Over 100 years ago (in 1914, to be exact), President Woodrow Wilson made Mother's Day an official holiday.  As one might guess, it didn't take long for restaurants, florists, and confectioners to get in on it.  In fact, the woman who campaigned for the holiday, Anna Jarvis, was so disgusted by the commercialization of the holiday that she spent the rest of her life fighting to remove it from the calendar.  Of course, Mother's Day is here to stay, so if you're going to spend your money, you may as well do it locally, and there are plenty of good restaurants, florists, and confectioners in Oz to choose from, as well as other special offers from local businesses and organizations!

Port Washington  
Twisted Willow is serving up a special brunch menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring a build your own Bloody Marys and Mimosas, as well as a special menu through 7 p.m. that any Mom would love, including a special menu for kids.  Eating gluten-free?  There are good options on all of the menus!  Reservations are suggested -- call (262) 268-7600.  
Newport Shores serves brunch from 9:30-2:30, with a special Mother's Day dinner Menu from 3:30-9 p.m. featuring lobster tail, prime rib, fresh seafood and more.  Brunch is $15.95 for adults, $7.95 for children under 12 and $4.95 for children under 6 (children under 2 are free).  Make your reservations by calling(262) 284-6838.

Seven Hills Pub & Grille's Lepanto Banquet Hall will serve Mother's Day Brunch from 9:30-2:30.  Located inside the Country Inn and Suites, and run by the same owners as the Prime Minister in Thiensville, they offer an All You Can Eat Brunch every Sunday.  Reservations are appreciated by calling (262) 284-4691.

If you're looking for chocolates in Port, Chocolate Chisel has a wide variety of milk and dark chocolates to choose from, as well as chocolate dipped strawberries (pre-ordering is recommended). You could also try CoCa LeNa for treats, cards and gifts. Jewelry can be found at Sharbuno Jewelers.  

Belgium
Kids can make a special gift for moms at Willoway Farm's Kids DIY on Saturday, May 11th.  Children 4 and up can paint a vase, go for a walk on the farm while it dries, then select blooms for a very special bouquet for mom!  $25/child.  Registration required.

Saukville/Newburg
Messina Italian Restaurant has Beef Wellington as their Mother's Day dinner special from 4-8 p.m.  Be sure to mention it when you make your dinner reservations at (262) 284-6764.   

No No's has brunch from 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.  For reservations, call (262)675-6960.

For flowers, try Lighthouse Florist in Saukville.

​~Tenneva Jordan


​Grafton 
Flannery's at Fire Ridge in Grafton has Brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Adults are $21.99, and kids 10 and under are $8.99, while children under 6 are free.  Reservations are required; call (262) 375-2977.  
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The Bloomin Olive is where to go for flowers in the Grafton area, and Sweet Trio has all the sweet treats mom might want.

Mequon 
Mr. B's, A Bartolotta Steak House, has a Brunch Buffet from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for $41.95 adults, and $17.95 for kids 12 and under, and includes a glass of champagne, mimosa, or orange juice.  A Bloody Mary Bar is available, as well as gluten-free options.  Call (262) 518-5500 to make reservations.  

Cafe 1505 is serving brunch from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. , with each seating lasting an hour and 15 minutes. Bubbles and Bloodys are on the menu, along with a special menu for kids.  Reservations are required -- call (262) 241-7076).

​A Floral Affair is the place to go for blooms ​and Get Happy is the place to get chocolate or candy.

Cedarburg
Brandywine is serving a beautiful Mother's Day Brunch from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., as well as lunch favorites.  Reservations are accepted only by phone at (262) 618-4683.

The Stilt House in Cedarburg will be having specials all day, along with a free "mom"osa and flower for each mom. 

The Shops of Cedar Creek Settlement are having a special Mother's Day Weekend, the 11th and 12th, featuring treats, prizes, specials, samples, wine tastings and live entertainment just for mom!

There's always a special caramel apple from Amy's Candy Kitchen or classic candies from Ashley's Confectionery to make mom's day, and flowers from  Rachel's Roses.

If Mom is an outdoorsy type, she may prefer a hike at Lion's Den Gorge in Grafton, Sauk Creek Nature Preserve in Port, Harrington Beach in Belgium, or a special hike for Moms, such as the Mother's Day Wildflower Hike at Riveredge.  

