Melody Top Theatre

Melody Top was a star summer stock theatre in Milwaukee. Originally it was an actual tent, but later they built a wooden dome-like structure. They still had canvas side walls like a tent. This meant they didn't need to put in an air conditioning system!

The theatre exited from the 50's to the late 80's or early 90's. They did two-week runs of musicals with "stars" - usually former TV sitcom stars such as Barry Williams from The Brady Bunch or Don Grady from My Three Sons.

There was a second Melody Top in Hillside, Illinois (just outside Chicago) that closed in the early 1960's.

Well, Christine Ebersole, when she was just known to most of America as a gal who'd been on SNL for a season, played Evita.

In the late 1970's, Stubby Kaye reprised his Nicely-Nicely, with Mark Jacoby as Sky Masterson.

Many, many "Stars" appeared at Melody Top.
Anne Blyth in South Pacific and The Sound of Music
Gretchen Wyler in Applause and Company
Leonard Nimoy in The King and I and Oliver
Rita Moreno in Guys and Dolls and Bells are Ringing
Stubby Kaye also in Good News with Dorothy Collins and Carl Betz.
Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake in No, No, Nanette

The theatre started in '63 or '65. They did 7 musicals each summer, each running 2 weeks, 8 performances a week. Closed in '84 or '86.

Stars and featured performers were brought in for one week of rehearsal before opening. Chorus and resident company would perform at night and rehearse next show during the day.

Tommy Tune was a director for a season or two. Many Broadway, Film, and TV stars performed there. Like Chita Rivera, Dorothy Lamore, Joanne Worley, Orson Bean. Even Christopher Walken was in West Side Story in the 60's.

There was a "Wizard of Oz" I recall with Nancy Kulp(The Beverly Hillbillies) as the Wicked Witch.

Stubby Kaye was the lion at the Melody Top Theatre in Milwaukee.

I worked in the Box Office that summer.

Hi,

I lived in Milwaukee from late 1985 to mid 1986 and the Melody Top was definitely around then. I think it closed in 87 or 88.
I remember Christine Ebersole playing in Evita.

Updated On: 1/2/10 at 09:36 PM

Christine Ebersole also played Eliza Doolittle, with Leonard Nimoy as a very good Henry Higgens. John Raitt was there in many shows--everyting from 1776 to MAN OF LA MANCHA to SHENENDOAH. He recreated his roles in CAROUSEL and PAJAMA GAME (with Karen Morrow, I think). I had season seats for as long as the theatre existed, starting when I was in high school. It was a wonderful introduction to many classic shows and stellar performers.