We are a broad coalition of VAHS alums, colleagues, and theater lovers joining together to recognize Joe Ringeisen's seminal efforts to grow the theater arts at Verona Area High School and the broader community, and to honor his passionate teaching of the theater arts and his commitment to establishing a professional theater space at VAHS.
Please join us in honoring his achievements by officially naming the existing Verona Performing Arts Center The Joe Ringeisen Theater!
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Over the course of his 33 year career at VAHS, Joe Ringeisen engaged thousands of Verona students in his Theater Arts classes. He opened creative doors for young people on- and off-stage as he directed actors, singers, and crew members in productions from his first show, The Pied Piper in 1972, to Guys and Dolls and Brigadoon in the 80s, to The Wizard of Oz in the 90s, and West Side Story in the 2000s.
In 1994, Joe opened the existing "new" theater - complete with fly-space, trap room, sound booth, and full orchestra pit - with the jaw-dropping production of Peter Pan. For it, he secured the original Broadway set from Cathy Rigby's version of the musical, and hired Flying by Foy of Las Vegas to rig the stage for Peter's flight! Ask anyone who saw the spectacle; it was memorable and magical!
Before he retired in 2005, Joe helped entertain tens of thousands of Verona area theater lovers with comedies, dramas, whodunnits, and musicals. He set new standards for direction, performance, and technical skells for his many students and collaborators. He was instrumental in the design of the "new" state-of-the-art theater space and equipment. He welcomed community theater groups to share the stage and grow Verona's discerning theater audiences. In short, he has made a profound and lasting impact on the performing arts scene in Verona.
Please join us in honoring Joe's acheivements by signing our petition to name the existing Verona Performing Arts Center The Joe Ringeisen Theater!
