About The Old Gem

The Old Gem Theater is a versatile performing arts center in New Richmond Wisconsin. We have recently completed some renovations at the theater which have allowed us to offer our inaugural dinner theater production. A Don t Hug Me Christmas Carol  a musical comedy based on Dickens  A Christmas Carol  opens the day after Thanksgiving and runs through mid December
Each year we offer a full season of Youth Theater performances, usually six productions. These productions are geared toward elementary, middle and high school students. The Youth Theater season is selected to compliment school curricula as much as possible. As school budgets have become strained and arts programs in the schools have been limited, we offer opportunities for students to experience live professional theatrical performance in an educational context. In addition to the youth and adult theater shows that the Old Gem produces internally, we also have a Guest Artist Series where we hire in various independent artists for our audiences. These include a music series which has offered a lot of bluegrass as well as some country, big-band-orchestra, blues, traditional, acoustic and pop. Our Guest Artist series also includes comedy, dance and puppetry and various theater productions produced by other theater companies and independent artists. There is a large educational component at the Old Gem. We offer youth theater classes for youth from 5 years through high school and have a unique program for youth 8 years and up which allows them to rehearse and perform a specially adapted show before a live audience in a real theater. The Old Gem, was initially the Gem  movie theater where the first silent films in the area where shown when it opened in 1914. The Gem was the first in the region to have the talkies and was the place many local residents saw their first movie  from Buster Keaton to The Wizard of Oz to Star Wars. The theater was converted into a live performance venue in 1991 and renamed the Old Gem Theater in 2002. The theater retains a distinctive art-deco décor with many original fixtures and renovated art-deco murals on the walls. In addition to our first foray into dinner theater with A Don t Hug Me Christmas Carol,  we are also in rehearsals for A Little House Christmas at Plum Creek,  a sequel to last year s A Little House Christmas,  which was extremely popular with school groups and the general public. A Little House Christmas opens December 3rd and runs through the December 21st. The Old Gem has been extraordinarily prolific in its offerings, and we have recently found ourselves in various stages of rehearsal or production for 5 different shows simultaneously. The Old Gem theatrical and education programs are all overseen by Artistic Director Kathy Welch, Ph.D. Kathy has been involved in just about every aspect of theater from working and performing in professional theaters on both coasts to studying various Asian theater performance styles in Tokyo and Hawaii where she earned her doctorate in theater. Kathy is also nearing the end of a term serving as Chair of the Minneapolis Arts Commission. The Old Gem is very community oriented offering a wide variety of educational, theatrical and entertainment opportunities in a small community. This past fall the Old Gem was a lead sponsor and organizer in the first New Richmond Oktoberfest, an event held in a New Richmond city park across from the theater which raised money for local non-profit youth groups. The Gem and now the Old Gem has been creating memories in St Croix County for 93 years.

We offer classes for all ages in acting, music and dance. Students learn basic stage technique in class and then get a chance to use what they have learned on stage. Students in the Young Performers' Ensemble and Teen Acting Studio classes appear in public performances on the Old Gem stage.

A Unique Experience

Old Gem students are eligible to audition for Main Stage productions where they will have the opportunity to work with members of the Old Gem Professional acting company. This is a rare opportunity for young actors to learn directly from professionals.

All of our teachers are professional performers with university degrees in the performing arts and are experienced teachers.

* * * Attention Home Schoolers, Scout Leaders, Activities Directors * * *

Looking for courses or workshops to meet the needs of your group?
Give us a call to customize a class
One day workshops or complete courses available

About the Old Gem Theater

Located in the picturesque community of downtown New Richmond, WI, the Old Gem is a charming art deco style theater built in 1913 for vaudeville and that new-fangled 20th century wonder called moving pictures. Today the Old Gem offers the finest in live entertainment including guest artists, comedy nights and music shows. We produce a full mainstage season and a youth season featuring the Old Gem Resident Acting Company of Professional Actors.

The Old Gem Theater offers a full season of entertaining and educational opportunities for all ages Group rates available

The Old Gem Theater is located at: 116 S Knowles Ave New Richmond, WI 54017 Box Office: 715-246-3285 Toll-free: 1-800-886-8035 E-Mail: boxoffice@oldgemtheater.com Group rates are available for most Old Gem events, call for details. The Old Gem is handicapped accessible.