Skylight-Rivals

opera theatre presents

The Rivals made possible, in part, through generous support from Mary Ann & Lloyd Gerlach Music and libretto by Kirke Mechem September 16, 17, 18, 21, 23, 24, 25, 28, 30 and October 1, 2 Stage Director: Dorothy Danner Music Director: Richard Carsey Assistant Music Director: Jamie Johns Set Designer: Lisa Schlenker Costume Designer: Brian Hemesath* Lighting Designer: Kurt Schnabel Production Stage Manager: Kimberly Ann McCann Assistant Stage Manager: Lillian Tillson

*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 S S AG E F R O M T H E C O M P O S E R – K I R K E M E C H E M I can’t think of a better place for The Rivals to make its professional debut than right here in this small, charming Cabot Theater. You won’t need supertitles to enjoy Mrs. Malaprop’s inventive elocutions. As she herself often says, “My location is always comprehensive.”

Another reason I’m so happy to have this premiere at Skylight is its tradition of producing both operas and musicals. Some of you may remember the production here in 2007 of my first opera, Tartuffe. I certainly do, because it was one of the best I’ve seen, and the same team is directing and conducting The Rivals. But the new work is quite different from the first. Both are derived from classic plays, but I have taken many more liberties with Richard Sheridan’s The Rivals.

It has the kind of story and rich variety of characters that I always look for, but I had wanted something American so that I could write in the idioms I had grown up with. In my teens I began writing songs as a result of playing the popular tunes of the great musicals of Gershwin, Kern and Rodgers.

Sheridan’s play takes place among the high society of Bath, England, where royal titles were wedded to commoners’ money. It occurred to me that Newport, Rhode Island about 1900 was not only a good American equivalent, but just the sort of flamboyant place and period that would suit opera to a T. And this is a comic opera, not a musical. I love the way great comic operas by Mozart and Rossini give us not just arias, but turn the action, too, into delightful music.

When I am asked what the difference between a musical and an opera is, I usually answer: musicals are for those who love theater and like music; operas are for those who love music and like theater. But that leaves out the fact that people who go to musicals love music, too — just a different kind of music. A better and shorter definition is this: operas cost money, musicals make money. So if you want to call this comic opera a musical, please go right ahead. And tell all your friends.

A M E S S AG E F R 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 Welcome to Skylight Opera Theatre’s 2011-12 season. I’d like to first thank our sponsors, Mary Ann and Lloyd Gerlach, for their generous support of The Rivals. The Gerlachs have been long-standing and loyal donors, not only to Skylight, but also to other companies both locally and nationally who produce exceptional opera and who are furthering the art form by developing new American operas. Without their support, our world premiere of The Rivals would not have been possible.

We have a wonderful and diverse season again this year with most productions brand new to Skylight. In addition to The Rivals, we have a second world premiere later in the season in a charming new musical, Daddy Long Legs. Surprisingly, the Skylight has never in its history performed The Music Man or Sunday in the Park with George and we invite you to join us on our adventures to Iowa and Paris through these wonderful musicals. And while Skylight audiences have thronged to see Leslie Fitzwater as Edith Piaf in past productions, we are delighted to bring an expanded version to the Cabot stage for the first time.

We also have two delightful productions in our Studio Theatre this season with Beyond the Ingénue and Things That Go Ding! featuring Skylight percussionist, Michael “Ding” Lorenz.

The Rivals marks Mike’s 100th production for Skylight with productions dating back to 1972.

We thank him for extraordinary talent, his dedication and his many years in the Skylight’s orchestra pit.

Thank you for joining us this evening and for supporting the Skylight in so many ways.

If you aren’t already a subscriber, it is not too late to join us for the entire 2011-12 season.

Season tickets are still available through our box office by calling 414-291-7800. Please don’t miss the opportunity to make your night sing throughout the year here at Skylight.

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A M E S S AG E F R O M T H E S TAG E D I R E C TO R – D O R O T H Y DA N N E R Kirke Mechem imaginatively transplanted Sheridan’s 18th-century comedy of manners from the resort town of Bath, England to 1900 Newport, Rhode Island.

