For 57 years, Milwaukee Repertory Theater has been dedicated to providing the highest level of professional theater to Milwaukee and Wisconsin. With the start of the 2010/11 season, The Rep embarks on a new era. Award-winning international director Mark Clements comes to The Rep as Artistic Director, joining Managing Director Dawn Helsing Wolters, who began her
Milwaukee Repertory Theater is located in the Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex in downtown Milwaukee. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
mounted in the Quadracci Powerhouse, classic and new works that include World and American Premieres, as well as bold artistic collaborations. The Rep’s dynamic new leadership team is eager to broaden and deepen the audience experience and infuse all three Rep venues with exciting and energizing theater.
in the Stiemke Studio, four in the Stackner Cabaret and the annual revival of A Christmas Carol in the historic Pabst Theater. Additionally, with the 2010/11 season, The Rep launched Rep Lab, featuring our own Artistic Intern Ensemble. For more information, please call 414-224-9490 or go to www.milwaukeerep.com. The Rep’s Education Department serves over 20,000 students annually with special performances and a variety of in-school workshops and residencies designed to build important life skills as well as to engage, inspire and enrich. Under the artistic vision of Mark Clements, education programs are a central component of the work of The Rep. New initiatives this year include: Resident Acting Company Members leading workshops; more than double the number of student matinees; new intensive behind-the-scenes Immersion Days; collaborations with area colleges and universities; Adult Acting Classes and a new Teen Council. If you would like to learn more about any of The Rep‘s current or new programs, please contact Jenny Kostreva, Education Director, at jkostreva@milwaukeerep.com or 414-290-5370. The set of My Name Is Asher Lev by set designer Kevin Depinet in The Rep’s Stiemke Studio. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
The director of this show is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, an independent national labor union. This theater operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. The set, costume, lighting and sound designers are members of United Scenic Artists, a national labor union. This theater is an equal opportunity employer. Except in plays where race itself is an issue, casting is decided on the basis of ability, not race. Audio Describers and Interpreters are provided by arrangement with Independence First. The Rep is proud to be a member of The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), which provides major annual
LORT League of resident theatres
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – 1
M I LWAU K E E R E P E R TO R Y T H E AT E R
PATTY AND JAY BAKER THEATER COMPLEX QUADRACCI POWERHOUSE Mark Clements Artistic Director
Dawn Helsing Wolters Managing Director produced in association with
Actors Theatre of Louisville
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM By August Wilson
Directed by Ron O.J. Parson
Scenic Designer Costume Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer Properties Designer Wig Designer Music Arranger Recording Engineer Casting Dramaturg Movement Coordinator Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Assistant Director
Production Manager Technical Director Assistant Technical Director Lighting & Sound Director Properties Director Charge Scenic Artist Costume Director Assistant Costume Director
Michael Ganio Lorraine Venberg Brian J. Lilienthal Matt Callahan Mark Walston Heather Fleming Kimo Williams Ray Nardelli Zan Sawyer-Dailey Jessica Reese Erynn Mackenzie* Richelle Harrington Calin* Mark S. Sahba* Geoffrey Bleeker Melissa Nyari Vartanian Robb Bessey Steve Barnes Craig Gottschalk James Guy Jim Medved Holly Payne Amy Horst
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. THIS PRODUCTION IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ISRAEL HICKS.
Made possible in part by the generous support of:
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CAST LIST (in
alphabetical order)
Sylvester.............................................................................. Jonathan Butler-Duplessis Irvin........................................................................................... Jonathan Gillard Daly*♦ Levee............................................................................................... Anthony Fleming III* Policeman.............................................................................................. Michael Lindsey Dussie Mae......................................................................................... Erynn Mackenzie* Sturdyvant.......................................................................................... William McNulty* Ma Rainey................................................................................................Greta Oglesby* Cutler........................................................................................................Ernest Perry, Jr.* Slow Drag......................................................................................................... A.C. Smith* Toledo.....................................................................................................Alfred H. Wilson* There will be one intermission.
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. ♦Member of The Rep’s 2010/11 Resident Acting Company.
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – 3
PL AY NOTES – M A R AINEY ’S BLUES
Ma Rainey and her Wildcats Jazz Band, 1923.
Laying in bed this morning with my face turned to the wall, Laying in bed this morning with my face turned to the wall, Trying to count these blues so I could sing them all. ~ Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, “Counting the Blues,” 1924
“The blues is an impulse to keep the painful details and episodes of a brutal experience alive in one’s aching consciousness, to finger its jagged grain and to transcend it, not by the consolation of philosophy, but by squeezing from it a near-tragic, near-comic lyricism. As a form, the blues is an autobiographical chronicle of a personal catastrophe expressed lyrically.” ~ Ralph Ellison
“You don’t sing to feel better. You sing ’cause there’s a way of understanding life. […] The blues help you get out of bed in the morning. You get up knowing you ain’t alone. There’s something else in the world. Something’s been added by that song. This be an empty world without the blues. I take that emptiness and try to fill it up with something.” ~ Ma Rainey, in MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
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MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – 5
P L A Y N O T E S – AU G U S T W I L S O N A N D T H E B L U E S
August Wilson in 2004.
