Off-script frolics: Stops for an American Players Theatre road trip

American Players Theatre’s otherworldly outdoor performances are so consistently excellent, there’s rarely any reason to give any thought to the 40-mile trek from Madison to Spring Green. Even still, taking in a play at APT requires a healthy drive-time investment of nearly two hours, so it’s always nice to plan a few other area activities to make a full day of it. Decider scoured the Wisconsin countryside for a few of the more interesting spots to hit once APT’s season officially opens on June 13 with The Comedy Of Errors.

House On The Rock
In Neil Gaiman’s novel American Gods, the House On The Rock makes a Mecca-like appearance as a dimension-tripping portal leading into the minds of the gods. Obviously architect Alex Jordan Jr.’s surreal funhouse monstrosity doesn’t hold that kind of power, but it does offer an experience in direct opposition to the more traditional one found at APT. Built more than 40 years ago, the 60-foot-tall house falls somewhere between a massive rummage sale and an LSD-fueled fever dream. The “Music Of Yesterday” room features what’s billed as the world’s largest indoor carousel, and a self-guided tour of this bizarre crib yields strolls through rooms incongruously titled “Heritage Of The Sea,” “Streets Of Yesterday,” and “Spirit Of Aviation.”

Taliesin
Frank Lloyd Wright’s deep Wisconsin roots literally cast a mighty shadow over Madison in the form of the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, but Wright’s sprawling Taliesin summer home is where many of his most famous organic architecture ideas first germinated and took root. It’s also less gloriously known as the spot where in 1914 one of his manservants set fire to the living quarters and murdered seven people with an axe (a cautionary tale for anyone considering hiring a manservant). For those who want to soak up all of Taliesin’s Wright-tastic glory, there are four types of tours available, ranging from a one-hour “hillside tour” all the way up to a hearty, four-hour “estate tour.”

Mazomanie Beach (Laws Road, Mazomanie)
APT is unique in that the show almost always goes on no matter what the weather, so playgoers have to be dressed to handle whatever Mother Nature decides to throw at them. At the clothing-optional Mazomanie Beach, no such planning is necessary—only the forethought to bring plenty of sunscreen, and the ability to feel comfortable cavorting in the raw. Just don’t think this riverside gem is some sort of beach bacchanal, as there are very specific rules about open-air monkey business: namely, none.

Rookies
Steve Schmitt, owner of the Madison Mallards, knows how to pull out all the stops when it comes to baseball. His Mazo sports bar, Rookies, not only functions like a baseball memorabilia museum, but also features a regulation wiffle-ball field behind the bar, replete with a scoreboard and pennants on the outfield walls. This mini-diamond is open to the public and available for renting for $50 an hour, and is a perfect place to relive the glory days when you used to strike out every kid in the neighborhood.

Cedar Grove Cheese
Eight miles outside of Spring Green sits Cedar Grove Cheese, a 100-year-old cheese-making plant that goes to extreme lengths to ensure its cheese is über-organic. In addition to making all of its wares without artificial growth hormones, animal enzymes, or genetically modified ingredients, CGC has also created a “Living Machine” greenhouse that’s designed to work as an ecosystem to biologically process wastewater from the plant before it’s discharged back into Honey Creek. Factory tours are available seven days a week, and its retail store makes it a great place to stock up on squeaky curds for APT’s beloved pre-play picnic scene.

Governor Dodge State Park
Governor Dodge is one of the largest state parks in Wisconsin and sits in a rare spot that was spared the steamrolling glaciers that covered the Midwest millions of years ago. That makes it an island of picturesque hills and valleys in the midst of Wisconsin’s surrounding states, where the most interesting topography is usually a speed bump. Sandstone bluffs make for top-rate hiking, and if you’re feeling super-frisky, you can even bike to the park from Madison along Military Ridge State Trail.