SKYLIGHT - Music Man

opera theatre presents

The Music Man Sponsored by

Book, Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson November 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 26, 27, 30 and December 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 Stage Director: Bill Theisen Music Director: Richard Carsey Choreographer: Pam Kriger Associate Music Director: Jamie Johns Set and Lighting Designer: Peter Dean Beck** Costume Designer: Gregory W. Slawko Sound Designer: Gary Ellis Production Stage Manager: Kimberly Ann McCann* Assistant Stage Manager: Lillian Tillson Assistant Stage Manger: Paul Matthew Madden

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of

professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

**Member of the United Scenic Artists

This production was supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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A M E SS AG E FR O M T H E S TAG E D I R E C TO R A N D A R T I S T I C D I R E C TO R - B I L L T H E I S E N Bringing The Music Man to the Cabot stage has been a goal of mine since my first day as artistic director back in 2004, and it has taken seven years to make it happen! But I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that the timing has finally worked out for us to present this Broadway classic to our Skylight audience for the first time in the company’s 53-year history.

When you start the process of preparing The Music Man, everything leads you to Meredith Willson, the gentleman who wrote the book, music and lyrics for this modern day masterpiece. Among his many accomplishments during a rich and prolific career, Meredith Willson played flute and piccolo under John Phillips Sousa and Arturo Toscanini, appeared on the very first NBC radio broadcast, created film scores for Charlie Chaplin, developed the Armed Forces Radio Service music department, wrote his first autobiographical work in 1949 thinking that most of the greatest accomplishments in his life were behind him, won the 1958 Tony for Best Musical, won the first Grammy for the soundtrack of The Music Man, won the 1962 Golden Globe for the film version of The Music Man, then wrote three more musicals, over four hundred individual songs and two symphonies! He is the “real” music man originally from Mason City, Iowa.

The creative team for this production includes two incredible friends and colleagues: Richard Carsey and Pam Kriger. They have both been generous and creative collaborators and the opportunity to work together once again on The Music Man has been a dream come true.

It is also thrilling that Norman Moses celebrates his 50th production with the Skylight as Professor Harold Hill….a role he was born to play. We are also delighted to welcome Niffer Clarke back to Milwaukee to play Marian the Librarian for the first time.

Additionally, we are extremely excited about Beyond The Ingénue: Julie Andrews, Shirley Jones, Barbara Cook and Me which Niffer and Richard Carsey will be performing in the Studio Theatre from December 30 through January 8. There are only 10 performances and our Studio shows often sell out so please get your tickets today.

Meredith Willson once described The Music Man as “an Iowan’s attempt to pay tribute to his home state.” I think Mr. Willson has certainly achieved much more than that. We are proud to share this gift Mr. Willson has given the world with you - our loyal audience.

We truly would not be here without you.

The Music Man

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A M E SS AG E FR O M T H E M A N AG I N G D I R E C TO R - A M Y S . J E N S E N It is a little hard to believe that this is the first time in Skylight history that The Music Man is gracing our stage. What a delight it is to share this classic, American musical with all of you during the holiday season. We are so pleased to be filling our stage for The Music Man with such a depth of local talent and welcoming back so many dear Skylight friends who’ve been a part of innumerable past productions. And what fun to welcome our newest, young cast members as the children of River City!

We would like to thank Baird Private Asset Management and Frontier Airlines for their generous sponsorship of The Music Man. Frontier Airlines is the official airline of Skylight and has been for many years. We’ve been partnering with Baird for two seasons now and are so grateful for their support and for all they do in the community.

Don’t forget that Friday and Saturday nights following our performances, our Cabaret stage upstairs is in full swing. During the run of The Music Man we welcome back Four Guyz in Dinner Jackets for their wonderful harmonies and a bit of holiday fun.

By now, you have probably heard of the change to our current season. Edith Piaf Onstage has been postponed to next season when we will welcome Leslie Fitzwater back to the stage for her signature role. We send Leslie all of our love and support through her treatments and wish her a speedy return to full health. In the meantime, we are excited for the new addition to our season Gershwin and Friends, which is back to the stage from its successful run last year in our Studio Theatre. Our Cabot production will be bigger and brighter with more songs and a jazz combo.

We are delighted to bring back Cynthia Cobb, Parrish Collier and Paul Helm back to reprise their roles.

Please be sure to keep Skylight in mind for gift ideas during this holiday season.

Tickets to The Music Man or any of our upcoming productions this season would make a unique and special gift for family and friends. In addition to The Music Man and Gershwin, our season includes a sweet and charming new musical in Daddy Long Legs and Stephen Sondheim’s magnificent Sunday in the Park with George.

In our Studio Theatre, you can ring in the New Year with Niffer Clarke’s Beyond the Ingénue and then ring, clang and honk in the spring with Things that Go Ding! A gift of tickets will make anyone’s night sing!

CAST Harold Hill................................................................................................................... Norman Moses* Marian Paroo....................................................................................................................Niffer Clarke* Marcellus Washburn...................................................................................................Joel Kopischke Mayor George Shinn..................................................................................................... Mark Bucher Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn......................................................................................... Debra Babich* Mrs. Paroo.............................................................................................................. Rhonda Rae Busch Winthrop Paroo.......................................................................................................... Cole A. Winston Amaryllis................................................................................................................. Keely Aloña Savitt Zaneeta Shinn......................................................................................................Sydney Kirkegaard Tommy Djilas...................................................................................................................... Ryan Tutton Charlie Cowell.................................................................................................. Robert W.C. Kennedy Jacey Squires..........................................................................................................................Paul Helm Ewart Dunlop.................................................................................................................. Tommy Hahn Oliver Hix...................................................................................................................... Michael T. Black Olin Britt........................................................................................................................ Parker J. Cristan Alma Hix................................................................................................................................Becky Spice Ethel Toffelmier................................................................................................Elaine Parsons-Herro Maude Dunlop..................................................................................................................... Carol Greif Skylight Opera Theatre 3

C A S T (c o n t. ) Trudy Squires................................................................................................... Peggy Peterson Ryan Isabella Klump.........................................................................................................Susan Gottschalk Constable Locke/Ensemble...........................................................................................Joe Fransee Conductor/Ensemble........................................................................................................ Eric Nelson Evelyn.......................................................................................................................... Caroline Fossum Floyd................................................................................................................................. Zachary Olson Homer...............................................................................................................................Joshua Krause Leroy................................................................................................................................Stefan Romero Lily........................................................................................................................................ Casey Tutton Mae...................................................................................................................................Emily Pogorelc Sidney..........................................................................................................................Samuel Ketcham Violet............................................................................................................................Laura Mesrobian Grace Shinn.................................................................................................................. Evelyn M. Barta Archie.................................................................................................................................. Justin Ellings Daisy....................................................................................................................... Mary Grace Wagner Delbert...............................................................................................................Thomas Fleischmann Dora.................................................................................................................... Cassandra Salbashian Otis.................................................................................................................................... Eric Minessale

ORCHESTRA Reeds............................................................. Tim Bell, Ron Foster, Curt Hanrahan, John Hibler Trumpet........................................................................ Tom Baker, Brett Murphy, Tom Schlueter Trombone.....................................................................................................................Kyle Samuelson Violin............................................................................................................................Joseph Ketchum Bass.........................................................................................................................................Tom McGirr Drums and Percussion..............................................................................................Michael Lorenz Assistant Music Director/Piano...................................................................................Jamie Johns

