The well-known children's book author, Barbara Joosse, of Cedarburg was once a little girl. Well, of course she was, but she was also one of those little, little girls, who dreamed of a big friend who could protect her. This little girl idea became the inspiration for a series of books about Girl and her friend, Dragon, and their adventures together. Now, the first three books in the series has inspired a World Premier Musical with First Stage in Milwaukee, which is named for the first book in the series, Lovabye Dragon. "It's so out of the box and so full of energy," said Barbara, when describing the musical. "It shimmers in magic." For the past three years, First Stage Artistic Director, Jeff Frank, Nathan Meckel of the band Happy Racers, and Barbara have worked together to create the musical, which opens on January 21st at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center in Milwaukee. Not only did Barbara write the books, but she also co-wrote the lyrics with Nathan, who she has worked with in the past. "First Stage is really an incubator theater," Barbara explained. "Jeff and I wanted to make it so anyone could do the play, with any budget. After its premier here, it's going to travel." Before the musical even opened, it won the 2017 Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant for the creation of Dragon, who is a 12 foot puppet, as well as tabletop and shadow puppets used in the musical, created by Brandon Kirkham, Scenic and Puppet Designer. Since 1982, the Jim Henson Foundation has made over 850 grants for the development and presentation of new works of contemporary American puppet theater. Barbara and the Happy Racers will be participating in a related event at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center on Thursday, January 19th at 6 p.m.: A Beginning With No End. The evening will feature book readings from Barbara, followed by a concert for families with The Happy Racers. Tickets are just $5. Lovabye Dragon runs through February 19th at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, located at 325 W. Walnut Street in Milwaukee. The performance is geared towards children ages 3-7 years old. Tickets are $14, and may be purchased at www.firststage.org or by calling (414) 267-2961.
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Each season, the First Stage Young Company (the advanced, college-level acting troupe consisting of area highschoolers) takes on one of Shakespeare's plays, and I have yet to see them fail to do it justice; this is certainly the case with The Comedy of Errors. This hillarious tale of a most unlikely family reunion takes mistaken identities to a whole new level, courtesy of a set of twins who were separated at birth. Miraculously, each set of twins end up going by the same name, and paired with the other's brother; thus, there is Antipholus of Syracuse (Megan Watson) and his man, Dromio (Sydney Salter), as well as Antipholus of Ephesus (Grace Becker) and his man, Dromio (Alex Salter). The fact that the Dromios are actually played by twins makes the farce all the more confusing and hilarious. The two men of Syracuse go to Ephesus to find their brothers. When they do not return, their father, Aegeon (Abby Barbeau), goes looking for them, but is arrested when he cannot pay the Trader's fine. He tells the Duke (Ariana Padovano) the tale of his wife and twins, and the Duke grants him more time to pay. Meanwhile, the family and friends of Antipholus and Dromeo of Ephesus have come across the versions from Syracuse, and the wild ride begins! What transpires is a 17th century version of "Who's on First" that audiences will love. Three cast members from the production hail from Cedarburg, including CHS Senior, Teddy Esten, who plays Adriana, the wife of Antipholus of Ephesus. What's interesting about Teddy's role is that, in Shakespeare's time, the female roles were all played by men, as women were not allowed to be actors. Teddy, however, is doing just the opposite. "Ever since the show was announced last year, there were rumors that it was going to be cross-gendered," Teddy explained. "I had mixed feelings at the beginning, solely because my favorite character was not one of the females (It's actually Antipholus of Syracuse). However, once we got around to casting, I was super stoked to be playing Adrianna... she's a hilarious character." Fellow CHS students, Grace Reasoner and Sam Crevenston, play merchants in The Comedy of Errors. Grace was in the fall play with Teddy at CHS, but didn't know Sam until rehearsals began, while Sam has known Teddy for years, but was happy to get to know Grace in this production. All three students are bonafide fans of The Bard. "I will always believe that, no