By Mary Boyle

Nominated for 10 Tony Awards in 2015, Something Rotten! is a Broadway musical that pokes fun at Broadway musicals, while turning the world's greatest writer into an egotistical rock star; in a nutshell, it's hysterical.  After a nearly two-year run on Broadway and now onto its second US Tour, Something Rotten! kicks off the 2018/19 Broadway at the Marcus series from October 16-21 at the Marcus Center's Uihlein Hall.

In South London in 1595, everyone is in love with William Shakespeare (Matthew Baker) — everyone, that is, except Nick Bottom (Matthew Michael Janisse), a struggling playwright who can't possibly compete with THE Bard.  With his wife, Bea (Emily Kristen Morris), to support, and a kid on the way, Nick and his brother, Nigel (Richard Spitaletta), are desperate for an idea for a great play, and Nick knows just where to get it:  since Shakespeare is so great, he will ask a soothsayer to predict what his greatest play will be about, and Nick will write it, first!  The soothsayer, Nostradamus (Greg Kalafatas), predicts that musicals are the future of theatre but, unfortunately, his prediction of Shakespeare's most famous play gets mixed up with a bunch of Broadway musicals.  In the meantime, Nigel has fallen head-over-heels for Portia (Jennifer Elizabeth Smith), whose Puritan father, Brother Jeremiah (Mark Saunders), would like nothing more than to shut all of the theaters down.

Conceived by American screenwriter and director Karey Kirkpatrick, who wrote the screenplay for Chicken Run and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, among others, and his songwriting brother, Wayne, the brothers wrote the music and lyrics, while Karey wrote the book with the help of English author and comedic scriptwriter, John O'Farrell.  While you'll get more jokes if you're familiar with Shakespeare, it's even more helpful to be familiar with musicals, as this production gives a nod to just about every one your average person can think of off of the top of their heads.  In fact, the entire production is reminiscent of Neil Patrick Harris's 2013 Tony Opening, and every bit as fun to watch;  this is Broadway brought to the Brew City.

Something Rotten! runs through October 21st at the Marcus Center for 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/something-rotten!/

The 2018/19 Broadway at the Marcus series has an exciting lineup!  Join them for How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Book of Mormon, Fiddler on the Roof, Phantom of the Opera, The King and I, Come From Away, and Anastasia.

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​By Mary Boyle

Though I am an avid fan of children's literature, one of the beginning reader series I missed out on was Nate the Great by Marjorie Sharmat, though the first book in the series was published in 1972 — two years before I was even born.  Despite the fact that the latest three in the series have been published over the course of the last decade, with the most recent just coming out this year, my own kids missed the boat on the stories, as well, so my very first introduction to "the world's greatest detective" was through a brand new musical, which just made its World Premiere at First Stage: Nate the Great. 

Based on Sharmat's books and written by John Maclay and Brett Ryback, Nate the Great is Sherlock for the elementary set, and a super fun time for the whole family.  Maclay, who has filled multiple roles with First Stage since 2000, including his current one as Associate Artistic Director of the First Stage Young Company, has written several adaptations of literature for the stage, including Anatole, Nancy Drew And Her Biggest Case Ever, Just a Little Critter Musical,  and Robin Hood, among others.  Ryback made his start at First Stage as Fudge in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing when he was just 5 years old, and has gone on to become a composer, lyricist, actor and playwright, as well as a teacher of musical theatre.

Nate the Great is a kid detective with a problem:  his friend, Annie, has a missing painting, and Nate's usual crime-solving process hasn't turned up any answers.  Worse, Annie's friend, Rosamond, is missing one of her four cats, and Nate can't find a trace in that case, either. Perhaps even worse, Nate's mother is out of his very favorite food: pancakes.  How is a detective supposed to function without them?  If Nate can't solve these cases, he won't even be "Nate the Great" — he'll just be "Nate the pretty good."
 
The young performers are double cast, with Seth Hoffman and Zach Duckler taking turns as Nate; Nafia Johnson and Makayla Davis sharing the role of Nate's friend, Annie; Bryn Dresselhuys and Emily Harris as Annie's friend, Rosamond; and, Zephaniah Ponder and Cole Sison as Annie's little brother, Harry.  Milwaukee favorite, Elyse Edelman, plays both Nate's mother and Annie's dog, Fang.