In 1900, America was bursting with energy and new found fortunes and in Newport, society was everything. America’s wealthiest families gathered there in their 70-room cottages.

The Vanderbilts, Astors, Whitneys along with fortune hunters made it their summer playground. They frequented the Casino, America’s first country club, which plays prominently in this opera.

However, even their immense wealth could not purchase a title, so their daughters were often sent to Europe in hopes of marrying a nobleman. They became known as the “Dollar Princesses” and many an impoverished nobleman regained a family fortune in this manner.

The most famous of the “Dollar Princesses” was the 17-year-old Consuelo Vanderbilt who was locked in her cottage by her mother Alva Vanderbilt until she agreed to marry an unappealing nobleman in one of the most lavish weddings in the history of New York society. It is said that the 60-piece orchestra barely drowned out the sobs of the distraught bride.

These factual tales make the Sheridan transplant to Newport “a brilliant match” and give an urgency and reality to our heroine’s plight.

The lifestyle of society was perfectly documented and satirized in the work of Charles Dana Gibson whose work you can see in the lobby. His wife was the model for the original “Gibson Girl” and his work has been a source for ideas and visualizations for The Rivals.

Kirke Mechem has added ragtime, country relatives and a bit of the historic unruliness of Alice Roosevelt to our Lydia Larkspur which gives the piece an authentic American feeling and adds a great deal of fun to this new American opera.

A M E S S AG E F R O M T H E A R TI S TI C D I R E C TO R – B I L L TH E I S E N What could be more exciting than opening our 2011-2012 Skylight season with Kirke Mechem’s world premiere comic opera The Rivals based on the play of the same name written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. On the occasion of Sheridan’s death, the poet Lord Byron remarked that Richard Brinsley Sheridan was responsible for the best farce in the English language. The farce he referred to was The Rivals.

And true to form, The Rivals relies on an exuberant and inventive plot that always stretches, but never quite breaks the boundaries of credibility. Impressive, however, as his plotting may be, what marks this play for greatness is Sheridan’s gift for character and language.

Kirke Mechem also saw the greatness in this play and decided to elevate the source material, in his own unique way, by translating this classic into an innovative, intelligent and intricately plotted comic opera. The result is one of the funniest new operas written in the last 50 years.

This extraordinary synthesis of character coupled with Mechem’s musical and verbal invention is the source of much of the dramatic and comedic tension in the opera and results in one of the more famous characters in literature: the glorious Mrs. Malaprop. In her, each one of us will recognize a piece of ourselves as we struggle with the allure and the elusiveness of finding exactly the right phrase to express the tumult within.

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T H E R I VA L S — S Y N O P S I S The action takes place during one day in Newport, Rhode Island, circa 1900.

Rich and dashing British Naval Captain Jack Absolute has fallen in love with American heiress Lydia Larkspur. But Lydia is in love with a romantic fantasy: she wants to elope with some penniless artist and live in “charming poverty”. Jack masquerades as a poor English composer named Waverly and wins her heart; Lydia’s aunt and guardian, the famously verbose Mrs. Malaprop, will not hear of it. She and Jack’s father, both unaware that “Waverly” is Jack, decide that Lydia should marry the real Jack. Jack – now his own rival - has a big problem: how to reveal his true identity to Lydia without losing her. He ties himself in knots to indulge her rebellious fantasies, but eventually Lydia learns the truth and rejects him.

Jack’s friend Nicholas Astor loves Lydia’s cousin Julia, but his gloomy fear of being loved only for his vast fortune drives him to put her love to such ridiculous tests that she finally breaks off their engagement.

Baron von Hackenbock, a bellicose Prussian fortune hunter, has been carrying on a secret correspondence with “Celia”, whom he believes to be Lydia but who is really Mrs. Malaprop. He and one of Lydia’s rejected suitors, Jasper Vanderbilt, prepare to fight simultaneous duels: Jasper with his rival, the non-existent Waverley, and the Baron with Jack. Jasper is the bumpkin son of the Kentucky branch of the wealthy Vanderbilts; he also does not know that “Waverley” is his friend Jack. It all comes to a head on the dueling field. True love averts the duels, clears up the misunderstandings and unites the proper pairs.