“Blues is the bedrock of everything I do. All the characters in my plays, their ideas and their attitudes, the stance that they adopt in the world, are all ideas and attitudes that are expressed in the blues.” ~ August Wilson “The blues are important primarily because they contain the cultural responses of blacks in America to the situation that they find themselves in. Contained in the blues is a philosophical system at work. You get the ideas and attitudes of the people as part of the oral tradition. This is a way of passing along information. If you’re going to tell someone a story, and if you want to keep information alive, you have to make it memorable so that the person hearing it will go tell someone else. This is how it stays alive. The music provides you an emotional reference for the information, and it is sanctioned by the community in the sense that if someone sings the song, other people sing the song.” ~ August Wilson When the train, it left the station with two lights on behind, When the train, it left the station with two lights on behind, Well, the blue light was my blues, and the red light was my mind. ~ Robert Johnson, “Love in Vain,” 1937
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P L A Y W R I G H T B I O G R A P H Y – AU G U S T W I L S O N
August Wilson
August Wilson was born Frederick August Kittel on April 27, 1945, to Daisy Wilson, a black cleaning woman, and Frederick Kittel, a German baker. The fourth of seven children, he was raised in a cold-water flat behind a grocery store in the Hill District, a predominately black neighborhood in Pittsburgh, PA. Wilson identified more with his African heritage, which would lead him to drop the German surname Kittel and adopt his mother’s name of Wilson. Wilson dropped out of school in his sophomore year of high school when a teacher accused him of plagiarism, believing Wilson was incapable of writing an impressive 20-page paper on Napoleon. While Wilson ended his formal education at age 15, he continued his own method of learning by frequenting the “Negro” section of his local library, where among others, he read books by noted authors Langston Hughes, Richard Wright and Ralph Ellison. Wilson enrolled in the army but was discharged shortly after his enrollment. He returned home to civilian life and held several odd jobs, including positions as a short-order cook, a gardener, a porter and a dishwasher. 1965 was a significant year for Wilson in a variety of ways. It marked the death of his biological father and the first time he heard the blues. His discovery of this traditional musical style opened his eyes to how the history and culture of African Americans took root in an oral, rather than a written, tradition. Wilson noted, “I think the blues is the best literature black Americans have. I can’t sing, so I said if I can’t sing the blues, I’ll write them.” Further inspired by the assassination of Malcolm X that same year, he purchased his first typewriter, changed his name and dedicated his life to becoming a writer. After co-creating the Centre Avenue Poets Theater Workshop in Pittsburgh, Wilson co-founded Pittsburgh’s Black Horizons Theater in 1969 with the intent of promoting black self-awareness. He chose to develop a “collective self-reliance grounded in black history and culture” over a preference for violent revolution. 8 – MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
P L A Y W R I G H T B I O G R A P H Y – AU G U S T W I L S O N ( c o n t .) Nine years later, Wilson moved to St. Paul to write educational scripts for the Science Museum of Minnesota to “pay the bills.” Soon after, his play JITNEY (produced here at The Rep in 2002), was accepted by the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis in 1980. Two years later, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM was accepted by the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center National Playwrights Conference. There, Wilson met the Dean of the Yale School of Drama, Lloyd Richards, and the two forged a strong working relationship. Yale would become the home for Wilson’s play workshops, and Richards would become his director. Wilson’s career skyrocketed. Wilson aspired to use his storytelling genius to tell the story of the AfricanAmerican experience by writing a play set in each decade of the 20th century. He accomplished this monumental feat, following JITNEY (produced at The Rep during the 2001/02 season) and MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM with JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE (1993/94 season), FENCES (1989/90 season), THE PIANO LESSON, TWO TRAINS RUNNING, SEVEN GUITARS, KING HEDLEY II, GEM OF THE OCEAN (2006/07 season) and RADIO GOLF (2009/10 season). Together, these ten plays, dubbed the Century Cycle, earned him a Tony Award, Olivier Award, two Pulitzer Prizes, five New Play Awards/Citations from the American Theatre Critics Association and seven New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards. He also was nominated for an Emmy Award. August Wilson died of liver cancer at age 60 on October 2, 2005. In honor of his contribution to the American theater, Broadway’s Virginia Theatre was renamed the August Wilson Theatre on October 17, 2005, making it the first theater bearing the name of an African-American artist. When asked for his own greatest accomplishment, he said he would like to be known as “the guy who wrote these ten plays.”
SAVE THE DATE! Mark your calendars for The Rep’s 2011 Gala
MAY 14, 2011 and watch for details coming soon!
For current information visit www.milwaukeerep.com/support/events MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – 9
BIOGR APHIES Ron O.J. Parson, Director Ron Parson is the co-founder and former Artistic Director of the Onyx Theatre Ensemble of Chicago, and he is currently the resident artist at Court Theatre. He has worked with such Chicago theaters as Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Northlight Theatre, Black Ensemble Theater, eta Creative Arts Foundation, Chicago Theatre Company, Eclipse Theatre Company, Congo Square Theatre Company, City Lit Theater Company, Urban Theater Company, Writers’ Theatre and a variety of arts in education programs. Regionally, Mr. Parson has directed at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Portland Stage Company, Virginia Stage Company, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Madison Repertory Theatre, Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Signature Theatre Company in New York City, Centerstage in Baltimore and the world premiere of PALMER PARK at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada. Most recently, he directed August Wilson’s TWO TRAINS RUNNING at Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, NY. For Court Theatre, Mr. Parson has directed Wilson’s MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM, THE PIANO LESSON and FENCES, THE FIRST BREEZE OF SUMMER, WAIT UNTIL DARK, FLYIN’ WEST and SIZWE BANZI IS DEAD. Mr. Parson also recently directed THE OLD SETTLER at Writers’ Theatre. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and SDC, the stage directors’ union. Mr. Parson wishes to dedicate this production of MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM to Israel Hicks. Michael Ganio, Scenic Designer Michael joined Actors Theatre of Louisville for the first time as scenic designer for MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM. Previously for The Rep, Mr. Ganio has designed SEVEN KEYS TO SLAUGHTER PEAK, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, ARMADALE, TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN, THE MILL ON THE FLOSS and THE MAGIC FIRE. Regional theater credits include: RUINED for the Denver 10 – MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Center Theatre Company; MACBETH for Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and A CHRISTMAS STORY for Syracuse Stage Company. Later this year he will be designing productions of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and HENRY IV, PART 1 along with THE THREE MUSKETEERS for Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Opera: Agrippina for Chicago Opera Theater; Ship of Fools, Semele and Les Bavards for Mannes Camerata and Fidelio, Tristan und Isolde, Il Trovatore and Agrippina for Virginia Opera. Lorraine Venberg, Costume Designer At Actors Theatre of Louisville: MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM, THE KITE RUNNER, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, CHRISTMAS STORY, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, AMERIVILLE, RAISIN IN THE SUN, MATCH GAMES, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, THE UNDERPANTS, MARY’S WEDDING, GEM OF THE OCEAN, THE CHOSEN, TWELFTH NIGHT, THE CRUCIBLE, INTIMATE APPAREL, BAD DATES, ACT A LADY, NATURAL SELECTION, FENCES, PURE CONFIDENCE, MEMORY HOUSE, GIN GAME, BETRAYAL, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY, ALL MY SONS, AS YOU LIKE IT, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, CRIMES OF THE HEART, OMNIUMGATHERUM, THE PAVILION, THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE, PROOF and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Other regional theater: Cincinnati Playhouse, Arizona Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theater, Arden Theatre Company, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Pittsburgh Public Theater and City Theatre. Member USA 829. Brian J. Lilienthal, Lighting Designer At Actors Theatre of Louisville, over 40 productions including: THE KITE RUNNER, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, SHIPWRECKED! AN ENTERTAINMENT, ROCK & ROLL: THE REUNION TOUR, GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, 43 PLAYS FOR 43 PRESIDENTS, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH and THE CLEAN HOUSE. Other