Directed by Niffer Clarke, a frequent First Stage collaborator, Nate the Great is a fast-paced and witty little musical, with a wonderful sense of humor that will appeal to all ages.  I particularly liked Nate's response to his mother's suggestion to eat a waffle:  "A waffle is a pancake that's lying."  The music and lyrics are delightful and impressive; "You Can Do It" and "Super Hex" are downright Lin-Manuel Miranda-esque, with lightning-fast rhymes and intertwined melodies.  Milwaukee is incredibly lucky to have an organization like First Stage that serves as an incubator for new productions; this is one to be very proud of.

Nate the Great runs through November 11th at the Todd Wehr Theater, located at 929 N. Water St. in Milwaukee.  Tickets are available in person at the Marcus Center box office at 929 N. Water Street, by phone at (414) 273-7206, or online at www.firststage.org. 
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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’s Eureka Award, recognizing creativity and innovation in business, education, and the arts for its Next Steps program for students with autism (2013, 2015). First Stage is a member of TYA/USA, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education, Theatre Wisconsin, Milwaukee Arts Partners, and is a cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF).
 

Halloween comes but once a year, and it's the perfect opportunity to be someone (or something) else, for a change.  Then there's the free candy, of course.  Ozaukee has all kinds of fun Halloween happenings for all ages — here's the lineup!   

Cedarburg
Jack-o-Lantern Jamboree  Sunday, October 14th from 1-4  This not-so-scary Halloween event at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds is perfect for kids 10 and under, and includes games, crafts, food, and more — better still, it's indoors and a fundraiser for 4-H!

The Haunt  Friday & Saturday nights from October 12-27  This is the place to go if you're looking for a scary Halloween experience!  A fundraiser for 4-H, The Haunt takes place indoors at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds.

Halloween Scary'oke Dance Party  Saturday, October 20th at 8 p.m.  Join the Sultans of Swag for a haunting event to benefit Mel's Charities!  Dancing, Costume Contest, and more!

Gothic History Tours October 20, 21 and 26  Immerse yourself in the dark side of Cedarburg’s history at the Cedarburg Cultural Center's Gothic Tours, with stories and live performances representing hauntings and atrocities from bygone days, geared for ages 12 and up.

Monster Dash Run/Walk  Saturday, October 20th from 9 a.m - noon  Dress up in your favorite costume and join in this family-friendly run/walk to benefit Advocates of Ozaukee!

Pumpkin Walk  Wednesday, October 31st from 5-9 p.m.  The Pumpkin walk is truly Halloween fun for the whole family.  Jack-o-lanterns line Washington Ave., and many of the main street businesses offer treats and specials for those who wander through.

Saukville
Trails & Treats   Saturday, October 13th from 4-8 p.m. at Riveredge  A non-spooky night of fall family fun as you hike a mile loop of our trails and visit education stations featuring some costumed woodland creatures along the way! While there, these new friends will entertain and educate you about their habits and habitats, and give you some candy-free treats while they're at it! 

Halloween Adult Storytime Friday, October 19th at 11 a.m.  Come in costume for a reading of creepy stories just for grown-ups, along with candy and refreshments, at the Oscar Grady Library.

Harvest Moon Dance  Saturday, October 27th from 6-11 p.m.  Put on a costume and dance the night away with Jerry & Nora and the Revue at the American Legion!  Raffles, door prizes, and food, with proceeds going towards programs for homeless women vets. 

Saukville Scare 5K  Sunday, October 28th from 9 a.m. to noon at Grady Park  This is one Run/Walk that's full of Halloween fun for all, plus a pumpkin pancake breakfast for participants!

Port Washington
Beer Garden & Pumpkin Mania  The Environmental Planning Committee mans the final beer garden of the season from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., with food provided by the PW Athletic Booster Club and Cupcake-A-Rhee, and live music. Pumpkin Mania from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., with FREE pumpkins to carve for all ages and candy handouts!  Costumes encouraged.  *Tools for carving not provided.

Harvest at the Market   Saturday, October 27th from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.  Celebrate the last market of the season with Downtown Trick or Treating for the kids, a Costume Contest, bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving, pumpkin bowling and, new this year, an apple pie baking contest!

Sherper's Dog-A-Ween and Children's Costume Party  Coinciding with Port's Harvest at the market, enter your costumed dog from 9-2, with judging to take place on Facebook following the event.  Children's Costume contest will take place at 1 p.m.

