 Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents Always…Patsy Cline in the Stackner Cabaret, March 22 – May 20, 2018 featuring Kelley Faulkner as Patsy Cline and Tami Workentin as Louise Seger. Photo by Michael Brosilow  Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents Always…Patsy Cline in the Stackner Cabaret, March 22 – May 20, 2018 featuring Kelley Faulkner as Patsy Cline and Tami Workentin as Louis Seger. Photo by Michael Brosilow. By Mary Boyle Patsy Cline is widely considered a pioneer in Country Music. In the late 1950's and early 1960's, Cline made a name for herself in Nashville, but her blend of country, swing, do-wop, and rock & roll helped her cross over to pop music, with hits such as "Walkin' After Midnight" and "Crazy" — songs that nearly anyone would recognize, country music fan or not. Tragically, Cline died in a plan crash in 1963 at the early age of 30, but her popularity hasn't faded. In 1973, she was the first female solo artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and millions of her records have been sold since her death. Fans of Cline, and any music afficianado, will appreciate the opportunity to hear not only Cline's music, but a fun and fascinating story about the iconic singer at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre's production of Always...Patsy Cline, now through May 20th at The Rep's Stackner Cabaret. Created by Ted Swindley, and directed by Laura Braza, this musical tribute to the legendary singer is based on a true story about a friendship between Cline (Kelly Faulkner) and a fan, Louise Seger (Tami Workentin), that developed after they met at a Honky Tonk in Dallas where Cline was performing in 1961. Louise, a sassy, big-haired Texas girl, is the narrator of the tale, and tells the audience how she fell in love with Cline's music the moment she heard her on the Arthur Godfrey Show in 1957. When Cline comes to her neck of the woods for a concert, Louise arrives early for the show and is shocked to find her idol all alone and killing time by the juke box — and even more shocked when she agrees to join her at her table. Milwaukee favorite, Kelly Faulkner, who opened The Rep's season as Adelaide in Guys & Dolls, does absolute justice to Cline's music, but Tami Workentin can't help but steal the show. Louise is as unrefined, boisterous, and obnoxious as Patsy is ladylike, reserved, and polished, and the contrast between the two makes the nearly instant friendship between them, bound by both music and motherhood, all the more interesting. Music Director and Rep Associate Artist, Dan Kazemi, who also did the music direction Guys & Dolls earlier this season, seemed perfectly at home onstage on piano, alongside Patrick Morrow on Drums and Mike Ritter on bass. The musical performance, in and of itself, is first rate, but the story behind it makes for a show that anyone would enjoy. Always...Patsy Cline runs through May 20th at the Stackner Cabaret, 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. The Milwaukee Rep recently announced its 65th Season, which will be the largest season in over a decade, featuring 15 productions across four venues with nearly 700 performances, including expanded programming in the Stiemke Studio. The lineup includes Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony-winning musical, In the Heights; the World Premier ofMark Twain's River of Song and, back by popular demand, Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, at the Stackner Cabaret; August Wilson's Two Trains Running; and, Milwaukee's favorite holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol. Subscription packages are on sale now! About The Rep In its 64th 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.
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  By Mary Boyle Ozaukee is the home of artists of all kinds but, this past week, Ozaukee Living Local had a chance to catch up with fine art painter, Melissa Courtney, of Mequon, who was a recently featured artist in the FRANK & CO newsletter, a publication dedicated to bringing visual arts news throughout Wisconsin. A graduate of MIAD with a degree in painting, Courtney says she's always known she was an artist. "I didn't choose it," she explained, "I just was. I was shy as a kid and I swear I drew my friends." Courtney's paintings are rich in texture, and display conceptual imagery focused on emotion and connection, while her printmaking work is clearly inspired by her love of vintage textiles. Her work can be seen at the Var Gallery and Studios, the James May Gallery, and the Fredrick Layton Gallery at MIAD. Courtney will also be participating in the WMSE Art & Music Fundraiser, coming up on April 6th at the Historic Pritzlaff in downtown Milwaukee, as one of the live painters. Although she calls Mequon home, Courtney's favorite place in Oz is the lakefront in Port Washington, where she can watch the boats on the water. Hear more from Courtney, herself, in this Frank & Co. Podcast, and be sure to support your local artists!  Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents "Until the Flood," written and performed by Dael Orlandersmith in the Stiemke Studio, March 13 – April 22, 2018. Photo by Michael Brosilow.  Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents Until the Flood, written and performed by Dael Orlandersmith in the Stiemke Studio, March 13 – April 22, 2018. Photo by Michael Brosilow. By Mary Boyle Dael Orlandersmith is no stranger to hardship. Growing up in Harlem, she escaped the drugs and violence of her neighborhood by reading, writing, and acting; using these arts to tell her story through various plays. In 2002, Orlandersmith wrote Yellowman, a play about a black couple in South Carolina, which ended up being nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. After the shooting in Ferguson, Orlandersmith was commissioned to write a play; after all, who knew better than her about the power of theatre to heal? What she created is, perhaps, what live theatre is truly made for: to speak aloud the thoughts and ideas of an entire community; forcing the audience to bear witness to all sides of the story. This is Until the Flood. Directed by Neel Keller, Until the Flood documents the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri on August 9th, 2014. A recent high school graduate, Brown was leaving a local market with a friend where serveilance footage shows he stole cigarillos. The theft was reported to police, and officer Wilson confronted Brown just 5 minutes later, asking him and his friend to move to the sidewalk from the window of his cruiser. Just a minute later, Officer Wilson fired two shots from inside his cruiser, and Brown ran, but then stopped and moved back towards Officer Wilson. Although Brown was unarmed, Officer Wilson shot Brown, and just 10 minutes after Brown had left the market, he was dead. The following day, the St. Louis County Police held a press conference and reported that Brown was shot because he reached for an unnamed officer's gun. Demonstrators gathered close to where Brown was shot, and looting, violence, and rioting erupted, with police responding with tear gas and rubber bullets. In the following days, as surveillance footage was released and two reporters were arrested, the Governor of Missouri declared a state of emergency, and the National Guard was deployed as the protests continued. After 100 days, with still no word about whether Wilson would be charged in Brown's death, protesters staged a "die in." Finally, on November 25th, the grand jury decided not to indict Darren Wilson, which caused another round of rioting across Ferguson. It's no accident that The Rep's Artistic Director, Mark Clements, brought this play to Milwaukee now. Milwaukee had its own version of Ferguson in April of 2014 when Dontre Hamilton was shot 14 times by Officer Christopher Manney at Red Arrow Park, and again in August of 2016, when Sylville Smith was shot twice in Sherman Park, causing a riot. Until the Flood is part of The Neighborhood Series this season at The Rep: three plays about community that began with One House Over, and will end with Thornton Wilder's classic, Our Town. In conjunction with the series, The Rep will host over 80 engagement events to spark dialogue about the issues facing the Milwaukee community, including Act II Dialoges following every performance of Until the Flood, in which the audience will hear a five-minute response from a community leader, and then join fellow audience members in small group conversations facilitated by the Frank Zeidler Center for Public Discussion. While Orlandersmith interviewed a wide variety of residents in Ferguson in order to create her play, the various characters she plays, from a middle-aged white woman, to a black teenager, to an elderly black man, are not real people, and their words are not direct quotes, but composites of the people she interviewed. In this way, the play is not truly a documentary, and the artistic license this provides allows Orlandersmith to tell the story in a way that is still truthful, but arranged for maximum impact. The stories of her characters tell "many truths," some of which are difficult to hear, but essential to understanding the full scope of the story, and how we might go about making changes to ensure that the next young black man's story will have a different ending. Powerful and thought-provoking, Until the Flood is truly a conversation every community should have. Until the Flood runs through April 22nd 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. The Milwaukee Rep recently announced its 65th Season, which will be the largest season in over a decade, featuring 15 productions across four venues with nearly 700 performances, including expanded programming in the Stiemke Studio. The lineup includes Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony-winning musical, In the Heights; the World Premier of Mark Twain's River of Song and, back by popular demand, Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, at the Stackner Cabaret; August Wilson's Two Trains Running; and, Milwaukee's favorite holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol. Subscription packages are on sale now! About The Rep In its 64th 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.  Milwaukee favorite, James Pickering, is Gunner, a man struggling with dimentia, in "The Outgoing Tide" through March 18 at In Tandem Theatre in Milwaukee. Photo by Mark Frohna.  