By Mary Boyle

What would it be like if you could tell your family's story as a play?  Not the story you want to tell people, mind you, but the real story — the things that only the people in your family really see.  The arguments and painful words you can't take back; the secrets that only your family really knows.  This brutal reality is what you see in acclaimed Australian playwright Andrew Bovell's Things I Know To Be True, which makes its American Premiere at The Milwaukee Rep this season.

Directed by Mark Clements, The Rep's Artistic Director, Things I Know To Be True is one year in the life of the Price Family:  Bob (Bill Geisslinger) and Fran (Jordan Baker) and their four adult children, Pip (Kelley Faulkner), Mark (Kevin Kantor), Ben (Zach Fifer), and Rosie (Aubyn Heglie).  Rosie is on the traditional post-school European Tour and, when things go wrong, the first thought she has is that she needs to go home.  She surprises her parents, who know immediately that something is amiss and proceed call her older siblings to come over, which they do.  They appear to be a very close-knit and typical Midwestern family in their middle class backyard, and they are: they are also broken, dysfunctional, and struggling to figure out their place in their family and in the world. 

While the description may seem unremarkable, the play is quite remarkable in it's brutal reality, which the playwright does not shy away from, and which every audience member will recognize, in at least some aspect, from their own families.  Each member of the Price clan suffers a personal crisis, in turn, and the way they handle it, and the way the rest of their family handles it, is influenced by their relationship with their family.  The course of the play runs much like life:  from sweet and tender to harsh and raging, and everything in between, with a dance-like quality to it; cast members flowing in and around scenes in a way that beautifully represents the push, pull, give, and take of being a part of a family.  

This is a play quite unlike anything else I've seen at The Rep, which is thanks to the A John (Jack) D. Lewis New Play Development Program, that helped playwright Andrew Bovell make the journey to Milwaukee and adjust the play from its original Australian setting to a Midwestern one.  Kelly Faulkner, a Milwaukee Rep favorite who was seen last season in Always... Patsy Cline and Guys and Dolls, is usually found playing more upbeat roles that involve music and dancing, but proves that she's just as adept in a dramatic role.  Every other cast member is new to The Rep, though their chemistry as a group would suggest otherwise.  Bill Geisslinger as Bob and Jordan Baker as Fran deliver particularly stunning, heart-wrenching performances.

Excellently cast and passionately and beautifully performed, Things I Know To Be True is powerful, emotional, raw, and so terribly beautiful.  This is a play that will be with you for a long time.

Things I Know To Be True runs through March 31st at the Quadracci Theater, located located within the Patty & Jay Baker Theater Complex at 108 E. Wells St. in Milwaukee.  Tickets can be purchased by calling (414) 224-9490, in-person at the Box Office, or online at www.MilwaukeeRep.com.

About Milwaukee Repertory Theater
The Milwaukee Rep is the largest performing arts organization in Wisconsin, in terms of audiences served, and one of the largest professional theaters in the country.  Each year, The Rep welcomes up to 275,000 people at nearly 700 performances of 15 productions, ranging from compelling dramas, powerful classics, new plays, and full-scale musicals in its three unique performance venues: the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Studio, and Stackner Cabaret.  Now in its 65th Season, The Rep has gained a national reputation as an incubator of new work, an agent of community change, and a forward-thinking provider of .vital arts education programs.  Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Executive 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.

By Mary Boyle

Critics of Shakespeare have often said that As You Like It is a second-rate play in that it is not a good example of the exemplary writing the Bard was capable of.  The play, they say, was merely written as a "crowdpleaser."  Crowdpleaser is right  — over 400 years later, and this romantic comedy still brings in the audiences.  Mistaken identities, love at first site, and a thrilling wrestling match — there's something for everyone, and this is especially true when it is being performed by the First Stage Young Company.  Possibly Milwaukee's best-kept theatre secret, these high school-aged young performers deliver professional-quality performances for an unbelievably low cost, which means you can bring your whole family to experience As You Like It.