MUSICAL NUMBERS Rock Island..............................................................................Charlie Cowell, Traveling Salesman Iowa Stubborn....................................................................................... Townspeople of River City (Ya Got) Trouble.......................................................................................Harold Hill, Townspeople Piano Lesson..............................................................................................Marian Paroo, Mrs. Paroo Goodnight, My Someone................................................................................... Marian , Amaryllis Seventy-six Trombones................................................................................ Harold, Townspeople Sincere...................................... Quartet (Olin Britt, Oliver Hix, Ewart Dunlop, Jacey Squires) The Sadder-But-Wiser Girl................................................................................... Harold, Marcellus Pick-a-little (Talk-a-Little)............................Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, Maud Dunlop, Ethel Toffelmier, Alma Hix, Trudy Squires, Isabella Klump Goodnight Ladies...................................................................................................................... Quartet Marian The Librarian............................................................................................ Harold, Boys, Girls My White Knight ........................................................................................................................ Marian The Wells Fargo Wagon........................................................................... Winthrop,Townspeople It’s You......................................................................................Quartet, Eulalie, Pick-a-Little Ladies Shipoopi....................................................................... Marcellus, Harold, Marian, Townspeople Pick-a-little (Talk-a-Little) (reprise)................................................ Eulalie, Pick-a-Little Ladies Lida Rose..................................................................................................................................... Quartet Will I Ever Tell You....................................................................................................................... Marian Gary, Indiana.......................................................................................Winthrop, Mrs. Paroo, Marian It’s You (reprise).........................................................................................Townspeople, Boys, Girls Till There Was You........................................................................................................ Marian, Harold Seventy Six Trombones/Goodnight, My Someone (reprise)........................ Marian, Harold Till There Was You (reprise)......................................................................................................Harold Finale..........................................................................................................................................Company 4 Skylight Opera Theatre

BIOGR APHIES Norman Moses (Harold Hill)* – The Music Man is Norman’s 50th production with Skylight Opera Theatre. His first Skylight show was The Fantasticks in 1972. In the cast of Fantasticks, playing one of the fathers, was John Bohan, who Norman had watched play Harold Hill in a 1970 production of The Music Man at The Bay Players. Norman was in the chorus of that 1970 production and fell in love with the role of Harold Hill, The Music Man and with John’s wonderful performance.

Norman has only played Harold Hill in concert versions with the Milwaukee Symphony and the Dayton Philharmonic, both under the baton of maestro Neal Gittleman, so to finally get to do the show, in a full production, with his favorite production team of Bill Theisen, Pam Kriger and Richard Carsey, with so many of his oldest and dearest friends in the cast and crew, here at the Skylight… well…Happy Golden Anniversary! This is for John Bohan. Thanks for the inspiration.

Joel Kopischke (Marcellus Washburn) – Joel is thrilled to be back at Skylight where he has appeared in two dozen shows and cabarets since 1987, including Pirates of Penzance (Sgt. of Police), Dames at Sea (Lucky), Man of La Mancha (Padre), West Side Story (Action) and Joel’s Copa-Kopischke with Jamie Johns. Joel is excited to be in The Music Man, having previously played Marcellus with the Milwaukee Symphony and Winthrop at Melody Top (starring Van Johnson). Joel recently appeared in the award-winning short film The Bully, is currently writing a new musical with Alissa Rhode entitled Dairy Heirs and is always shilling his critically-acclaimed holiday CD I Got Yule Babe (and planning its sequel). Joel wishes to thank Bill, Pam, Richard, Jamie, Amy and of course Anne and Rose. www.JoelVoice.com

Mark Bucher (Mayor George Shinn) – Mark has been the Artistic Director of the Boulevard Theatre Niffer Clarke (Marian since founding it 26 Paroo)* – Niffer’s years ago. He has Skylight credits directed/produced include Daisy in 200+ plays and has directed and Adding Machine, instructed over a thousand actors. This Mabel in Pirates of role marks his first acting appearance Penzance, Patience in with the Skylight and he thanks his Patience and Anna fellow “ Holy Ghost-er” Bill Theisen for Held in Tintypes. Don’t miss her onethis opportunity. He has also appeared woman show Beyond the Ingénue, with with Theatre Gigante, Windfall Theatre, Richard Carsey -- up next in the Studio Milwaukee Rep, Theatre X, Chamber Theatre! Off-Bway: Bells Are Ringing (dir.

Theatre and other companies. Mark has Kathleen Marshall), Adding Machine (dir. been a guest instructor and lecturer for David Cromer); NYC/Regional include: countless schools and nonprofit Garbo & Me, Honk! (First Stage), A Little organizations and has taught acting for Night Music, She Loves Me; Film/TV: Meet nearly 10 years through the UWthe Robinsons (Walt Disney Pictures), Angel of Death (Discovery Channel), Only Milwaukee School of Continuing Education at the downtown campus.

Criminals; Concerts: Night at the Oscars Mark was named Artist of the Year by the with Shirley Jones, London Symphony Milwaukee Arts Board several years ago Orchestra; Recordings: Adding Machine, Meet the Robinsons, They Might Be Giants, and the Boulevard Theatre is cited as a key factor in the revitalization of debut solo album Beyond the Ingénue Milwaukee’s trendy Bay View district. available on iTunes, CDBaby and at www.NifferClarke.com.

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B I O G R A P H I E S (c o n t. ) Debra Babich (Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn)* – In The Music Man, Debra makes her Skylight debut, and, for her, it is a dream coming true.

Although Debra calls Milwaukee home, she can often be seen on stages elsewhere, including the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, Actors Theatre of Indiana, Derby Dinner Playhouse, Music Theatre Louisville, Stage One Family Theatre and the International Mystery Writers’ Festival (“Angie” Award Winner for Best Supporting Actress and Inductee to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels).

Closer to home, Debra has appeared with Door Shakespeare, Fireside Theatre, In Tandem Theatre, Next Act Theatre, First Stage Children’s Theatre and M. & W. Productions. For Lynne and her family.

performs throughout the area, participating in Oconomowoc’s Got Talent, Hawksfest at Arrowhead High School and has sung the National Anthem at Brewers, Bucks and Marquette games. When not on stage, Cole enjoys music, reading, golf and travel, although he has never been to Gary, Indiana.

Rhonda Rae Busch (Mrs. Paroo) – Rhonda is excited to return to Skylight to work with so many amazing and talented people. Her Skylight credits include Martha in White Christmas and Cousin Hebe in HMS Pinafore. Area credits include Mavis in Church Basement Ladies (Marcus Center), Stepmother in Cinderella (Fireside), Rachel Lynde in Green Gables (First Stage) and Petra in A Little Night Music (Madison Opera).

Favorite roles from her “younger years” include Adelaide in Guys and Dolls and Ella in Bells are Ringing. She also plays guitar and sings in a feisty folk trio as one of “The Rhode Sisters”.

Sydney Kirkegaard (Zaneeta Shinn) – Sydney is a 16 year old dancer and singer from Franklin. She has performed at the Fireside, First Stage and Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Sydney starred in the award winning short The Girls of Alden.

She is the voice of two American Girl dolls – Mia and Josephina. Sydney was just crowned “2011 Miss Southern Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen” and is thrilled to be back at Skylight.

Cole A. Winston (Winthrop Paroo)– Cole has been singing and acting since 1st grade when he began doing children’s theatre in the Chicago area. Recently, he was Pinocchio with First Stage Milwaukee, Charles Dalrymple in Brigadoon at Lake Country Playhouse in Hartland and in March 2011 won Waukesha Idol, Jr. Cole 6 Skylight Opera Theatre

Keely Aloña Savitt (Amaryllis) – Keely Aloña Savitt is an 11-year-old in fifth grade. She has performed in The Nutcracker, Annie, The Wizard of Oz, Oliver, The Little Princess, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, My Son Pinocchio and Seussical. Keely also appeared in the film Memento Mori which premiered at the 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival. This is Keely’s first appearance with Skylight Opera Theatre!

Ryan Tutton (Tommy Djilas) – Ryan Tutton, 16, is a junior at Shorewood High School. Professional theatre credits include The Never Ending Story (Atreyu) and The Giver (Jonas) at First Stage, Macbeth (MacDuff’s son) at Chicago’s Breadline and Oliver!

(Oliver) on Cameron MacIntosh’s Nat’l Tour.