matter how old it gets, Shakespeare's work will always be incredibly relevant," Teddy said. "Social issues have this way of sticking around throughout all time, and the issues adressed in Shakespearean plays are still present and are therefore adressed in the same way. Not only is it relevant to society, but his masterpieces have a great educational value, as well." Grace was introduced to Shakespeare not through school, but through First Stage. "I am definitely a fan!" she said. "The number one thing on my Christmas list this year is individual copies of Shakespeare's plays. Since I haven't had too much exposure to Shakespeare before joining Young Company, I am taking it upon myself to delve into the depths of his works." Sam, on the other hand, came across Shakespeare early on: "I have had a very large amount of exposure to Shakespeare throughout the course of my life, and I am a huge fan." Besides their love of Shakespeare, the three have a common love of First Stage. "First Stage has been amazingly impactful on me," Teddy said. "I have learned almost everything I know about theatre from my teachers there -- specifically John Maclay and Matt Daniels. These two men have helped me grow infinitely as a performer and as a human. I can't thank the people at First Stage enough. On top of the people who work there, the environment that has been established is unlike any other. The people are all so kind and accepting to everyone. That in itself has shaped the way I view people. Everyone's individualism is just brought out in the best way, and it's really refreshing." Young Company has three more performances left for The Comedy of Errors: Saturday, December 17th at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 18th at 3:30. All performances take place at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, located at 325 W Walnut Street in Milwaukee. Tickets ($14) may be purchased at www.FirstStage.org/Comedy or through the First Stage Box Office at (414) 267-2961. About First Stage Celebrating its 30th anniversary in the 2016-2017 season, First Stage is one of the nation’s leading theaters for young audiences and families. First Stage touches hearts, engages minds, and transforms lives by creating extraordinary theater experiences for young people and families through professional theater productions that inspire, enlighten, and entertain. Its Theater Academy, the nation’s largest high-impact theater training program for young people, fosters life skills through stage skills and serves over 2,100 students each year. As Wisconsin’s leader in arts-integrated education in schools, First Stage’s dynamic Theater in Education programs uses theater to promote active learning throughout the curriculum, serving over 20,000 students throughout southeastern Wisconsin each year. In 2012, First Stage was selected to participate in the Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. First Stage is the recipient of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Eureka Award in 2013 and 2015, recognizing creativity and innovation in business, education, and the arts. First Stage is a member of TYA/USA, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education, Theatre Wisconsin, and Milwaukee Arts Partners, and is a cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF). Ever since Michael Pink, the Artistic Director of the Milwaukee Ballet, arrived on the scene in 2002, I have been watching his version of The Nutcracker, which has been my family's well-loved holiday tradition, as it is for so many families in the area. Perhaps you've never been? Perhaps you feel that the ballet isn't "your thing?" I beg you to reconsider. When the lights go down, and the Milwaukee Ballet orchestra begins the opening notes of Tchaikovsky's famous music, you will be enchanted. Based on E.T.A. Hoffman's 1816 Novella, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, the ballet (possibly the world's best known) was written in 1892 by the famous Russian composer, Tchaikovsky, and two choreographers, Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, who used the version of the story by Alexandre Dumas, the well known French novelist, as their inspiration. Interestingly, the ballet was not an instant success, and took many years to be performed outside of Russia. By the 1950's, it became popular in the US, and now it is performed by nearly every ballet company, usually during the holiday season, around the world. The Milwaukee Ballet has four different casts to accomodate the schedule, which means every performance is a bit different. While full of holiday magic and gorgeous costumes and scenery, Michael Pink's Nutcracker is hardly austere; in fact, keep your eye out for the