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There will be a 20 minute intermission during this show.

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CAST Lydia Larkspur........................................................................................................Alicia Berneche Mrs. Malaprop................................................................................................................ Diane Lane Jack Absolute..............................................................................................Christopher Burchett Nicholas Astor....................................................................................................Zach Borichevsky Julia...................................................................................................................Katherine M. Pracht Sir Anthony Absolute.................................................................................................Robert Orth Lucy..................................................................................................................Christine Robertson Jasper Vanderbilt.......................................................................................... Matthew DiBattista Baron von Hackenbock...............................................................................Andrew Wilkowske Ensemble............................................................................................................Susan Wiedmeyer Ensemble.............................................................................................................. Jill Anna Ponasik Ensemble.......................................................................................................Nathan Wesselowski Ensemble....................................................................................................................... David Flores

ORCHESTR A Violin I................................................Pamela Simmons, Joseph Ketchum, Catherine Bush Violin II.............................................................................................Pamela Foard, Marvin Suson Viola........................................................................................................................... Olga Tuzhilkov Cello...................................................................................................................................Scott Cook Bass................................................................................................................................Charles Grosz Flute I..................................................................................................................... Janice Bjorkman Flute II/Piccolo.........................................................................................................Kristen Fenske Oboe............................................................................................................................... Phillip Koch Bassoon......................................................................................................................... Lori Babinec Clarinet I......................................................................................................... Christian Ellenwood Clarinet II/Bass Clarinet........................................................................................ Anna Najoom Horn................................................................................. Richard Tremarello, Anne Maliborski Trumpet.................................................................................................................... Tom Schlueter Trombone.................................................................................................................. Donald Haack Harp..............................................................................................................................Ann Lobotske Percussion............................................................................................................... Michael Lorenz

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WHO’S WHO Alicia Berneche (Lydia Larkspur) – Alicia Berneche has sung on stages around the globe, bringing to them a unique, beautifully produced sound, an extraordinary acting talent and an exquisite musicality. She has appeared on the stages of the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby, along with essaying Helen Niles in the new edition of Mourning Becomes Electra by Marvin David Levy, and The Goodman Theatre, The Barbican, and BAM in the world premiere of Philip Glass’ Galileo Galilei. She appears regularly at the Austin Lyric Opera, most recently as Gretel in Hansel and Gretel. Other companies include Portland Opera, Kentucky Opera, Arizona Opera, Sarasota Opera, Opera Omaha, Orlando Opera, Piedmont Opera and was on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Berneche has appeared at the Skylight Opera in the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore twice, Mimi in La Bohème, Marianne in Tartuffe, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Irena in The Chekhov Trilogy, and as Mag and Cissy in the world premiere of Ballymore.

Diane Lane (Mrs. Malaprop) – Diane Lane last appeared on Skylight’s stage as Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro.

Favorite roles with Skylight Opera Theatre include Isabella in The Italian Girl in Algiers , Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Tania in A Chekhov Trilogy, Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi and The Fox in the Little Prince. Diane has performed over 40 operatic roles in the U.S. and abroad with companies such as Glimmerglass Opera, Central City Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Opera Omaha, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Toledo Opera, Orlando Opera and Stadttheater Biel in Switzerland.