Thiensville
Shully's Harry Potter Pop-Up Dinner  Join Shully's for a magical night of Potions Class, Live Owls, HP Trivia, Giant Chess, Quidditch Toss, and a lavish three-course dinner for grown witches, wizards, and muggles, alike!

Business-to-Business Trick-or-Treat  Thursday, October 25th from 4-7 p.m.  Children of all ages and their escorts are encouraged to visit participating Thiensville businesses along Main St., Green Bay Rd. and Friestadt Rd. for treats!

Fredonia
Fire Dept. Brat Fry  Saturday, October 27th from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.  Who needs candy when you can have a brat?!  Set to coincide with Fredonia's Trick-or-Treating from 3-6 p.m., stop in at the Fire Department and get your brat fix!

Newburg
​Farm Flix & Chill: Hocus Pocus Pizza Party  Saturday, October 13th from 4-8 p.m.  Hayrides, make your own pizza in the outdoor oven, face-painting, activities, campfire, and an outdoor screening of the film Hocus Pocus at Wellspring Farm!


Trick-or-Treating in Oz

• Fredonia    Saturday, October 27th    3-6 p.m.
• Port Washington    Saturday, October 27th   4-7 p.m.
• Newburg    Saturday, October 27th    5-7 p.m
• Cedarburg    Saturday, October 27th 5-8 p.m.
• Grafton    Saturday, October 27th    5-8 p.m.
• Thiensville    Sunday, October 28th    3-6 p.m.                                                              
• Mequon     Sunday, October 28th    4-7 p.m.
• Belgium    Sunday, October 28th    4-7 p.m.
• Saukville    Sunday, October 28th    4-7 p.m..

By Mary (practically perfect in every way) Boyle

Mary Poppins is enjoying a fabulous renaissance, these days.  Disney's iconic 1964 film, starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, with music by the amazing Sherman brothers, was so treasured it's nearly an impossible act to follow.  Based on books by P. L. Travers, the author was one of the few people who hated what Walt Disney did to her stories, and only agreed to the stage musical in 1990 if all of the creators were English, and included nobody who worked on the film.  Travers died in 1996, which paved the way for a musical that blended more of Travers' story, but still made use of many of the beloved songs from the film.  The resulting musical made its debut in the West End in 2004, and its Broadway debut in 2006.  With the new Disney film, Mary Poppins Returns, set to be released this December, it's the perfect time to catch up with everyone's favorite nanny, and you can do it now through November 4th at Sunset Playhouse, as they present Mary Poppins, The Broadway Musical.

Utilizing much of the same production team from last season's hit, Into the Woods, as well as several of the players from that cast, Sunset Playhouse brings a version of Mary Poppins to the stage that is both comfortingly familiar and intriguingly fresh.  Briana Rose Lipor is exactly how we think Mary Poppins ought to be, while Eric Welch, who was brilliant as Lumiere in last season's Beauty and the Beast at Sunset, is outstanding as Bert.  Brant Allen, who was stunning as Dom Claude Frollo in WCT's Hunchback of Notre Dame last season, is nearly identical to the George Banks in the film version of the story, but Carrie A. Gray, who played the Baker's wife in Into the Woods, is a far more realistic and complex Mrs. Banks.  Jane and Michael are double cast, with Ella Rose Kleefish, who played Little Red in Into the Woods, and Ella Vitrano taking turns as Jane, and Casey Westphal and Molly Flint taking turns as Michael.  These kids are incredibly talented, and the scene-stealers of the show (but keep your eye out for Kassandra Novell as Miss Andrew, as she is definitely a highlight).

Directed by Nate C. Adams, with Music Direction by Mark Mrozek and Choreography by Ashley Patin, Mary Poppins, The Broadway Musical is a perfect reminder that there is magic in the ordinary, if we only choose to see it, and that spending time with our families is our best investment.  Sunset Playhouse is an intimate community theater, as well as a family-friendly venue; not only is this a practically perfect place to introduce your family to the wonderful world of theatre, this is a practically perfect production.

Mary Poppins, The Broadway Musical runs through November 4th at Sunset Playhouse, located at 400 Wall Street in Elm Grove.  Tickets can be purchase by calling (262) 782-4430 or online at www.sunsetplayhouse.com.  Sunset Playhouse has partnered with the Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee for their production of Mary Poppins; please bring a non-perishable food item, which will be collected in the lobby.

About Sunset Playhouse
A Community Theater in the heart of Elm Grove, 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.