Happy Mother's Day to all from Ozaukee Living Local!

By Mary Boyle

After 21 years, 88 productions, and 1,599 performances, In Tandem Theatre announced recently that this season will be their last fully-produced season at their unique venue, the Tenth Street Theatre.  This is sad news in our local theatre world.  Chris and Jane Flieller have filled a very specific, under-served role, providing quality, affordable, accessible theatre to Milwaukee audiences, as well as affordable theatre space and assistance to young companies and performers.  Luckily for all of us, they're going out on a very high note with a show that has In Tandem written all over it:  The Fabulous Lipitones.

The Fabulous Lipitones are a Barbershop Quartet from Ohio who lose their lead singer in the midst of the regional competition.  While it may be sympathy that won them the regionals, the remaining three members, Phil (Steve Koehler), Howard (Nathan Marinan), and Wally (Rick Pendzich), now have a shot at winning the National Competition -- if they can find a new member in time!  By sheer chance, they overhear a man singing beautifully in the background of a phone call.  They don't hesitate to invite "Bob" (Ethan Brittingham) to audition, but when their potential new member arrives, he isn't at all what they were expecting.  

Written by John Markus and Mark St. Germain, with music by Randy Courts, The Fabulous Lipitones is non-stop funny, while also containing some very serious social commentary about immigration, racism, and the power of music to bring people together.  Koehler, Marinan (Scrooge In Rouge,  Into the Woods), and Pendzich (The Glass Menagerie, Hairspray) are regulars on the In Tandem stage, and other Milwaukee stages, for good reason: these guys can act and sing really well.  Ethan Brittingham makes a spectacular In Tandem debut, and has remarkable chemistry with his fellow actors; in fact, this may be one of the best cast shows I've seen this season.  

Directed by Jane Flieller, with Musical Direction by David Bonofiglio and Choreography by Adam Estes, this production has that "theatre for regular people" feel that In Tandem has become known for, yet has more potential cultural impact than an award-winning, serious documentary could ever hope for precisely because of its accessibility.  This type of production is exactly how theatre can change the world, and that is not an understatement; don't miss this show, or your chance to witness the epitome of what In Tandem Theatre stood for in Milwaukee theatre.

The Fabulous Lipitones runs through May 19th at the Tenth Street Theatre, located at  628 N. 10th Street in downtown Milwaukee.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the theatre box office at (414) 271-1371 or visiting www.InTandemTheatre.org.

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. The company presents 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
 
The story of Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie is one of the most beloved children’s stories of all time.  Countless versions of it appear across all manner of media, yet there always seems to be room for more, and the story, itself, never gets old – just like the boy it is named for.  First Stage has chosen to end its Main Stage season with yet another version of this timeless classic, adapted for the stage by Patrick Flynn, in which the story remains unchanged, but the main character of the play has been switched to that tiny little fairy that everyone loves:  Tinker Bell!
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Directed by Jeff Frank, this delightfully sweet and magical little production is sure to be a hit with anyone who has ever loved fairies or pirates (and, really, who doesn’t?).  Tinker Bell (double-cast as Meguire Hennes and Chantae Miller) is the sassy star of this show, and though the story we all love is largely unchanged, it’s told completely from her perspective, with a little help from the pirate, Smee (Chris Klopatek), and the other female in Peter’s life, Wendy (double-cast as Elisheva Scheuer and Paige Landrum).  

Originally written for the stage, the role of Peter Pan has often been played by a woman, and First Stage adheres to that tradition, with the role of the boy who refused to grow up being played by either Anna Fitzsimmons or Luca Batory.  Many of the lost boys (and there are a few more added that you won’t read about in the original story) are also played by girls, with Wendy’s brothers, John (double-cast as Carson Pressley and Rohan Singh) and Michael (double-cast as Jack Cooney and Liam Eddy), mixed into the crew.  Of course, you can’t have any Peter Pan story without his arch nemesis, Captain James Hook (Ryan Schabach), and a good-sized band of pirates help to round out a proper fight in Neverland.