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Christopher Burchett (Jack Absolute) – Christopher has worked with New York City Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Opera Orchestra of New York, Opera Omaha, Eugene Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Kentucky Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Glimmerglass and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. In 2011 he sings the title role in the world premiere of Vincent by Bernard Rands as a guest artist with Indiana University Opera Theater, Bach’s B Minor Mass with the Boulder Bach Festival, A Sea Symphony with Princeton Pro Musica, concerts with Salt Marsh Opera and Boston Lyric Opera, Dandini with Fargo-Moorhead Opera and Elijah with Omaha Symphony. In 2012 he sings Blazes in The Lighthouse with Boston Lyric Opera, returns to Eugene Opera as Chou En-Lai in Nixon in China, Lancelot in Camelot with Orchestra Kentucky and makes his Kennedy Center debut in the world premiere of Paola Prestini’s opera Oceanic Verses. Other world premieres include Baritone Soloist in Paul Moravec’s Blizzard Voices with Opera Omaha, Orsen in Edwin Penhorwood’s Too Many Sopranos with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre and M. Carré-Lamadon in Stephen Hartke’s The Greater Good (available on Naxos records) with Glimmerglass Opera.

Zach Borichevsky (Nicholas Astor) – Tenor Zach Borichevsky has been hailed as “a talent to keep an ear on” with a “secure, full-bodied tenor”. As a resident artist at the Academy of Vocal Arts, he recently created the role of Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale in the world premiere of Margaret Garwood’s The Scarlet Letter and performed the roles of Rodolfo in La Bohème, Flamand in Strauss’ Capriccio and Manrico in the fourth act of Il Trovatore. Last summer,

W H O ’ S W H O ( c o n t .) he presented Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde at the Vail Music Festival. The summer before, he sang the Verdi Requiem at the Alba Music Festival in Italy.

Mr. Borichevsky has also performed with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Boston Lyric Opera, Glimmerglass Opera and at the Castleton Festival under the baton of Lorin Maazel. This season, he will debut Alfredo in La Traviata with Knoxville Opera, as well as Pelléas and Nemorino at the Academy of Vocal Arts. Next summer, he will debut at Santa Fe Opera in Strauss’ Arabella as Matteo. In concert this season, he will premiere two new works

by Edward Cone with the Princeton Symphony, debut the Mozart Requiem with the Symphony in C and perform in recital under the auspices of Lyric Fest in Philadelphia. He holds degrees from The George Washington University and Yale School of Music.

Katherine M. Pracht (Julia) – MezzoSoprano Katherine Pracht returns to the Skylight following her company debut with Dallas Opera as Stephano in student performances of Romeo et Juliette, and Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera on the James. Upcoming engagements include the role of Mrs. McLean in Florentine Opera’s Susannah, and her company debut with Opera Company of Philadelphia as the Third Lady in their production of Die Zauberflöte. Pracht’s favorite Skylight performances include the title role in The Midnight Angel, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel and Jo March in Little Women. A native of Davenport, Iowa, Pracht now resides in Philadelphia.

Robert Orth (Sir Anthony Absolute) – Robert Orth is a leading baritone with major opera companies including those in New York City, San

Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, Washington, DC, Houston, Seattle, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Miami, Portland, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Denver. He was named “Artist of the Year” by both New York City Opera and Seattle Opera.

Recent engagements have included reprises of his definitive portrayal of Richard Nixon in Nixon in China with both Vancouver Opera and the Canadian Opera Company; the world premiere of Andre Previn’s Brief Encounter with Houston Grand Opera; the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon’s The Grapes of Wrath with Minnesota Opera; and the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s Moby Dick with Dallas Opera. Hailed by Opera News as a “fixture of contemporary opera,” Mr. Orth’s involvement in new works has brought him great pleasure and acclaim. His recordings include Shining Brow, Six Characters in Search of an Author, Nixon in China, Harvey Milk, Dead Man Walking and Hansel and Gretel.

Christine Robertson (Lucy) – Christine Robertson has had a versatile career as a leading lady in musical theatre and opera and as a concert soloist. She is delighted to be making her debut at Skylight. Her credits span the Midwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the East Coast, including several productions at the historic Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. She starred as Amalia in She Loves Me at The Theatre at the Center, which was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Musical in the Chicago area. Favorite roles in regional theatre include Laurey in Oklahoma!, Maria in The Sound of Music and Fiona in Brigadoon. Her operatic roles include Eurydice in Orpheus in the Underworld and Lucy in The Telephone. Ms. Robertson has been featured with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, the Virginia Symphony, the Iowa City Chamber Singers and the Breckenridge Music Festival Orchestra.