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BIOGR APHIES theater: Trinity Repertory Company, Arden Theatre Company, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Cherry Lane Theatre, Capital Repertory Theatre, Perishable Theatre, Sledgehammer Theatre, The Evidence Room, La Mama ETC, InterAct Theatre Company, New Paradise Laboratories Theatre Inc. and the National Playwrights Conference at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center (resident designer). Opera credits include Bard Summerscape, Long Beach Opera, Portland Opera Repertory Theatre and Boston Academy of Music. 2005 LA Ovation Award. Mr. Lilienthal holds an MFA from California Institute of the Arts. Matt Callahan, Sound Designer As Resident Sound Designer at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Mr. Callahan has designed productions of SIRENS, GROUND, THE CHERRY SISTERS REVISITED, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, A CHRISTMAS STORY, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, ROCK & ROLL: THE REUNION TOUR (co-creator), SLASHER, GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, 43 PLAYS FOR 43 PRESIDENTS, GREAT FALLS, THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, DARK PLAY OR STORIES FOR BOYS, THE UNSEEN, SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE FINAL ADVENTURE, MARY’S WEDDING, THE CHOSEN, MY FAIR LADY, THE SCENE and SIX YEARS. He was in residence at the National Playwrights Conference at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center for two seasons. Mr. Callahan has served as audio engineer for Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company and assistant engineer for The Blue Man Group and was a member of Defiant Theatre. Mark Walston, Properties Designer Mark is in his 17th season at Actors Theatre of Louisville and most recently designed THE KITE RUNNER. Over the past 12 years, Mr. Walston has been Props Master for over 100 productions, including PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, ITALIAN AMERICAN RECONCILIATION, MY FAIR LADY, THE CRUCIBLE, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, AFTER ASHLEY, THE
DRAWER BOY, OMNIUM-GATHERUM, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, FLOYD COLLINS, FULL GALLOP and ANGELS IN AMERICA. Mr. Walston’s additional credits include: Worcester Foothills Theatre; the Boston premiere of PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES at the Charles Playhouse; Maine State Music Theatre; Music Theatre North and the national tour of MAME as dresser to Patrice Munsel. A native of Grosse Pointe, MI, Mr. Walston is a graduate of Wagner College in Staten Island, NY. Heather Fleming, Wig Designer Heather has designed wigs and makeup for more than 80 productions. Since 2008, Ms. Fleming has been the Wig Master/Designer at Actors Theatre of Louisville, creating wigs and makeup for shows such as SIRENS, DRACULA, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL and GREATER TUNA. Prior to Actors Theatre, Ms. Fleming was the Wig Designer for four seasons at the Barter Theatre. Recent designs include: AMADEUS for the Clarence Brown; THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO for Hope Summer Repertory Theatre; EMERALD AND LOVE SONG OF THE DEAD FISHERMEN for Nimbus Theatre and TIMON OF ATHENS for Walden Theatre. Ms. Fleming holds an MFA from the University of Illinois and has recently published articles on wig design for The Costumer Magazine and Theatre Design and Technology. Kimo Williams, Music Arranger Kimo is on the faculty at Columbia College, Chicago. He holds an MA in management and a BA from Berklee College in Boston. As a composer, he has released four CDs of original works, including works that have been performed by major symphony orchestras including Detroit, Atlanta, Savannah, Philadelphia and Indianapolis. Mr. Williams founded the United States Veterans Art Program that provides artistic tools (guitars, cameras, art supplies, etc.), for wounded service members. With his creative partner/wife Carol, they donate their time in support of veterans through MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – 13
BIOGR APHIES USVAP. Mr. Williams is a 2007–2012 Fulbright Specialist in Vietnam. He co-founded the Lt. Dan Band with actor Gary Sinise, performing worldwide. He is currently devoting his creative energies to multi-media production, composing and photography. Ray Nardelli, Recording Engineer Ray has composed music and designed sound at Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Court Theatre, McCarter Theatre, New Victory Theatre, Hartford Stage, Arena Stage, Alley Theatre, American Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Northlight Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theater, Meadow Brook Theatre, Gift Theatre, Northwestern Theatre, DePaul Theatre, Notre Dame Summer Shakespeare, Shakespeare on the Green, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Dolphinback Theatre, American Girl Theatre, Skylight Opera Theatre and Wright State University Theatre. His film credits include Stray Dogs, Pretty Ladies and Crush. Mr. Nardelli has been nominated five times for a Jeff Award and won for the Goodman Theatre production ELECTRICIDAD. Mr. Nardelli teaches sound design at DePaul University. Zan Sawyer-Dailey, Casting Zan is now in her 26th season at Actors Theatre of Louisville, currently serves as Associate Director, coordinating artistic resources and personnel, including casting for all productions and readings. She oversees departments involved in education and community outreach, professional theater training, casting and company management. She is a master teacher for the Apprentice Company as well as at University of Louisville. She teaches audition technique and business protocol and holds a BA in theatre arts from Butler University and an MFA in arts administration from Florida State University. Ms. Sawyer-Dailey is married to a professional actor. They have two adult children and too many animals. 14 – MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Jessica Reese, Dramaturg Jessica is a dramaturgy/literary management intern at Actors Theatre of Louisville. This season at ATL she has been the dramaturg for Apprentice/ Intern Company projects including ROMEO AND JULIET, and the assistant dramaturg for mainstage productions including THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP. She graduated cum laude from Davidson College with a degree in theater. Mark Clements, Artistic Director Mark Clements began his tenure as The Rep’s Artistic Director with the 2010/11 season. He is an awardwinning international theater director whose work has appeared in over 100 major theaters throughout Europe and the US. Recent productions include: BOMBSHELLS and CABARET at The Rep; OLIVER, BORN YESTERDAY, GREAT EXPECTATIONS and LES MISERABLES (2008 Barrymore Award – Best Production of a Musical) and OF MICE AND MEN (2007 Barrymore Award – Best Director and Best Production of a Play), all for Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia; THE MILLINER (Off-Broadway, World Premiere), CSC, New York; MY FAIR LADY, Copenhagen; THE BROWNING VERSION (Barclays/ TMA Regional Theatre Award) at Derby Playhouse and BLUNT SPEAKING (World Premiere), Chichester Festival Theatre UK and Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York both starring Corin Redgrave. Other productions include: SPEAKING IN TONGUES (US Premiere) with Kevin Anderson and Karen Allen (SDC’s Joe Calloway Award, Best Director Nomination), Roundabout Theatre Company; SPEAKING IN TONGUES (European Premiere; Barclays/TMA Best Director Nomination), Hampstead Theatre, London; Creator/Director – SOUL TRAIN (Laurence Olivier Award Nomination), West End
BIOGR APHIES and three UK national tours; and the UK national tours of THE GLASS MENAGERIE, THE GINGERBREAD LADY and LOVE & MARRIAGE, all for Bath Theatre Royal productions. Mark served as an Associate Artistic Director for Moving Theatre Company, the production company founded by Vanessa and Corin Redgrave. He has also been Associate Director for New End Theatre, London, Royal Theatre Northampton, Torch Theatre, Wales and New Players Theatre, London. Additionally, Mark served as Artistic Director of the award-winning Derby Playhouse in the UK from 1992 to 2002, where he produced over 100 productions, directed 47, including nine transfers to London’s West End and many UK national tours and international collaborations with leading companies in Europe and the US. He serves on the National Advisory Board for the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program at Ten Chimneys. Dawn Helsing Wolters, Managing Director Dawn Helsing Wolters joined Milwaukee Repertory Theater as Managing Director in August of 2009. She came to Milwaukee from Chicago, where she served as Executive Director of Court Theatre from 2005 to 2009, co-leading the theater through a period of artistic and institutional growth and success. While in Chicago, Dawn served on the board of The League of Chicago Theatres, chairing its Nominating Committee and consulting for area theaters in leadership development, capacity building and fundraising. She also served on the Chicago 2016 Olympic Arts and Culture Advisory Group. As a founding board member of the Hyde Park Cultural Alliance, she helped spearhead the group’s transition to an independent not-for-profit organization, chairing its Governance Committee.