The first Earth Day was April 22nd, 1970, and it was the beginning of the modern environmental movement.  The passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws soon followed. Twenty years later, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world, but you don't have to participate globally -- there are many ways to do it locally!

In Belgium, join in the Work/Play/Earth Day at Harrington Beach State Park on Saturday, April 27th from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  Help clean up the park after a long winter and enjoy a hot dog lunch at the Welcome Center!

In Newburg, there's the Earth Day Service Fest at Riveredge from 9 a.m. - noon on Saturday, April 27th.  From preparing and planting cool garden beds in the children’s organic garden to conducting grounds clean-up and invasive species removal to trail maintenance, this fest will provide participants with an opportunity to get their hands dirty while keeping Riveredge green. There are awesome opportunities for groups, families, and individuals of all ages to get involved and make a difference.  The day is free and as a special thank you, all volunteers will receive a free lunch at noon. Everyone is invited to hike the trails and complete their own Earth Day Scavenger Hunt and, of course, play in the great outdoors.  Registration is required.

Port Washington has a Community Clean Up in honor of Earth Day, from 8 a.m. - noon, now scheduled for May 4th, thanks to our never-ending winter!  Kickoff will start at 8:00am in Veterans’ Memorial Park. Call the Parks & Rec Office if you or a group you’re part of is interested in helping and would like more information. 
262-284-5881.  "Goodies" will be provided for those who help out!

The Milwaukee Riverkeeper has their 24th Annual Spring River Cleanup from 9- noon on Saturday, April 27th in locations all over southeastern Wisconsin, including Lime Kiln Park in Grafton.  Milwaukee Riverkeeper provides the gloves, trash bags, and amazing FREE T-SHIRTS, and you provide the hands and energy to pick up the interesting and sometimes bizarre trash that finds its way into our beautiful river system. Afterwards, attend Rock the Green at Estabrook Park, Picnic Area #8. Featuring a live concert by CHICKEN WIRE EMPIRE and Lex Allen on a pedal powered stage provided by The Velo Femmes, Black Girls Do Bike and Cadence Cycling Milwaukee. Local food vendors will be selling tasty sustainable fare, as well as on-site eco-education from local environmental non-profits and organizations.

Not everyone thinks of it, but throwing away prescription and even over-the-counter drugs into the trash or flushing them down the toilet is extremely hazardous to the environment.  To help combat this, several organizations in Ozaukee County have organized a Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Ozaukee County Transit Center in Port Washington and at Concordia University in Mequon.

It's not exactly for Earth Day, but Ozaukee residents should know that the Ozaukee Land & Water Management offers the Clean Sweep Program on May 11th from 8 a.m. - noon at the Ozaukee County Highway Shop, located at 1221 Hilltop Drive in the Town of Cedarburg.  This program allows residents a chance to properly dispose of hazardous waste, old tires, electronics, and appliances.  There is a $20 registration fee per vehicle for hazardous waste, but registration is not required for other items, though some disposal fees may apply.

Happy Earth Day, Oz!

By Mary Boyle

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, over 700 Wisconsin residents die by suicide each year — over four times the homicide rate — and over 5,500 are hospitalized due to intentional, self-inflicted injury.  While these statistics are difficult to digest, talking about suicide proves to be even more difficult.  Theatre is an excellent tool for making difficult topics accessible, and that is especially true of the new play Every Brilliant Thing, happening at The Rep's intimate Stiemke Studio through May 5th.

Written by Duncan Macmillan, with Jonny Donahoe, and directed by Terrence J. Nolen, Every Brilliant Thing is an impressive one-man show starring Scott Greer that sheds a hopeful light on the topic of suicide by documenting the impact it had on a boy whose mother made multiple attempts over several decades of his life, beginning when he was just a child in 1977.  After this first attempt, the boy began a list of all the things worth living for, in the hopes that it might save his mother.  As he ages, the list continues to work its way back into his life, as well as in the lives of others, in different and powerful ways, and becomes a shrine to the absolute beauty of life.

This powerful, highly engaging show requires a lot of audience participation; audience members actually play the roles of the boy's father, first love, teachers, and more, as well as reading off entries on the list, which makes for a different play every time Greer takes the stage.  This concept also means that Greer needs to do a lot of improv and quick thinking, which can lead to both hightly comedic and profound results.

