Milwaukee’s 2009-10 theatre season has several milestone anniversaries, but none older than The Shorewood Players. On November 26, 1930 The Play Production Club of the Shorewood Opportunity School (later part of MATC) staged three one-act plays under the direction of Mildred Reynolds. When those plays (Columbine, A Harlem Tragedy and Dust of the Road) were staged in Arnold Hall at Atwater School, the Shorewood Players were born.  In 1936, the group (then named The Playshop) moved to newly dedicated Shorewood Auditorium. This WPA project was modeled after the RKO Theatre in New York City, and was considered to be the second finest school auditorium at the time (surpassed only by Yale University). The Playshop’s first production in this venue on Nov 12 and 14 was The Insect Comedy (The World We Live In) by Josef and Karel Capek, and directed by Paul Norris. Attendance exceeded the 1200 seat capacity of the Auditorium, leading to an encore performance on Dec. 4. The Playshop became the Shorewood Players in about 1947. Over the years, notable directors have moved the Players in new directions. From 1946 to 1970, Curt Haensel directed five full length productions per year, totaling 144 in his Players career.   Haensel had been an actor, director and owner of a movie studio before leaving Nazi Germany in 1939, eventually settling in Milwaukee. He loved comedies, but did not shy away from serious plays of the era, like The Glass Menagerie, Death of a Salesman and The Andersonville Trials.  “It is our purpose to give people a well balanced diet. We have in mind particularly a public that loves good theatre but can ill afford to pay the prices a touring company must charge. We have uplift in mind, but neither do we have time for trash.” –Curt Haensel MATC support ended in 1970, and the Players struggled for several seasons as an independent organization. In the late 1970s, the Shorewood Recreation Department sponsored the Players as a financially self-sustaining organization.  Since Haensel’s retirement, two people stand out among those who led Players shows.  Betty Paige (Board President: 1980 – early 1990s) and Terry Grazer (Director: early 1990s --2004) are responsible for memorable productions over many years.  The Players now have a rotation of directors for its three-show season.  On July 1, 2009, the Players became independent once again, as an active corps of volunteers continue the mission of a vibrant community theatre. This season opens on Nov 13-22 with the zany Mel Brooks musical The Producers, directed by Terry Grazer. –Dominic Davis, Shorewood Players, with information from Bernard D. Greeson and Shorewood Historical Society.