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W H O ’ S W H O ( c o n t .)

Matthew DiBattista (Jasper Vanderbilt) – Matthew DiBattista sings as Flavio in Norma with Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood in summer 2011. In 2010-11 he joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera for Roméo et Juliette, sang Valet Tenors in Les Contes d’Hoffman (Florida Grand Opera), Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Boston Lyric Opera), Molqi in The Death of Klinghoffer (Opera Theatre of St. Louis) and Handel’s Messiah (Providence Singers). Recent successes include highly-praised performances as The Good Soldier Schweik (Long Beach Opera); Coleman in Larry Bell’s Holy Ghosts (world premiere/Berklee Performance Center); and Bégearss in The Ghosts of Versailles (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis).

Andrew Wilkowske (Baron von Hackenbock) – Andrew Wilkowske is thrilled to return to the Skylight for his ninth production, having most recently been seen as Figaro in The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. Recent performances include The Emperor of Atlantis with Boston Lyric Opera, Carmina Burana with Minnesota Orchestra, The Barber of Seville with Opera on the James, Dandini in La Cenerentola with The Minnesota Opera and The Grapes of Wrath at Carnegie Hall. Upcoming roles include Ponchel in the world premiere of Kevin Puts’ and Mark Campbell’s Silent Night with The Minnesota Opera, Henry Kissinger in Nixon in China with Eugene Opera and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly.

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Susan Wiedmeyer (Ensemble) – Susan is delighted to return to the Skylight after performing in H.M.S. Pinafore, The Marriage of Figaro and The Pirates of Penzance.

Locally, she has performed with Milwaukee Opera Theatre, starring as Arion in Meditations on Arion; and with Music By the Lake in Madama Butterfly, La Traviata and Brigadoon, playing the role of Fiona. Susan is an Encouragement Award Winner from the District Metropolitan Opera Auditions (2007) and holds music degrees from St. Olaf College (B.M.) and UW-Milwaukee (M.M.).

Jill Anna Ponasik (Ensemble) – Jill Anna is thrilled to be back at Skylight after having performed in HMS Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance and La Bohème. Recent roles include Deb in Ordinary Days, The Girl in 26 and Alice in Alice Unwrapped. New York City workshops include One Big Lie and Verse of Fortune. Jill Anna is Artistic Director of Milwaukee Opera Theatre.

Nathan Wesselowski (Ensemble) – Nathan Wesselowski is always content when he sets foot onstage for Skylight Opera Theatre. Past productions include Viva La Mamma, Madame Butterfly, A Christmas Schooner, Animal Crackers, Gianni Schicchi, The Mikado, La Boheme, La Traviata, Patience, The Pirates of Penzance, and H.M.S. Pinafore. Nathan is also a composer/arranger, he arranged 26 Italian songs and arias for Milwaukee Opera Theater’s production of 26 in 2009. He will be seen later this season in two productions for MOT. He will be playing

W H O ’ S W H O ( c o n t .) the role of Payador in Danceworks’ production of Maria de Buenos Aires in November and then he will make a return performance in the role of Headmaster in Jason Powell’s original Operetta Fortuna -vs- The Schoolgirls of Doom in January of 2012.

is a frequent guest director at AVA, NYU, Boston University and CarnegieMellon. Dorothy Danner is a member of a theatrical family that includes actors Blythe, Harry and Hillary Danner, Gwyneth Paltrow, writer-filmmaker Jake Paltrow and actress Katherine Moennig.

David Flores (Ensemble) – David Flores has performed with the Boulevard, Cornerstone, In Tandem, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Milwaukee Shakespeare, Off The Wall, Optimist, Windfall, Florentine and Wildspace.

Skylight appearances include Man of la Mancha (Barber), Animal Crackers (Hives) and the cabaret series. Other credits include Tartuffe (Tartuffe), Merchant of Venice (Shylock), Uncle Vanya (Vanya), Sweeny Todd (Judge Turpin), Cabaret (Emcee) and Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Molina).

