By Mary Boyle Milwaukee's First Stage, one of the nation's most acclaimed children's theaters, is no stranger to creating new work, having over 70 world premiere productions under their belt since their founding in 1987. Back in 2018, Milwaukee-based playwright Alice Austen chose the First Stage Young Company for the world premiere of her inspiring play about the first US Women's Rowing Team called GIRLS IN THE BOAT. Now a Playwright in Residence, Austen has returned to First Stage Young Company with yet another world premiere play, THE GRACIOUS SISTERS, which is also a part of World Premiere Wisconsin, a brand new statewide festival celebrating new plays and musicals across the state. Directed by Matt Daniels, the Director of Young Company, Austen's new production is also steeped in the empowerment of women, but inspired by Alice in Wonderland and an ancient Greek play called The Eumenides by Aeschylus, which is the story of Agamemnon and the murder of Clytemnestra. In this story, Alice (played by Angel Rivera, who was also in Girls in the Boat) is an archeological intern exploring Greek ruins when she "falls" through a portal that takes her to ancient Greece. There, Alice stumbles upon Pythia (Reiley Fitzsimmons), an Oracle of Apollo, who she mistakes for a historical reenactor until she meets the spirit of Clytemnestra (Elena Marking), the former Queen of Mycenae, whose first husband and child were killed by Agamemnon so he could have her as his wife. Following the Trojan War, Agamemnon comes home with another wife, Cassandra, which is the last straw for Clytemnestra, who then kills Agamemnon. The God Apollo (Zachary Nowacek) commands Clytemnestra's son, Orestes (John Eash-Scott), to kill his mother to avenge his father, which he does. Now, the spirit of Clytemnestra commands the Furies (Silver Anderson, Rose Campbell, and Hazel Dye) to avenge her and kill her son. Hounded by the Furies, Orestes begs help from the goddess Athena (Terynn Erby-Walker), who decides that Orestes must stand trial. Greek history enthusiasts will recognize characters in this lesser known story within the story of The Iliad, or the story of Troy, in which Clytemnestra's sister, Helen, leaves her husband Menelaus and runs off to Troy with Paris, thus causing the Trojan War. In this story, what could be a weighty historical production is broken up and often made humorous by Alice and her modern sense of justice, morality, and women's rights, as well as her knowledge of Greek history. As she confronts the ancient characters, she becomes part oracle, part chorus to an old tale, creating an entirely different story with a new perspective. The players, particularly Alice and the Furies, make music together as they go, which veers from rap to spirituals, using only their voices for the melodies and bodies for the rhythm, some of which is quite beautiful and haunting. The Young Company is a group of high school students who are trained at a college level; I've been watching them for over a decade and have never failed to be impressed by their productions, which offer some of the best value in live theatre in the area, and this production is no exception. Each season, the YC does two productions at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, one of which is always a classic and usually Shakespeare. This next season, YC will take on Henry IV, Part I and An Enemy of the People. The newly renovated Goodman Mainstage Hall is an intimate theater-in-the-round and an excellent place to expand your theatre horizons. Get your tickets while you can. THE GRACIOUS SISTERS runs through May 21st at the Goodman Mainstage Hall inside the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, located at 325 W. Walnut Street in downtown Milwaukee. Tickets are $15 and available online at firststage.org or through the First Stage Box Office at (414) 267-2961. Performance runtime is approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. Suggested for families with young people ages 13+. Special event for THE GRACIOUS SISTERS Pay What You Choose Performance: Friday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m. Pay What You Choose tickets are available on a first come, first served basis with a minimum suggested donation of $5 per person. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. on the day of the performance. Patrons are encouraged to arrive early. Tickets may also be reserved in advance by phone at (414) 267-2961, weekdays 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. To learn more visit: firststage.org/events-tickets/tickets-offers/pay-what-you-choose/ About First Stage Founded in 1987, First Stage is one of the nation’s leading theaters for young people and families, and a driving force behind the creation of the best and most innovative plays for family audiences, theater training programs for young people and education initiatives for its schools and community. First Stage ensures that all programming is not only accessible to its community but that it is reflective of the community it serves. First Stage produces plays that honor the young person’s point of view, include diverse and traditionally underrepresented voices and inspire meaningful conversations. First Stage has presented more than 70 world premiere productions that address important subject matters relevant to today’s youth. The Theater Academy is one of the nation’s largest high-impact theater training programs for young people (3 – 18 years old). Through a challenging curriculum taught by professional teaching artists, the Academy nurtures life skills through stage skills and includes the Next Steps Program that tailors Theater Academy classes to the needs of young people on the autism spectrum and with other developmental disabilities. As Wisconsin’s leader in arts-integrated education in schools, First Stage’s dynamic Theater in Education Programs cleverly blend theater activities with standard curriculum – allowing more than 10,000 students annually to learn traditional academic subjects through creativity and self-expression. First Stage is a member of TYA/USA, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education, Milwaukee Arts Partners and is a cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF). firststage.org About Young Company First Stage Young Company, the Theater Academy’s award-winning training program for advanced high school actors, is open to students who want to take their work to the next level. Accepted students will complete college and graduate-level training in Acting, Voice, Movement and Shakespeare as well as electives ranging from Auditioning to Stage Combat to Dialects. Traditionally, the Young Company hosts master classes with guest artists from across the nation, produces a season of three plays and facilitates special excursions to the Utah Shakespeare Festival and American Players Theatre. To learn more, please visit: firststage.org/theater-academy/young-company/