By Mary Boyle

The Taj Mahal, built by Emperor Shah Jahal as a memorial for his favorite wife, who died giving birth to their 14th child, is the greatest architectural achievement in India, and one of the finest example of Islamic art in existence.  Built between 1632 and 1653 AD, the construction employed over 20,000 artisans from across the land, led by the emperor's chief architect, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.  While the facts about the Taj Mahal make for an interesting story on their own, the legends are much wilder.  One of those legends is that Shah Jahal ordered the hands chopped off of every artisan who worked on his beloved wife's memorial, including his chief architect's, so that nothing as beautiful as the Taj  could ever be built again.  This is the legend that is explored in the play Guards at the Taj, which can be seen through November 4th with the Milwaukee Rep.   

Humayun (Yousof Sultani) and Babur (Owa'Ais Azeem) have been friends since they were boys.  Despite the fact that Humayun's father is an esteemed officer in the Emperor's army, he must start at the bottom rung, alongside Babur, which means they get the jobs nobody else wants, like guarding the back entrance gate to the Taj Mahal, which has been under construction for 16 years.  Still, if they do their jobs well, perhaps one day they will get the most coveted job of all: guarding the emperor's harem.  Finally, the day has arrived when the Taj Mahal will be revealed to all, and the two friends can't resist turning around at dawn and taking a peek when the sun's light first hits the building: never have they seen such beauty made by men.  They talk of the rumor that the Shah has ordered all 20,000 of the artisans' hands to be removed, so they might never build anything as beautiful as the Taj again.  They wonder who will get that horrible job...

Written by Rajiv Joseph and directed by Brent Hazelton, Guards at the Taj is a brutal exploration of the nature of beauty, the bonds of friendship, and how power and greed affect them.   Humayun is definitely Type A: responsible and serious, he unquestionably follows the orders he is given.  Meanwhile, Babur is a dreamer: running late and always unorganized, he questions everything and has a new idea every minute.  Although they both face the same horrible task, their reactions to it are vastly different, yet their friendship guides them.  Despite a literal river of blood, the banter between Humayun and Babur is mostly funny, sometimes poignant, then — quite suddenly — heart-breaking.  Though neither seems necessarily right or wrong, it's impossible not to compare yourself to them and wonder how you would behave in the same circumstances.

Sultani, who makes his Rep debut, and Azeem, who was last seen in The Rep's production of The Invisible Hand, are mesmerizing; they draw you into their world from the first moment you meet them, and they will leave you with dozens of questions when they're done with you.  The overall design of the play (Set by Scott Davis, Costumes by Alison Siple, Lighting by Noele Stollmack, and Sound by Barry G. Funderburg) is ingenious, and the most complex I've seen at The Rep's intimate Stiemke Studio.  Interestingly, though the overall design takes you to Agra in 1648, the language of the play is quite modern (swearing and all), and yet it works.  Thought-provoking and brave, Guards at the Taj is a worthy addition the The Rep's 65th season.

Guards at the Taj runs through November 4, 2018 in 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

Perhaps no other man captured the spirit and life of early 20th Century America like Carl Sandburg.  A true renaissance man and raconteur, Sandburg was born and raised in Galesville, Illinois and, after graduating eight grade, he went on to try just about every path a man of his time could try: laborer, hobo, soldier, college student, political activist, poet, journalist, biographer, musician, husband, and father.  He traveled the country and the world, collecting the folksongs and stories of the people, adding stories and poetry of his own, and became the voice and memory of his generation. 

Not everyone knows that Sandburg spent some of his most formative years in Milwaukee.  The Cream City is where Sandburg met his wife and lifelong love, Lilian Steichen, when they both worked as organizers for the Wisconsin Social Democratic Party.  Sandburg's concern and passion for the American worker formed the underpinnings of the majority of his work; work that has always been a favorite of Milwaukee native and well-known local actor, Jonathan Gillard Daly, who has spent nearly four years working to bring the Sandburg experience to a new generation.  How fitting is it that the World Premier of The Eagle In Me: An Evening Of Carl Sandburg took place in Milwaukee, and was conceived, written and performed by a son of Milwaukee, in honor of one of the city's most esteemed residents?  Talk about making history...