SHS credits Rent (Roger), Ragtime (Houdini), Les Mis (Grantaire), Aladdin (Narrator/ Prince), Seussical (JoJo). Film credits include four short films plus feature “Glory Days” (Young Johnny), releasing fall 2011.

B I O G R A P H I E S (c o n t. ) Robert W.C. Kennedy (Charlie Cowell) – This handsome six-footer, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison Specialist in Acting Major, makes his Skylight debut with The Music Man. He has appeared with other former and existing local companies including Bialystock & Bloom, Bunny Gumbo, Cornerstone, Milwaukee Irish Arts, Milwaukee Shakespeare, Next Act and Windfall, as well as performing in Madison, Chicago, New York and Toronto.

He can be seen opposite Bai Ling in the 2010 feature film Petty Cash.

Paul Helm (Jacey Squires) – Paul is excited to be back at Skylight for his favorite musical!

Skylight credits include Plaid Tidings, The Pirates of Penzance, The Midnight Angel, Patience, South Pacific, The Mikado and Iolanthe. He has also performed, directed, and music directed with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, First Stage Children’s Theater, Florentine Opera Company, American Folklore Theatre, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse and the UW-Platteville Heartland Festival.

Recent credits include Seussical, Grease, Ragtime, U: Bug: Me!, My Son Pinocchio, Laurel and Hardy, Beauty and the Beast, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Elmer Gantry, and The Producers. In January, Paul will return to the Skylight to tickle the ivories once again for Gershwin and Friends. Happy Holidays! www.paulhelm.net Tommy Hahn (Ewart Dunlop) – Tommy has performed in a number of Skylight productions, most notably the role of Roger in Rent in 2010.

Other Skylight productions include She Loves Me, My Fair Lady, Die Fledermaus, Elixir of Love, Abduction from the Seraglio as well as

Sunday in the Park with George next spring. He has also performed with Skylight’s education department in the Standard Songbook and Kidwrites programs. Regionally, he has performed with the Milwaukee Rep, Marriott Theatre at Lincolnshire, Northlight Theatre and Madison Opera. Tommy is also the lead singer and bass player in the Shepherd Express award-winning Milwaukee rock band, Revolush.

Michael T. Black (Oliver Hix) – Michael T. Black is a native Milwaukeean who earned his BFA in Music Theatre at Illinois Wesleyan University. He has performed in theatres all across the country. His favorite roles include Fred in Kiss Me, Kate at Lakes Region Summer Theatre in New Hampshire, Nathan Detroit in Guys & Dolls at The Huron Playhouse in Ohio and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Thin Air Theatre Company in Colorado. Michael is one of the premier performers at the Zoological Society’s new children’s theatre program at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Michael is excited for his first production at Skylight.

Parker Cristan (Olin Britt) – Parker is thrilled to be returning to Skylight! Other Skylight performances include West Side Story, The Most Happy Fella, The Producers and Adding Machine, A Musical. Other favorites include La Cage Aux Folles (as various Ca Gelles) in Milw., St. Louis and Miami; Guys and Dolls (as Sky Masterson); Grand Hotel (as The Baron); and Assassins (as John Wilkes Boothe) as well as many other local and regional shows.

On the small screen, Parker has appeared on Dexter, The Chicago Code, Pleading Guilty and Tom Holland’s Driven. And on the big screen Parker can be seen in Taz Salini’s Gringo Wedding as well as South Beach Dreams and Miami Vice. Parker has also served as Cruise/ Entertainment Director for three major cruise lines based out of Miami, NY and Seattle but is so grateful to be back home in Milwaukee.

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B I O G R A P H I E S (c o n t. ) Becky Spice (Alma Hix) – Becky has been performing professionally in Milwaukee for 25 years. Favorite roles at Skylight have included Reno in Anything Goes, Eliza in My Fair Lady and Petra in A Little Night Music. She has many happy Skylight memories from Tintypes, The Spitfire Grill, The All Night Strut, Falsettos, West Side Story, Man of La Mancha, Girl Crazy and many others. She and Jamie Johns have appeared upstairs in the bar for several late night cabarets, as well. Many thanks to Bill and Pam for their continued support over the years.

Elaine ParsonsHerro (Ethel Toffelmier) – Elaine is positively thrilled to be back at Skylight performing in one her favorite musicals, The Music Man! She was last seen here 2 years ago in The Producers where she got to play “Hold me, Touch Me”, as well as 5 other character roles. She formerly owned Broadway Baby Dinner Theatre with her late partner John Bohan until 2006 and ran shows with him for 19 years. The past four years she has directed and choreographed the musicals at St. Roberts middle school in the spring, and last year directed a comedy at The Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove. When not working in the theatre, Elaine can be found working with her husband Ken on real estate, or throwing her next party!

Life IS a Cabaret (oops, wrong show)....... anyway, she hopes you enjoy River City, Iowa as much as she does!

Carol Greif (Maude Dunlop) – Carol is delighted to return to the Skylight stage where she was last seen with the Marx Brothers as Mrs. Pavlenko in A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine. Other favorite Skylight roles include Lady Ella in Patience, Miss Jessel in The Turn of the 8 Skylight Opera Theatre

Screw, Mrs. Nordstrom in A Little Night Music, Despina in Cosi Fan Tutti and YumYum in The Mikado. Carol has performed with the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, the MCT Shaw Festival, and on the Skylight Cabaret stage. As a concert artist, she has appeared as a soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, Bach and Beyond, the Cathedral of St. John Fine Arts Series with Dave Brubeck and in recital at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC. Carol has served as music director/vocal coach for the Cardinal Stritch University productions of Working, Zombies from the Beyond, Urinetown and The Drowsy Chaperone.

Peggy Peterson Ryan (Trudy Squires) – Peggy Peterson Ryan has been part of Skylight for decades … first as a young audience member, continuing as Colin Cabot’s executive assistant, onstage as Young Belle in Little Me and in many other productions. She toured for years as a magician’s assistant and is currently the featured vocalist with Jazz Express.

Peggy’s extraordinary portrayal of chorine Mi Sing Lo in Skylight’s Mikado is still talked about to this day.

Susan Gottschalk (Isabella Klump) – Susan is delighted to return to Skylight.

Previous Skylight credits include: lolanthe as Celia, Patience as Lady Saphir, Candide as The Baroness, Charlotte Sweet as Cecily, The Cocoanuts as Mrs. Potter and Ensemble in HMS Pinafore last season. Other roles include Carolina in Secret Marriage and Zombina in Zombies from the Beyond (offbroadway). Susan has sung on both coasts of the US as well as Europe, most notably at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice.

B I O G R A P H I E S (c o n t. ) Joe Fransee (Constable Locke/ Ensemble) – Joe returns to Skylight where he last appeared in HMS Pinafore. Past Skylight shows include Plaid Tidings, The Producers, White Christmas, Midnight Angel, South Pacific and Chicago. Joe has appeared with American Folklore Theatre, In Tandem Theatre, Boulevard Ensemble, Off the Wall Theatre, Milwaukee Shakespeare, Windfall Theatre, Danceworks, Wildspace Dance Company and Theatre Gigante. A graduate of UW-Milwaukee, he holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.

Eric Nelson (Conductor/ Ensemble) – Eric is excited to return for his 8th season at Skylight! You may have caught him in his Skylight Cabaret entitled We’re Getting Paid for this?-Forbes your Erictainment earlier this season. Favorite past productions include Hansel and Gretel, South Pacific, White Christmas, The Producers and HMS Pinafore. He was most recently seen as Prince Myshkin in Off The Wall Theatre’s The Idiot and their production of Alice in Wonderland where he played a very crazed Tweedle Dee and Dumb.

Caroline Fossum (Evelyn) – Caroline is thrilled to be working with Skylight and the talented, fun cast/ crew of The Music Man. A theater, film, TV and VO performer, Caroline’s first love is the stage. She’s a returning member of First Stage’s Young Company. Recently appearing in Shakespeare’s As You Like It, Sound of Music (Maria), and many other productions. www.imdb.me/ carolinefossum

Zachary Olson (Floyd) – The Music Man marks Zachary’s debut with Skylight.

