Wauwatosa Children's Theatre Celebrates 75 Years of Make-Believe

Norma Muth knew all along that kids love to dress up and play make believe. On Saturday at Wauwatosa West High School, a crowd gathered to honor her and her legacy at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Wauwatosa Children's Theatre.

Yvonne Robinson, dressed as Golden Touch from King Midas, acted in Children’s Theatre until she was in the eighth grade.

“I was in Pinocchio and Snow White – and the witch in Sleeping Beauty, she said. Robinson went on to perform in the Teen Troupe of the theatrical organization. At 23, she came back and got into character to celebrate its storied history.

The day’s events began with the 2 p.m. performance of The Crying Princess and the Golden Goose. After the play, alumni from seven decades of performances gathered in the atrium of the school to look for familiar faces and old friends. They leafed through playbills and photos marked by time.

Heather Patterson, 15, from Brookfield and Mary Holz, 16, from Brown Deer, still in costume, gathered with other actors after the play.

“This is my first year in the theater," Mary said. "I like getting to know kids from all over the area and other schools.”

Costumes from plays past hung like ghosts at the edges of the room – the fearful Beast from Beauty and the Beast and Heidi’s tiny pinafore among them. Onlookers paid homage to them with endearing reminiscences.

Wauwatosa East High School houses most of the costumes, said Barbara Forbes. “This is only a fraction of what we have. They were made by many seamstresses volunteering countless hours.” 

Forbes, who has been involved in the organization for 21 years, is the mother of Alison Forbes, the young woman who dressed as the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland and greeted guests.

Alison was in the Children’s Theatre from second grade through high school. “I was in Snow White and Heidi. My favorite part was when I played a crocodile in Peter Pan – I loved the costume.”

Betty Mosher, who directed for more than 40 years, greeted and hugged many of her former acting students.

“She was a wonderful actress herself,” said her daughter Laurie Mosher. “She did a radio show and was a founding member of the Village Playhouse.”

Mosher and her sister Christine were also members of the theater group. “Although my mother didn’t direct us too often,”  said with a laugh. Mosher went on to become a professional actor, performing with the national touring group of Annie and Grease.

The crowd enjoyed refreshments as Lynn Leider spoke about the dream Muth, her grandmother and the founder of the Children’s Theatre, had to bring the performing arts to children of Wauwatosa.

Leider thanked the thousands of children, parents and volunteers who have made and built the organization to the nationally recognized theatre group that it is today. “You do this for your kids, and with your kids,” Leider said.

Muth was well-represented by her two granddaughters, Leider and Karen Anderson, her great-granddaughter, Lisa Rupe, and her great-great-granddaughter, 8-year-old Ella Rupe.

“Our grandmother started the Children’s Theatre because there was nothing of value for children in performance art,” Leider said. “Our mother, Marilyn Anderson, took over in 1958 and was involved until she passed away at 80.

Leider has gone on to be the founding director of Dramatic Impact at Germantown High School. 

Muth’s great-granddaughter, Lisa Rupe, dressed as a princess – wand and all, traveled from Virginia Beach, VA, with her daughter Ella for the festivities and acted as the mistresses of ceremony. Last year, Ella was in Pinocchio, her first role in her great-great grandmother’s theatre company.

Lisa has fond memories growing up as her mother Lynn’s involvement in the organization grew. “When I was in the first grade, my mother would write parts for me into plays instead of getting a babysitter,” she said. Rupe remembered playing roles like the evil stepsister in Cinderella. “Playing bad people was just more fun,” she said.

A proclamation from Mayor Eric Meaux was read congratulating the organization for its dedication and contribution to the quality of life to all who have enjoyed the Children’s Theatre.

At the conclusion of the festivities, Leider announced the establishment of the Marilyn Anderson Memorial Children’s Theatre Scholarship. The annual $750 scholarship will be award to a Wauwatosa school teacher in either a public or private school for continuing education in any aspect of theatre arts.

“We want teachers to learn so they can go back into the classroom and inspire their students,” she said.

Applications for the scholarship will be available Feb. 1 in Wauwatosa schools, or teachers can contact Lynn Leider at lleider@gmail.com for an application.