In the play, Greer says, "Every suicide is a tidal wave, with many left in its wake."  Not only does the production address suicide prevention, it has a broad focus on support for the family members and friends in the circle of someone who has attempted, or has been lost by, suicide by offering resources within the show.  The Rep takes this a step further through the use of Act II, which is a community guest responder who delivers a five-minute response to the show, followed by an opportunity for audience members to participate in small group discussions led by trained members of the Zeidler Center for Public Discussion.  

Act II has been praised both locally and nationally, and was overwhelmingly successful at bringing diverse groups of people together for dialogue around community issues. More than 9,000 patrons took advantage of the opportunity to share, listen, and learn with a group of fellow audience members over the past three seasons with American Song, Disgraced and Until the Flood, making this a highly sought after audience experience. This format has the opportunity to create the space for mutual understanding and respect allowing for open and honest dialogue.

Every Brilliant Thing runs through May 5th 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

Generally speaking, the terms "Civil War" and "comedy" don't usually appear in the same sentence, but in Richard Strand's play, Ben Butler, they go together perfectly.  Through April 28th, the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre brings this one part historical drama, one part biographical story, and completely entertaining bit of theatre to the Cabot stage at the Broadway Theatre Center in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.

In May of 1861, the Civil War was still in its infancy.  General Benjamin Butler (Drew Brhel), who was recently a lawyer, now finds himself in command of Fort Monroe in Virgina, where Lieutenant Kelly (Chase Stoeger) informs him that a runaway slave demands to see him.  Intrigued by the boldness of the slave and the affect he is having on the Lieutenant, the General finally relents.  Being from the North, Butler has no experience with slaves, but he realizes right away that Shepard Mallory (Marques Causey) is "peculiar."  Mallory asks the General for sanctuary in the Fort, but the General's hands are tied: the law states that runaway slaves must be returned to their owners, and he's already received word from Major Cary (David Sapiro) of the Confederate Army that he will be arriving at the Fort to return the slave back to his owner.  Mallory insists that if he is returned, he will surely be killed.  What is a law-abiding General to do?

Playwright Richard Strand found the story within a footnote in a biography of Abraham Lincoln.  "One of the things I love most about Ben Butler is that it takes characters from our American story that historians have cast in bit parts and gives them [the] leading roles they deserve," said Director Michael Cotey.  "History is messy; much of it only making sense in retrocspect, if we're lucky.  As Frederick Douglass said, 'We cannot see the end from the beginning.  We live but today, and the measureless shores of the future are wisely hid from us."

All four actors are no stranger to the MCT stage, or most Milwaukee stages, for that matter.  In fact, Drew Brehl is no stranger to being a General, as he played the fabulous Major General in The Pirates of Penzance with Skylight Music Theatre several seasons ago.  Marques Causey, a Milwaukee Native, was seen in MCT's Strange Snow this season, as well as in their productions of The Brothers Size and Picnic, and is brilliant as Shepard Mallory.  Chris Stoeger is wonderfully funny as Lieutenant Kelly, and David Sapiro is perfect as the snide Major Cary.

I absolutely loved this production, from the stellar acting to the excellent set design by Lisa Schlenker and the spot-on costumes by Lyndsey Kuhlmann.  Ben Butler is cleverly written and laugh-out-loud comical, yet powerful and uplifting at the same time.  This is a production that all ages will enjoy, so bring the whole family (kids 10 and up, I suggest) and prepare for a great time and the very best kind of history lesson!

Ben Butler runs through April 28th at the Cabot Theatre, located within the Broadway Theater Center at 158 N. Broadway in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.  Tickets may be purchased by calling 414.291.7800 or online at milwaukeechambertheatre.com.  