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 the Skylight Opera Theater, and has conducted over 60 productions here including the world premiere of Richard Wargo’s Dorothy Danner (Stage Director) opera Ballymore, Argento’s Waterbird – Dorothy Danner has directed Talk, Britten’s Rape of Lucretia and nearly 200 productions of operettas, Mechem’s Tartuffe. Other music musicals and plays throughout the direction: Mikado—Syracuse Opera; U.S., Canada and Belgium, including Producers (first regional), Once Upon a staging operas for the companies of Time in New Jersey (world premiere), Glimmerglass, Houston, Philadelphia, Brigadoon—Marriott; The Happy Elf Miami, Cleveland, Minnesota, Cincinnati, (Harry Connick—world premiere), The Portland, Kansas City, Virginia and San Wiz (also orchestrator for premiere Franciso Merola. She has also staged of Theater for Young Audiences premieres of composers Barab, Botti, version)—First Stage Milwaukee.

Garwood, Hamlisch, Hamick, Musgrave, As an actor, he has appeared in 2 Sirotta and Wargo. She garnered Pianos, 4 Hands at the Milwaukee wide critical acclaim for A Midsummer Rep, Actors’ Theater of Louisville; Night’s Dream at Julliard, the PBS Dallas Theater Center; Laguna Beach television showing of Ballymore and Playhouse; Hartford Stage Company the Boston Pops’ Tribute to Gilbert and (Conn. Critics Circle Award), and the Sullivan. Before turning to directing, Gilmore International Keyboard Ms. Danner performed in Broadway Festival. Also Souvenir (Skylight), Dirty shows spanning from Once Upon a Blonde (Chamber Theater), Old Wicked Mattress to Michael Bennett’s Ballroom Songs (In Tandem). Later this season and in films including Mel Brooks’s The he will conduct The Music Man and Producers. Ms. Danner co-founded the Sunday in the Park with George. Richard Glimmerglass Young Artist Program, is thrilled to work again with Dottie has served on the faculties of the Danner and to conduct the premiere Julliard School, Curtis Institute of of this wonderful comic opera.

Music, and Chautaqua Institution, and Skylight Opera Theatre 9

W H O ’ S W H O ( c o n t .)

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 the 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, 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.

Lisa Schlenker (Set Designer) – Lisa is most often found managing the Properties Department for the Skylight Opera Theatre, where she is a nineteenyear veteran. An Augustana College alumna in music and theatre, and a 1988 graduate of the MFA program in Theatre Technology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, she is also an active member of the national prop professional organization, The Society for Prop Artists & Managers.

In addition to working at the Skylight Opera Theatre, Lisa’s design work has also been seen on the stages of Theatre X, African American Children’s Theater, Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee Shakespeare Company and Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. Lisa is also proud to assist with upkeep of facilities at Skylight Opera Theatre and Broadway Theatre Center.

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Brian Hemesath (Costume Designer) – Brian Hemesath is happy to be back at the Skylight Opera Theatre where he has designed productions of Iolanthe, Chicago, Triumph of Love, Don Pasquale, Tartuffe, The All Night Strut, Little Shop of Horrors and Blues in the Night.

Brian has an MFA in Costume design from Carnegie Mellon University and has worked professionally in New York and regionally for 14 years. Brian also designs costumes for NBC’s Saturday Night Live and PBS’s Sesame Street for which he just won his first Emmy award.

Kurt Schnabel (Lighting Designer) – Kurt is happy to return to Skylight after designing last season’s The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. Favorite Skylight designs include Lucia Di Lamermoor, Romeo and Juliet and The Midnight Angel.

Kurt’s work has been seen throughout Milwaukee with companies such as First Stage Children’s Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Shakespeare, KO THI Dance Company and Next Act Theatre. Kurt is the Production Manager with ACME Production Resources, where he designs and oversees production on projects ranging from architectural lighting installations and custom exhibits to dance competitions, film shoots and corporate meetings for clients including Kohl’s Department Stores, Oshkosh Truck, EAA, Aurora Healthcare, Rockwell Automation, Johnson Controls, Boston Store, Marquette University, Discovery World and the Blood Center of Wisconsin. Kurt resides in West Bend with his five children.

