By Mary Boyle

​Though it may be hard to believe, Skylight Music Theatre is celebrating their 65th season in Milwaukee, which is a good long run for any theatre company – a testament to the people’s love of musicals and to the organization’s strong leadership over the years.  Lending to the appeal is certainly the gorgeous Cabot Theatre (Milwaukee’s best theatre venue, IMHO), located within the Broadway Theatre Center in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward.  Built in 1992, the Cabot is a recreation of an 18th Century French opera house and is a lovely and intimate space for musical productions.  To kick off the season, Skylight managed to snag the Midwest Premiere of WAITRESS, the four-time Tony Award nominated Broadway musical featuring music and lyrics by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles and book by Jessie Nelson.

I had never seen the 2007 film Waitress by Adrienne Shelly, and starring Keri Russell, that this musical is based on, but the storyline is the same.  Jenna (Julia Levinson) is a master at creating pies – a skill she learned from her mother when she was just a child.  Unfortunately, baking wasn’t the only thing Jenna inherited from her mother; both women found themselves stuck in an abusive relationship.  Working as a waitress and making her pies at a local diner with the cook, Cal (Andrew Varela) and her two coworkers, Becky (Raven Monique Dockery) and Dawn (Alex Merkel), doesn’t pay much, but what little Jenna makes goes to her controlling husband, Earl (Jared Brandt Hoover).  When Jenna learns she’s pregnant, she becomes desperate to find a way out of her marriage. Surprisingly, her ticket out comes from her most difficult customer, Joe (Robert A. Zimmerman), a surly elderly widow who also happens to be the owner of the diner.  A big fan of Jenna’s pies, Joe encourages Jenna to enter an upcoming pie contest offering a large sum of money as the prize.  While Jenna begins to stash away money to enter the contest and struggles with the idea of becoming a mother, she stumbles into another complicated relationship with her new doctor, Dr. Pomatter (Matthew Kacergis).

Directed by Trey Compton and Lisa Shriver, with music direction by Janna Ernst, WAITRESS is as sassy and sweet as Jenna’s pies, on the surface, but also contains a surprising amount of depth as you get through it.  Julia Levinson, who makes her Skylight debut as Julia, is more than up to the vocal challenge of Bareilles’ music and truly perfect for the role.  Skylight favorite Andrew Varela is nearly unrecognizable as Cal the cook and, lacking the types of vocally complex characters he normally plays, shows his acting skills are every bit as good as his voice.  Local actors and Skylight alumni Jared Brandt Hoover and Raven Monique Docker are both impressive in their roles as Earl and Becky, respectively, and Alex Merkel, who is a recent Marquette University graduate, is delightful as Dawn.  Also making a Skylight debut is Matthew Kacergis as Dr. Pommater, who is a lovely accompaniment to Levinson, and Brade Bradshaw, who is an absolutely hysterical scene-stealer as Dawn’s blind date, Ogie.

WAITRESS made Broadway history because the entire production team is made up of women.  The musical was popular enough that a filmed version of the 2021 show, starring Bareilles as Jenna, was released in 2023.  While the musical has some unnecessarily embarrassing love scenes that lean towards being crass, the overall message of love and kindness is one the world needs, right now.  Jenna finds it easy to love and care for people through her baking, but it turns out that loving ourselves is not as easy as pie – yet the results can be life changing for those who find the courage.  A strong and talented cast, combined with great set design by Jonathan Berg-Einhorn and costumes by Lisa Quinn, makes for an excellent opening production for Skylight’s 65th season; plus, a delightful little surprise awaits at the end of this feel-good show that may well be the cherry on the top.  Don’t miss it!
 
WAITRESS runs through October 27th at the Cabot Theatre, located within the the Broadway Theatre Center at 158 N. Broadway in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. Tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at 414-291-7800 or by visiting www.skylightmusictheatre.org.
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Don’t miss Skylight’s amazing 2024-2025 season! Celebrate the Holidays with Oliver!  (November 15 – December 29, 2024), experience a Modern and Hilarious Take on a Classic Love Story with Juliet and Romeo  (January 17 – February 2, 2025), take in the Midwest Premiere of Frankenstein: The Musical  (February 21 – March 9, 2025), and be there for the Season Finale and Skylight Premiere of Sister Act  (April 4 – 27, 2025)!
 