The show is simply Daly channeling what one of Sandburg's traveling performances likely consisted of around 1920: his poetry interspersed with the folksongs he collected and a smattering of small talk and observations, while simultaneously telling the story of Sandburg's life in chronological order.  Though it's clear that Daly isn't an accomplished or confident guitarist, his skills are enough to carry the show at an even pace.  Literature fans will likely recognize Sandburg's most popular poems, The Fog and Chicago, while folksong aficionados will most assuredly recognize the pieces Daly selected to share from Sandburg's famous American Songbag, published in 1927, including Hallelujah, I'm a Bum and Lincoln and Liberty.

Gale Childs Daly, who is both Director of the play and wife of its sole actor, said that Sandburg had a profound influence on her life.  In high school, a teacher encouraged her to sign up for Forensics because she thought she would be good at interpreting poetry.  Of all the poets on the list she was handed to choose from, Sandburg was the only name she recognized, and it was his book of children's poems (the only book of Sandburg's her school library had) that she selected poems from, winning first place in her first tournament.  Adding more Sandburg to her repertoire, Daly went on to win many more tournaments, and "Forensics led to drama, drama led to a double major of English and Theatre in college, and that led to a 45 year career in show business."  In fact, the Daly's credit Sandburg with their marriage: Jonathan recited one of Sandburg's stories to Gale when they met, and she knew they were fated to be together.  "We've come full circle," she said.

Besides the Daly family, the production had a dedicated crew of Milwaukee theatre people who helped get it off the ground, including Michael Wright and Marcella Kearns at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, who hosted and guided the first public reading, and David Cecsarini of Next Act Theater, who guided its second reading.  Finally, Chris and Jane Flieller of In Tandem Theatre Company agreed to give the production a home for its World Premiere; I can only imagine that the casual, easy atmosphere of the Tenth Street Theatre is a place that Carl Sandburg would have appreciated.
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The Eagle In Me: An Evening Of Carl Sandburg runs through October 21st at the Tenth Street Theatre, located at 628 N. 10th St. in Milwaukee.  Tickets are available by calling 414-271-1371, or online at http://www.intandemtheatre.org/events/carl-sandburg/

By Mary Boyle

Voices Found Repertory is a relatively new and small theatre company in Milwaukee with a strong and dedicated focus on classical works, particularly by Shakespeare (their inaugural 2016/17 season consisted of no less than five of the Bard's works).  Now in their third season, the troupe takes on the Bard's bloodiest, most violent play: Titus Andronicus.

The tale is inspired by one of Ovid's Metamorphoses stories, Procne and Philomel, which is actually referenced in the play.  In the Bard's version, Titus Andronicus (Maya Danks) is a soldier and hero of Rome, returning home from war with the Goths.  His prisoners are the Queen of the Goths, Tamora (Robin Lewis), and three of her sons.  Despite Tamora's pleading, Titus sacrifices her firstborn son, and she and her two remaining sons, Chiron (Donald Kozinski) and Demetrius (Thomas Sebald), vow to get their revenge.  As it happens, Rome is in need of a new emperor, and Bassianus (Robert Torres), who is promised to Titus's daughter, Lavinia (Alexis Furseth), loses to Saturninus (Kyle Conner).  Saturninus claims Lavinia for his bride and Titus agrees, but Bassianus runs off with Lavinia, so Saturninus chooses Tamora, instead.  With the help of her servant and lover, a Moor named Aaron (Brittany Faye Byrnes), and her two sons, Tamora sets about taking her revenge against Titus Andronicus, who goes from a hero to "the woefullest man to ever live in Rome."

Unlike Shakespeare's other tragedies, Titus has almost no humor to balance the non-stop horrors of this intense and bloody tale, and this production does not spare the blood — the tiny, sparse stage at the Underground Collaborative is downright sticky with it by the play's end, and yet they manage to keep it from becoming trite or farcical.  Though the play is well-cast and admirably acted, it's not difficult to understand why this particular tale is rarely told; on the other hand, the rare chance to see it performed is a large part of its appeal.  The sparse staging works, but they could have gone farther — I would have preferred to see the production look more like their video teaser, with the actors and stage all in black, stark and modern.  Still, a worthy telling of an ancient tale.

Directed by Hannah Kubiak, Titus Andronicus runs through October 7th at the Underground Collaborative, located at 161 W. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee in the basement of the Grand Avenue Mall.  This play contains violence and mature themes, and is not recommended for anyone under the age of 16.  Tickets are $12 and available for purchase at https://vfrtitus.brownpapertickets.com/.  For more information about Voices Found Repertory, visit their website at  www.voicesfoundrep.com.