He most recently appeared as Pico in the May 2011 First Stage Production of U:Bug:Me!, as well as their 2010 production of Alexander. Zach is a sophomore at Eisenhower H.S. in New Berlin and participates in varsity soccer, tennis, school musicals and a capella choir.

Joshua Krause (Homer) – Joshua graduated from Cardinal Stritch University with a B.A. in Theater where he performed as Trenton Corbett in Zombies from the Beyond, Bobby Strong in Urinetown: The Musical, Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone and others. He recently played Clifford Bradshaw in Theatre on Main’s production of Cabaret.

He is excited to be a part of this ensemble and wishes everyone the best.

He would like to say hi to his girlfriend, Rachel, his friends and family.

Stefan Romero (Leroy) – Stefan Romero is a freshman at Brookfield Academy High School and has been performing for 6 years. He has performed at various theatres, including the Fireside, First Stage Children’s Theater, Skylight Opera and school musicals. Stefan is excited to be returning to Skylight a second time after La Boheme in 2007. He feels this will be an excellent learning experience!

Casey Tutton (Lily) – Casey Tutton, 14, is a freshman at Shorewood High School. Professional theatre credits include My Son Pinocchio (Arancia), Gossamer (Littlest One) and Lily’s Purple Skylight Opera Theatre 9

B I O G R A P H I E S (c o n t. ) Plastic Purse (Amy) at First Stage. She has also appeared in Jakes Women (Molly) at Sunset Playhouse, Seussical (Who) and Beauty and the Beast (Villager) at SHS. Additionally she has been in three feature films The Key Man, Hannah Free and The Poker House, as well as CBS TV pilot The Line and TNT movie Gifted Hands.

Emily Pogorelc (Mae) – Emily is very excited to be back on the Skylight stage.

Previous credits include: Sunday in the Park with George (Louise) and Anyone Can Whistle (Baby Joan) with Windfall Theatre, Gianni Schicchi (Loretta) and The Gondoliers (Cassilda) with Sewpa, numerous shows with First Stage, Acacia Theatre, Florentine Opera and other groups around town. Emily was a 2010 Sunset Playhouse Rising Star.

Samuel Ketcham (Sidney) – This is Sammy’s first professional production at Skylight which he is thrilled to be a part of.

He’s a theater major at Milwaukee High School of the Arts.

Sammy recently performed at: Off The Wall, Milwaukee Youth Theater, Patio Players and also interviewed on “Real Milwaukee” on Fox 6 news about a film camp he took part in.

Laura Mesrobian (Violet) – Laura is absolutely thrilled to make her Skylight debut in The Music Man. Some of her favorite roles from the past have been Beth in Little Women, Kim MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie and the housewife in Working: A Musical. She would like to thank her family, friends and teachers for always supporting her.

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Evelyn M. Barta (Grace Shinn) – Evelyn, a third grader at Milwaukee Spanish Immersion School, was in a print and television ad campaign for Milwaukee Public Schools. She played Zuzu in the 2010 Sunset Playhouse production of It’s a Wonderful Life.

This past summer she was an Oompa Loompa in Waukesha Civic Theatre’s Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka. Evelyn is very excited to be performing in Skylight Opera Theatre’s The Music Man. Justin Ellings (Archie) – Eleven year old Justin is thrilled to be making his debut at Skylight Opera Theatre! Justin has participated in numerous local productions and has even filmed a television pilot. Justin not only acts and sings, but also plays piano and loves to tap dance!

Mary Grace Wagner (Daisy) – Mary Grace is so excited to be in her debut production with Skylight! She is a seventh grade student at Shorewood Intermediate School and a member of the Milwaukee Children’s Choir. Mary Grace has performed in Our Town and the Florentine Opera’s Tosca, but her true love is musical theater. In her spare time she enjoys skiing, listening to the radio and being with friends.

Thomas Fleischmann (Delbert) – Thomas Fleischmann is a sixth grader at St. Frances Cabrini School in West Bend. He has performed in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and My Son Pinocchio with First Stage Children’s Theater. Thomas has also filmed several movies, music videos and commercials.

B I O G R A P H I E S (c o n t. ) In addition to acting, he enjoys playing basketball, football and piano, skiing and being a Boy Scout.

Cassandra Salbashian (Dora) – Cassandra (Cassi) Salbashian is in the ensemble. She is in sixth grade at Whitnall Middle School where she is a cheerleader and plays piano in her school band. She performs for her church in the singing and hand bell choirs. She has appeared in The Milwaukee Children’s Choir, A Christmas Carol and has had various other parts for community and Christian theaters.

Eric Minessale (Otis) – Eric Minessale is thrilled to make his Skylight debut. Some favorite roles have been Winthrop in The Music Man with Brookfield Academy, Paul in Alexander and the Terrible....Very Bad Day with First Stage, and Tiny Tim with The Milwaukee Rep. He has also performed with Off the Wall, Waukesha Civic and Falls Patio Players.

Richard Carsey (Music Director) – Richard Carsey is a conductor, arranger, pianist and actor. He provided music coaching for the recent Broadway production of House of Blue Leaves starring Ben Stiller and Edie Falco, was music supervisor for Josh Schmidt’s A Minister’s Wife at Lincoln Center Theater and conducts the cast recording which is available on PS Classics. In 2010 he was music director for the first national tour of the new musical Little House on the Prairie, starring Melissa Gilbert and directed by Francesca Zambello.

For eight seasons he was the Artistic Director of Skylight Opera Theatre, and has conducted over 60 productions here including the world premiere of Richard Wargo’s opera Ballymore, Argento’s Waterbird Talk, Britten’s Rape of Lucretia and Mechem’s Tartuffe. Other music direction: Mikado—Syracuse Opera; Producers (first regional), Once Upon a

Time in New Jersey (world premiere), Brigadoon—Marriott; The Happy Elf (Harry Connick—world premiere), The Wiz (also orchestrator for premiere of Theater for Young Audiences version)— First Stage Milwaukee. As an actor, he has appeared in 2 Pianos, 4 Hands at the Milwaukee Rep, Actors’ Theater of Louisville; Dallas Theater Center; Laguna Beach Playhouse; Hartford Stage Company (Conn. Critics Circle Award), and the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival.

Also Souvenir (Skylight), Dirty Blonde (Chamber Theater), Old Wicked Songs (In Tandem). Later this season he will conduct Sunday in the Park with George.

Bill Theisen (Stage Director) - Bill Theisen made his professional theatre debut as a performer at the Skylight Opera Theatre in 1981 and began his tenure as Artistic Director in 2004. He has directed over 100 productions for theatre and opera companies from coast to coast. Recent directing credits include The Pirates of Penzance for Santa Fe Opera, Showboat with Gateway Playhouse, H.M.S. Pinafore at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Sweeney Todd with Cleveland Opera, The Fourth Wall at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, The Magic Flute for Virginia Opera, A Little Night Music with Seaside Music Theater, The Mikado with Opera Carolina, Seussical at First Stage Children’s Theatre and Into The Woods at the Capitol Canter for the Performing Arts. Skylight Directing credits include The Figaro Story, La Boheme, Souvenir, South Pacific, The Tragedy of Carmen, Animal Crackers, The Spitfire Grill, La Cenerentola, The Mikado, Patience, The Pirates of Penzance and the world premiere of Over the Moon with Gilbert and Sullivan. Mr. Theisen works frequently on the university level as a Guest Director and Lecturer.

He served as Director of Opera at the University of Iowa and has continued that relationship for the past 12 years.

Other university credits include Carnegie Mellon University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Florida State University, Portland State University, Manhattan School of Music, Utah State University, Northwestern University, NYU and St. Ambrose University where he is also serves on the advisory committee to the theatre department.