Kimberly Ann McCann (Production Stage Manager) – Kimberly is excited to be returning 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

W H O ’ S W H O ( c o n t .)

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.

Lillian Tillson (Assistant Stage Manager) – Lillian Tillson is joining the 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 UWMilwaukee. Thank you for supporting Skylight and enjoy the show!

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P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F 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 Properties Director................................................................................................. Lisa Schlenker Properties Carpenter.............................................................................................. Jennifer Lyons Properties Artists.............................................................................. Ana McHenry, Nikki Kulas 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 Wig Designer................................................................................................................. Lara Dalbey Wig Master & Hair Stylist...........................................................................................Justin Deehr Wardrobe...................................................................................Susanne Maroske, Justin Deehr Stitchers..................................Carie Bronson, Jeanne Schrank, Lisa Quinn, Eliza Bradford Stage Supervisor.................................................................................................. Andrew Booher Lead Props......................................................................................................................Nikki Walter Lead Crew........................................................................................................................ Adam Held 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 OW L E D G E M E N T S Special thanks to Courtney Crouse; Sandra Strawn, UWM Department of Theatre; Milwaukee Repertory Theater Prop and Costume Department; First Stage Costume Shop and Klein’s Piano Workshop. The Producers wish to thank the tdf Costume Collection for its assistance in this production.

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189 N. Milwaukee St. 241 N. Broadway 217 N. Broadway 225 E. St. Paul Ave. 249 N. Water St. 330 E. Menomonee St.

(414)-273-5620 (414) 289-0855 (414) 431-7944 (414) 224-0895 (414) 431-1133 (414)224-4900

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 Lindsay Holbrook Hammerer Mark Huber Valerie Johnson Tracey Klein Christopher Layden Michael Lueder Michelle Mattson

Howard Miller James Plunkett 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

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 Farand Pawlak, Chair Heather A. Dunn Jamie Delgadillo 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 F F SKYLIGHT OPERA THEATRE STAFF 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 Lee Caracci..............................................................................................................House Manager Madeline Cope............................................ Special Events and Donor Relations Manager Robin Dennis......................................................................................... Resident Teaching Artist Corinne Gilbert.....................................................................................Education Administrator Kristin Hansen........................................................................................................Grants Manager Rose Hebein....................................................................................Marketing Project Manager Paul Kaishian..................................................................................................................... Custodian Becca Marten................................................................................................. Education Manager Kristen Nissen.............................................................Office Manager and Finance Assistant Sara Marie von Hemert-Dachelet........................................................... Campaign Manager Ruben Piirainen.................................................................................. Education Music Director Jennifer Stanislowski................................................................................Box Office Supervisor Julian Salas...............................................................................Weekend Box Office Supervisor Jess Jante, Gwen Zupan...................................................................................... Box Office Staff Carol Komassa, Cara McMullin, 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 August 17, 2011.)

BENEFACTOR CIRCLE $25,000+ Anonymous The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation Mary Ann & Lloyd Gerlach David & Margarete Harvey Skylighters of Wisconsin Daniel M. Soref Charitable Trust 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 Bert L. & Patricia S. Steigleder CharitableTrust

David & Julia Uihlein Charitable Foundation The Windhover Foundation SPONSOR CIRCLE $5,000-$9,999 Anonymous Assurant Health Alvin & Marion Birnschein Foundation Rick & Wendy Bliss Briggs & Stratton Corporation

Foundation Michael & Anne Marie Bula F. Colin & Paula Cabot Mae E. Demmer Charitable Trust John & Mary Emory Ralph Evinrude Foundation Byron & Suzy Foster Lili & Rick Friedman Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Burns-Schrader Fund

Asher & Susan Nichols Family Fund Freida & William Hunt Memorial Trust Dorothy Inbusch Foundation, Inc. Krause Family Foundation Phoebe & Jack Lewis Maihaugen Foundation Marcus Corporation Marshall & Ilsley Foundation Nonprofit Management Fund Ildy & Skip Poliner

