Carroll Players is the Theatre Club at Carroll College. We are not a theater club that only has people that are theater majors or minors belonging to it. Here at Carroll Players we like to have a variety of different majors to be a part of our fun, and exciting club. So please come on in and find out all about us.

History

On June 5, 1896, Carroll College students, under the direction of Professor May Nickell Rankin, performed Bulwer Lyton's Richelieu at the Silurian Casino in Waukesha. The performance, part of the Commencement celebration, marked the beginning of a rich heritage of campus and community theater, and established the Carroll Players as Wisconsin's first college and university theater fraternity. The Carroll Players, which have been active in theater production since that date, is today recognized as Wisconsin's oldest active theater organization.

At the time of the original production until about the 1930s, the name, the Carroll Players, was not used in identification of theater activity at Carroll. Diverse theater activity, such as classes, productions, studio/experimental shows, lectures, banquets and workshops, existed under departmental sponsorship. In the 1930s, the Carroll Players assimilated most non-classroom functions and became the central identification of Carroll theater. This centrality continued until the mid 1950s when, once again, the Drama Department, under the leadership of Professor Dorothy Sainsbury-Steinmetz, retained most controls and relegated the Carroll Players to a social and support role. At that time, a Carroll Nu Tau chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, National Honorary Dramatics Fraternity, was established and functioned until it disbanded in 1979.

With the appointment of professors Wayne L. Christensen and David Molthen in 1970, the Carroll Players activity and role declined further. Throughout the 1970s, Carroll Players existed largely as a name on mastheads with all aspects of productions, curriculum and fraternal activity under the control of the department faculty and student majors/minors. Alpha Psi Omega continued to function as an honorary society, but by 1979, its membership had waned and activity was sporadic.

In 1979, the Theater Arts Department inaugurated its new home, the Otteson Theatre, and began to investigate a renewal of the Carroll Players. A committee of students and faculty met from May to October 1980 and effectively re-established the Carroll Players as a social and educational organization.

The Carroll Players have continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s in both social support roles for the Theater Arts Department, as well as remaining involved in campus activities and community service.

In 2001, with high member involvement and continued interest from outside the Theater Arts Department, the Carroll Players remained an important part of the Carroll tradition. David Molthen, as faculty adviser to the Carroll Players for more than 20 years, continued to guide the organization into the new millennium.

In 2003, Scott M. Boyle, assistant professor of theater arts, took on the role of faculty adviser. His enthusiasm for the organization and theater will help continue the ambitions of the Carroll Players in the years to come.

Carroll Players Turns 100

In 1996 Carroll Players celebrated their centennial. There were many things organized to celebrate such a moment in history for this club. The members organized and hosted games for all of Carroll College in order to let everyone know that we were 100 years old. There was also a cook-out for all Theater students and all Carroll Player members hosted by the president of the Carroll Players. There were also pictures taken, and people thanked for being a part of the club. There was also an article written in the school paper that talked all about the history of Carroll Players and how it's been active for such a long time, and encouraging them to get new freshman to join in hopes that 100 years from now Carroll Players can celebrate their 200th birthday. All in all it was a great moment in history for this awesome club call Carroll Players.