FLOW TOGETHER. Founding board members of River Theatre Co. include (from left to right) Hannah Hedberg, Andrew Salvaterra, Tessa and Dustin Haugle, Kaysee and Luke Otto. (Submitted photo)

“The current starts here,” founding members of River Theatre Co. announced to locals this fall via social media.

While the Chippewa Valley is already home to a pool of theatre organizations, River Theatre Co. seeks to elevate and honor the craft as they aim to bring performances to unconventional spaces.

Driven by the belief that theatre can unite people, enrich communities and inspire meaningful change, the org – also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit – plans to partner and support other local nonprofits through fundraising and advocacy.

Rather than maintain a permanent facility or produce monthly productions, River Theatre Co. will embrace a different approach, focusing on a carefully curated series of performances in unique settings.

“We want to make sure that the (show) selections we’re making are right for our group, achievable and that we can produce at a high level with the talent of our community, which is immense,” Dustin Haugle, a founding board member of River Theatre Co., said. 

“The beauty of theatre is that it does lean on all art forms,” Hannah Hedberg, the vice president of River Theatre Co., added. “It’s a really special form of art that can pull a lot of different people together.”

Speaking of pulling different people together, a similar magic occurred when the founding members – a mix of “dreamers and realists” – first joined forces to create River Theatre Co.

Many of the board members have known each other for years through the Eau Claire theatre scene and have children of similar ages. Rather than launching on a whim, the group spent a significant amount of time working to secure production rights, explore venues and secure its nonprofit status, they said, before sharing the news to social media.

On Dec. 6, join founding members of River Theatre Co. for "Over the River & Through the Woods," during which its first large-scale musical production will be revealed. (Graphic via Facebook)

“We have such a strong arts community and people are always looking for another option to create,” Tessa Haugle, treasurer of River Theatre Co., said. “I think you might see some of us in different production roles not just for (our first) show, but in the future too.”

Board members teased the first production from River Theatre Co. will arrive in Eau Claire in August 2027. Described as a “large-scale” musical, it will be an all-ages, family focused show.

The board chose a musical they felt would resonate with members of the community and “kicks off who we are and the story that we want to tell.”

A director from the Chippewa Valley – outside of River Theatre Co.’s board of directors – has already been chosen for the production.

“Part of our mission is using whatever show we’re doing – or the themes that are within that show – to focus on different areas in our community that relate to some of those themes,” Hannah said.

Much like the waters that flow through Eau Claire, River Theatre Co. intends to offer a space where ideas – similar to our rivers – converge. Just as these waters give back to the natural world, this org aims to give back to the locals who have supported creative arts.

Locals interested in learning more about River Theatre Co. or donating funds to the nonprofit organization can visit rivertheatreco.org. New announcements on the group's inaugural musical will be shared via social media.