About Milwaukee Chamber Theatre
Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee's third largest non-musical theatre company, has long been recognized as producing first-rate, thought-provoking drama and a major contributor to the rich cultural and economic life of the community. One of the city's oldest,  professional theatre companies, MCT was co-founded in 1975 by two local actors, Montgomery Davis and Ruth Schudson, who envisioned a space where audiences could open their minds to new theatrical ideas and Milwaukee's theatre professionals could broaden their skills and apply their craft.  C. Michael Wright, a local director and actor, was appointed as the company's second artistic director in September of 2005 and, under his leadership, MCT has produced smaller, more intimate productions that feature emerging local talent,  expanding its programming in order to develop new voices, such as the annual Young Playwrights Series and the Montgomery Davis Play Development Series, honoring the company's founding artistic director. 

Join MCT for their 45th anniversary season, and C. Michael Wright's 15th and final season as producing artistic director, as they present Unnecessary Farce, Fires in the Mirror, Jeeves at Sea, No Wake and Gently Down the Stream.

This spring we are establishing the Arts Council at a third location in the heart of downtown Port Washington, at 303 N. Franklin Street. It is a family friendly gallery space where you can make something, buy something, and learn something. As part of this initiative we welcome Pamela Hugdahl as Administrative Director. Pam comes to us from the Cedarburg Art Museum, where she was the director since 2016. We are excited to have her join our team. Our door will open in May!


Saturday, April 20, is the Artist Talk and Closing Reception for the exhibition From One to Another. The talk will feature the dialog between teachers and their students.


Saturday, April 27, join us for a Pinhole Photography Workshop led by Hal Rammel at Studio 224. The cost of the workshop is $25 or $35 for families. Fee includes making a pinhole camera that you can keep. Register and pay online at the link.


Sunday, April 28, bring your pinhole camera and join us for Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day. This event is free, however registration is required. The darkroom at Studio 224 will be open from 10:00am until 2:30pm for processing paper negatives. Register at artscouncil@gallery224.org. 


Friday, May 10, is the Opening Reception for Emerging 2019 at Gallery 224. Exhibition features the Port Washington High School Studio Art Class, and runs through May 18.


Saturday, May 18, is the opening day for Discovering Port En Plein Air, an opportunity for plein air painters to capture the scenic views of Port Washington at their convenience, over the course of ten weeks. No worries about the weather or scheduling conflicts, just show up when the spirit moves you! For those who prefer to paint with a group, we are offering four meet-up dates with a different guest plein air artist each time. The first meet-up date is Saturday, May 18. Select paintings will be featured at Gallery 224 in August. Watch for details in the coming weeks.


Sunday, May 19, ARTservancy artist Nicole Shaver will be featured at the World Migratory Bird Day at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve. Other artists will be present with information about ARTservancy.


Sunday, May 26, the Arts Council will host an opening reception in their new space at 303 N. Franklin Street during the Annual Community Street Festival in Port Washington.

Drop in and Draw, every Friday morning from 10:00-11:30. Stop by with a sketch pad and drawing materials of your choice for some inspiration, ideas and camaraderie. Please note the day has changed from Thursday to Friday!

Photo Book Conversation meets the first Monday evening of every month from 6:30-8:30. This is an informal gathering at Studio 224 where people are invited to show up with a favorite photo book or two to share with the group.

By Mary Boyle

Rodgers & Hammerstein are one of the most familiar duos Broadway Musicals.  The darlings of the "Golden Age" of musical theatre in the 1950's and 60's, the composer and lyricist/dramatist had a string of hits, including Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, and Cinderella.  It could easily be argued that a cultural education is not complete without taking in the works of these two artists and, luckily, the Broadway at the Marcus Center series has come to the rescue for Milwaukee area audiences with Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I.

The King and I is based on the true story of a widowed Welsh woman, Anna Leonowens (Angela Baumgardener), who accepts a position as a school teacher to the many children, and wives, of the King of Siam (Pedro Ka'Awaloa) in the late 1860's, along with her young son, Louis (Hayden Bercy).  While the King recognizes the value and importance of a Western education for his children, he and Anna are both very stubborn, and the clash of cultures leads to struggles, with an overtone of romance. 

The story of Anna and the King has remained remarkably popular over time.  Leonowen's memoirs were made into a best-selling novel in 1944, the Broadway Musical in 1951, and the 1956 film starring Yul Brynner as the King of Siam, as well as other films, and even a television series.   The music from the Broadway show — particularly "Getting to Know You" — is widely recognized, even by people who haven't seen the musical or film.