At its heart, As You Like It is a love story primarily focused on Orlando (Molly Boyle) and Rosalind (Sylvie Arnold).  The youngest of three brothers, Orlando's eldest brother, Oliver (Magdalyn Rowley-Lange), is charged with seeing his two younger brothers properly raised and educated as gentlemen after their father's death.  Jealous of Orlando's goodness, Oliver keeps him home and idle while their middle brother is away at school.  While Orlando endures his brothers hate, the country is also in turmoil:  Duke Senior (Zora Allison) has been overthrown and banished by his brother, Duke Frederick (Eloise Field), and has fled to the forest of Arden with several of his loyal nobles (Megan Grizzle, Isabel Bastardo).  Rosalind, Duke Senior's daughter, was allowed to remain at court with her cousin, Celia (Kayla Salter), as the two are closer than sisters.  Orlando decides to try to gain a name for himself by challenging Duke Frederick's wrestler, Charles (Kamani Graham), where Celia and Rosalind happen to meet him.  One look, and Rosalind and Orlando fall hopelessly in love.

Duke Frederick's servant, Le Beau (Sam Mulvey), warns Orlando that he has made an enemy of the Duke and, if that weren't bad enough, now his brother is plotting to kill him, so he flees with his faithful old servant, Adam (Lindsay Nelson), to the forest of Arden, where they meet up with Duke Senior, his nobles, and the melancholy Jaques (Mary Jensik).  Orlando, in his lovesickness, spends his time covering the forest with poetry written to his true love, Rosalind, and carving her name into the trees.  Meanwhile, Duke Frederick has a change of heart and also banishes Rosalind from the court.  Her and Celia devise a plan to escape by disguising themselves as a peasant man and his sister:  Rosalind becomes "Ganymede" and Celia becomes "Aliena."  Along with the Duke's fool, Touchstone (Bradley Nowacek), the three flee to the forest of Arden, where they purchase a cottage from the poor shepherd, Corin (Kate Ketelhohn), and eventually run into Duke Senior, his men, and Orlando, as well as meeting Silvius (Kamani Graham), a shepherd hopelessly in love with the proud shepherdess, Phoebe (Morgan McKinnis), and Audrey (Addy Grace), a naive and innocent shepherdess who Touchstone wishes to wed. 

​While the story is set in France, Director James Fletcher chose to move the time-period to the 1940's.  The costumes, designed by Lyndsey Kuhlmann, are marvelous, and the music between scenes really helps to ground the play in the period.  The play is edited for time and content, but none of the language is changed, so audiences will get the true Shakespeare experience.  Three of the young performers hail from Oz:  Morgan McKinnis of Grafton, Kate Ketelhohn of Cedarburg, and Molly Boyle of Port Washington.  All three  are Sophomores in high school and in their second year in Young Company, the First Stage Theater Academy’s award-winning training program for advanced high school actors.  Molly and Kate were seen in Young Company's production of Henry V last season, Molly was in Girls in the Boat earlier this season, and Morgan is making her YC debut.  

​Both Morgan and Kate agreed that the best scene of the play is the wrestling match ("It's fun to watch," Kate said), while Kate and Molly both agreed that working with friends was their favorite part of working on the play.  Molly, who plays Orlando, is a unique role in that, historically, female roles were played by men in the time Shakespeare's plays were performed, but Molly, as well as several other female cast members, get to do the reverse.  "It's actually an extremely freeing outlook to take," said Molly about being cast as Orlando.  "Just thinking about what you can and can't do, what people think about you, what you think about other people, and how that informs our physical character so greatly."

Young Company is strongly steeped in Shakespeare:  not only do they perform at least one of the Bard's works each season, members compete in the annual Utah Shakespeare Festival each summer and the YC's yearly (and only) fundraiser, the Bardathon, consists of members getting pledges to memorize as many Shakespearean monologues as possible.  Nonetheless, they never fail to amaze me with their grasp of these great works and their ability to perform them.  Come watch the hijinks of all these lovers in the forest of Arden — you won't be disappointed.

As You Like It runs through March 24th at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, located at 325 W. Walnut St. in downtown Milwaukee.  Tickets are $14 and available online at www.firststage.org or through the First Stage Box Office at (414) 267-2961. Performance runtime is approximately two hours and fifteen minutes, including intermission. Suggested for families with young people ages 12+.

