Mission and Vision
St. Croix Festival Theatre’s mission is to make the performing arts welcoming to all people as an essential part of the well being and vitality of the community.
St. Croix Festival Theatre is the artistic and social hub for professional theatre and the arts for the extended Central St. Croix Valley and an economic anchor for St. Croix Falls and the surrounding business community
St. Croix Festival Theatre is the artistic and social hub for professional theatre and the arts for the extended Central St. Croix Valley and an economic anchor for St. Croix Falls and the surrounding business community
Our Staff
Kathryn Cesarz - Executive Director
Kathryn first came to Festival Theatre in 2010 as a summer intern following her sophomore year in college at the University of Evansville (Indiana). Kathryn returned to Festival as part of the acting company in 2011 and 2014, where she continued to build her professional theatre credentials with memorable roles in “To Fool the Eye,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates,” “Almost Maine,” “The Miser,” “Warmth of Place,” and “Once Upon a Mattress.” Kathryn was also a key ensemble member of the Sew Good Improv Troupe and active in the arts education efforts at Festival Theatre.
The renowned Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre in Blue Lake, CA, was home to Kathryn from 2016-2019 where she earned her MFA in Ensembled Devised Physical Theatre. Kathryn’s arts administration journey has most recently included work with the North Coast Repertory Theatre (Eureka, CA) and the Arcata Playhouse (Arcata, CA). A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, just last year she created & produced a theatre project called “The Unstrung Harp,” bringing it home to the Milwaukee Fringe Festival.
Cesarz is proud to have produced, directed, written, and performed in seven U.S. States and four countries. Her experiences include live professional theatre, film & commercials, private events, and street theatre. Her focuses have included theatre styles of the past which were produced for popular audiences, and community arts. She looks forward to working with the Festival Theatre community to bring the company back home to the Civic Auditorium, with the grand re-opening anticipated in 2024.
The renowned Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre in Blue Lake, CA, was home to Kathryn from 2016-2019 where she earned her MFA in Ensembled Devised Physical Theatre. Kathryn’s arts administration journey has most recently included work with the North Coast Repertory Theatre (Eureka, CA) and the Arcata Playhouse (Arcata, CA). A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, just last year she created & produced a theatre project called “The Unstrung Harp,” bringing it home to the Milwaukee Fringe Festival.
Cesarz is proud to have produced, directed, written, and performed in seven U.S. States and four countries. Her experiences include live professional theatre, film & commercials, private events, and street theatre. Her focuses have included theatre styles of the past which were produced for popular audiences, and community arts. She looks forward to working with the Festival Theatre community to bring the company back home to the Civic Auditorium, with the grand re-opening anticipated in 2024.
Isaac Bont - Marketing Director
Isaac Bont is thrilled to be a part of this amazing theatre family! Isaac graduated with a BA - Psychology degree from UW - Stout in 2013 and a BA - Theatre degree from UMN - Twin Cities in 2018. He has enjoyed working with various Festival Theatre summer companies, having performed in many shows since 2012 including Once Upon a Mattress, Man of La Mancha, Honk: The Musical, Crazy for You, A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Frogs, Rumors, and Elephant's Graveyard. He also served as stage manager for This Untoward Generation, 1776: The Musical, and Little Women.
Outside of Festival Theatre, Isaac has performed for Mixed Precipitation's picnic operettas and Combustible Company's Bluebeard's Dollhouse, The Imaginary Invalid, and Flying/Falling. Other favorite roles of his have included Van Helsing (Dracula), Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mr. Peachum (The Threepenny Opera), Collatinus (The Rape of Lucretia), and Bottom (A Midsummer Night's Dream). He is forever thankful to friends, family, and the countless performing artists he's been inspired by through his journey.
Outside of Festival Theatre, Isaac has performed for Mixed Precipitation's picnic operettas and Combustible Company's Bluebeard's Dollhouse, The Imaginary Invalid, and Flying/Falling. Other favorite roles of his have included Van Helsing (Dracula), Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mr. Peachum (The Threepenny Opera), Collatinus (The Rape of Lucretia), and Bottom (A Midsummer Night's Dream). He is forever thankful to friends, family, and the countless performing artists he's been inspired by through his journey.