three clowns, whose changing antics are one of the highlights of the performance. This Nutcracker is an introduction to the ballet that the whole family will enjoy. New this year is a special Sensory-Friendly Performance on Wednesday, December 21st at 6:00 p.m. In partnership with Autism Speaks and the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, this performance is designed for children and adults with ASD and other sensitivity issues or special needs. Recorded music will be softer, house lights will remain on and there will be a designated Quiet Zone where patrons can go if they need to take a break from the performance. Come early and meet the characters from The Nutcracker in the lobby. Call the Marcus Center at 414-273-7121 ext. 213 for tickets. You can also purchase online at marcuscenter.org/mcaccess using the group code AUTISMSPEAKS. The Nutcracker runs through December 27th at the Marcus Center for Performing Arts in Milwaukee. Tickets can be purchased at the Milwaukee Ballet Box Office, located at 504 W. National Ave., or by calling (414) 902-2103. Tickets can also be purchased at the Marcus Center Box Office, located at 929 N. Water St., or by calling (414) 273-7206, or online at ticketmaster.com. "Marley was dead." If that isn't the best beginning to a Christmas story, I really don't know what is; you simply can't have Christmas without Charles Dickens' timeless tale. Then again, if you've never made The Rep's annual production of A Christmas Carol a holiday tradition, this is perhaps the best year to start, as The Rep begins its tradition anew, with a World Premier adaptation by Rep Artistic Director, Mark Clements, and a complete re-imagining, of this well-loved tale. The most stunning difference from past productions is the set design, by Todd Edwards Ivins, which is simply amazing. The streets of Victorian London swirl around the stage, merging seamlessly between the cold home of old Ebeneezer Scrooge to the warm and lively home of Bob Cratchit, giving a nice flow to Scrooge's journeys with the Spirits. Also different is the approach of the play, which now requires a bit of audience participation. This change is quite a departure from the past productions, but may prove more appealing to young children in the audience. Those familiar with past productions may recognize some familiar names in the cast, though not attached to familiar characters. Milwaukee favorite, Jonathan Smoots (who started out playing Young Scrooge back in 1981) returns to the production, but gives up his role as Scrooge to take a turn as a far more terrifying Marley, while Jonathan Wainwright gives up his role as Bob Cratchit to take a stab at Scrooge. Meanwhile, Chiké Johnson, who played Marley last season, brings an entirely new twist to the Ghost of Christmas Present in this production. Michael Doherty, who played a brilliant Mr. Topper last season, makes a perfectly pleasant Fred this season; and, another Milwaukee favorite, Deborah Staples, keeps her role as Christmas Past from last season, but with a very updated costume. New this year, but hardly new to The Rep and Milwaukee, are Jonathan Gillard Daly (who has appeared in sixty-one productions of A Christmas Carol since 1998) as Mr. Fezziwig, and Angela Iannone, as Mrs. Fezziwig, and more. Reese Madigan, a relative newbie who has appeared in 15 plays at The Rep, is a convincing Bob Cratchit, and young Milwaukee native, Edward Owczarski, plays Tiny Tim. While the audience participation can be slightly awkward, there is still that familiar holiday spirit that comes with the ornate Pabst Theater, falling snow, well-sung Christmas Carols, and the timely reminder that 'tis better to give than to receive. The Rep's A Christmas Carol continues to be a magical and welcome holiday tradition in Milwaukee. A Christmas Carol runs at The Pabst Theater through December 24th. Tickets can be purchased online www.MilwaukeeRep.com, by calling The Rep’s Ticket Office at 414-224-9490, or in-person at 108 East Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee. About The Rep In its 63rd Season, Milwaukee Repertory Theater is dedicated to providing the highest level of professional theater to Milwaukee and Wisconsin, in addition to offering a wide range of educational and community programs. Under the leadership of Artistic Director, Mark Clements, and Managing Director, Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee's rich diversity. With the recent election of Donald Trump, the US has been thrown into scary times. Our country, seemingly so divided, is plagued by incidents of racism, xenophobia, bigotry, and nationalism almost every day on the news. What we all need is a good laugh, and a good reminder that we need each other