About First Stage
First Stage is one of the nation’s leading theaters for young people and families. First Stage touches hearts, engages minds and transforms lives by creating extraordinary theater experiences 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 promote literacy, character building and experiential learning throughout the curriculum, serving over 20,000 students each year. First Stage was selected to participate in the Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (2012), and was the recipient of the Milwaukee Business Journal’sEureka Award, recognizing creativity and innovation in business, education and the arts for its Next Steps program for students on the autism spectrum (2013, 2015). 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).

March in Wisconsin means one thing:  Fish Fry!  With Lent going on, your local Catholic Churches become a great place to get your fix, whether you are Catholic, or not, and many of them even offer carry out!  Here are some of the best options in Oz to get your Friday Fish Fry!

The Bog  Reservations are recommended for this restaurant on the golf course located at 3121 County Road I in Saukville.  Call (262) 988-1113.

Riverview Inn in Saukville is best known for their pizza, but they also offer a great Friday Fish Fry Special that changes each week.  Located at 3172 N Riverside Drive along the Milwaukee River, this little log-cabin themed restaurant can get pretty crowded, but carry-out is available.

No No's  A traditional supper club on the corner of Highway 33 and County Road Y in Newburg, No No's serves a Friday night Fish Fry, as well as All-You-Can-Eat Smelt every Tuesday and Wednesday from 4-9 p.m.  Call (262) 675-6960 for reservations or more information.

Newport Shores is the only restaurant on the shore of Lake Michigan in Oz, and is well known for their Friday, and Daily, Fish Fry, as well as many other seafood specials.   Located at 407 E. Jackson St. in Port Washington.

Twisted Willow  Port Washington's Farm-to-Table restaurant, located at 308 N. Franklin St. offers a gluten-free Friday Fish Fry served with cole slaw, tartar sauce, fries or potato pancakes, and clam chowder for $13.95.

Juice's Ghost Town Restaurant, located at 990 Ulao Rd. in Grafton, offers a very traditional Friday Fish Fry with a choice of Perch, Haddock, or Walleye and either breaded, beer-battered, pan fried, or broiled.  Children's portions are also available.

Lake Church Pub & Grill  Located at 690 County Road D in Belgium, this humble little restaurant and Inn has quite a reputation for a good Friday Fish Fry.  Perch, Walleye, Cod, and Poor Man's Lobster are all served between 4:30 and 9:30 p.m.


The Landmark in Friestadt is such a local gem it doesn't even have a website or social media, but they have a worthy Friday Fish Fry and they are the stuff of Ozaukee legends.  Located at 10634 W. Friestadt Rd.

The Range Line Inn in Mequon was once a stagecoach stop in the early 1800's, but its been serving a good Friday Fish Fry at 2635 W. Mequon Road for a long time.  Open 4:30-10 p.m.

C. Weisler's is as historic as historic downtown Cedarburg can be, and they serve up a special Fish Fry, including a 3 piece Haddock Plate, a Tilapia Plate, a Lake Perch Plate, and more, from 4:30-9 p.m. every Friday at W61 N493 Washington Ave. in downtown Cedarburg.

The Farmstead in Cedarburg is normally the place to go for steaks, but they do serve a classic Friday Cod Fish Fry, as well, for just $10.95.  Located at W61 N493 Washington Ave. and housed in a beautiful old farmhouse, The Farmstead is a local favorite.

St. John XXIII Catholic Parish All-You-Can-Eat-Fish Fry  Friday, March 8 and 22, and April 5th from 5-8 p.m. at 1802 N. Wisconsin St. in Port Washington.   Dinners Include your choice of Fish (Seafood Platter, Deep Fried Shrimp, Perch, Cod, or Poor Man's Lobster); your choice of Baked Potato, French Fries or Potato Pancake; Coleslaw, Boston Clam Chowder, Coffee, Milk, and Dessert (Cake or Ice Cream). Beer and Soda are available for sale, as well.  Only $13 for adults or $3.50 for a children's cod or grilled cheese dinner.