From 2001 to 2005, Dawn served as Director of Development at Center Stage in Baltimore, overseeing growth in all areas of the theater’s fundraising. While completing her MFA in Theatre Management at Yale School of Drama, she was Associate Managing Director of Yale Repertory Theatre and Managing Director of Yale’s Summer Cabaret. Dawn has held marketing and public relations positions at Center Stage and Arena Stage in Washington, DC. She has served in an advisory capacity for the National Endowment for the Arts, the Massachusetts Cultural Commission, and The University of Chicago’s Graham School of General Studies and for Goucher College’s graduate Arts Administration program. Additionally, she has served as a guest lecturer and panelist at several colleges and universities. Dawn currently serves on the Executive Committee of the League of Resident Theatres, the Bridge Committee for the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts and the National Advisory Board for the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program at Ten Chimneys.
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A B O U T AC TO R S T H E AT R E O F L O U I S V I L L E Marc Masterson, Artistic Director Jennifer Bielstein, Managing Director Now in its 47th season, Actors Theatre of Louisville, the State Theatre of Kentucky, has emerged as one of America’s most consistently innovative professional theater companies. For more than 30 years, it has been a major force in revitalizing American playwriting. Its annual Humana Festival of New American Plays is recognized as the premier event of its kind and draws producers, journalists, critics, playwrights and theater lovers from around the world for a marathon of new works. More than 350 plays from Actors Theatre have been published, making them available to producers and readers and creating a significant addition to the nation’s dramatic literature. Actors Theatre’s programming includes a broad range of classical and contemporary work, presenting more than 500 performances each season. The company performs annually to nearly 200,000 people and is the recipient of the most prestigious awards bestowed on a regional theater: a special Tony Award for Distinguished Achievement, the James N. Vaughan Memorial Award for Exceptional Achievement and Contribution to the Development of Professional Theatre and the Margo Jones Award for the Encouragement of New Plays. Actors Theatre’s international appearances include performances in over 29 cities in 15 foreign countries. Currently, there are 40 books of plays and criticism from Actors Theatre in publication and circulation.
www.actorstheatre.org
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16 – MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Now I lay me down to...never mind.
March 24 - April 17, 2011 Tenth Street Theatre 628 N. 10th Street Featuring Angela Iannone Directed by David Cecsarini
Sponsored by Polly & Giles Daeger
414-278-0765 • www.nextact.org
CAST BIOGR APHIES Jonathan ButlerDuplessis Sylvester
Anthony Fleming III Levee
Anthony appears at Milwaukee Rep for the first time, Jonathan is and recently an intern at made his first Milwaukee appearance at Repertory Actors Theatre Theater and of Louisville a graduate of the University of Illinois in MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM. with a BFA in acting. He hails from Other credits include: the Cheshire Cat Champaign, IL. Mr. Butler-Duplessis and others in LOOKINGGLASS ALICE made his Kentucky debut as a member (original cast member), at Lookingglass of the MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM cast. Theatre Company in Chicago. Regional His previous credits include Milwaukee theater: FENCES at Court Theatre and Repertory Theater’s productions of LOOKINGGLASS ALICE at Syracuse Stage, CABARET and A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Alliance Theatre and McCarter Theatre Center. Television: Prison Break (Fox – Jonathan season I and II) and The Beast (A&E). Gillard Daly Chicago theater credits: HAMBONE, Irvin FREE MAN OF COLOR, A BIG BLUE NAIL AND DENMARK (Victory Gardens Resident Theater); ICARUS, FEDRA, RACE, 1984 Acting and ARABIAN NIGHTS (Lookingglass Company Theatre Company) and DIVISION ST: Member. AMERICA, TAKE ME OUT and THE GLASS Jonathan MENAGERIE (Steppenwolf Theatre has been a Company). Mr. Fleming is a proud member of company member of Lookingglass The Rep’s Theatre Company in Chicago. Resident Acting Company since 1998. Some of his Michael favorite roles here include: Herr Schulz in Lindsey, CABARET; Nicky Giblin in THE SEAFARER; Policeman Arkady in A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY Artistic Intern and Scrooge in A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Ensemble He is also a member of the resident Member. company at Great River Shakespeare Festival, where he has appeared as This season Prospero, Shylock, Malvolio, Richard III Michael has and Bottom the Weaver. He is a veteran been seen in of regional theater, having worked at the ensemble Indiana Repertory Theatre, The Repertory of The Rep’s Theatre of St. Louis, American Players productions Theatre, Clarence Brown Theatre, Great of A CHRISTLakes Theatre Festival, Court Theatre MAS CAROL and CABARET. He went to and PCPA Theaterfest. Mr. Daly lives in Shorter College in Rome, GA, receiving a Milwaukee with his wife of 28 years, BFA in Musical Theatre. He has performed such roles as Mercutio in ROMEO AND Gale, and their children, Sam and Emily. JULIET, Robbie Hart in THE WEDDING SINGER, Dorian Gray in THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY and Sky Masterson Artistic Intern Ensemble Member.
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CAST BIOGR APHIES in GUYS AND DOLLS. He has worked professionally for The Lost Colony, Discovery Land USA and Matt Davenport Productions. Michael would like to thank his family for all of their support.