more than we think; The Foreigner is just the ticket. Of course, there's no way that The Rep could have predicted how the election would turn out when they chose this particular play to run at this particular time. The writer, Larry Shue, was a popular Rep actor and playwright in the late 70's and early 80's, and the play saw its world premier at The Rep on January 13th, 1983 -- long before the Donald was even a Republican. The play was a hit -- so much so that it moved Off-Broadway in '84, and became the Best Off-Broadway Production and Best New American Play in '85. It ran at The Rep again in '93, when it became the best-selling production in the history of the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, and yet again in 2003. While there's no arguing the popularity of The Foreigner, it's almost eerie how much it speaks to our current state of affairs. Taking place in rural Georgia, we meet Staff Sergeant Froggy La Sueur (the amazing James Pickering, celebrating his 43rd season at The Rep) from England, who's been making regular, military visits to this area for years, and is a favorite at the backwoods lodge of Betty Meeks (Linda Stephens). This visit, though, Froggy has brought his old friend and fellow Englishman, Charlie Baker (Matt Zambrano), a shy and bumbling copy editor who is badly in need of some peace and quiet. To encourage Betty and the guests of the lodge to leave him alone, Froggy convinces them that Charlie is a foreigner, and doesn't speak a word of English. Cue the loud, slow talking and hysterical antics! Three local guests in the lodge round out the cast: the Reverend David Marshall (Marcus Truschinski), who is considering buying the old lodge from Betty, and his fiance, Catherine (Cristina Panfilio), who is responsible for her younger brother, Ellard (Brendan Meyer), after the death of their parents. Also appearing in the lodge is Owen Musser (Eric Parks), the local property inspector, and the epitome of a backwoods, southern Klansman. While Owen can't resist trying to insult and harass Charlie, Betty, Catherine, and Ellard, for reasons of their own, find that Charlie is just the person they need in their lives at that moment. Meanwhile, the once awkward Charlie becomes what his new friends need him to be, and the greatest of foes to his enemies, to the delight of the audience. Directed by Laura Gordon, who has appeared in over 80 productions at The Rep herself, The Foreigner is exactly what our country needs right now: hysterically funny, yet laced with the very message we all need to hear. As Hamlet said, "The play's the thing." Indeed, this play is "the thing," though nobody involved in bringing this production to The Rep at this moment in time could have guessed just how important of a thing it would be. The Foreigner runs now through December 18th at The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse Theater. Tickets are available online at www.MilwaukeeRep.com, by phone at (414) 224-9490, or in person at the Ticket Office (108 E. Wells St. in Milwaukee). About Milwaukee Repertory Theater Milwaukee Rep is a nationally recognized company that presents compelling dramas, powerful classics, award-winning contemporary works, and full-scale musicals housed in its three, unique performance venues: the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Studio, and Stackner Cabaret. The Rep also produces an annual production of A Christmas Carol, featuring a World Premier of a new adaptation in 2016, at the historic Pabst Theater. Under the leadership of Artistic Director, Mark Clements, and Managing Director, Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee's rich diversity. Even if you aren't a music aficionado, I'm willing to bet that the name Irving Berlin rings a bell, and even if you can't bring yourself to name a specific tune he wrote, I guarantee that you'll recognize several during the performance of Irving Berlin's I Love A Piano at The Rep. Considered one of the greatest American songwriters ever, Irving Berlin was actually born in Russia in 1888, but arrived in the US when he was just five years old, and died a New Yorker in 1989. His music spans generations, from Ragtime music around World War I to Swing music during World War II, and encompasses favorite Broadway Musicals and Film scores, such as Annie Get Your Gun and White Christmas. In The Rep's intimate Stackner Cabaret theater, four amazing performers (Kelley Faulkner as Ginger, Jane Labanz as Eileen, Eric Shorey as George, and Steve Watts as Alex) take an old piano with a broken key on a journey through time; singing, dancing, and changing the set (and even their clothes!) right on stage as they go; living up to the iconic status of Berlin's songs as