Our Lives

"Our Town"
2026-04-17 19:00 - 21:30 (America/Chicago) | First Congregational United Church of Christ – Madison, 1609 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, United States
A cast of First Congregational Church Members invite you back to Grovers Corners for a walk through the daily life of Thornton Wilder’s “OUR TOWN” on Saturday, April 17 for a 7:00 pm Stage Reading in the Sanctuary at First Congregational Church, 1609 University Ave, Madison. This production is in honor of Thornton Wilder’s birthday.
Madison’s First Congregational Church has close ties with the playwright Thornton Wilder and claims him as one of their own. Wilder’s family were members of the Congregation in his formative years at the turn of the last century. Thornton was born in Madison on April 17 in 1897. With his father, a devout Congregationalist, and superintendent of the Sunday school, Thornton spent a considerable amount of time at the First Congregational Church building on West Washington Ave just a block off the square. (The Congregation moved to its current building on the corner of University Ave and Breese Terrace in 1930.)
The 50th anniversary of Wilder’s death this past December sparked an already long standing drive for First Congregational’s Director of Christian Education, Jeff Rabe to bring ‘Our Town’ to the First Cong stage. Rabe is also the Director/Producer of this theatrical production. The Cast for this production range from novice first-timers to seasoned actors with professional credits.This is a true First Congregational project with a cast of dedicated actors paying homage to ‘one of their own.’
‘Our Town’, Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize winning classic has stirred audiences’ perception of life since its premiere, prodding theatergoers to reexamine their own existence since those lines were first shared from the stage at the McCarter Theater in Princeton, N.J. in 1938. As this is a stage-reading, actors will read from scripts as they draw the audience into the lives of the residents of Grover’s Corners. With the feel of an old fashioned radio show, sound effects will enhance the story telling.
No admission will be charged but folks are encouraged to bring non-perishable food goods and/or socks to be shared with community agencies serving those in need. Parking is available in the church lots and UW lots for free after 5 pm.