Erynn Mackenzie Dussie Mae/ Movement Coordinator Erynn is making her Milwaukee Rep debut and also appreared at Actors Theatre of Louisville for the first time. Regional theater credits include: CUBA AND HIS TEDDY BEAR at the Batey Urbano in Chicago; THE DARKEST PIT at the PRP THTR Group in Chicago; A RAISIN IN THE SUN at The West Side Theatre Guild in Gary, IN, and THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, IN. Film: The Gilded Six Bits, Heirloom, All About the Ring and Prodigy. Additional credits: HAIR and THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at The Dunes Summer Theatre in Michigan City, IN. Ms. Mackenzie holds a BA in theater and psychology from Indiana University. William McNulty Sturdyvant William McNulty has played more than 150 roles during his 30 seasons in residence at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Among them are: Jamie (MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN); Johnny (FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIRE DE LUNE); Roy Cohn (ANGELS IN AMERICA); Charlie (THE FOREIGNER); Enobarbus (ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA); Norman (THE NORMAN CONQUESTS) and
Nixon (NIXON’S NIXON). Directing credits include: EDUCATING RITA, FULL GALLOP, SEASCAPE, THE LOVER, A SLIGHT ACHE, DRACULA, SKYLIGHT and THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE. Other theaters where he has worked include: Washington’s Arena Stage, The Public Theater in New York City, B Street Theatre, Florida Stage and Moscow Art Theatre. Mr. McNulty is a 2007 recipient of the Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowship, one of three grants awarded annually in the Distinguished Artist category. Greta Oglesby Ma Rainey Greta is making her Milwaukee Rep debut and recently appeared as Ma Rainey in the Actors Theatre of Louisville production of MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM. She also recently finished a ten-month run of HAMLET at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival starring as Queen Gertrude. Other OSF credits include: Aunt Ester in GEM OF THE OCEAN; Antonia in THE TEMPEST; Paulina in THE WINTER’S TALE; Antonia in THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA and Ma Rainey in MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM. Regional theater credits include: Madam C. J. Walker in DREAMS OF SARAH BREEDLOVE (Alabama Shakespeare Festival); Caroline in CAROLINE OR CHANGE and Mother Shaw in CROWNS (Guthrie Theater); Bernice in THE PIANO LESSON, Mae and Mother in DINAH WAS and Bertha in JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE (Penumbra Theatre Company) and Aunt Ester in GEM OF THE OCEAN and Sis Boxer in THE AMEN CORNER (Goodman Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company). New York: American Songbook Series at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Understudy for Lena in A RAISIN IN THE SUN (Royale Theatre). Film/Television: Early Edition, Unsolved Mysteries, Into Temptation, Conversations MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – 19
CAST BIOGR APHIES with God, Passing Minds, Time Served, Four Way Stop, The Fugitive and My Life. Awards: 2009 McKnight Theatre Artist Fellowship, Joseph Jefferson Award, Best Actress in a Play and Black Theater Alliance Award, Best Actress in a Musical. Education: BS, Rust College. Ernest Perry, Jr. Cutler At Milwaukee Repertory Theater he has appeared in TROUBLE IN MIND and GEM OF THE OCEAN. At Actors Theatre of Louisville he has appeared in MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM, THE TEMPEST and FENCES. Regional theater credits include: PLAYBOY OF THE WEST INDIES, ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL and MARY STUART (Court Theatre); HEARTBREAK HOUSE, CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY, GALILEO, THE ICEMAN COMETH, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, PLAY MAS, ’TIS PITY SHE’S A WHORE, DROWNING CROW, MAGNOLIA, AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, LET ME LIVE, TIES THAT BIND, BLACK STAR LINE, PUDDIN ’N PETE (Goodman Theatre); OO-BLADEE (La Jolla Playhouse); ELMINA’S KITCHEN and KING HEDLEY II (Alliance Theatre) and THE TEMPEST (American Shakespeare Center). International Theatre: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (Royal Shakespeare Company); MY CHILDREN! MY AFRICA! (Vienna’s English Theatre); and THE ICEMAN COMETH (Abbey Theatre). Broadway: DEATH AND THE KING’S HORSEMAN. Film/Television: Love Liza; Liar, Liar; A Rage in Harlem; The Color of Money; Barbershop 2; The Promotion; Roll Bounce; The Express; The Fifteen Minute Hamlet; Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and ER.
Special Thanks The Cleveland Play House Prop Dept. 20 – MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
A.C. Smith Slow Drag A.C. Smith makes his Milwaukee Rep debut and just had his debut at Actors Theatre of Louisville in MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM. He was last seen in the role of Memphis Lee in the Geva Theatre Center’s production of TWO TRAINS RUNNING. Regional theater credits include: Kansas City Repertory Theatre, St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Madison Repertory Theatre and Portland Stage Company, to name a few. Broadway: Mr. Smith understudied and performed in the national Broadway tour of August Wilson’s THE PIANO LESSON in the role of Boy Willie, directed by Lloyd Richards. He starred in the title role of the New Federal Theatre’s production of JELLY BELLY, Off-Broadway (Audelco Award nomination). Mr. Smith has done many independent and a few feature films as well as television, radio, voiceovers and commercials. He is a native of Chicago, where he has been blessed to continue in theater there. Mr. Smith has received many awards and nominations for his work and in addition has done print work for Ebony and Jet magazines. Alfred H. Wilson Toledo Alfred H. Wilson recently played Travis in THE ETIQUETTE OF VIGILANCE at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Regional theater credits include: Holloway in TWO TRAINS RUNNING (Geva Theatre Center); Sam in MASTER HAROLD AND THE BOYS (Timeline Theatre); Toledo in MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM and Wining Boy in PIANO LESSON (Court
CAST BIOGR APHIES Theatre); Solly Two Kings in GEM OF THE OCEAN (Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati); and Old Joe in RADIO GOLF (Pittsburgh Public Theater and Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati). Chicago theater: Charlie in BOURBON AT THE BORDER (Eclipse Theatre Company); Becker in JITNEY (Pegasus Players); Charles in PANTHER BURN (MMPAACT) and Memphis Lee in TWO TRAINS RUNNING (Pegasus Players), where he was awarded a Jeff Citation for Best Actor. Mr. Wilson was also a co-founder of Onyx Theatre Ensemble. He has also worked at the Goodman Theatre and Victory Gardens Theater. Richelle Harrington Calin, Stage Manager Richelle is celebrating her tenth anniversary as a member of Actors’ Equity Association and her seventh season with Milwaukee Rep! She is thrilled to be working on this season’s productions of CABARET, BOMBSHELLS and MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM; and she hopes you will take time to check out the exciting things happening in ALL of The Rep’s performing spaces. Richelle has also worked with Nebraska Shakespeare Festival, Florida Repertory Theater, Alhambra Dinner Theatre, Playhouse on the Square, Tibbet’s Summer Theatre and BoarsHead Theater. She is eternally grateful for the support of her wonderful husband, Dean and her three fur “kids.” Mark S. Sahba, Assistant Stage Manager Over the last 29 years, Mark has had the opportunity to work on many great plays with many talented people at Milwaukee
Repertory Theater, from KINGDOM COME to this production of MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM. Some of the other productions Mark has worked on at The Rep include OUR TOWN tour to Siberia, M. BUTTERFLY, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, THE PUPPETMASTER OF LODZ, DRACULA, LAUGHING STOCK and many others. Christine Czerwinski, Stage Manager Apprentice Christine is thrilled to return to The Rep after serving as a stage management intern for the 2009/10 season. Previously, Christine has worked in stage management at Skylight Opera Theatre and First Stage Children’s Theater. She is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Parkside. Many thanks to friends and family for their continuous love and support.
Geoffrey Bleeker, Assistant Director Artistic Intern Ensemble Member.