Skylight Opera Theatre 11

B I O G R A P H I E S (c o n t. ) Bill was the Artistic Director of the Capitol Center for the Performing Arts in Upstate New York and is an adjudicator for arts programming on PBS. Pam Kriger (Choreographer) - Pam returns to Skylight after serving as choreographer for Gershwin & Friends and stage director/choreographer for Dames At Sea last season. Other Skylight stage director/choreographer credits include A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, White Christmas, Tintypes, Lady Be Good, The All Night Strut, Little Shop of Horrors, The World Goes ‘Round and Once On This Island. She has choreographed a multitude of Skylight shows since 1980 including Oh, Lady Lady!, Cabaret, West Side Story, The King & I and Animal Crackers. She is a member of the theater faculty at Cardinal Stritch University where she has directed Zombies From the Beyond, Urinetown, the Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone and most recently, Into the Woods. Recent regional credits include Cheeseheads, the Musical and Bing, the Cherry Musical for American Folklore Theatre, Muskie Love for Madison Rep, Urinetown, the Musical for Nicolet High School, and Into the Woods for University Theater at UW Madison. Her next project will be as director/choreographer for Grease! at Nicolet High School.

Jamie Johns (Assistant Music Director) – Currently a freelance musician, pianist/conductor Jamie Johns has been the Director of Opera and Musical Theatre at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, the Resident Music Director at Skylight Opera Theatre and the Education Director at Orlando Opera. Conducting highlights include The Marriage of Figaro, Carmen, Romeo and Juliet, The Coronation of Poppea, and La Traviata. Favorite shows on which Jamie has served as music director are No, No, Nanette, The Last Five Years, Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret, Archy and Mehitabel, Jacques Brel…, Rent and The World Goes Round. In addition to shows, Jamie enjoys arranging and playing cabaret performances and recitals.

Accompanying Gary Briggle as Noel Coward, Jamie has performed A Talent to Amuse; an Evening with Noel Coward, in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Sarasota, 12 Skylight Opera Theatre

Sacramento, Iowa City and St. Paul. Other companies that Jamie has worked for include Lyric Opera Cleveland, Madison Rep, Milwaukee Rep, Bel Canto Chorus, Present Music, Writers’ Theatre (Chicago) and Milwaukee Opera Theatre.

Peter Dean Beck (Set and Lighting Designer) – Peter has designed scenery and/or lighting for over 250 productions around North America. His opera credits include Falstaff, Turandot, Manon, Don Giovanni, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Patience and Romeo et Juliette for such companies as Atlanta Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Glimmerglass, Virginia, Edmonton, Skylight Opera Theatre and Chautauqua. He has designed productions of Andrea Chenier, Macbeth, Elektra, Tristan and Isold and Don Carlo for Hawaii Opera Theatre, where he has been principal designer for 27 seasons. His musical theater credits include West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Candide and Fiddler on the Roof.

Gregory W. Slawko (Costume Designer) – Greg’s Skylight credits include last season’s Dames at Sea, Anything Goes and Hello Dolly! As resident designer at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oak Brook, Illinois, he designed over 30 shows and received two Joseph Jefferson Award nominations. He has designed at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre at Navy Pier, Chitauqua Opera in New York, Northwestern University Opera and many regional theatres across the country. Design for dance credits include: The Jeffery Ballet, Trinity Irish Dancers, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, and Joel Hall Dancers. In addition to professional design, he has taught at Northwestern University, Roosevelt University, Loyola University and Illinois State University.

Gary Ellis (Sound Designer) - Gary is serving in his fifth year as Skylight’s audio visual supervisor and has been an audio engineer in theatre for 20 years. He began his career as a software engineer in Silicon Valley, but got hooked on theatre after years of watching performances at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Shows he has designed and mixed include Rent, Adding

B I O G R A P H I E S (c o n t. ) Machine-The Musical, White Christmas, The Spitfire Grill, The Producers, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, Jesus Christ Superstar, Blues In The Night, Sunday In The Park With George, Side Show, Dames At Sea and Violet. Gary studied technical theatre at San Francisco State University.

Previously, he worked at The Santa Fe Opera, Theatreworks in Palo Alto, CA and Summer Repertory Theatre in Santa Rosa, CA. Kimberly Ann McCann (Production Stage Manager) - Kimberly is joining Skylight for her second season at Skylight. Her regional credits include: A Civil War Christmas at Northlight Theatre (Chicago), Million Dollar Quartet (Chicago). Broadway credits: Curtains. Off-Broadway credits: Bill W. and Dr. Bob, How to Save the World, John Ferguson. Other credits include: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (San Francisco), Door Shakespeare, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, toured with ArtsPower National Touring Theatre and numerous productions at The Juilliard School. Kimberly is a graduate of Illinois State University.

Once the show is over… what do you do for fun?

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YOUR GUIDE TO THE PERFORMING ARTS

Lillian Tillson (Assistant Stage Manager) - Lillian Tillson is joining Skylight Opera for her third season this year. She recently spent the summer working on Romeo and Juliet and Winter’s Tale at Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Lillian has worked previously at Renaissance Theaterworks, Youngblood Theatre Company, Milwaukee Shakespeare Company, Children’s Theatre Company, and Walking Shadow Company. She received her BFA in Stage Management from UW-Milwaukee.

Thank you for supporting Skylight and enjoy the show!

Paul Matthew Madden (Assistant Stage Manager) - Paul is rejoining Skylight for this show, having worked last season on Adding Machine and Gershwin and Friends. Thank you so much to Skylight staff, crew, and casts that have been supportive and friendly. I told you scaring me off wouldn’t be so easy.

Skylight Opera Theatre 13

P R O D U C T I O N S TA FF Director of Production...............................................................................................Mark Turner Technical Director.................................................................................................Robert Wagner Assistant Technical Director...........................................................................Steve Gillingham Technical Assistant........................................................................................ Alexander Moliere Scenic Carpenters....................................................................... Adam Held, Rebecca Knipfer Scene Shop Apprentice......................................................................................... Amanda Srok Production Stage Manager.................................................................Kimberly Ann McCann Assistant Stage Manager........................................................................................Lillian Tillson Assistant Stage Manager.................................................................... Paul Matthew Madden Properties Director................................................................................................ Lisa Schlenker Properties Carpenter.............................................................................................Jennifer Lyons Properties Artists....................................................... Nikki Kulas, Crystal Sharlow-Schaefer, Kelly Turner, Nancy Stiefeld Properties Apprentice................................................................................................ Kara Waala Scenic Charge.................................................................................................................. Carri Dahl Scenic Artists......................................................................... Andrea Toussaint, Jason Schultz Scenic Artist Apprentice.............................................................................................. Jane Vang Costume Director...................................................................................................... Shima Orans Costume Shop Manager.............................................................................................. Barry Link Milliner..................................................................................................... Aliceson Hackett-Rubel Wig Design for Ms. Clarke......................................................................................... Lara Dalbey Wig Master and Hair Stylist ....................................................................................Justin Deehr Wardrobe..................................................Justin Deehr, Susanne Maroske, Emily Peplinski, Jeanne Schrank, Jef Ouwens Stitchers................................................ Eliza Bradford, Carie Bronson, Marsha Kuligowski, Lisa Quinn, Jeanne Schrank, Diane Hinman Stage Supervisor................................................................................................. Andrew Booher Lead Props.....................................................................................................................Nikki Walter Lead Crew....................................................................................................................... Adam Held Run Crew..........................................................................................................................Kara Waala Audio Visual Supervisor..................................................................................................Gary Ellis Master Electrician..................................................................................................Ryan Bertelson Spot Operators.......................................................................... Doug Vance, Terry Valdovinos Light Board Operator.................................................................................................Jessica Peck Electricians...................................................Andrew Booher, Thomas Moore, Jessica Peck, Doug Vance, Ross Zentner AC K N O W L E D G E M E N T S Special thanks to UWM Peck School of the Arts, Circa 21, First Stage Costume Shop and Milwaukee Repertory Theater Costume Shop.

