Door Community Auditorium Welcomes New Staff as Work on The Annex Moves Forward

With a trio of new hires and a nearly-funded expansion, DCA builds toward the future.

Fish Creek, Wis. (November 17, 2025) — Door Community Auditorium (DCA) is celebrating growth on multiple fronts this season, welcoming three new staff members to its team while also announcing continued progress on The Annex, the working name for the organization’s second performance venue, education center, and reception hall. Recent major gifts and grants have DCA’s fundraising efforts for The Annex at 94%, with a little less than $350,000 left to raise of the building’s $5.6 million project budget.

Executive Director Cari Lewis says the timing couldn’t be better. “Momentum is building both onstage and behind the scenes,” she noted. “With talented new staff joining us and with the construction for The Annex, we’re preparing to serve the Door County community and our visitors in more dynamic ways than ever before.”

Among those new faces is Adam Hutchinson, an interdisciplinary artist and Wisconsin native who has stepped into the role of Technical Director. With a BFA in filmmaking from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design and an MFA in studio arts from Syracuse University, Hutchinson’s diverse career—from ceramics to winemaking to sound installation—shapes his creative approach. Prior to joining DCA, Hutchinson was the Facilities Manager at the Chazen Museum of Art in Madison, Wisconsin.

Joining Him is Christine Henkel, who brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership to her role as DCA’s new Office Manager. With experience at the Door County Community Foundation, Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Green Bay, and HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, as well as a background as a musician and educator, Henkel is dedicated to strengthening communities through the power of the arts.

Rounding out the team is Production Manager Jimmy Balistreri. Balistreri holds an MFA in Lighting Design from the University of California–Irvine and a BA in Theater from Ripon College. His work has taken him across the country with organizations such as The Milwaukee Rep,

Milwaukee Chamber Theater, South Coast Repertory, Great River Shakespeare, and Golden State Ballet. Locally, he has been a part of numerous productions at Third Avenue Playworks and Northern Sky Theater.

Construction of The Annex has been moving forward swiftly since DCA’s groundbreaking ceremony in May 2025. Programming in the new space will begin in Spring 2026. Designed as a flexible multi-purpose space, the new venue will allow DCA to expand its programming, host year-round educational opportunities, and create a vibrant gathering place for the community.

Those interested in making a donation or learning about The Annex project are encouraged to visit https://www.dcauditorium.org/encore. Naming opportunities for The Annex are also available—for more information, please contact DCA Executive Director Cari Lewis at director@dcauditiorium.org.

“As work constructing The Annex nears completion, our team’s excitement for its programming possibilities grows. From after-school music lessons, performances paired with food and drink like cabaret nights, dinner theater, comedy nights, and blues brunches, to socializing after Mainstage events, to group dance classes, and quirkier events like knitting nights paired with a DJ, the possibilities are endless!” Lewis said. “We’re close to the finish line, but we need our community’s help to reach it.”