Geoffrey is thrilled to be part of bringing MA RAINEY to Milwaukee. He has served as Assistant Director on this season’s productions of CABARET, BOMBSHELLS and SPEAKING IN TONGUES. A Houston native, Geoffrey has worked as a director, actor and administrator for companies in Texas, New Mexico, West Virginia, Ohio and Florida, and is truly grateful to be a part of The Rep Intern Ensemble this season. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, he most recently served as a Resident Guest Artist at the University of West Florida, directing ANTIGONE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, PIPPIN and THE LEARNED LADIES. MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – 21
T H E S TA F F
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Mark Clements ARTISTIC Associate Artistic Director...................Sandy Ernst Artistic Associate..............................Brent Hazelton Artistic Assistant.......................Michael M. Kroeker EDUCATION Education Director.......................... Jenny Kostreva Education Coordinator...................... Rebecca Witt Teaching Artists................Tom Bruno, Bo Johnson, Marcy Kearns, Shannon Sloan-Spice RESIDENT ACTING COMPANY Jonathan Gillard Daly, Lee E. Ernst, Laura Gordon, Torrey Hanson, Gerard Neugent, James Pickering, Rose Pickering, Peter Silbert, Deborah Staples, Brian Vaughn ARTISTIC INTERNS Geoffrey S. Bleeker, Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, LaToya Codner, Rukhmani K. Desai, David Hathway, Leda Hoffmann, Ryan Krause, Stephanie Lambourn, Michael Lindsey, Alexander Pawlowski IV, Giuseppe A. Ribaudo, Greta Wohlrabe, Charlie Wright PRODUCTION Production Manager...... Melissa Nyari Vartanian Technical Director................................ Robb Bessey Assistant Technical Director..............Steve Barnes Lighting & Sound Director.........Craig Gottschalk Production Accounts Manager..................Donna E. Hunsicker Production Purchaser/ Scenic Assistant.....................................Peter Koenig Assistant Lighting Designer Intern.............................. Michael Wolmer Assistant Stagehand..............................Jessica Peck Assistant Stagehand........................ Justin R. Peters STAGE MANAGEMENT Company Stage Managers..........Amanda Weener, Briana J. Fahey Stage Managers.............Richelle Harrington Calin, Kathi Karol Koenig, Becky Merold, Mark S. Sahba, Laura Wendt Stage Management Apprentice...............................Christine Czerwinski Stage Management Interns............... David Hartig, Molly Hayeslip COSTUMES Costume Director................................... Holly Payne Associate Costume Director..................Amy Horst Senior Draper..................................... Alex B. Tecoma Draper....................................................April McKinnis First Hand.........................Rey Dobeck, Jef Ouwens Associate First Hand..........................Jessica Jaeger Stitchers......................... Jade Jablonski, Carol Ross Senior Crafts Artisan/ Milliner.............................................Kate McLaughlin Crafts Artisan/ Costume Shop Assistant................Jenny Thurnau 22 – MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Hair & Make-up Supervisor.................Lara Dalbey Head Wardrobe................................ Jennifer Vinent Wardrobe......... Jaime Schnittke, Abbey Peterson Intern................................................ Emily Robertson Haircuts by.............................................Kevin McElroy, Robert Laurence Hair Studio PAINT Charge Scenic Artist............................. Jim Medved Scenic Artists.............................Susannah M. Barnes, Shannon Mann Scenic Artist Interns........ Lisa Rowe, Anna Sewell PROPS Properties Director..................................James Guy General Props Artisan............................ Sarah Heck Props Craft Artisan...............................Anna Warren Soft Props Artisan..................Margaret Hasek-Guy Props Carpenter.................................. Erik Lindquist Prop Painter/Graphic Artist............Jill Lynn Lyons RESIDENT CREW Bill Burgardt, Glenn Dassow, Sam Garst, Rick Grilli, Dave Hicks, John Nusslock, Robert Schultz, Jim Zinky MANAGING DIRECTOR Dawn Helsing Wolters ADMINISTRATION General Manager.............................Diane B. Dalton Company Manager..................... Dawn Marie Ross Administrative Assistant.................................. Erin Burgess-Ellingen Receptionists.......................... Andrea Roades-Bruss, Michael Evans, Grace Hern, Katherine Ketter, Maria Roades, Alicia Wahl Interns.................... Dan Gorchynsky, Kelly Pursoey HOUSE House Manager..................................Daniel Colwell Quadracci Powerhouse Assistant House Managers......Robert Baunoch III, Andrew Bosworth, Carynne Dati, Dan Gorchynsky, Mariel Hildenbrand, Johnathan Koller, Meaghan Shelly FINANCE Finance Director............................ Leslie Fillingham Payroll Specialist........................................Gail Getka Accounting Associate........................ Lisa Schieffer DEVELOPMENT Development Director.......Annie Jansen Jurczyk Corporate & Foundation Relationship Manager...................... Tamara Hauck Individual Giving Manager............... Anne Cauley Development Events Manager........................ Rebecca Kitelinger Intern..................................................Meaghan Shelly
T H E S TA F F MARKETING/PUBLIC RELATIONS Marketing Director.................................. Lisa Fulton Public Relations Director...............Cindy E. Moran Marketing Manager.................. Patrick G. H.Schley Graphic Designer.............................Megan Gadient Public Relations & Events Coordinator......................... Lindsay Adams PR/Marketing Interns........................... Rose Hebein, Ayla Yundem TICKET OFFICE Ticket Operations Manager........................................ Christopher Cuhel Patron Relations Manager.......Christine Yündem Assistant Manager.......................James Thibodeau Ticket Office Staff.................... Beata Chrzanowska, Carla Crump, Gwen Crump, David Dziatkiewcz, Jamie Lacy, Lori Locke, Johnell Major-Wesley, Kelly Peterson, Lindsey St. Arnold, Katherine Sterner, Britt Wegner, Theo Woo MAINTENANCE Chief Building Engineer.............. Mark A. Uhrman Lead Engineer...........................................James Ross Engineer........................................................ Todd Ross Part-time Engineer......................Dominick Deligio HOUSEKEEPING Housekeeping Supervisor...........Charles McClain Housekeeping Staff:.............................. Regail Blade, Kaye Johnyakin, Dennis Reed, Rosie L. Williams STACKNER CABARET Manager.................................................. Kristen Olsen Cabaret Staff...............................Kathleen Borchardt, Lara Dalbey, Matthew Flannery, Michael Flannery, Caitlin Hagness, Tanya Haynes, Ryan Helm, Alex Hermann, Mariel Hildenbrand, Josh Johnston, Katrina Nipko, Beth Ormsby, Michael Passow, James Passow, Jeanne Pfannenstiel, Marna Riordan, Claire Rydzik, Micheal Shorty, Stephan Shanklin, Rachel Stenman, David Stachlewicz, Jane Stratton, Tomika Vukovoch, Jenni Watson, Rebecca Witt
Your Guide to the Performing Arts Comprehensive Performing Arts Calendar Ticket Giveaways & Discounts Performing Arts News & Features Performing Arts Jobs & Auditions
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – 23
THE SHOW MUST GO ON. TIME. In and Out Without a Doubt at Kil@wat
Catching a show? Enjoy an electric dinner prepared lightning fast at Kil@wat, located across the street from the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and conveniently close to The Pabst Theater and Milwaukee Repertory Theater. A sit-down dinner with time left to find your seats? Now that’s an opening act.
