The Al. Ringling Theatre in downtown Baraboo is now owned by the state’s primary organization for historic landmarks, with plans for it to serve as an extension of its nearby Circus World and “flex artistic muscle,” according to Circus World’s director.
The Wisconsin Historical Society announced Wednesday it has acquired the theatre at 136 4th Ave. from the Al. Ringling Theatre Friends group, which is gifting the venue to the society. More than $3 million in community donations is now in an endowment to support the theater and needed upgrades, Friends vice president Paul Wolter said.
Built in 1915 by circus icon Al Ringling and Ringling Brothers Circus, a venture with his brothers, the Al. Ringling Theatre is “one of the first examples of opulent design applied to the moving picture theatre in this country,” historical society CEO Christian Overland said. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since May 1976.
The society’s board of curators voted to acquire the theater on March 15. With the acquisition, the society is looking to further illustrate American circus history and preserve the facility.
“This acquisition is a positive step in many directions for the long-term sustainability of the Al. Ringling Theatre,” Circus World director Scott O’Donnell said. “It allows us to transition into a year-round operational model here at Circus World.”
The society plans to hire a technical director to oversee operations at the Al. Ringling Theatre, according to its announcement of the acquisition. Prior to the acquisition, O’Donnell said, Circus World operations primarily were during the slow spring and summer months.
Area performances including Concerts on the Square, Baraboo Theatre Guild presentations, holiday events, and Baraboo School District and UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County productions have taken place at Al. Ringling Theatre.
Charlene Flygt, president of Al. Ringling Theatre Friends, lauded the generosity of the Baraboo community for ensuring the future of the venue “for generations to come.”
The expertise in circus performances and other performing arts at Circus World coupled with the Wisconsin Historical Society’s commitment to historic preservation will support elevate operations at Circus World and enhance the region’s arts economy, O’Donnell said.
“This is the outcome that we wanted to see to secure the long-term future of the Al. — it’s a win for Baraboo, a win for the regional arts community and a win for historic preservation in Wisconsin,” Wolter, who is also executive director of the Sauk County Historical Society, said in a statement. “We are all super excited!”
The Wisconsin Historical Society said the Al. Ringling acquisition “underscores its commitment to the Baraboo community and surrounding region.” The society established a 10-year plan for growth at Circus World in September 2022, which also includes restoring a former Ringling brothers office from 1901 and adding a year-round performance center at Circus World.
“It will allow us a lot of synergy between our two sites,” O’Donnell said. “Our ultimate goal is to create programming that happens there on a daily basis and bring it into the daily experience of Circus World, moving guests around our community, allowing us to flex our artistic muscle. Anything from opera to ballet to standup comedians to Broadway singers.”
O’Donnell believes the Wisconsin Historical Society’s ownership of the theater and the resulting partnership with Circus World Museum will support attract more performers and bring the history of circus and arts in the Baraboo area to a wider audience, including the venue’s founders.
“It is a positive step for the legacy of the Ringling family and brand and their place within Wisconsin,” he said.
Along with expanding the circus and performing arts scenes, O’Donnell hopes that the Al. Ringling can also serve as a venue for business conventions and other special events. Circus programming will continue to be mostly at the Circus World grounds, but O’Donnell said some circus-related performances will be at the theatre.
“Bringing the theater into the Circus World fold is a great boon to the downtown and our region as a whole,” Baraboo Mayor Rob Nelson said. “The Historical Society’s booking and publicity muscle should bring top-level talent to the stage, and their commitment local programming will continue to give generations of area dancers, thespians and musicians the unparalleled experience of performing at the Al.”
O’Donnell added that the acquisition allows for centralized marketing, press relations and areas for archived files that show the history of the theater and Circus World, which he said has been in existence for 65 years.
The Al. Ringling Theatre Friends had owned the theatre since 1989. The historical society said the group raised over $5 million during that time to support interior and exterior restorations, including its most recent interior renovation in February 2016.
