Rita
1990 Steel Magnolias
The Boys Next Door
Pippin
Foxfire
Chapter Two
1991 Brighton Beach Memoirs
West Side Story
The Glass Menagerie
Sly Flox
Elephant Man
Greater Tuna
Dracula
1992 Lend Me a Tenor
The Crucible
Biloxi Blues
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
A Chorus Line
The Silver Whistle
1993 Rumors (at UW-BC)
Ondine
Broadway Bound
All My Sons
Into the Woods
Arsenic and Old Lace
1994 Love Letters (Dinner Theatre)
Lost in Yonkers
Scapino
A Streetcar Named Desire
Fiddler on the Roof
The Cemetery Club
1995 Greater Tuna (Dinner Theatre)
No Sex Please, We're British
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The Secret Garden
The Grapes of Wrath
Crimes of the Heart
1996 Father of the Bride
Taming of the Shrew
Nunsense
Corpse! Diary of Anne Frank
1997 Importance of Being Earnest
Grease! Marvin's Room
Pump Boys and Dinettes
Tribute
1998 Bridge to Terabithia
Crossing Delancey
Camelot
Charley's Aunt
Bus Stop
1999 Annie
Plaza Suite
Smoke on the Mountain
Wait Until Dark
Pools Paradise
2000 You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Inherit the Wind
Forever Plaid
The Sound of Music
Morning's at Seven
2001 Bye Bye Birdie
Look Homeward, Angel
Steel Magnolias
Gypsy
It Runs in the Family
2002 Home Fires
A Few Good Men
Busybody
Cinderella
Moon Over Buffalo
2003 Ten Little Indians
I Remember Mama
Do Black Paten Leather...? Minnie's Boys
Caught in the Net
2004 My Fair Lady
Proof
The Taffetas
Sylvia
Bang Bang Beirut
2005 God's Favorite
Once Upon a Mattress
Camping with Henry and Tom
I Do! Flaming Idiots
2006 Dearly Departed
Sweet Charity
All I Really Need to Know...
An Act of the Imagination
Funny Money
2007 Weekend Comedy
The King and I
Barefoot in the Park
Picasso at the Lapin Agile
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
2008 Radio Gals
Escanaba in Love
Over the River
Oliver
Tom, Dick and Harry
2009 Daddy's Girl
Music Man
Born Yesterday
Mid Life! The Crisis Musical
Aladin
2010 Never Kiss a Naughty Nanny
Ramona Quimby
Mame
Golf the Musical
Greeting!
2011 Amorous Ambassedor
Chicago
Leaving Iowa
On Golden Pond
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