This Broadway production, based on the Lincoln Center Theater production, is visually stunning and well cast.  Angela Baumgardner's voice is divine, and Pedro Ka'Awaloa is fantastic as the King of Siam.  My favorite part is the play within the play: Siam meets Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, resulting in a play called "The Small House of Uncle Thomas." Funny, romantic, and still culturally relevant, The King and I is well worth a couple of hours of your time.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I runs through April 14th at the Marcus Center for Performing Arts Uihlein Hall, located at 929 N. Water St. in Milwaukee.  For tickets, call 414.273.7206, or online at:  https://www.marcuscenter.org/show/king-and-i

The 2019/20 Broadway at the Marcus Center Season has an amazing lineup of shows, including Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, The Lion King, Miss Saigon, and My Fair Lady.  Find out more at https://www.marcuscenter.org/series/broadway-marcus-center-2019-2020
 

By Mary Boyle

Despite the title, Next Act Theatre's latest production is not about the Bible, or religion, at all — it's about family.  Specifically, it is a memoir of the playwright, Bill Cain's, family; a family, he proclaims, that was not, in fact, dysfunctional.  One might wonder how you can possibly get a good play out of a functional family, but it does help if you start with some really good actors, and that is what Director David Cecsarini has done with Cain's play, How to Write a New Book for the Bible.

Bill Cain, both the playwright and the narrator of our play, has kept a diary every day of his life, so it's no wonder that he grew up to be a writer.  Well, also a Jesuit priest, which is why the subject of God pops up frequently in his work, but not in the way that you'd think.  For instance, at the start of this play, Bill says, "If you want to see God, look at your family story." When Cain's mother was diagnosed with an incurable cancer, he came home and documented his final days with her, along with the story of his family, comparing them to the family in the bible, but as an improved rewrite, with the complex love between family members at the heart of the story.

Interestingly, Bill, our narrator, is played by a relative newcomer, Jack Dwyer, who makes his Next Act Debut, but the rest of the family consists of some of Milwaukee's finest, including Jonathan Wainwright as Paul, Bill's older brother, a Vietnam Vet who went on to become a successful teacher; Carrie Hitchcock as Mary, Bill's mother, a somewhat hard woman who was never quite motherly; and, Norman Moses as Pete, Bill's father, who passed away before Mary, but makes his way into the story as Bill reaches into the past to help define the future.  

Cecsarini, the Producing Artistic Director of Next Act Theatre, became a fan of the playwright after reading and then producing his play, Equivocation, last season at Next Act.  Bible, he felt, had a broader reach.

"Families are the building blocks of society.  People are forged in the family unit  Families come in as many different shapes, sizes, styles and flavors as there are people to inhabit them and time to let them mix and grow.  As Bill Cain searches for life's meaning in his family story, he points the way (an author, a priest: they both point), encouraging us to do likewise."

While the actors each deliver excellent performances (Carrie Hitchcock is particularly phenomenal), I can't say that I liked the writing.  There are exceptionally funny and poignant moments between Bill and Mary as they struggle to reside under the same roof, and with Mary's failing body, that would touch anyone who has cared for an aging parent, but the overall storyline isn't very cohesive, and there are too many side characters that are either too fleshed out or not fleshed out enough.  Truth be told, I would consider Cain's family to be about as functional as your average family, and though he strives to demonstrate that the love between family members is akin to the love of God, he misses the real truth about all family relationships, which is the paradox of how we struggle to really know our family members, yet are inescapably shaped by them.  Nonetheless, it's a play that invokes good discussion about family relationships and aging, and the idea of each generation of a family being given the opportunity to add a new chapter, and to write the story better, is compelling.

How to Write a New Book for the Bible runs through April 28th at Next Act Theatre, located at 255 S. Water Street in Milwaukee.  Tickets may be purchased by calling (414) 278-0765 or online at   https://nextact.org/.

About Next Act Theatre
Next Act Theatre engages the hearts and minds of audiences with intimate, compelling productions intended to stimulate thought, foster the exchange of ideas, and promote the development of new perspectives and understanding.  Led by Producing Artistic Director, David Cecsarini, Next Act continues its tradition of creating high-quality, professional theatre in Milwaukee. .