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By Mary Boyle Next Act Theatre's outgoing Artistic Director, David Cecsarini, is a huge fan of playwright Bill Cain, so it's no surprise that he chose to direct one of his plays for his last turn as Artistic Director and the final play of Next Act's season. Cain's EQUIVOCATION ran in 2018 at Next Act and HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE in 2019. Then, in March of 2020, Next Act had to cancel Cain's 9 CIRCLES because of the pandemic, which was later released as a virtual production in 2021. In 2022, Cecsarini also directed the world premiere of Cain's THE LAST WHITE MAN and now shares anther world premiere with GOD'S SPIES. Interestingly, it was during the pandemic when Cain wrote this play, which is the imagined tale of how Shakespeare may have come about writing King Lear in the Elizabethan pandemic known as The Plague. The year is 1603 and the story is set in a bawdy house near The Globe Theatre in London, where a prostitute named Ruth (Eva Nimmer) is trying to throw out her most recent client, a naive Scottish lawyer and scrivener named Edgar (Zach Thomas Woods). Edgar has made his way to the city to see his beloved King Jamie VI be crowned James the First of England, but became distracted at the theatre by the lovely Ruth. Before Ruth can throw him out, a man enters who is looking for Edgar, as he hired him to copy a sonnet. The man is none other than the Bard, himself (Mark Ulrich), and Ruth, who finds her gentlemen at The Globe, knows all of his plays by heart. What might have been a brief encounter for all of them suddenly becomes a long acquaintance when their door is marked by a red "X" and they are forbidden to leave because of The Plague. While King Lear is predominantly a heavy tragedy, God's Spies is surprisingly funny for a play set during The Plague, especially considering we aren't too far out of our own recent pandemic. The Shakespeare of this play is quite accessible, human, and relatable and, in between the jokes about Scottish accents and the English monarchy, there are moments of great insight and poignancy, all woven in with bits of the actual text of King Lear. Woods, Nimmer, and Ulrich work beautifully together and, combined with a convincing set design by Rick Rasmussen and costumes by Amelia Strahan, it isn't hard to be transported to Elizabethan England while also realizing the similarities to our own time. Audiences members who enjoy Shakespeare will have no problem being intrigued by this story, which is set near the time when historians believe King Lear was actually written; however, one does not need to be a fan of the Bard, or even English history, to appreciate this tale, which actually centers on Ruth who, though she is a "small person," has more courage, understanding, and wisdom than either of the learned gentlemen she is housebound with. There is a universal truth to the suffering our characters endure and it is one that, hopefully, we will learn from our trials, as well: that, above all, we are here to love one another. This is not so much a historical play as it is a timeless and timely one - go see it while you can. GOD'S SPIES runs through May 21st at Next Act Theatre, located at 225 S. Water Street in Milwaukee. Tickets may be purchased by going to www.NextAct.org or by calling (414) 278-0765. Masks may be required or optional, based on Milwaukee's CDC Covid-19 transmission level. Masks are provided. GOD’S SPIES is sponsored by Jan Serr & John Shannon and Donna Martynski and is presented as part of World Premiere Wisconsin, a state-wide festival celebrating new plays and musicals from March 1 – June 30, 2023, presented by the Ten Chimneys Foundation. To learn more, visit www.worldpremierewisconsin.com. Next Act Theatre is excited to announce its 2023-24 season. This season is the first chosen by Next Act’s new Artistic Director, Cody Estle. He assumed the role in December 2022. It represents a significant change for Next Act Theatre after the retirement of former Producing Artistic Director David Cecsarini, who held the role for 30 years. Estle, formerly the Artistic Director of Chicago’s Raven Theatre, was named one of Newcity Stage’s “Fifty People Who Really Perform For Chicago” and called “a masterful director of mid-American realism” by Chicago writer Kerry Reid. The 23-24 season includes two Wisconsin premieres (SPLASH HATCH ON THE E GOING DOWN, THE TREASURER), one Midwest premiere (SCARECROW) and a revival of a timeless play (THE MOUSETRAP). It showcases Milwaukee talent, including directors Mary MacDonald Kerr (THE MOUSETRAP) and Laura Gordon (SCARECROW). In addition, the latter play is a home-grown story – SCARECROW takes place on a dairy farm outside of Madison, and this is the first time the play will be performed in Wisconsin. Heidi Armbruster, recently seen in the Milwaukee Rep’s GOD OF CARNAGE and WIFE OF A SALESMAN, will perform the play she wrote. Estle’s directorial debut will take place at the end of the season with THE TREASURER. About Next Act Theatre Next Act Theatre engages the hearts and minds of audiences with intimate, compelling productions intended to stimulate thought, foster the exchange of ideas, and promote the development of new perspectives and understanding. Led by Producing Artistic Director, David Cecsarini for 30 seasons, Next Act welcomed Cody Estle