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Beaver Dam Culture and Entertainment

BEAVER DAM AREA COMMUNITY THEATRE
The mission of the Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre (BDACT) is to enhance the lives of men, women, and children in the community by exposing them to the enrichment, inspiration, and humor of the dramatic arts.

Simply said, BDACT provides wonderful live entertainment for Beaver Dam and the surrounding communities and is far-reaching with its offerings of extraordinary theatre and theatre education for youth and adults alike. For over 40 years, this well-established theatre has always made excellence in theatrical production a goal. At the same time, the group has found a “role” both on and off the stage, for many area residents. In BDACT’s own theatre, a converted historic church building, actors ranging from five-year-old kindergarten students to adults in their senior years perform in main season, STAGE II, or children’s theatre productions. For its summer musicals, the company welcomes an even larger audience in the Beaver Dam High School’s modern theatre/auditorium.

DODGE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Dodge County Historical Society’s goal is the preservation of the history of Dodge County, but specifically the history of Beaver Dam. The society, which is an affiliate of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, was formed in 1938, for the preservation of articles pertaining to the pioneer days and to the early history of Beaver Dam. The first “museum” was located on the second floor of the famous Concert Hall on Front Street in downtown Beaver Dam, in the room that served for several years as the council chamber for city government. As the society’s collection grew, the organization had to expand within the Concert Hall, and eventually move to other downtown locations. For a period of over 20 years the society’s museum was housed in the 1901 Downtown Train Depot in Beaver Dam. In 1985, the city of Beaver Dam began leasing the former Williams Free Library building to the society, where the museum has remained to the present day.

The museum features changing seasonal exhibits, the “Tribute to Veterans” permanent exhibit, permanent displays of famous native sons and daughters, including actors Brian Donlevy and Fred MacMurray, athlete Maddy Horn, authors Harlowe Hoyt and Raymond Gallun, and naturalist/explorer Delia Denning Akeley and the “One Room Schoolhouse” permanent interactive exhibit for youth.

BEAVER DAM AREA ARTS ASSOCIATION
One of Beaver Dam’s most successful homegrown companies, Advanced Products (now part of Burgess-Norton Manufacturing), was founded by Peter Seippel. As part of the Seippel legacy, he established the Seippel Homestead and Center for the Arts on the family’s farm estate. Today, the center and its garden landscape are operated by the Beaver Dam Area Arts Association as one of the cultural assets of Beaver Dam and Dodge County. The center hosts six major art exhibits each year, art classes and clubs, special programs, and Family Fun Day Sundays. The association’s mission, to provide viable, sustainable, high-quality, and accessible arts and education resources for people of all ages, is fulfilled by staff and community volunteers.