CLIMBing Through the Decades

A timeline of CLIMB’s 47 year legacy.

1975

CLIMB Theatre is Born
Gas prices averaged a whopping 44 cents, car radios were tuned to Born to Run, and a generation searched for purpose in the shadow of Vietnam War…
1980

The oldest member of CLIMB’s current leadership team is born.
The price of gas was now $1.22 per gallon and Rock With You played in a Datsun 200sx on it’s way to Yale New Haven Hospital…
1990

ADA Passes
By the time the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, CLIMB Theatre had created programming for people with all abilities and was touring it across the upper Midwest…
2000

2022 Resident Artists are Born
The price of gas is averaging $1.51 per gallon and future CLIMBers are born.
2009

CLIMB Receives Sara Spencer Award
CLIMB is awarded the prestigious Sara Spencer Artistic Achievement Award from the national association American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE), which promotes standards of excellence in theatre and theatre education.

The 1970s

The year was 1975, gas prices averaged a whopping 44 cents, car radios were tuned to Born to Run, and a generation searched for purpose in the shadow of Vietnam War. Peg Wetli, a blond haired, blue-eyed girl from Green Bay, was among them. An actress, playwright, journalist, and teacher, Peg believed that theatre had the power to inspire and propel folks to grow and reach their fullest potential. She also identified that the folks most in need were those society had forgotten—people with different abilities. With the wits in her head, the money in her pockets, and gumption in her soul, Peg founded CLIMB Theatre.

Peg refined and developed a practice called theatre in reverse to serve this new audience. Using her skills as a journalist, she interviewed partner organizations to discover the needs of her audience, and then researched ways to help them accomplish their goals. She created two-person, highly theatrical and interactive classes that taught folks life skills: hygiene, friendship, self-advocacy, and more.

The 1980s

CLIMB quickly grew from a one-woman effort to many staff drawn together by the same purpose: to use theatre to educate and help.

The 1990s

By the time the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, CLIMB Theatre had created programming for people with all abilities and was touring it across the upper Midwest.

CLIMB’s programming expanded to offer not only interactive theatre classes, but also plays and other collaborative experiences focusing on character development and personal growth.

The 2000s

CLIMB, not only, has a legacy of teaching the youngest… CLIMB also has a legacy of hiring the youngest and brightest. 2000 marks the birth year of the college class of 2022. CLIMB’s current resident artist company is largely made up of this class.

The 2010s

In 2017, Anton Jones, a playwright, actor and director who had worked with CLIMB for many years, was appointed CEO/Artistic Director, taking over the reins from Peg.

Today & Tomorrow

Today, CLIMB continues to build upon Peg’s vision, touring across the upper Midwest inspiring and propelling people of all abilities and ages toward action that benefits themselves, each other, and their community.

CLIMBing Through the Decades

1975

CLIMB Theatre is Born

1980

The oldest member of CLIMB’s current leadership team is born.

1990

ADA Passes

2000

2022 Resident Artists are Born

2009

CLIMB Receives Sara Spencer Award

The 1970s

The 1980s

The 1990s

The 2000s

The 2010s

Today & Tomorrow

An Award-Winning Company

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