2 011-2 012 SU B S C R I B E R B E N E FI T PA R T I C I PA N T S Bella CaffÊ Kate Gingrass Gallery Swig Third Ward Caffè Water Buffalo

14 Skylight Opera Theatre

189 N. Milwaukee St. 241 N. Broadway 217 N. Broadway 225 E. St. Paul Ave. 249 N. Water St.

(414)-273-5620 (414) 289-0855 (414) 431-7944 (414) 224-0895 (414) 431-1133

S K Y L I G H T O P E R A T H E AT R E B OA R D S 2011-2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Harvey, President F. Tessa Escamilla Bartels Marta Bianchini Rick Bliss Michael Bula F. Colin Cabot (Honorary Director) Jameson Delgadillo Laura Emory John Flanagan

Byron Foster Susan Godfrey Leslie Hauser Mark Huber Valerie Johnson Tracey Klein Christopher Layden Michael Lueder Michelle Mattson

Sandra McNeely Howard Miller James Plunkett Brad Quade Mary Ann Renz Curtis Sawyer John Shannon John Stollenwerk Paul Sweeney

BOARD OF ADVOCATES Polly Beal Dorothy Biwer Mary Emory Suzy Foster Harry Franke Sue Frautschi Timothy Frautschi Lloyd Gerlach Roy Gromme Sue Gromme Katie Harding

Grace Johnson William Johnson Kipp Koester Pam Kriger Arthur F. Lubke Jr. Zabelle Malkasian Sally Manegold Steve Mech Susan Nichols Nick Owen Mary Pollock

John Shannon Greg Reiter Blaine Rieke Linda Rieke Julia Taylor Teri Vice David B. Williams Nick Wilson Herbert Zien

PAST PRESIDENTS John Stollenwerk Mary Emory Matt Flynn Byron Foster Sue Frautschi Timothy Frautschi

Jack Gardner Suzanne Hefty Terry Kurtenbach Howard Miller

Jeff Nohl Nick Owen Mary Pollock Larry Salustro Richard Wright

SKYLIGHTERS COMMITTEE Heather A. Dunn Karissa Feller Sherry Johnson Amy Schmidt Jones Jeanne Kessler

Christopher Layden Karen Lemmer Justine Leonard Samantha Maldonado Kate Mann

Sara Miller Bobbi Polacheck Mary Jo Trotter Kay Valcq Stephanie Wesselowski

Skylight Opera Theatre 15

S K Y L I G H T O P E R A T H E AT R E S TA FF AMY S. JENSEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR BILL THEISEN, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Diana Alioto, Director of Artistic Operations Cindy Haas, Finance Director Jim Farrell, Development Director Ray Jivoff, Associate Artistic Director Jennifer Samuelson, Marketing Director Mark Turner, Director of Production and Facilities ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Kelley Arlt.................................................................................................................Box Office Manager Alyssa Brakke...................................................................................................... Graphic Design Intern Lee Caracci.......................................................................................................................House Manager Madeline Cope.................................................... Special Events and Donor Relations Manager Robin Dennis..................................................................................................Resident Teaching Artist Elizabeth Fisher.....................................................................................................Development Intern Corinne Gilbert............................................................................................. Education Administrator Barbara Weber............................................................................................................... Grants Manager Rose Hebein.............................................................................................Marketing Project Manager Paul Kaishian............................................................................................................................. Custodian Becca Marten......................................................................................................... Education Manager Kristen Nissen..................................................................... Office Manager and Finance Assistant Ruben Piirainen...........................................................................................Education Music Director Jennifer Stanislowski........................................................................................ Box Office Supervisor Julian Salas....................................................................................... Weekend Box Office Supervisor Sara Marie von Hemert-Dachelet....................................................................Campaign Manager Jess Jante, Koren Nowak, Gwen Zupan.................................................................. Box Office Staff Cara McMullin, Michelle Brien, Patrick Schley................................Assistant House Managers PRODUCTION STAFF Ryan Bertelson...........................................................................................................Master Electrician Andrew Booher.......................................................................................................... Stage Supervisor Carri Dahl............................................................................................................................ Scenic Charge Gary Ellis...........................................................................Audio Visual Supervisor and IT Manager Steve Gillingham................................................................................... Assistant Technical Director Adam Held ................................................................................................................... Scenic Carpenter Rebecca Knipfer.......................................................................................................... Scenic Carpenter Barry Link........................................................................................................ Costume Shop Manager Michael Lorenz.................................................................................................... Orchestra Contractor Jennifer Lyons.......................................................................................................Properties Carpenter Kimberly Ann McCann...........................................................................Production Stage Manager Alexander Moliere...................................................................................................Technical Assistant Shima Orans............................................................................................................... Costume Director Lisa Schlenker...........................................Properties Director & Assistant Director of Facilities Lillian Tillson............................................................... ASM and Production and Facility Assistant Jane Vang....................................................................................................................Scenic Apprentice Kara Waala........................................................................................................... Properties Apprentice Robert Wagner.......................................................................................................... Technical Director

16 Skylight Opera Theatre

S K Y L I G H T O P E R A T H E AT R E C I R C L E O F D O N O R S Skylight recognizes and honors, with our deepest gratitude, the following individuals, foundations, organizations, businesses and government agencies who provided support to our Annual Campaign and helped us to deliver high quality music theatre productions to the Greater Milwaukee community. A special thanks to the members of the Clarion Society, who have made multi-year commitments of pledging $5,000 or more for the Annual Campaign (these members are listed as bold). Our thanks, too, for the many donors of $249 and under whose gifts are vital to Skylight’s continuing success, we regret there is not space to list them all. (This list is current as of October 20, 2011.)

BENEFACTOR CIRCLE $25,000+ Anonymous The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation Mary Ann & Lloyd Gerlach Greater Milwaukee Foundation David & Margarete Harvey Skylighters of Wisconsin Stollenwerk Family Charitable Foundation United Performing Arts Fund STAR CIRCLE $10,000-$24,999 Anonymous (2) Helen Bader Foundation Robert W. Baird & Company Barbara & Don Buzard Chase Greater Milwaukee Foundation Halbert and Alice Kadish Fund Pain Fund The Richard & Ethel Herzfeld Foundation Johnson Bank Terry & Kristie Kurtenbach Frontier Airlines Howard & Sara Miller Northwestern Mutual Foundation Verne & Marion Read Linda & Blaine Rieke Daniel M. Soref Charitable Trust

Bert L. & Patricia S. Steigleder CharitableTrust David & Julia Uihlein Charitable Foundation The Windhover Foundation

Nonprofit Management Fund Ildy & Skip Poliner Meyer & Norma Ragir Foundation Adriana & Robert Ragir Greg & Mary Ann Renz Rockwell Automation SPONSOR CIRCLE Wayne Roper $5,000-$9,999 Charles & Patricia Roy Anonymous Curtis & Candace Sawyer Assurant Health Carol & Kevin Schuele Alvin & Marion Birnschein Sempercor Foundation Foundation John Shannon & Jan Serr Rick & Wendy Bliss WE Energies Briggs & Stratton Herb Zien & Liz Levins Corporation Foundation PRODUCER CIRCLE Michael & Anne Marie $2,500-$4,999 Bula Anonymous F. Colin & Paula Cabot Chris & Storm Elser Mae E. Demmer John Flanagan & Charitable Trust Deborah Schwartz John & Mary Emory Greater Milwaukee Ralph Evinrude Foundation’s Foundation Luedke-Smith Fund Byron & Suzy Foster Susan Godfrey Lili & Rick Friedman Lindsay & Greater Milwaukee Peter Hammerer Foundation Mark Huber & Nari Haig Burns-Schrader Carol Jensen Fund Johnson Controls Asher & Susan Foundation Nichols Family Tracey & Rick Klein Fund Ruth De Young Kohler Freida & William Hunt Pam Kriger Memorial Trust Nancy & Arthur Laskin Dorothy Inbusch Susan Nichols Foundation, Inc. James G. & Krause Family Gwen Plunkett Foundation Gordana & Milan Racic Phoebe & Jack Lewis Matthew Sirinek & Maihaugen Foundation Michelle Mattson Marcus Corporation Sigma-Aldrich Marshall & Ilsley Foundation Foundation Dr. Marcia J.S. Richards & Mr. Donald R. Whitaker Skylight Opera Theatre 17