kilawatcuisine.com | 414.291.4793 | intercontinental milwaukee 24 – MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
AU D I E N C E I N F O R M AT I O N PARKING INFORMATION Milwaukee Center Parking On-site parking with indoor access to The Rep operated by InterPark. Enter from Kilbourn Avenue or Water Street. Parking Passes You may purchase parking passes to the Milwaukee Center’s garage (good during Rep performance times), for $7.00 in the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Studio and Stackner Cabaret theater lobbies. Save time and money! See House Manager for details. M & I Bank parking structure is located just off the SE corner of Wells and Water Streets. Enter from Wells Street, just east of Water Street. Parking is not available for weekday matinees. 100 East Wisconsin Avenue parking structure is on the NW corner of Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Enter from Water Street, just north of Wisconsin Avenue. 720 North Water Street parking structure is located across the street from 100 East Wisconsin. Enter from Water Street. Marcus Center Parking – 123 East State Street is located on the NW corner of Water and State Streets. Enter from State Street, just west of Water Street.
Smoke-Free Sunday Matinee One Sunday matinee in the Quadracci Powerhouse and Stiemke Studio will eliminate onstage smoking if used for that production. Please refer to The Rep’s Patron Guide for performance dates or call the Ticket Office at 414-224-9490. (All onstage smoking is tobacco free and complies with Wisconsin state law.) Ticket Exchange Policy Subscribers may exchange tickets through the Ticket Office up to 24 hours prior to the time printed on the tickets. Call 414-224-9490 or exchange online at www. milwaukeerep.com. Missed Show Insurance Subscribers who miss their performance will be reseated in the best available seats for any remaining performance. One free ticket insurance claim per season. A $5 service charge per ticket will apply for subsequent claims. Emergency Calls If you anticipate the need to be reached during a performance, please inform House Management before the performance begins. Leave your name, seat location, contact information and any instructions with the House Manager. For emergency phone calls, the House Manager can be reached at 414-290-5379 or 414-224-1761, ext. 379. Weather Policy The Rep does not cancel or reschedule performances due to inclement weather, nor do we offer refunds.
1000 North Water parking structure is located in this building on the corner of Highland and Water Streets. Enter from Market Street, one block east of Water Street.
Concessions Enjoy a drink or dessert in the Quadracci Powerhouse or Stiemke Studio lobby prior to the performance or at intermission. Please remember that food and drink (except bottled water) are not allowed in the theater.
The Rep In Depth Our lively, informative, half-hour background talk is offered beginning 45 minutes prior to every Quadracci Powerhouse and Stiemke Studio performance. Drop in anytime to hear a quick overview of the play you are about to see and to get insider information.
Late Arrivals Out of courtesy to the actors and audience, patrons arriving after the performance has started will be seated at the discretion of House Management.
The Rep Talkbacks Offered immediately after select performances, talkbacks offer audience members the opportunity to ask questions about the play to actors from the production. Talkback schedules are available at the Ticket Office at 414-224-9490, in Prologue, The Rep’s online newsletter, and The Rep’s Patron Guide or our website www.milwaukeerep.com.
Speakers’ Bureau Members of the Friends of The Rep are available to speak to your social group or club. Our program can be designed to fit your group’s special interests. Classroom presentations are also available. Call 414-2241761 for further information. Student and Senior Citizen Discount Senior citizens and students with proper identification receive $5 off any seat in advance or may purchase half-price “rush tickets” 60 minutes prior to curtain. Offer valid for Quadracci Powerhouse and Stiemke Studio performances only. Proper identification is required. MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – 25
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AU D I E N C E I N F O R M AT I O N ( c o n t .) Policy on Children Children under age five are not admitted in the theater. Recording Equipment and Cameras The use of recording equipment and cameras in the theater is strictly forbidden. Access Services
CC
Captioned Theater
Deaf or Hard of Hearing Services The Quadracci Powerhouse (QP) and the Stiemke Studio are equipped with an infrared listening system which ensures clarity of sound from any seat in the house. Performances are offered in American Sign Language for a Thursday evening for all QP productions and one Sunday matinee for all Stiemke Studio productions. We also offer a Captioned Theater performance during the
last Sunday matinee performance of all QP productions. Please call The Rep Ticket Office at 414-224-9490 for more information. Script synopses are available upon request for QP and Stiemke Studio productions by calling 414-224-1761. Blind or Low Vision Services Large print programs are available in the Quadracci Powerhouse and Stiemke Studio from any usher. Every Rep production has one audiodescribed performance. Using an earpiece attached to a small hand-held receiver, patrons hear a live, real-time description of the action on stage. Call the Ticket Office for more information. A descriptive tape is available for each QP and Stiemke Studio production by calling 414-224-1761. Wheelchairs All Rep stages are fully accessible. Please contact the Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.
C E L L U L A R P H O N E S / E L E C T R O N I C PAG I N G D E V I C E S Please remember to turn off your cell phones and electronic paging devices. In case of an emergency, these items may be left with the House Manager. Also, as a courtesy to your fellow theatergoers and the actors on stage, please refrain from text messaging during the performance. Thank you!
T H E R E P ’ S S TAC K N E R C A B A R E T Dine in style at Rep’s Stackner Cabaret. With a delightful menu in a unique theater surrounding, The Rep’s Stackner Cabaret is the perfect place to dine before the show, or stop by after the show and enjoy desserts and drinks – you never know who you’ll see! The Stackner Cabaret bar and restaurant is open to the public before and after all evening Rep performances and is located just up the escalator on the second floor in the Milwaukee Center. For dinner reservations, call 414-224-9490. To view the menu and other information, visit www. milwaukeerep.com.