in December of 2022 as the new Artistic Director. Next Act continues its tradition of creating high-quality, professional theatre in Milwaukee. The past 30 seasons have earned the company its strong reputation for producing engaging work that feels intimate, powerful and personal. The plays presented are passionate, often bold, sometimes humorous, and always up-close-and-personal presentations of life. A strong, vibrant and financially stable company, Next Act produces a four-show season of contemporary drama. The company is particularly noted for its acting excellence, accessible performance style, and for a varied and consistently interesting selection of plays, chosen from the best new works and off-Broadway hits. Next Act has mounted more than 100 main stage productions, including over 100 area premieres and six original scripts. By Mary Boyle In Greek mythology, Eurydice was the wife of Orpheus, who was known for his musical skills. When Eurydice dies shortly after their wedding, Orpheus travels to the underworld, the land of the dead, to bring her back with the lure of his enchanting music. There, he encounters Hades, the ruler of the dead, who agrees to let Orpheus take Eurydice back to the light, but on one condition: he must lead the way, while Eurydice follows, and he must not look back. This ancient tale, sad as it is, has been retold countless times through the ages, but now it has reached the world of the Broadway musical in the form of HADESTOWN, winner of eight Tony awards, four Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Outstanding New Broadway Musical, and the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical. In short, it was a hit, and thanks to the Broadway at the Marcus Center series, the show has made its way to Milwaukee. Directed by Rachel Chavkin, with music, lyrics and book by celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, the North American touring production of Hadestown stars Nathan Lee Graham as Hermes, who serves as a very enignmatic narrator of the story; Maria-Christina Oliveras as Hades' frustrated wife, Persephone; Matthew Patrick Quinnas as the dark and formidable Hades; J. Antonio Rodriguezas, who is a stand-out, vocally, as Orpheus; and, the lovely Hannah Whitley as Eurydice. The Fates are played by Dominique Kempf, Belén Moyano, and Nyla Watson, and they are a little band in their own right, often playing with the live band that is on stage throughout the production. The Workers Chorus features Jordan Bollwerk, Jamal Lee Harris, Courtney Lauster, Eddie Noel Rodríguez, and Racquel Williams. The music is what makes this production really shine - a blend of modern American folk music with New Orleans-inspired jazz that won the 2020 Grammy for best Musical Theater Album. Paired with the costumes by Michael Krass and scenic design by Rachel Hauck and the entire production comes off as a sort of steam punk meets O Brother Where Art Thou vibe that is entirely compelling. Hermes says, "It's a sad song, but we sing it anyway," and it is sad, but what the audience ultimately walks away with is hope. Orpheus sees the world the way it could be instead of how it is and reaches towards love above all. There is a profound lesson here, should you choose to learn it. HADESTOWN runs through May 7th at the Marcus Center's Uihlein Hall. Tickets to Hadestown start at $40 and are available online at www.MarcusCenter.org, by calling 414-273-7206, or in person at the Marcus Center Box Office at 929 North Water Street in Milwaukee. Groups of 10 or more cansecure their seats by calling 414-273-7207. Ticket buyers are reminded that the Marcus Performing Arts Center Box Office/Ticketmaster are the only official retail ticket outlets for all performances at Marcus Performing Arts Center. Ticket buyers who purchase tickets from a ticket broker or any third party should be aware that Marcus Performing Arts Center is unable to reprint or replace lost or stolen tickets and is unable to contact patrons with information regarding time changes or other pertinent updates regarding the performance. About Marcus Performing Arts Center The Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) serves as a performing arts community gathering space in Southeastern Wisconsin, bringing high-quality arts and cultural programming to the region for over 50 years. As a mission-based non-profit organization located in downtown Milwaukee, MPAC strives to act as an energizing force that connects the community to the world through collaboration, innovation, social engagement, and the transformative power of performing arts. Through multiple performance series and community events, MPAC brings a diverse range of performing arts to the region. Presented series include Johnson Financial Group Broadway at the Marcus Center, MPAC Presents, Dance, Jazz, National Geographic Live, Rainbow Summer, and additional special performances from internationally renowned artists. MPAC's education, community engagement, and inclusion initiatives provide free experiences that annually engage students and life-long learners in Milwaukee. MPAC is proud to be a dedicated War Memorial facility, honoring those who bravely served our country. For more information, visit www.marcuscenter.org. Johnson Financial Group, with offices in Wisconsin and Minnesota, is a privately owned financial services company offering banking, wealth and insurance solutions through its subsidiaries, Johnson Bank, Johnson Wealth, and Johnson Insurance Services. For more information visit johnsonfinancialgroup.com. Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office and Broadway Brands. Led by 18-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 48 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations include Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon and Hamilton. Current and past productions include Ain’t Too Proud, Beautiful, Cats, Chicago, Dear Evan Hansen, Mean Girls, Moulin Rouge! and To Kill A Mockingbird. |
Mary BoyleReviewing live theatre in Wisconsin since 2014. Proud member of the American Theatre Critics Association. #OzTheatre
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