MPC: Milwaukee's Philanthropic Community
May 28, 2026 · 29 min · 15 segments
What if your next night at the theater included a sunset, a picnic, and a stage nestled in the heart of nature? On this episode of #MPC, we’re joined by Dustin Martin, Artistic Director of Summer…
Jill EconomouHost
Why don't we start by you telling us what the spark was that led to the founding of this outdoor theater company in Lapham Peak?
There was a group of theater professionals that were looking to start an outdoor theater in western Waukesha County, and they were scouring different parks and locations in, in lake country, and they came across this little area in Lapham Peak, which is one of the busiest parks in the state of Wisconsin.
And it's just this natural amphitheater, where it has a nice backdrop of trees behind where the stage is now, and there's a nice rise to the, to the ground, and so it makes it r- it, a nice little seating bowl.
This is where we're going to do this." It turns out Earth Day was celebrated on this spot for many, many, many years prior to us being in that spot.
Uh, the, there's a nice wide open view to the west, and so the sun sets during the performances.
And such a different venue, right? I mean, we have so many venues where somebody can take in the visual arts, the performing arts.
But, um, to have it outdoors and in Wisconsin, you know, that's [laughs] kind of a, uh, an unusual thing, but I bet it's beautiful.
And yes, we definitely need to thread the needle on when we can do our productions, thanks to Wisconsin weather.
Uh, there are other outdoor theaters that operate in the state and in state parks, but we are the only one in the southeast eastern Wisconsin area.
And so that's one of the things that has definitely set us apart, is that extra opportunity of being out under the stars-
Why don't we start by you telling us what the spark was that led to the founding of this outdoor theater company in Lapham Peak?
There was a group of theater professionals that were looking to start an outdoor theater in western Waukesha County, and they were scouring different parks and locations in, in lake country, and they came across this little area in Lapham Peak, which is one of the busiest parks in the state of Wisconsin.
And it's just this natural amphitheater, where it has a nice backdrop of trees behind where the stage is now, and there's a nice rise to the, to the ground, and so it makes it r- it, a nice little seating bowl.
This is where we're going to do this." It turns out Earth Day was celebrated on this spot for many, many, many years prior to us being in that spot.
Uh, the, there's a nice wide open view to the west, and so the sun sets during the performances.
And such a different venue, right? I mean, we have so many venues where somebody can take in the visual arts, the performing arts.
But, um, to have it outdoors and in Wisconsin, you know, that's [laughs] kind of a, uh, an unusual thing, but I bet it's beautiful.
And yes, we definitely need to thread the needle on when we can do our productions, thanks to Wisconsin weather.
Uh, there are other outdoor theaters that operate in the state and in state parks, but we are the only one in the southeast eastern Wisconsin area.
And so that's one of the things that has definitely set us apart, is that extra opportunity of being out under the stars-
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