LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) - Whether house left or stage left, the La Crosse Community Theatre will always be where Jennifer Burchell found love.
"For the last five years, this has been home," Burchell said. "I moved to La Crosse and found myself almost right away in a production and theatre people, you become like family. You live each other's trials, you hold each other up."
This stage is where she stood in The Pirates of Penzance, Something's Afoot, among many others shows. One of her favorites will always be Twelfth Night.
"We were married on this stage and thought the perfect venue for us, being huge theater people, would be to get married here," Burchell said. "So we chose to have a wonderful ceremony right here on the stage just before rehearsal for the (Twelfth Nigh) show."
"You can see part of the set being constructed around us," she added, while pointing to a wedding photo.
Burchell relived her history at the community theatre Saturday on a tour of the facility.
It was a chance to say a final farewell before the curtain closes and the performance arts center moves to its new venue on Front Street.
"Whenever something discontinues, the memory still stays in your heart," said Sharon Dawidowski, a box office attendant for the theatre. "There is that little bit of sadness about it, but it's much like my children growing up. And I think the theatre has grown up."
Dawidowski's been coming to shows at the theatre since 1968. She now helps spread theatre magic by ushering the audience to their seats or working in the box office.
"I came today as a little bit of a reflection of all years of understand all the love that I have for this theatre," she said.
A love she shares with the community, and she shares some simple parting words, "Congratulations, job well done."
The La Crosse Community Theatre has entertained an audience for almost half a century.
Theatre tours are still available for three more Saturdays before the season end with the final performance of A Christmas Story on Dec. 16.
The new community theatre will open with a performance of Macbeth Jan. 25.