S K Y L I G H T O P E R A T H E AT R E C I R C L E O F D O N O R S DIRECTOR CIRCLE $1,000-$2,499 Richard Adamek Tom & Betty Arndt Nancy H. Balcer Polly & Robert Beal Lee A. Berthselsen Richard & Kay Bibler Mr. & Mrs. William D. Biersach Mr. & Mrs. Gregg Bolt John & Olive Bryson Christine & Robert Bukowski Barbara & Don Buzard H.H. Camp Foundation Doris Hersh Chortek Laura & John Emory, Jr. Suzy B. Ettinger Jim & Lynne Farrell Mary Lou Findley Leona Fitzsimonds Gardner Foundation Joe & Gwenn Graboyes Catherine Graham Greater Milwaukee Foundation Lois & Donald Cottrell Fund B Dr. Carl W. Eberbach & Elizabeth Falk Eberbach Fund Margaret Heminway Wells Fund Mr. & Mrs. Wayne K. Hader Charles & Margaret Harper John & Sara Hein John E. Holland & Konrad K. Kuchenbach Helen & Ronald Jacobs Amy S. Jensen O.K. Johnson, Jr. Valerie Johnson & Dennis Robison William R. & Charlotte S. Johnson William Stark Jones Foundation Gary & Judy Jorgensen Kipp & Mary Koester KPMG LLP John E. & Nancy Larson Pasquale Laurino Chris & Emilia Layden 18 Skylight Opera Theatre

James & Camilla Levin Franklin Loo & Sally Long Art Lubke & Gloria Tracy Tonya & Michael Lueder Zabelle Malkasian John R. & Coleen E. Marshall George Michel Mr. & Mrs. George A. Mosher The Charles D. Ortgiesen Foundation Clare M. Peters Charitable Trust Mary S. Pollock PPC Foundation Ronald & Carol Scott Service Club of Milwaukee Nita Soref Paul & Lisa Sweeney Target Stores Brian & Joan Wake Nick & Stoney Wilson Dick & Diane Wright DESIGNER CIRCLE $500-$999 Robert & Rebecca Adlam Marilyn Auer F. Tessa & Richard Bartels Jane & Jim Bell Dr. & Mrs. Michael Besch Carolee C. Beutler William & Karen Boyd James Cauley & Breada Andrews Margaret & B. Lauren Charous Thomas & Belle Chatton John & Kay Crichton Joan Dimow & John Moulder Edward Doemland Karen Duffy Mr. & Mrs. Walter Dusold Albert J. & Flora H. Ellinger Foundation David Flores Kristen & Alec Fraser Sue & Tim Frautschi Gardner L.R. & Karen Friedlander Scott & Lyn Geboy Douglas George

Mary Jane Gralton Dale & Mary Graves Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors Youth Foundation Greater Milwaukee Foundation Donald & Barbara Abert Fund Werner M. & Susan W. Krause Family Fund Bill & Gwen Werner Fund Roy & Sue Gromme Donald Haack & Karen Smith Dr. & Mrs. Thomas A. Handrich Arlene Hansen Ralph & Susan Harkins Cheryl & Roy Hauswirth Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation Burton & Lynn Hoffman Dwayne Johnson Sydney & Grace Johnson Richard & Diane Kane Warren & Sally Kreunen Jeanne C. Kuelthau Dale & Sandra Landgren Anne Grace Nimke Jeffrey & Mary Nohl Dr. Mark & Kristine O’Meara Dr. Nick & Mary Owen Anthony Petullo Foundation, Inc. Jack & Martha Prince Mr. & Mrs. Edward A. Purtell, Jr. Steve & Janet Rhode Mickey Ripp Robert & Lenore Swoboda Calvin & Pauline Verbrugge VJS Construction Services Sargit Warriner Allan & JeanAnn Wirth CHOREOGRAPHER CIRCLE - $250-$499 Acme Sales, Inc. Sara Alter

S K Y L I G H T O P E R A T H E AT R E C I R C L E O F D O N O R S David & Patricia Anderson Anonymous (4) L.B. & J.K. Richard & Carol Bayerlein Foundation LTD Robert Bjerke Jill & Frits Broekhuizen Donald A. Cress Bob & Belle Danforth Susan Dawicke Mrs. Ross H. Dean Harry & Barbara Drake Don & Nora Dreske Tom & Bette Drought Brian & Heather Dunn JoAnn Durrett William Eastham John & Polly Edgar Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Engman Marianne Holtz Epstein Robert & Kristin Fewel Rachel E. Finger Mark & Virginia Gennis Susan Getzel

Burton Goodman Mary Anne Gross Mary Kay & Jonathan Gundlach George B. Haasler Ed & Priscilla Heinecke Edward M. Hipke Ann & Fred Horwitz Sarah & Milton Hweng Ironwood Foundation George & Angela Jacobi Suzette J. Kappes Bruce & Sally Kehl Tim Kitzke John & Patricia Konkel Charles Lenz Justine Leonard Jim & Susan Loveridge John & Marty Lubing Wayne & Kris Lueders John & Audrey Makowski Lee Marquardt Christine McGee Barry McNulty Retta & Jeff Meser

Jequitta K. Molot Jane S. O’Connell Lincoln & Mary Oro Larry & Bonnie Paplham Park Bank Foundation Robert D. Parrish & Richard E. Steele Mr. & Mrs. James Petrie Fred Pike & Cecilia Taylor Bruce & Candy Pindyck Larry & Bobbi Polacheck Greg Reiter Roger & Nancy Ritzow Curtis & Patty Robinson Bibi & Greg Rosner Jerold & Lee Dougherty Ross Dr. Emily Schlenker Robert & Sally Schmidt Margery J. Senn Marsha Ruth Sehler Mark & Karen Sostarich Annette StoddardFreeman Barbara & Christian Steinmetz

Isn’t it Romantic? a concert of love songs from Vienna to Broadway featuring Florentine Opera Studio Artists

FeBruary 10 *11*12, 2012 Vogel hall marcus center FOr the perFOrming ArtS

A perFect hOlidAy

giFt! for tickets:

414-291-5700 ext. 224 florentineopera.org

William Florescu General Director

Skylight Opera Theatre 19

S K Y L I G H T O P E R A T H E AT R E C I R C L E O F D O N O R S Thank you to those that have supported the Skylight with an in-kind gift:

Edwin & Jean Stone Audrey Strnad Rudolph & Theresa Sundberg L. Jean Turner Kay Valcq Joan & Gary Weida Sue Wells Diane Wiese Mr. & Mrs. David B. Williams Carlton & Leslie Wininger

A special thank you to the following corporations for matching employee gifts: Alliant Energy American Transmission Company AptarGroup Assurant Health Dominion Foundation Eaton Corporation GE Foundation Johnson Controls Quad/Graphics, Inc. Rexnord Rockwell Automation International SPX Foundation UBS WE Energies Well Point

Assurant Health DigiCOPY Dryit Carpet Dry Cleaning Inc. Entech Dale & Mary Graves NOVA Systems Inc. Dr. Marcia J.S. Richards & Mr. Donald R. Whitaker

The Skylight receives support from the following government agencies: City of Milwaukee Arts Board Milwaukee County CAMPAC National Endowment for the Arts Wisconsin Arts Board

We make every effort to ensure that our donors are recognized properly. If we have made an error, please accept our sincere apologies and contact us at 414/299-4953 so that we may correct it.