they do it. This thoroughly entertaining performance will have you laughing, clapping, and singing along until the very end. Written by Ray Roderick and Michael Berkeley, and Directed by JC Clementz, with Music Direction by Dan Kazemi (Man of La Mancha), and Arrangements by Michael Berkeley, I Love A Piano runs from November 4th through January 15th at the Stackner Cabaret. Tickets can be purchased online at www.milwaukeerep.com, by phone at (414) 224-9490, or in person at the Ticket Office (108 E. Wells Street in Milwaukee). I Love A Piano is sponsored by Executive Producers, Adlon Partners, Pete and Beth Gottsacker, and Wayne and Kristine Lueders. The Rep is sponsored in part by The United Performing Arts Fund.
First Stage kicks off its exciting 2016-2017 season with GOOSEBUMPS the Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium, beginning Friday, October 14th. Based on a book from the bestselling Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine, this world premiere is the first in a season of both family favorites and new premieres commemorating First Stage’s 30th anniversary season of Theater You Never Outgrow. “R.L. Stine grabs readers and takes them on a roller coaster ride that is equal parts scary and funny,” commented First Stage Artistic Director Jeff Frank. “You don't sell 400 million books by accident. He knows what he is doing, and we are thrilled to bring one of his adventures to our stage -- and thankful to once again be working with our friends at Oregon Children's Theatre, with whom we are collaborating on this world premiere play.” With book and lyrics by First Stage Associate Artistic Director John Maclay, along with music and lyrics by Danny Abosch, this production promises a silly, spooky adventure that will keep the whole family at the edge of their seats. GOOSEBUMPS the Musical runs from October 14th through November 13th at the Marcus Center’s Todd Wehr Theater, located at 929 N. Water Street in Milwaukee. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Marcus Center box office, by phone at (414) 273-7206, or online at www.firststage.org. About First Stage Celebrating its 30th anniversary in the 2016-2017 season, First Stage is one of the nation’s leading theaters for young audiences and families. First Stage touches hearts, engages minds, and transforms lives by creating extraordinary theater experiences for young people and families through professional theater productions that inspire, enlighten, and entertain. Its Theater Academy, the nation’s largest high-impact theater training program for young people, fosters life skills through stage skills and serves over 2,100 students each year. As Wisconsin’s leader in arts-integrated education in schools, First Stage’s dynamic Theater in Education programs use theater to promote active learning throughout the curriculum, serving over 20,000 students throughout southeastern Wisconsin each year. In 2012, First Stage was selected to participate in the Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. First Stage is the recipient of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Eureka Award in 2013 and 2015, recognizing creativity and innovation in business, education, and the arts. First Stage is a member of TYA/USA, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education, Theatre Wisconsin, and Milwaukee Arts Partners, and is a cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF). Even if you have never read Cervantes' famous novel, Don Quixote, or have never attended a production of the Tony winning musical, Man of La Mancha, written by Dale Wasserman, I promise you will recognize the story, the music, and the lyrics when you hear them. Through the month of October, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater will be performing this most beloved of musicals, and this is one production that is not to be missed. The story of Don Quixote is referenced so often in modern culture, most people would be surprised to learn that it was written over 400 years ago by Miquel de Cervantes of Spain. Cervantes, a veteran of the Spanish military, was captured by pirates after his service and sold into slavery, where he remained for five years, and struggled financially for the rest of his life. Despite the novel's popularity, Cervantes never made much money from his great work. Interestingly, the tale of Dale Wasserman, the writer of Man of La Mancha, is nearly as fantastic as Cervantes'. Born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin in 1914, Wasserman was orphaned before he was even 10 years old. Instead of going to school, he traveled the country from job to job, until he eventually began working in theater as a lighting designer, and then progressed