Theater is built on passing knowledge from one generation to the next, and every theater artist has a story about someone who changed their life. In this special two-part series, we invite some of our favorite Wisconsin theater artists to share memories of the mentors who inspired them, challenged them, and helped shape their careers. Funny and heartfelt (and occasionally surprising), these stories celebrate the lasting impact of the people whose lessons stay with us long after the applause has faded.

If you follow theaters anywhere in America, you know that spring is officially Season Announcement Season! Across the country, theater companies are revealing their upcoming slate of plays (and pretending the choices were effortless).

We’re often asked how the season actually comes together: What do we look for? What do we argue about? What makes a play feel “Forward”? In this episode, we unpack the thinking behind our 2026–27 Past is Prologue season and talk about why these four stories from the past are pointed squarely at our present.

Inspired by our rolling world premiere of Lady Disdain by Lauren Gunderson (a modern rom-com set in the world of romance publishing), we decided to get a little dirty and talk about our own guilty pleasures. No apologies, no filters. From sit-coms to Andrew Lloyd Webber to french fries and (GASP) preferring Love's Labor's Lost over Richard II, the team opens up about their own guilty pleasures, and why it's important to never yuck anyone's yum.