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On-site, personal dry cleaning route service for you and your staff.*

Excellent Employee Benefit At No Cost To Your Company!

Here’s how our service works:

• We supply your office with bags and pre-printed invoices that include a list of all cleaning items below retail prices (we honor all competitors coupons).

• Orders are picked up and returned on the following day (Monday, Wednesday, Friday).

• Billing is sent right to the employee’s home.

• All questions and comments are handled directly between our office staff and your employees...THAT’S IT!

Call us at 414-223-4078 or visit www.wolfscleaners.com for details *Covering the Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha area

20 Skylight Opera Theatre

S K Y L I G H T S TA R S Skylight Stars was established in 1998 to recognize those special donors who have designated Skylight in a bequest, trust or other planned gift for organization, artistic, capital and endowment initiatives. Thank you very much for your generous support.

Christopher Seton Abele Anonymous (8) Dennis & Mary Bersch The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation Aunt Teckie Brumder Barbara & Don Buzard Anne Perkins Cabot F. Colin & Paula Cabot John Dahlberg Mae E. Demmer Charitable Trust Hugh & Mary Denison Elizabeth Elser Doolittle Charitable Trusts John & Mary Emory Marianne Holtz Epstein Byron & Suzy Foster Lloyd & Mary Ann Gerlach Joseph & Gwenn Graboyes Roy & Sue Gromme David & Margarete Harvey Tom & Suzanne Hefty Jane E. Heinemann

Richard & Ethel Herzfeld Foundation John E. Holland Robert F. & Jean E. Holtz Grace & Sydney Johnson William & Charlotte Johnson William Stark Jones Halbert & Alice Kadish Fund Jack & Ginny Kopischke Konrad K. Kuchenbach Clarice Laubenheimer Mr. & Mrs. Edward Malkasian Robert & Sally Manegold Dorothea C. Mayer Howard & Sara Miller Susan & Asher Nichols Asher & Susan Nichols Family Foundation Northwestern Mutual Foundation Jane B. Pettit Foundation James G. & Gwen Plunkett

Mr. & Mrs. George William Pollock, Jr. Verne & Marion Read Blaine & Linda Rieke Esther Leah Ritz Rockwell Automation Wayne & Jean Roper Charles & Patricia Roy Larry and Susan Salustro John Shannon & Jan Serr Vince & Joanne Shiely L.B. & Lucy Smith Dale L. Sorden Family Daniel M. Soref Charitable Trust John & Jo Ellen Stollenwerk Art Lubke & Gloria Tracy David & Julia Uihlein Charitable Foundation Jon & Teri Vice Audrey Wegner Robert & Joyce Weiss Nora & Jude Werra

CO M M U N I T Y PA R T N E R S

Mae E. Demmer Charitable Trust

Frieda & William Hunt Memorial Trust

Maihaugen Foundation

Daniel M. Soref Charitable Trust Skylight Opera Theatre 21

TO T H E AU D I E N C E Audience Guide…A free audience guide is generated by Enlighten, Skylight’s education program, with the help of volunteer Justine Leonard. It is meant to provide in-depth background information about the show, including information on the composer and author, source material, historical perspective on the setting, and information about Skylight directors, designers and performers. The guide is available on our website and in the lobby of the theatre.

Bad Weather Policy...Skylight rarely cancels or reschedules performances due to inclement weather, however in cases of extreme weather circumstances we may be forced to do so.

Cabaret Series...Friday and Saturday evening performances in the Cabot Theatre are followed by a free, 45-minute cabaret show in the Skylight Bar & Bistro. There is not a cabaret performance on opening night.

Emergency Contact…If you need to be contacted during the performance, an emergency number is available for your convenience: (414) 908-6645. This extension is a message center for the house manager. Please leave your seat location so we may contact you.

Food and Drink...Skylight Bar & Bistro, located on the second floor of the Broadway Theatre Center, is a full-service bar with a pre-theatre dinner menu open two hours before Cabot Theatre performances, at intermission and after performances with the exception of Sunday evenings. For reservations, call the Skylight Box Office at (414) 291-7800.

Group Discounts...Groups of 10 or more are eligible for our group discount. Make your event unique and ask about our rental spaces for a pre- or post-show reception with cocktails, hors d’ oeuvres, dinner or dessert. Please contact Rose Hebein at (414) 299-4951 for more information or to reserve group tickets.

Lost and Found...Leave a message with the House Manager at (414) 908-6645 to check if lost articles have been found.

Parking...Convenient, free or low-cost parking is available in several locations.

Metered street parking throughout the Historic Third Ward is free after 6:00 p.m. and on Sundays. The Italian Community Center parking lot, three blocks east of the theatre at Jackson and Menomonee streets, is free after 6:00 p.m. and on Sundays; daytime parking is also available for a small fee. Structure parking is available for a small fee in the Third Ward parking structures located at Chicago and Milwaukee streets (two blocks east) and Chicago and Water streets (two blocks west).

Recording Equipment & Cameras...The use of recording devices and/or photography is strictly prohibited in the theatre during a performance.

Skylight’s Annual Campaign...Consists of individuals, corporations and foundations whose generous gifts allow Skylight to achieve fiscal soundness and artistic excellence.

To become a donor, please contact Sara von Hemert-Dachelet, Campaign Manager, at (414) 299-4953.

Skylight Insights…Join us for an opportunity to learn more about Skylight Opera Theatre productions. Bill Theisen will lead pre-performance talks one hour before curtain for every Wednesday and Sunday performance.

Special Patron Services... A limited number of infrared hearing systems are available on a first come, first served basis. Audio description, sign language interpretation and wheelchair seating are available and can be arranged in advance by calling (414) 291-7800.

Tours...With advance notice, tours of the Broadway Theatre Center and Skylight’s production shops are available throughout the year. Call (414) 299-4972 for reservations.

22 Skylight Opera Theatre

B OX O FFI C E I N F O R M AT I O N Skylight Opera Theatre’s Box Office is located in the Broadway Theatre Center at 158 North Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202. Phone: (414) 291-7800.

Hours...Monday through Saturday noon to 6:00 p.m. and two hours prior to all performances. Skylight tickets are available for purchase online at www. skylightopera.com — 24 hours a day/7 days a week!

Ticket Exchanges… Season tickets may be exchanged for tickets to another performance of the same production by mail, fax, or in person, up to 48 hours in advance of a performance. Reservations for ticket exchanges may not be made less than 48 hours in advance of the original performance date. Subscribers and single ticket holders who lose their tickets may contact the box office for duplicates; seating locations are on record. All sales are final.

Ticket Donations...Ticket holders who are unable to use their tickets may donate them for resale and receive a receipt for a tax-deductible contribution. Just ask the box office for a contribution receipt. Tickets are not refundable, nor may the ticket value be applied to future ticket sales or outstanding pledges.

VO LU N T E E R I N F O R M AT I O N The Skylighters... The Skylighters are involved in a variety of activities and special events in support of Skylight. For event or membership information, contact Madeline Cope, Donor Services and Special Events Manager, at (414) 299-4972.

Ushers...Sign up for any show at www.skylightopera.volunteerhub.com or email our House Manager, Lee Caracci, at leec@skylightopera.com Volunteer for Skylight… For over 50 years, Skylight Opera Theatre as been providing fun on and off the stage! To learn more, email volunteer@skylightopera.com

G E N E R A L I N F O R M AT I O N Skylight Opera Theatre Broadway Theatre Center 158 North Broadway Milwaukee, WI 53202 Administrative Office: (414) 291-7811 Box Office: (414) 291-7800 www.skylightopera.com Skylight Opera Theatre is a cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), Theatre Wisconsin, Visit Milwaukee, the Historic Third Ward Association, and Cultural Alliance of Greater Milwaukee, and is a cultural partner of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Arts in Community Education (ACE) Program.

Skylight Opera Theatre 23