NEW YORK THEATRE TOUR May 27-30, 2011 Package Includes: Your Choice of Any Three Broadway Shows Non-Stop Flights on AirTran Airways Three Nights at the Millennium Broadway Hotel $1,345.00 Per Person, Double Occupancy Call for Complete Information
414-276-3131 East Town Travel 800-822-3789 MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – 27
M I LWAU K E E R E P E R TO R Y T H E AT E R B OA R D O F T R U S T E E S OFFICERS
TRUSTEES
President John Kordsmeier
Sara Aster Wendy Blumenthal James Braza Jane A. Chernof Michelle Crockett Byron Foster Patrick Gallagher Lisa M. Gehrke Kathleen A. Gray John N. Greene Pete Hotz Stephen Isaacson Kristine Lueders Michael McNeely Gregory D. Miller Abigail Nash Lisa Quezada Catherine Robinson Micky Sadoff Joe Schlidt Tom Scrivner Patrick Smith Sean Torinus Stephen VanderBloemen Stacy Williams Kristine Zahn
Vice President, Trustees Karin Werner Vice President, Audience Development Susan Esslinger Vice President, Development Judy Hansen Vice President, Strategic Planning Robert Welke Treasurer Wally Morics Past President Robert H. Manegold Vice President, Personnel Dwight L. Morgan Secretary Joseph A. Rock
F R I E N D S O F T H E R E P B OA R D OFFICERS President Lisa Gehrke Vice President of Fundraising Karon Kiffel Vice President of Company Services Judy Berdan Vice President of Community Services Sharon Sohner Vice President of Friends’ Services Jim Gehrke Secretary Dan Roskom Treasurer Gee Esslinger 28 – MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Immediate Past-President Walter Daumler President-Elect Judy Berdan DIRECTORS AT LARGE Eunice Beckendorf Susan Esslinger Don Fraker Amy Gehrke Jim Gehrke Cathy Jakicic Sue Lueterbach Chuck Malone Sue McComb Jim Mergener Sue Rapp Brittany Roskom Jason Plowman Cindy Wiktorek
Let your soul take flight. Official Airline of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – 29
Free TickeTs nothing up our sleeves Weekly ticket giveaways
facebook.com/footlights
CORPORATION, FOUNDATION AND GOVERNMENT GIVING 2010/11
The Rep would like to thank all individuals and organizations listed below who donated $1,000 or more and chose to invest in The Rep. The following list includes gifts received February 1, 2010 – February 1, 2011. VISIONARY ($10,000+) Badger Meter Foundation Patty and Jay Baker Foundation The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Briggs & Stratton Corporation Foundation CAMPAC (Milwaukee County) Mae E. Demmer Charitable Trust Elizabeth Elser Doolittle Charitable Trusts Einhorn Family Foundation Friends of The Rep GE Healthcare The Greater Milwaukee Foundation Harley-Davidson Foundation The Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation MillerCoors MPS Foundation Northwestern Mutual Foundation
Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation Rockwell Automation The Shubert Foundation United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) Wisconsin Arts Board BENEFACTOR ($5,000 – $9,999) Frieda & William Hunt Memorial Trust Johnson Controls Foundation The Sheldon and Marianne Lubar Fund of the Lubar Family Foundation M&I Wealth Management The Maihaugen Foundation We Energies PRODUCER ($2,500 – $4,999) Aurora Health Care Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. Davis & Kuelthau DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C. Law
venue Arts MUSIC THEATRE DANCE
Inbusch Foundation, Inc. KPMG Phoebe R. and John D. Lewis Foundation Marcus Hotels & Resorts Charles D. Ortgiesen Foundation Quarles & Brady Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren S.C. Serigraph Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. DIRECTOR ($1,000 – $2,499) Deloitte Fiduciary Management, Inc. Foley & Lardner Evan and Marion Helfaer Foundation Park Bank Foundation Robertson Ryan & Associates Target The VanderBloemen Group LLC
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D O N O R S – I N D I V I D UA L G I V I N G 2 010 / 11 VISIONARY ($10,000+) George and Audrey Grove Judy Hansen Jacqueline Herd-Barber and Michael Barber Maryann Katzor John and Constance Kordsmeier Robert H. and Carol O. Manegold Sally S. Manegold Kathleen H. Seidel David and Julia Uihlein BENEFACTOR ($5,000 – $9,999) James and Mary Braza Shirley Debouzek Pati and Jim Ericson Julia and Bladen Burns Keyes Family Ruth DeYoung Kohler Catherine and Buddy Robinson Teddy and Karin Werner PRODUCER ($2,500 – $4,999) Dr. and Mrs. R. H. Aster Kathe and Bill Biersach Wendy and Warren Blumenthal Larry and Patty Compton George and Sandra Dionisopoulos Susan and Gee Esslinger Kirt and Dixie Fiegel Byron and Suzanne Foster Kathleen Gray and Ron Hofer Henry and Margery Howard Jeffrey and Jacqueline Jahnke Judy and Gary Jorgensen Judith Keyes David and Camille Kundert John and Nancy Larson Kristine and Wayne Lueders Michael and Sandra McNeely Anthony and Donna Meyer Dwight L. Morgan Abigail and David Nash Walter and Ruth Olsen Lisa Quezada Gordana and Milan Racic
Joseph A. and Sarah Rock Thomas and Meredith Scrivner Micky and Ron Sadoff Patrick Smith and Edward Seaberg Brian Stark and Debra Altshul-Stark Robert and Malissa Welke Stacy and Blair Williams Kristine and David Zahn DIRECTOR ($1,000 – $2,499) Anonymous Fran and Lowell Adams Helen and Bruce Ambuel Daniel and Amy Argall Dr. and Mrs. R. P. Barthel Mark and Gerry Biehl Elaine Burke Robert and Carolyn Burrell Marsha Camitta Jane and Stephen Chernof John and Kay Crichton Aly El-Ghatit Don Fraker and Maja Jurisic Karen and Gardner Friedlander Patrick and Molly Gallagher Richard S. and Ann L. Gallagher Lloyd and Mary Ann Gerlach Franklyn and M. Anne Gimbel Kimberley and Andre Goode Greater Milwaukee Foundation Anthony and Andrea Bryant Family Fund Lois and Donald Cottrell Fund B Margaret Heminway Wells Fund John and Tameica Greene Norma and Bill Harrington Susan and John Harrits Carla and Robert Hay Dr. and Mrs. Burton Hoffman Peter and Linda Hotz Janet and Graham Hume Stephen and Roberta Isaacson Annie Jansen Jurczyk and John Jansen Robert and Gail Korb
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Pam Kriger Dr. Paul W. Loewenstein and Ms. Jody Kaufman Loewenstein James and Sandra Lombardo Thomas and Debra Longtin Franklin Loo and Sally Long Susan and Robert Lueger Larry Martin and Linda Rice Vince and Jan Martin Daniel and Constance McCarty Hazelyn McComas Karen McDiarmid Paul McElwee and Gayle Rosemann Richard and Maribeth Meeusen Geraldine Mesching Mark and Joan Miller Cathy and Wally Morics Robert and Dianne Morris Greg and Rhonda Oberland David Olson and Claire Fritsche Bruce and Peppy O’Neill Dr. David Paris Bob and Mary Lou Parrish Elaine N. Peterson Anthony Petullo Jim and Gwen Plunkett James and Lys Reiskytl Cornelia Riedl Sharon Rise Paul and Lynn Rix June Schloerb Nita Soref Bonnie and Bill Stafford Frank and Elsa Sterner Anne and Fred Stratton Maureen Swokowski and Hillerian Hess Sean and Cathie Torinus Mike and Peg Uihlein Stephen and Christine VanderBloemen Sargit Warriner Wilfred Wollner Dawn Helsing Wolters and Tony Wolters Clare and Judy Zempel Bettie Zillman