About Skylight Music Theatre
Skylight Music Theatre is a professional theatre company that produces high-quality musical productions that entertain, educate, and inspire. We are committed to providing a platform for local talent and showcasing the best of Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1959, Skylight is Milwaukee’s professional Equity music theatre company and the state's largest employer of Wisconsin actors. Skylight produces the full range of music theatre, from blockbuster Broadway musicals to reimagined operas, and from exciting world premieres to contemporary off-Broadway hits. Skylight’s mainstage home is the Cabot Theatre in the Broadway Theatre Center, which was built by Skylight in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward in 1992. Considered to be one of Milwaukee’s most beautiful theatres, the Cabot Theatre is based on the design of an 18th-century French opera house. With just 350 seats it offers audiences great views of the action onstage and an undeniable connection with the performers. Skylight Music Theatre marks its 65th season in 2024-2025. Skylight Music Theatre is a proud Cornerstone Member of the United Performing Arts Fund.

By Mary Boyle

No child of the 80’s could forget Tim Burton’s 1988 comedy horror film Beetlejuice.  Starring Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Catherine O’ Hara, Jeffery Jones, and Winona Ryder, the movie went on to become a cult classic that has inspired a sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, in theaters now, with Keaton, O’Hara, and Ryder returning to the cast.  With all the resurgence of Beetlejuice mania, you wouldn’t want to miss your chance to see BEETLEJUICE the Broadway Musical, happening at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts through October 6th!

With music & lyrics by Eddie Perfect and book by Scott Brown and Anthony King, Beetlejuice hit Broadway in 2019, earning 8 Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Musical.  The US National Tour began in 2022, a year before the show closed on Broadway.  Based on the 1988 film, the musical essentially follows the same general storyline.  The musical begins at the funeral for the mother of Lydia Deetz (Nevada Riley, who made her Broadway debut in Beetlejuice and has continued with the tour), but then the audience is introduced to the real star of the show in what is probably the highlight of the show: a number called “The Whole Being Dead Thing” performed by Beetlejuice (Justin Collette) and cast.  In this part of the production, audiences will understand why the show isn’t recommended for kids 12 and under.  For those easily offended, this is the part where you will be offended; for everyone else, it’s fun on a Book of Mormon level.

Following that initiation, we meet Barbara and Adam Maitland (Megan McGinnis and Will Burton), a young couple who are in love with each other and restoring their old home, just before they meet their untimely demise.  Beetlejuice, who is in need of the assistance of some recently deceased people, convinces the Maitlands he’s there to help them rid their cherished house from its new owners, Charles Deetz (Jesse Sharp) and his daughter, Lydia, and Delia (Sarah Litzsinger), who was hired to help Lydia with her depression, but who is now having an affair with Charles.  For whatever reason, Lydia can see and hear the Maitlands and, instead of being scared, she is enamored.  Lydia hopes that her new connection with the dead will lead her back to her mother, while Beetlejuice hopes to return to the living – can either one of them get what they want?

Directed by Alex Timbers, this version of Beetlejuice goes deeper into the emotional trauma both Lydia and her father are experiencing after the death of their mother and wife, as well as the common theme between the characters as being unseen and unheard, putting it constantly in danger of going into sappy territory; however, Beetlejuice makes sure that doesn’t happen.  Whatever inappropriateness you recall from Michael  Keaton’s Beetlejuice, triple it for the musical version – this really is a show for mature audiences, when it comes to content.  Just when you think you’re in danger of feeling sad, Beetlejuice pops up to make it all funny…or awkward.  Beyond that, it’s definitely a Broadway musical, complete with big and impressive set designs by David Korins, spectacular dance numbers choreographed by Michael Fatica, fun costumes by William Ivey Long, gigantic puppets by Michael Curry, and great musical numbers directed by Andy Gobengieser.  While not a life-altering piece of theatre, Beetlejuice is a delightfully wicked good time, and just in time for spooky season, to boot!

BEETLEJUICE runs through October 6th at the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Uihlein Hall, located at 929 N. Water Street in Downtown Milwaukee. Tickets may be purchased online at www.MarcusCenter.org, calling 414-273-7206 or by visiting the MPAC Box Office.  Groups of 10 or more can secure their seats by calling 414-273-7207.

About Marcus Performing Arts Center
A mission-based non-profit organization located in downtown Milwaukee, the Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) brings high-quality arts and cultural programming to Southeastern Wisconsin. 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 the performing arts. Through multiple performance series, community events, and educational experiences, MPAC brings a diverse range of celebrated artists to the region. A fixture in Milwaukee for over 50 years, MPAC is proud to be part of the Milwaukee Theater District, as well as a dedicated War Memorial facility. Learn more at 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.
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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 20-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 productions include & Juliet, Hadestown, Hamilton, Kimberly Akimbo, MJ: The Musical and Moulin Rouge! The Musical.




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