Susan Sweeny as Peg, James Pickering as Gunner, and Simon Jon Provan as Jack in "The Outgoing Tide" at In Tandem Theatre, through March 18, in Milwaukee. Photo by Mark Frohna. By Mary Boyle Aging is a certain and unavoidable fact of life, and caring for the elderly in our families is something every generation from the beginning of time has had to do; and yet, the way it is done, and the landscape it is done in, has changed dramatically over time—particularly over the past 50 years. While the wonders of modern medicine and improved safety, keep us alive longer, it also means we live long enough to experience the decay of old age: loss of mobility, memory issues, and long-term health problems. At the same time, family dynamics have changed; quite often, both parents need to work to support a family, and can no longer bear the burden of caring for an aging parent. The growing number of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health care businesses attest to the fact that families are often choosing, or are forced, to relinquish the responsibility of care to others. What, then, is an elderly person to do when they can no longer care for themselves, but don't wish to be a burden to their family or to enter a care facility? This is just one of the questions to ponder in The Outgoing Tide, written by Bruce Graham and directed by Chris Flieller, at In Tandem Theatre in Milwaukee. Gunner (James Pickering) and his wife, Peg (Susan Sweeny), have enjoyed a quiet retirement at what was once their summer home on Chesapeake Bay, but Gunner has begun to experience frequent bouts of dimentia. When their son, Jack (Simon Jon Provan) comes for a visit, his mother begs him to help her convince his father to move into a retirement home; however, Jack has already visited it, and he's not so sure it's the best place for his Dad. While Gunner has moments when he doesn't recognize his own son, he does know one thing for certain: he didn't work hard all his life to give his money to "a bunch of doctors," and he isn't going to be one of those "vegetables" sitting in a wheelchair. In fact, Gunner has a plan to make sure that he doesn't end up that way, but he wants Jack and Peg's approval. Will they give it to him? More importantly, should they? While the topic may not seem like a good time at first glance, Gunner is quite the character, and he keeps the audience laughing throughout the play, often at his own expense. A blue collar, hardworking man's man who loves to fish and married his high school sweetheart, Gunner, played flawlessly by Milwaukee's own James Pickering, is easily recognizable—everyone has a father, grandfather or uncle like Gunner. In fact, all of the characters are relatable and familiar, and their experiences and struggles are the experiences and struggles of our age, making this production as personal as perhaps any play I've ever seen. Alternatingly funny and poignant, The Outgoing Tide forces us to ask ourselves difficult questions about life and death, and opens conversations that we all should have. People have asked me, "Is it a sad play?" It's not. That being said, what it is will likely look different to each viewer: thought-provoking, surprising, eye-opening—perhaps even hopeful and heroic. You have to see it for yourself to decide. The Outgoing Tide runs through March 18th at In Tandem Theatre, located at 628 N. 10th St. in Milwaukee. Tickets are available by calling (414) 271-1371 or online at www.intandemtheatre.org. About In Tandem Theatre In Tandem Theatre, a 501(c)3 nonprofit theatre located in Milwaukee, was founded in 1998 by Chris and Jane Flieller 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. In Tandem Theatre is committed to creating innovative, exciting live theatre designed to inspire, enlighten, provoke and entertain a diverse audience through comedy, drama, musicals, classics and new works. By Mary Boyle O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend  The First Stage Young Company's production of Shakespeare's 'Henry V,' through March 24th at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. Photo by Paul Ruffolo Photography. These are the opening lines to one of Shakespeare's most beloved histories; the final play of the tetralogy that begins with Richard II and continues with Henry IV, Part I and Henry IV, Part II, in which we meet the future king as Prince Harry. After his father's death, Henry assumes the throne of England and leads an army to claim France as his own at the famous Battle of Agincourt. A tale as epic as can be, played by a company nationally renowned for their excellence in performing the Bard: this is Young Company's HENRY V. The Young Company is the advanced, college-level actor training program at First Stage Theater Academy, open to high school students who are serious about their training and development as actors. Young Company has a strong focus on Shakespeare; they produce two public shows with First Stage each season, and one of them is always by the Bard. Each year, Young Company takes a team to compete at the Utah Shakespeare Festival High School Competition, and they never fail to bring home awards. This past Fall, they won Sweepstakes First Place and Ensemble First Place in the Essex Division. Now in its fourteenth season, Milwaukee's own Matt Daniels was named Director of the company this year, while former Director and the founder of Young Company, John Maclay, is now the Director of Artistic