St. Joseph's Fish Fry  Friday, March 8, 15, 22, and 29, and April 5th from 4:30-7:45 at 1619 Washington St. in Grafton.  Dine in or carry out. Choice of 3 pc. beer battered cod, 3 pc. baked Icelandic cod, 4 pc. fried lake perch, 6 pc. Jumbo Fried Shrimp, 2 pc (1/2 lb) fried walleye for $13; or, try the St. Joe's Platter, featuring 1 fried perch, 2 fried cod, and 3 fried shrimp, plus all of the sides, for $15. Traditional potato pancakes available a la carte. Kids meals available for $6, with your choice of fish, shrimp, hot dog, or mac & cheese. All meals include broasted potatoes, cole slaw, rye bread and butter, coffee* & milk*. Desserts included while they last.  (*not included with carry out)

Divine Savior All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry  Friday, March 15th, and Friday April 5th and 12th at 305 Fredonia Avenue.  Adults $12, Seniors $10, Children under 10 $6, and Carry-Out or Curbside is $11.  Grilled Cheese is available for children.  Call ahead for Curbside orders at (262) 692-2141.

Philippe Coquard, winemaker for both Cedar Creek Winery and Wollersheim Winery, along with merchants of The Shops of Cedar Creek Settlement, invite guests to the 29th Annual Open House, Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10 from 10-5.  The Winery will be celebrating two delicious  wines, the 2018 Marquette and a brand new Dry White from Wisconsin grown St. Pepin grapes (and as yet un-named until it’s tasted)!
 
The Open House event is free and open to the public and features two festive days with barrel tasting a 2018 vintage, music, cooking-with-wine, in-shop demonstrations/samplings, wine tastings, self-guided tours, Wisconsin cheese samplings from 10-4, spring showcases and more throughout the Shops of Cedar Creek Settlement. 
 
The Winery, nestled in the three story 150 year old restored limestone and tamarack timber Wittenberg Woolen Mill, will offer guests the opportunity to barrel-taste the 2018 Marquettewith Winemaker Philippe Coquard at 11:00 & 2:00 Saturday and Winery General Manager Steve Danner, Sunday at 11:30 & 2:00 as well as sampling Cedar Creek Winery’s many award-winning wines. Philippe will also demonstrate Grapevine Pruning Saturday at 1:00 p.m.  
 
Enjoy live music 12:00-4:00 daily. Saturday enjoy the music and songs of our favorite entertainer Joey LaVie, formerly of rock bands Bad Boy, Moxy Roxx and The Rage.  On Sunday, musician and singer Marr’Lo Parada, a WAMI Male Vocalist of the Year nominee, will entertain. In the Wine Cellar.  Guests can savor delightful Cooking-with-Wine demonstrations and samplings using Cedar Creek Wines. Saturday at 3:00 p.m., Chef Andrew Wilson from Cedarburg’s new, highly acclaimed restaurant, Brandywine, will be cooking. Sunday at 3:00, Chef John D’Amico from The Anvil Pub & Grille will cook, and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Chef Stephanie Baldwin of Cedar Creek Winery will be creating a wonderful Syrah Plum Sauce, perfect with grilled meats using the Winery’s Syrah.
 
A special treat this year is the Winemaker’s Special.  For every purchase of a 12 bottle case, a 13th bottle of Waterfall Riesling will be added.  In 2018, the Waterfall Riesling was awarded the Best of Class at the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition in San Bernardino, Platinum (94 points) at the Critics Challenge in San Diego , as well as a Double Gold and other Gold and Silver Medals in 2018 competitions.
 
Settlement merchants will be giving guests a free reusable Settlement logo tote (one per family) to help carry all the wonderful spring purchases to be found in the shops. The 25 retail merchants at the Settlement will host in-store special features, discounts, demonstrations, samplings and fresh new merchandise from the Settlement’s many boutiques and galleries. There will be a daily drawing for a Gift Basket loaded with Settlement items and gift certificates worth $200 or more.  Enjoy a delicious meal at one of three Settlement restaurants: Anvil Pub & Grille, Cream & Crepe and Tomaso’s.
 
