In Five Acts: Concessions Obsessions 

Posted June 18, 2025

Five Acts Concessions Web

Our 2025 season is kicking off, which means our concessions crew is stocking APT’s fridges and freezers with tasty drinks and delights. We caught up with Concessions Manager Mike Humke to learn about five new items to try this summer!

Mike: We have a couple of new items this Summer that should interest patrons. Here are my new favorites.

Like a local:

1. We will have new ice cream and sorbet flavors from The Frozen Local and charcuterie packs from Wander Provisions, both located right here in Spring Green.

For our Gluten-Free Friends:

2. Also new will be a gluten-free beer from MeaninGFul Brewing Company. It's a Pink Guava Sour!

New in NA:

3. We have two new NA options. A non-alcoholic wine, Eins Zwei Zero Sparkling Rosé.

4. And a new non-alcoholic beer from Untitled Art that is an Italian Pils.

A Midsummer Night’s Return:

5. We have also brought back a fan favorite, Bell's Oberon Ale for the return of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

New items always create excitement for our concessions staff. But what is really exciting is when customers come back and ask for the new items because they enjoyed them. Plus, I like to support local businesses as much as possible, so I purchase a few items locally to support our local producers.

APT: How many seasons have you been working (and volunteering) at APT?

Mike: This is my fourth season working with American Players Theatre. Before that, my wife and I have volunteered since 1997. I began with weed pulls and slowly we worked our way into Development parties and Ushering. We missed one year, 1998, when our daughter Bri was born. Bri is now an Assistant Stage Manager with APT.

APT: What is your favorite thing about managing concessions?

Mike: I really enjoy meeting new APT staff and working with the folks in concessions. We have a great group of students and adults that serve our patrons with courtesy and a smile. I have had people come up to me, year after year, and tell me what is new with them. And there are certain people who come up to concessions and we know what they want before they speak a word. Usually, PA's (Production Assistants) and actors.

APT: Are we even talking about APT Concessions if we don’t talk about Gummy Bears? What’s the dish on Gummy Bears?

Mike: Our gummy bears are provided by Albanese, out of Merriville, Indiana. We stopped at the factory this past March and it was like entering Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory!! I was able to watch the gummy production line. It was incredible!

APT: You always know how many gummy bears we sell each season, what was last year’s count?

Mike: Last year we sold nearly 500,000 individual bears.

If you were to string the nearly 500,000 gummy bears together, the line would stretch about 7.5 miles... That is the distance from American Players Theatre to the Slowpoke Lounge in Spring Green and nearly all the way back to American Players Theatre.

APT: What are your thoughts leading into the 2025 season?

Mike: When I began considering retirement, I never thought I'd be working at APT, and definitely not as the concessions manager. But I would not change how things have turned out. The people here are amazing and the friends/family I have made will last a lifetime.

Check out our 2025 Concessions Menus here!