Development. The Young Company cast for HENRY V includes: Bree Kazinski (as Constable of France/Ensemble) from Dousman; Casey Dobson (as Duke of Bourbon/Ensemble), Emily Repetti (as Fluellen/Ely) and Megan Watson (as Chorus/Ensemble) from Wauwatosa; Chantae Miller (as Katherine/LeFer) from Waukesha; Dakota Komorowski (as King Charles VI of France/Ensemble) from Kansasville; Elliott Brotherhood (as King Henry V) from Mequon; Eloise Field (as Boy/Ensemble) from Oconomowoc; Jacob Badovski (as Duke of Exeter) and Jennie Babisch (as Pistol/Canterbury) from Milwaukee; Kate Ketelhohn (as Duke of Gloucester) from Cedarburg; Kate Lepianka (as Duke of Orleans/Ensemble) from Grafton; Kayla Salter (as Hostess Quickly/Gower) from Germantown; Mary Jensik (as Dauphin/Nym) from Greenfield; Molly Boyle (as Alice/Ensemble) from Port Washington; and Sylvie Arnold (as Bardolph/Williams) from Hubertus. Elliott Brotherhood, a Senior at Pathways who plays Henry, hails from Mequon, and was in the Young Company's production of The Skin of Our Teeth earlier this season, as well as Animal Farm last season, where he made his Young Company debut. When asked about how it felt to play Henry, Elliott said, "It's a monumental challenge, and one that I'm incredibly humbled to tackle and be a part of with so many talented actors. Under Matt Daniel's direction, and the support of an awesome group of people, it's been a ton of fun." Molly Boyle, a homeschooled Freshman from Port Washington, makes her Young Company debut playing the Duke of Bedford, Captain Jamy, and Alice, a lady-in-waiting to Katherine (played by Chantae Miller). "It has been a brilliantly fun time working with the cast and crew of Henry V, and I enjoy working and playing with so many talented actors and wonderful people," Molly said. "Henry V is complex, and everyone has done such an amazing job bringing it to life." Kate Lepianka, another homeschooler from Grafton, and Kate Ketelhohn of Cedarburg, who is a Freshman at Kettle Moraine Lutheran School, expressed that being a part of Henry V brought them much closer to their Young Company classmates, as well as helping them to understand what Shakespeare was trying to say. In the opening to this play, Shakespeare apologizes for the unworthiness of a mere stage to tell such a grand tale; instead, he asks the audience to use their imaginations. Going with that theme, Director Matt Daniels went with a stark, modern set with minimal props, forcing the audience to do as the Bard encouraged. With wooden dowels for weapons and the exchange of a hat, scarf, or jacket to denote lightning-quick and on-stage character and scene changes, the play charges along to a refreshingly modern, yet incredibly fitting, playlist of songs, and 2 1/2 hours pass remarkably quickly. Perhaps more than any of Shakespeare's works, Henry V feels very contemporary, even with its original language left intact, so that this play feels completely at home, rather than at odds, in this twenty-first century setting. Once again, the Young Company nails it: powerful, moving, funny, romantic; this is must-see Shakespeare. HENRY V runs through March 24th at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, located at 325 W. Walnut Street in Milwaukee. Tickets are $14 and are available online at www.FirstStage.org or through the First Stage Box Office at (414) 267-2961. This production is recommended for ages 12 and up. 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).  The cheel, located in downtown Thiensville, is hosting "March into Kindness" the week of March 19th, with a portion of sales benefitting several local organizations. By Drew Kassner The cheel in downtown Thiensville will be hosting the first annual fundraiser, “March into kindness with the cheel,” during the week of March 19th, 2018. As the cheel approaches their four year anniversary, owner and executive chef Barkha Limbu Daily wanted a way to give back and celebrate some of the non-profits that continually do outstanding work for the community. Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, Thiensville Fire Department, and Thiensville Village Park Re-Imagined are the four handpicked organizations to be featured during the week. Each participating organization is assigned a day (Monday through Thursday) where 10% of the gross revenue (not including gratuity) will be donated to their respective organization. During the weekend, the funds will be distributed equally to all participating organizations. Fundraising schedule: Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center – Monday, March 19th, 2018 Thiensville Village Park Re-Imagined – Tuesday, March 20th, 2018 Thiensville Fire Department – Wednesday, March 21st, 2018 Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin – Thursday, March 22nd, 2018 In addition to that, the cheel will be providing a locked box for each participating organization that our guests are encouraged to donate to as they wish. The box can only be opened by respective organization. "I am very excited to kick off this annual event to help local non-profit organizations achieve their mission," said Daily. "We dine out for numerous reasons, including birthdays, first dates, and anniversaries--or for no reason at all-- so why not dine out and be kind.” The cheel is located at 105 S. Main Street in