Plan a trip to the Winery/Settlement Open House and make a day of it. Find out why readers of Wisconsin Trails Magazine have named Cedarburg “the best place to spend the day shopping”.

By Mary Boyle

One thing that people really don't like to talk about is aging.  Planning for the end of one's life just isn't a very happy subject, of course, but avoiding the subject and not making your wishes clear very early on can lead to a lot of family drama in the future — though hopefully not as much drama as Alexandra experiences in The Velocity of Autumn, a new play by Eric Coble, being staged by In Tandem Theatre in Milwaukee through March 17th at the intimate and casual Tenth Street Theatre.

Eighty years old and widowed, Alexandra lives alone in a classic brownstone in Brooklyn; the place where she raised her three children, the place where she made her art, and the place where she fully intends to continue living alone until she dies.  The trouble is, her two oldest children are not on board with her plan, and they have reached a rather extreme stand-off:  Alexandra has barricaded herself in her home, threatening to blow the place up if anyone should try and remove her.  Chris, Alexandra's youngest son who hasn't been home in 20 years, is sent in through a window to be a negotiator; not exactly the scene of a happy family reunion.

Directed by Chris Flieller, The Velocity of Autumn is not, in itself, a terribly remarkable play as far as the writing goes, but it does draw forth some hard truths, in an often funny way, about aging, bringing about discussion on a difficult topic in the way that theatre is so brilliant at doing.  What makes this particular production worth seeing is the cast.  When it comes to Milwaukee’s finest actors, Angela Iannone is arguably one of the finest.  A regular on Milwaukee stages and beyond, Iannone has been seen for the past few year’s on The Milwaukee Rep’s stage in A Christmas Carol, and has had multiple roles at In Tandem; she brings to life any character she plays, and she is a fascinating actor to watch.  Steven Marzolf, who plays Chris, is an accomplished actor and director in his own right, and makes his return to the In Tandem stage over a decade after appearing in Two Rooms.  Together, they take two underdeveloped characters and a somewhat predictable script and make it worth watching.

The Velocity of Autumn runs through March 17th at the Tenth Street Theatre, located at 628 N. 10th St. in Milwaukee.  Tickets are available by calling the Tenth Street Theatre Box Office at (414) 271-1371 or online at http://www.intandemtheatre.org.  Join In Tandem for Giggles for Grown ups on Saturday, April 6th; a special fundraiser featuring a silent auction, wine pull, 50/50 raffle, cash bar, heavy appetizers and comedy & improv, galore!

​About In Tandem Theatre
In Tandem Theatre, a 501(c)3 non-profit, was founded in 1998 with the commitment to produce exciting, innovative and professional live theatre by presenting creative and eclectic programming that enlightens, inspires, provokes and entertains a diverse audience in an intimate atmosphere. Its name, In Tandem Theatre, reflects the connection between audience and actor, the audience and the written word – an intimate experience obtained when live audiences are engaged in strong storytelling.

By Mary Boyle

Growing up in Thiensville, Alex Uhan's parents exposed him to all kinds of music, but the stuff that really stuck was the Country.  His passion for the genre has brought him into close contact with some big name artists over the years, taking him on tour buses, and even on the stage.  Fast forward to 2014, when this Homestead High School graduate who had relocated to Cedarburg came up with an idea for a Country Music concert to be performed locally, and in a smaller, more intimate venue than the artist would normally play.  The Summer Sounds concert series at Cedar Creek Park introduced him to just the right location and, in 2017, Uhan ran the idea past the Cedarburg Common Council, who were in full support.  Country in the Burg was born.

"I wanted to organize a concert that would do two things: bring in a Country artist who wouldn't normally come to our little town and benefit a charity," Uhan explained.

​Three charities, actually.  The first was a no-brainer:  Mel's Charities has been raising money for Ozaukee causes for the past 20 years, donating over one million dollars locally through their "great times for great causes."  The second charity was Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, who have been providing healthcare solely for children for 125 years.  Finally, Uhan also chose the Wounded Warrior Project, in honor of family members and friends who have served in the military.  The WWP serves veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wounds while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001.