to writing scripts. He originally wrote a made-for- television play about Cervantes in 1959. Then, in 1964, he and Director Albert Marre turned the TV play into a stage musical, with composer Mitch Leigh and lyricist Joe Darion to write the music and lyrics. Not only is Wasserman remembered for Man of La Mancha, which went on to win five Tony awards, he is also known for writing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Man of La Mancha is both the story of Don Quixote and of Cervantes (played brilliantly by Milwaukee's own Nathaniel Stampley). In the musical, Cervantes and his servant have been imprisoned in Seville, and are awaiting their trial by the Spanish Inquisition for their "crimes against the church." The prisoners, however, have a trial of their own. They confiscate Cervantes' belongings, including the unfinished manuscript of his novel, Don Quixote. In his defense, Cervantes presents a play of his manuscript for his fellow prisoners, involving them in the production, and becomes Don Quixote, the Lord of La Mancha, himself; an aging man with a wild imagination, who fancies himself a knight errant, bent on restoring chivalry and righteousness to the world. His servant becomes Quixote's worthy squire, Sancho Panza (Michael J. Farina). Don Quixote does all for the love of his lady, "Dulcinea," whom he imagines to be the peasant lady, Aldonza (Leenya Rideout). Quixote's family is embarrassed by his behavior, and believe they need to cure him of his delusions but, perhaps, a big imagination isn't such a bad thing, after all? Directing his seventh musical on the Quadracci Powerhouse stage is The Rep's Artistic Director, Mark Clements, with Musical Direction by Associate Artist, Dan Kazemi. Besides Stampley, Man of La Mancha features a string of some of Milwaukee's favorite actors, including Jonathan Gillard Daly, Bethany Thomas, Gavin Gregory, Beth Mulkerron, Michael Doherty, and Michael Accardo, as well as Matt Daniels, who is making his Rep debut. While this 50 year old musical, and the 400 year old story it is inspired by, may seem irrelevant today, there is a reason it has endured: Quixote's belief. His belief in his own values; his belief in the good in others, even when they can't see it in themselves. His ability to not just "see life as it is, but...as it ought to be," and to believe that we can attain that. In these times, that belief is something we all need. Man of La Mancha is not only one of the greatest musicals ever written, it is easily the greatest musical I've ever seen The Rep perform, and one of the finest Rep performances I've ever seen, period. Man of La Mancha opened Saturday, September 24th and runs through October 30th in the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater. Tickets can be purchased online at www.milwaukeerep.com, by phone at (414) 224-9490, or in person at the Ticket Office, located at 108 E. Wells Street in Milwaukee. A variety of events, including Rep-in-Depth, a pre-show conversations with actor Matt Daniels, post-show Talk Backs with the cast and creative team, and Community Conversation Panel Discussions are happening in conjunction with the production, as well as a Singing Workshop on Saturday, October 1st from 2-3 p.m. and a Flamenco Dance Workshop in collaboration with Siempre Flamenco on Saturday, October 15th from 2-3 p.m. For more information on these events, go to www.milwaukeerep.com/On-Stage/Events/. About Milwaukee Repertory Theater Milwaukee Rep is a nationally-recognized company that presents compelling dramas, powerful classics, award-winning contemporary works, and full-scale musicals, housed in its three unique performance venues: the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Studio, and Stackner Cabaret. The Rep also produces an annual production of A Christmas Carol, featuring a World Premiere of a new adaptation in 2016, at the histroic Pabst Theater. Under the leadership of Artistic Director, Mark Clements, and Managing Director, Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee's rich diversity. When people hear the words "orchestra" or "ensemble," the first thought that comes to mind is probably classical music; the works of Mozart, Bach, or Beethoven. Not everyone realizes that there are, in fact, modern-day composers, and that some very notable composers have come out of Present Music in Milwaukee's Third Ward. Founded in 1982 by Kevin Stalheim, internationally acclaimed Present Music commissions, performs, records, and tours the music of living composers, and has been responsible for over 55 new works from composers around the world by working closely with the world's most exciting and significant composers, while supporting the creation of new ones through