Meyer & Norma Ragir Foundation Adriana & Robert Ragir Greg & Mary Ann Renz Rockwell Automation Wayne Roper Charles & Patricia Roy Curtis & Candace Sawyer Carol & Kevin Schuele Sempercor Foundation John Shannon & Jan Serr WE Energies Herb Zien & Liz Levins PRODUCER CIRCLE $2,500-$4,999 Anonymous Chris & Storm Elser John Flanagan & Deborah Schwartz Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s

Luedke-Smith Fund Susan Godfrey Lindsay & Peter Hammerer Mark Huber & Nari Haig Carol Jensen Johnson Controls Foundation Tracey & Rick Klein Ruth De Young Kohler Pam Kriger Nancy & Arthur Laskin Susan Nichols James G. & Gwen Plunkett Gordana & Milan Racic Matthew Sirinek & Michelle Mattson Sigma-Aldrich 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 ( c o n t .)

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 H.H. Camp Foundation Doris Hersh Chortek Laura & John Emory, Jr. Jim & Lynne Farrell Mary Lou Findley Leona Fitzsimonds Gardner Foundation Joe & Gwenn Graboyes Catherine Garham Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Lois & Donald Cottrell Fund B

Dr. Carl W. Eberbach & Elizabeth Falk Eberbach Fund Margaret Hemingway Wells Fund Mr. & Mrs. Wayne K. Hader Charles & Margaret Harper John & Sara Hein Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation 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 & Brenda 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 Suzy B. Ettinger 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 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 Edwin & Jean Stone Robert & Lenore Swoboda Calvin & Pauline Verbrugge VJS Construction Services Sargit Warriner Allan & JeanAnn Wirth CHOREOGRAPHER CIRCLE - $250-$499 Acme Sales, Inc. Sara Alter David & Patricia Anderson

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 ( c o n t .)

Anonymous (4) L.B. & J.K. Richard & Carol Bayerlein Foundation LTD Robert Bjerke Jill & Frits Broekhuizen Donald A. Cress Bob & Belle Danforth 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 George B. Haasler Ed & Priscilla Heinecke Edward M. Hipke Ann & Fred Horwitz 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 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 Marsha Ruth Sehler Margery J. Senn Mark & Karen Sostarich Annette StoddardFreeman Barbara & Christian Steinmetz 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 Skylight receives support from the following government agencies: City of Milwaukee Arts Board

Milwaukee County CAMPAC National Endowment for the Arts Wisconsin Arts Board Thank you to those that have supported Skylight with an in-kind gift: Assurant Health DigiCOPY Dryit Carpet Dry Cleaning Inc. Entech Dale & Mary Graves Marcus Corporation NOVA Systems Inc. Dr. Marcia J.S. Richards & Mr. Donald R. Whitaker 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

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.

Skylight Opera Theatre 19

Illustration: Andrew Bernier

A Pulitzer Prize winner

by Alfred Uhry

October 13-30

When Hoke Coleburn is hired to be Daisy Werthan’s chauffeur, little do they realize how close they will grow over the next 25 years.

Directed by C. Michael Wright Featuring Ruth Schudson, Michael Torrey & Jonathan West Broadway Theatre Center 158 N. Broadway Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward

414.291.7800 milwaukeechambertheatre.com

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 The 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

C O 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 Kafevino at (414) 224-4900.

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. Kirke Mechem, Bill Theisen, and/or Corliss Philabaum will lead pre-performance talks one hour before curtain for every Wednesday and Sunday performance.

Skylight Night 76 Trombones Gala…Join us Saturday, October 8, 2011 for Skylight’s annual gala. Visit www.skylightopera.com for more information.

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 O X O F F I 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 L U 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 the 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

MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL PRESENTS

MILWAUKEE FILM FESTIVAL 2011 SEPT.22 - OCT. 2 | TICKETS ON SALE SEPT. 8 | MKEFILM.ORG or (414) 727-8468