Uhan knew he had the City behind him, and he already had artists on board, but he wanted to gauge the interest of the community.  This past March, he created a Facebook Event for the concert and, in just 2 months, over 2,000 people were interested.  Now, nearly a year later, the event is closing in on 9,000 - double the number of people than there are tickets to the event, which will take place on August 24th at Cedar Creek Park.

"There are a limited amount of General Admission tickets left, and I expect to sell out long before the concert — Kip Moore (the headliner) is huge," Uhan chuckled.  Huge, indeed; Moore incurred a fine for playing past curfew at Summerfest this past season because the adoring audience demanded more. 

​Opening for Moore are Cedarburg native, Josh Thompson, who has written songs for the likes of Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, and Darius Rucker, as well as having a successful Country Music career of his own, and David Nail, whose latest album, Only This And Nothing More, was included in the Rolling Stone Magazine list of "12 New Albums to Stream Now."  Originally, the band Love and Theft were scheduled to play, but then a scheduling conflict took them out of the line-up; however, Uhan is thrilled to have a Cedarburg hometown boy in their place.

Unlike the Summer Sounds concert, Cedar Creek Park will be completely fenced in for Country in the Burg.  Those with VIP tickets, at a cost of $89, will be center stage, with access to their own beer vendor and bathrooms.  General Admission tickets, which are $59, allows you to bring in a chair, but it's expected that most people will be standing for the entire event.  While there will be lots reserved for parking, Uhan doesn't expect it to be a problem, stating:  "Strawberry Festival brings far more people into town than this concert will, and there is no special parking lot for that."

Uhan hopes that the event will create an atmosphere similar to  "Country Thunder" — a music festival that takes place in Twin Lakes, WI — although much smaller.  More importantly, he hopes attendees will feel good that their ticket purchase will not only allow them to see three great artists in a great venue with a great view, it will also help three great charities.

Country in the Burg will take place on Saturday, August 24, 2019, from 5-11 p.m. at Cedar Creek Park in Cedarburg, WI.  A limited number of General Admission tickets are available, and may be purchased at: tickets.midwestix.com/event/country-in-the-burg-2019/.

By Mary Boyle

Most children in public schools in America take a US History class.  If I mention the words "Manifest Destiny," "Transcontinental Railroad," and "Gold Rush," most people will have at least a hazy recollection of learning about these things in class.  You may remember that many of the workers who built the Transcontinental Railroad, for instance, were Chinese, and that many of those workers came here by the lure of California's Gold Rush but, as far as the Chinese in America are concerned, that's about all your average person would know.  Digging into that history a bit further is what inspired playwright Lloyd Suh to write The Chinese Lady, which premiered just last July in Massachutses, then in New York this past October, and now continues its journey on The Rep's Stiemke Studio stage as part of the John (Jack) D. Lewis New Play Development Program.

Directed by May Adrales, who also directed In the Heights earlier this season at The Rep, The Chinese Lady is based on the true story of Afong Moy, who was brought to the US by the Carne Brothers, importers of Chinese goods, in 1834 when she was just 14 years old.  She was set up as an exhibit in the Peale Museum in New York in a room furnished with the very goods that the Carne Brothers imported (and which were conveniently available for purchase after the show). Audiences paid to watch Moy eat with chopsticks, drink tea in a ritualistic manner, and walk about on her tiny, bound feet.  This was the age of P.T. Barnum, whose American Museum in New York featured a number of physically or culturally different people in what was very much a human zoo and, while the supposed point of these exhibitions was education, in truth, the people in the exhibits, like Afong Moy, were being exploited.