the Creation Project. This year is PM's 35th Season, and they're opening with MADE FOR MILWAUKEE; a celebration of the music premiered by Present Music with works that made local and national history by Michael Torke, Kamran Ince, Jerome Kitzke, and Sean Friar. Guests will then be a part of another world premier: Ryan Carter's On a Better Filtering Algorithm. There will be activities for the whole family prior to the concert, beginning at 6:30 p.m., including PM's 35 year history through pictures, music, and maps; musical experiments with the staff of Betty Brinn's Be A Maker Space, finding your inner DJ with composer Ryan Carter's interactive app, iMonkeypants, and outdoor dining with local food trucks. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Stick around after the concert to party with Milwaukee's own glam-rock superstars, TIGERNITE, and enter to win a certificate for a Blacksmith 101 Workshop from the Milwaukee Blacksmith. Made For Milwaukee takes place at the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, located at 2419 E. Kenwood Boulevard in Milwaukee. Learn more by visiting the Present Music website (http://presentmusic.org) or by visiting their facebook page. Subscribe to the 2016-17 season or purchase single tickets. If you're a child of the 70's, as I am, you may remember Gilda Radner's performance of a medley of songs from the famous operetta, The Pirates of Penzance, on The Muppet Show. Very likely, it was your first exposure to this bit of musical theater, but it was probably not your only exposure. Although The Pirates of Penzance, the most famous operetta by the amazing duo of Gilbert and Sullivan, was written in 1879, it is still widely performed throughout the world, and often borrowed from in all forms of art, literature, and entertainment. Playwright, W.S. Gilbert, and Composer, Arthur Sullivan, are often credited for inventing modern musical theater, as they were the first to do what really amounts to a parody of an opera. They also used this form of entertainment to make commentary about politics and society (all in a very witty manner, of course). There is certainly no shortage of political satire or witty social commentary in the Skylight Music Theatre's production of The Pirates of Penzance, and audiences are certain to recognize, and enjoy, this most loved and enduring musical. Skylight has been celebrating women throughout their season and, although it may seem out of place to end with a show about pirates, if you're familiar with the tale, you'll see that the women in the story are quite the powerful forces. Our tale begins with Fredric (Ben Robinson), who was accidentally apprenticed to a band of rather soft pirates until his 21st birthday when his nursemaid, Ruth (Diane Lane), mistook the word "pilot" for "pirate." Now that Fredric is free of his duty, he announces to the Pirate King (Andrew Varela), and the rest of the band, that he despises them and is leaving the pirate life. Fredric then comes across a group of fair sisters, and falls in love with the boldest of them: Mabel (Julie Tabash Kelsheimer). The pirates return with plans to run off with the other sisters, but they are foiled when the girls' father, the Major General (Drew Brhel), arrives to sing his well known, tongue-twisting song. With the help of a group of cowardly policemen, Frederic intends to arrest the band of pirates and return home to marry Mabel, but the Pirate Captain and Ruth discover a loophole in Fredric's agreement that they know will change his plans. Directed by Shawna Lucey, with Musical Direction by Robert Linder, The Pirates of Penzance is wildly entertaining, and the perfect show to bring the whole family to (though, not recommended for children under 6 years old). Audience members will agree, it is with good reason that this Gilbert and Sullivan production is still so popular, nearly 140 years after it made its debut. Performances run through Sunday, June 12th, in the Cabot Theatre in the Broadway Theatre Center (158 N. Broadway, in the Historic Third Ward of Milwaukee). For more information visit www.skylightmusictheatre.org, email info@skylightmusictheatre.org, or call the Box Office at (414) 291-7800. About Skylight Music Theatre Skylight Music Theatre’s mission since 1959: To bring the full spectrum of music theatre works to a wide and diverse audience in celebration of the musical and theatrical arts, and their reflection of the human condition. Skylight presents productions “Skylight Style” – bringing fresh approaches or interesting twists to music theatre works; creating meaningful connections, not only between the characters on stage, but with the audiences, as well. |
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