David Peterson

Madison - David Carl Peterson, age 78, died peacefully October 8th in his home surrounded by family. He was the son of the late Mr. Laurie E. and Ruth (Jacobson) Peterson, Wittenberg, Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife Joan, son Daniel (Donna), daughter Susan Chwae (Edward), two granddaughters, Taylor and Gabrielle Chwae, and sisters Mary Krueger (John), Beth Brugger, and Faith Mauk (Tom Lonsway). The family extends special thanks to the caring and professional staff at Agrace HospiceCare.

David retired in 1995 from the University of Wisconsin-Extension where he was a professor of theatre and music. He received his musical training at St. Olaf College and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, did graduate work in theatre and music at UW-Madison, and studied composition in New York at the Juilliard School of Music.

While working on his master's degree, David was the first choir director at Monona Grove High School and produced and directed a number of Broadway musicals there. Because these shows were often laced with profanity, which was considered unsuitable for high schoolers at that time, David decided to write his own shows--without objectionable words. This was a turning point in his career. He was inspired by a lumberjack tale in "Wisconsin is My Doorstep," written by Professor Robert Gard, founder and director of the Wisconsin Idea Theatre, and decided his shows would combine musical comedy with folklore. His first original production--"Down River"--was based on this lumberjack tale, and it was heartily endorsed by Professor Gard, had a fine run at the high school, and ultimately launched his career with the Wisconsin Idea Theatre at the University of Wisconsin in 1963. It was the first of many Peterson musical shows based on Wisconsin themes that were performed at county fairs, state parks, schools, and other venues around the state, the Midwest, and the world.

In 1965, after a nationwide competition, the American Educational Theater Association and the USO selected his show about the mythical beast that scared Rhinelander residents during lumbering days--"The Hodag"--for a 7-week tour of US armed forces installations in Europe. During the Vietnam War, he took his shows to military bases in the Pacific Rim and the Caribbean.

David received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1967 for the purpose of bringing the arts to five small communities in Wisconsin. At the end of the summer a command performance of "The Hodag" was played in Spring Green, and in attendance were special guests Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson, a lifelong advocate for the arts, and Roger Stevens, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.

He created the Heritage Ensemble in Door County in 1970. The cast of singers and instrumentalists performed in Peninsula State Park in the amphitheatre used by the DNR for naturalist programs. During the next 20 years the Heritage Ensemble presented original shows in the park and on tour around the state. In 1990 David passed the Heritage Ensemble to three of his long-time performers, Gerald Pelrine, Fred Heide, and Fred Alley, and it became the American Folklore Theatre.

David continued writing, performing, and working in the arts up until the time of his death. His most special project was nurturing his two granddaughters Taylor and Gabbi Chwae, who had the same interests as he. What could be more satisfying than to see his love of music, theater, and dance become their passion, too.

Celebrations of David's life will be held in early summer next year in Door County and in Madison. The Door County event will feature musicians and singers who performed in shows he had written during his career. The time and location of these celebrations will be announced at a later date.

A memorial fund in David's name has been established. Contributions may be made in memory of David Peterson, Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras, 455 N. Park Street, #1625, Madison, WI 53706.

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." --Aldous Huxley

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