Lisa Helmi Johanson delivers a moving performance as Afong Moy, who is assisted by her translator and helper, Atung, played by Jon Norman Schneider.  Moy begins her time in America when China's contact with the Western world is limited; she is a true anomaly and views herself as an ambassador of her culture and a potential bridge between China and America.  When the people see her, they will see a true Chinese lady.  As time moves on, the relationship between China and America changes through economic and political changes of which Moy isn't even aware, but which affect how she is viewed by audiences, as well as her value to her employers.  Racism, sexism, imperialism, cultural appropriation — The Chinese Lady touches on all of these topics while providing the US History lesson we all missed out on, and yet, the play is not about these things, but about really seeing one another.  Timely and exceptionally well-written, Milwaukee audiences are privileged to be among the first to see this play, thanks to The Rep's commitment to new work — don't miss the opportunity.

The Chinese Lady runs through March 24th at the Stiemke Studio, located within the Patty & Jay Baker Theater Complex at 108 E. Wells St. in Milwaukee.  Tickets can be purchased by calling (414) 224-9490, in-person at the Box Office, or online at www.MilwaukeeRep.com.

About Milwaukee Repertory Theater
The Milwaukee Rep is the largest performing arts organization in Wisconsin, in terms of audiences served, and one of the largest professional theaters in the country.  Each year, The Rep welcomes up to 275,000 people at nearly 700 performances of 15 productions, ranging from compelling dramas, powerful classics, new plays, and full-scale musicals in its three unique performance venues: the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Studio, and Stackner Cabaret.  Now in its 65th Season, The Rep has gained a national reputation as an incubator of new work, an agent of community change, and a forward-thinking provider of .vital arts education programs.  Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Executive 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.​

By Mary Boyle

Even if you've never seen a production of Fiddler on the Roof, it's highly likely that you've heard the music: "Tradition,"  "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" and, of course, the quintessential "If I Were A Rich Man."  Opening on Broadway in 1964, Fiddler was nominated for 10 Tony Awards and won 9 of them, including one for Best Musical.  It was the first musical to surpass 3,000 performances, held the title of Longest Running Broadway Musical for nearly a decade, has seen numerous revivals, and is often seen on high school and community theatre stages.  Clearly there's a reason this production has become a Broadway classic, and now you can see why for yourself, as the Broadway at the Marcus Center series presents Fiddler on the Roof through February 17th.

Based on the turn-of-the-twentieth-century stories of the Jewish settlements in Imperial Russia by Sholom Aleichem, Fiddler is the tale of  Tevye (Yehezkel Lazarov), a poor dairyman struggling to keep his wife, Golde (Maite Uzal), and his five daughters fed, clothed, and raised according to their tradition.  Their life, Tevye says,  is "as precarious as the perch of a fiddler on a roof."  Tevye's oldest daughter, Tzeitel (Mel Weyn), is ready to wed and, according to tradition, she must accept whoever the Matchmaker Yente (Carol Beaugard), chooses for her, but the matchmaker is not known for her good choices.  In her mind, "A bad husband, God forbid, is worse than no husband, God forbid."  Torn between his faith and what his daughters truly want, Tevya seems to be pushed further and further from the tradition that binds their community together, while the community, itself, is being pushed by the Russians.

With book by the Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and choreography inspired by the original Broadway Director and Choreographer, Jerome Robbins, this 2015 revival of Fiddler on the Roof, directed by Bartlett Sher and choreographed by Hofesh Shechter, is steeped in a tradition of its own.  The cast is unbelievably talented, led by Yehezkel Lazarov as Tevye, who delivers a brilliant performance.  Though the music of Fiddler is familiar to most, the dancing in the production is equally impressive and inspiring.  From set design to costumes and orchestra to cast, this production has that "larger than life" feel to it that a true Broadway production should have.  If seeing a "real" Broadway show is on your bucket list, don't miss this one.

Fiddler on the Roof runs through Sunday, February 17th at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts Uihlein Hall, located at 929 N. Water St. in Milwaukee.  Tickets may be purchased by calling 414.273.7206 or online at: https://www.marcuscenter.org/show/fiddler-on-roof

The 2018/19 Broadway at the Marcus Center series has more great shows coming up this season!  Join them for Phantom of the Opera, The King and I, Come From Away, and Anastasia.  The 2019/20 Broadway at the Marcus Center series has just been announced, and includes Hamilton, My Fair Lady, The Lion King, and Dear Evan Hansen!