Thiensville. Named as one of the Top Restaurants in Milwaukee, the cheel promises to pack that spice-infused wallop in the traditional “tidbits,” or small plates, it offers. Indeed, the menu features “flavors from the Himalayas to the Rockies” and incorporates flavor-profiles from Burmese and Tibetan cultures, as well, which commingled along the historic and famous Kathmandu trade route. With just 3.5 years under their belt and over 30 awards, in just the last year the cheel has been named in the Top 50 Restaurants by M Magazine, 4 Instagram-Worthy Boutique Restaurants in Wisconsin by Travel Wisconsin, The Milwaukee 50 by the Journal Sentinel, Best Chef by M Magazine, Best Splurge Restaurant by M Magazine, Best International Fare Restaurant by M Magazine, Best Fish Fry by M Magazine, Best of ‘Burbs: Food & Drink by Milwaukee Magazine, Great Fish Fries (Readers’ Pick) by Milwaukee Magazine, 7 Wisconsin Destination Restaurants in 2016 by Travel Wisconsin, and #1 restaurant in Mequon/Thiensville (yelp & trip advisor – best rated).  Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents the World Premiere of "One House Over" in the Quadracci Powerhouse from February 27 – March 25, 2018. Left to Right: Zoë Sophia Garcia, Mark Jacoby, Elaine Rivkin. Photo by Michael Brosilow. By Mary Boyle The reason live theatre is so important is that it demands empathy. Without even being aware of it, the audience members go on a journey with the characters on the stage in a way that film can never quite acheive. Like Atticus Finch said in To Kill A Mockingbird, If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view; until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.  Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents the World Premiere of One House Over in the Quadracci Powerhouse from February 27 – March 25, 2018. Left to Right: Justin Huen, Zoë Sophia Garcia, Elaine Rivkin. Photo by Michael Brosilow. Live theatre gives us the ability to climb inside another's skin; to experience their story almost first-hand, and truly begin to understand them. This is empathy, and a strong dose of empathy is what the world needs right now. The Milwaukee Repertory Theater understands this, and it's why they created The Neighbor Series: three plays about community that invite conversation about what it means to be a neighbor. The first of these plays is One House Over, which is making its World Premiere at The Rep. The play is set in Chicago in 2010; President Obama was recently elected, and Joanne Vancura (Elaine Rivkin) is a divorced, progressive, middle-class violin teacher struggling to care for her aging father, Milos (Mark Jacoby). She hires Camila Hernandez (Zoë Sophia Garcia) to be a live-in caretaker, and gives her and her husband, Rafael (Justin Huen), an apartment in the basement of her home. When Joanne finds out that Camila and Rafael are undocumented, she assures them it isn't a problem for her, and that nobody cared about that anymore. At first Milos, an immigrant himself who escaped Hitler when his parents put him on a train from the Czech Republic, resents his new caregiver and gives both Camila and Joanne a lot of trouble, but Camila gradually wins him over—so well that Joanne feels jealous of their relationship. When Joanne has health problems, Rafael, who is in need of a new job after losing his position as a chef at a local restaurant, offers his services, and he and Joanne's close relationship makes Camila jealous. In the meantime, Joanne's neighbor, Patty (Jeanne Paulsen) isn't thrilled that Joanne has "renters" in her house, which has nothing to do with the ethnicity of said renters, mind you. As personal and professional boundaries become blurrier and blurrier, what seemed at first like an ideal solution threatens to become a giant mess. Written by Catherine Trieschman, an award-winning new playwright, and directed by The Rep's Artistic Director, Mark Clements, this story could not have come at a better time. As poignant and thought-provoking as it is funny and shocking, One House Over is powerful in its familiarity: these people could be us, or the people around us, just one house over. One House Over runs through March 25th at the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, 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. Talks and Events Rep-in-Depth: a pre-show conversation with Justin Huen. Rep-in-Depth occurs approximately 45 minutes before curtain for every performance. TalkBacks: a discussion with members of the cast and artistic team following the 2 pm performance on the following Sundays: March 11, March 18, and March 25. Panel Discussions: "Stories of Immigration: Creating Communities" - Wednesday, March 7, following the performance. Milwaukee's immigrant heritage is present throughout the city--in our dining, shopping, festivals, and more. Join leaders from across Milwaukee to learn how immigrants have helped shape our city and to hear more about the unique vitality of immigrant communities today. Panelists include:
"Building Fences & Walls: Immigration Policy & Sanctuary Cities" Wednesday, March 14, following the performance. Current political policies on immigration are a point of contentious discussion and the idea of sanctuary cities is fraught on the local and national level. This discussion approaches the conversation on a personal and interpersonal level, presenting the real-life stories of those who are at the heart of the debate. Panelists include:
"The Future of Elder Care" Wednesday, March 21, following the performance. As America's elderly population increases, we discuss how the growing need for eldercare affects our city and how local individuals and organizations are supporting and enriching our community through unique senior programs and centers. Panelists include:
The Neighbor Series This spring, The Rep is launching a community engagement series around One House Over, Until The Flood, and Our Town, that invites the community into a conversation about what it means to be a neighbor. The Rep is responding with a concentrated engagement initiative to connect the stories on stage to the stories of Milwaukee. The Rep will host over 80 Neighbor Series engagement events, from March to May 2018, created from a variety of opportunities for our audiences--and our neighbors—to add their voices, tell their stories, and participate in Milwaukee Rep's initiative to ignite positive change in our community. For more information on these events please visit: https://www.milwaukeerep.com/MKENeighbors About The Rep In its 64th 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.  Steven Sizer as Rapunzel's Prince, Lydia Rose Eiche as Rupunzel, and Laura Monagle as The Witch in the Sunset Playhouse production of "Into the Woods."  Laura Monagle as the Witch, Nathan Marinan as the Baker, and Carrie A. Gray as the Baker's wife in "Into the Woods" at Sunset Playhouse, through March 18th. By Mary Boyle The name Stephen Sondheim is synonymous with musical theater: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Follies, Sweeny Todd, Sunday in the Park with George and, of course, Into the Woods. Interestingly, both Sweeny Todd and Into the Woods have been given a boost in popularity in recent years thanks to Johnny Depp, who played the lead in 2007's Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and made an appearance as the wolf in 2014's Into the Woods. While there's never a bad time to choose Sondheim, Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove was wise to take advantage of the popularity and choose Into the Woods for their lineup this season. Directed by Nate C. Adams, with Music Direction by Mark Mrozek, Into the Woods is a combination of some of our favorite fairy tales (Rapunzel, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood) all rolled into one story. The one thing each of these classic tales have in common is a wish: Rapunzel (Lydia Rose Eiche) wishes to leave her tower, the Baker (Nathan Marinan) and his wife (Carrie A. Gray) wish for a child, Cinderella (Hannah Esch) wishes to go to the ball, and Jack (Simon Earle) and his mother (Paula Garcia) wish for wealth. Throw in a Witch (Laura Monagle) to grant those wishes, a snarky little girl in a red cape (Ella Rose Kleefisch), a couple of princes (Seven Sizer and Kevin Gadzalinski), a wicked stepmother (Barbi McGuire) and a couple of terrible stepsisters (Ashley Patin and Sarah Briana Monahan, and a charismatic narrator (Bob Carroll) and you've got yourself a really good story. By the end of Act I, Jack and his mother are wealthy (and Jack and his cow are reunited); the curse on the Baker is broken; both Cinderella and Rapunzel marry their respective princes, and their tormentors are punished; and, Little Red Riding Hood has a much-needed attitude adjustment after she and her Grandmother are saved from the belly of the wolf. Everything appears to end "happily ever after," as they say...but does it really? Into the Woods brings a hefty dose of reality — and comedy — to these idyllic stories, and Sunset Playhouse brings an incredibly talented cast to tell the tale. As the witch says, "Children will not obey, but children will listen. Careful the wish you make, wishes are children." Into the Woods runs through March 18th at the Furlan Auditorium at Sunset Playhouse, located at 800 Elm Grove Rd. in Elm Grove. Tickets are available by calling (262) 782-4430, in-person at the box office, or online at http://www.sunsetplayhouse.com. About Sunset Playhouse Over the past 60 years, Sunset has benefitted from the leadership of Ian Dobbie, Alan Furlan, Michael Spicer, Thomas Somerville, Michael Duncan, Mark Salentine, Jonathan West, Diana Alioto, and our current Artistic Director, Nancy Visintainer-Armstrong. The theater’s staff consists of an Education Director, Technical Director, Business Manager/Volunteer Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, Box Office Manager, Box Office Associates, and Theater Technicians. In addition, Sunset benefits from a large pool of talented and dedicated volunteers who work in conjunction with these professionals and are essential to the on-going success of the Playhouse. Sunset is governed by a Board of Directors elected by the membership. Sunset produces eight Furlan Auditorium Productions per season consisting of comedies, mysteries, musicals, and dramas. The Playhouse is also home to three professional series–Musical MainStage Concert Series, with six concerts each season, a six-show cabaret series titled SideNotes Cabaret Series, and a three-show children’s series called Bug in a Rug. |
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