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The donor newsletter of Milwaukee Rep ISSUE 18 • FALL 2021
SPEAKING
directl y Welcome back!
After a nearly 18-month hiatus, it feels incredible to see you returning to our performance spaces. Right now, audiences are enjoying the heartwarming Steel Magnolias in the Quadracci Powerhouse and the hilarious Dad’s Season Tickets in the Stackner Cabaret. In just a few weeks, more excitement will be in the air as we return to our beloved holiday tradition of presenting A Christmas Carol at the Pabst Theater, with Lee Ernst once again in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. To kick off the fall season for our patrons and as a thank-you to our community for helping us through this challenging period, we partnered with the 13 other UPAF member groups to provide 11 days of free performances, workshops, tours and more in early October. As part of the programming, we hosted a “Free Day of Theater,” featuring 10 public events at the Patty & Jay Baker Theater Complex. Patrons enjoyed Welcome Back Concerts, a showcase of New Play Development projects in process, workshops, and behind-the-scenes demonstrations. We are excited about so many highlights of this season. One is a celebration of Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Dael Orlandersmith, beginning with the co-world premiere of her work Antonio’s Song (read more on page 7). Then, starting in March, we will stage the premiere of Orlandersmith’s latest show, New Age, which celebrates women at all stages of life in her distinctive style. Additionally, you can also stream a professional recording of Orlandersmith’s powerful play, Until the Flood, free of charge on our website now through fall 2023.
Mark Clements Artistic Director
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In recent months, our Education & Engagement Department has been busy transforming our education programming into a hybrid of in-person and virtual-learning opportunities. ◆ Reading Residencies will begin in-person in the spring semester; students will have the option of studying Shakespeare’s As You Like It or the Tony award-winning Titanic The Musical. Schools can also choose to participate in a virtual Reading Residency created by last season’s Emerging Professional Residents and based on Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. This program includes virtual workshops and pre-recorded lessons that can be accomplished at each classroom’s own pace. ◆ The August Wilson Monologue Competition has transitioned to the Next Narratives Monologue Competition (NNMC) to elevate the voices of contemporary Black playwrights. NNMC workshops, which are available to all Milwaukee high-school students, will be conducted virtually this fall, then move to in-person competitions in the spring. ◆ We are once again offering Student Matinee performances, our unique School Subscription program for high schools and our popular Rep Immersion Days during As You Like It and Titanic The Musical. Finally, we are pleased to welcome Chris Hermann, Regional President of PNC Bank, as the newest member of our Board, and Judy Hansen as our next Board president. Our 2021/22 Season is only possible because of you, our loyal supporters. Thank you for your incredible support during these unprecedented times. Now, as they say, on with the show!
Chad Bauman
Executive Director
SCENES
behind the A Piece of Furniture Takes a Starring Role
Theater artists and technicians are often tasked with finding creative solutions to bring a production to life. The hilarious, quintessentially Wisconsin Dad’s Season Tickets proved no exception for Scenic Designer Lisa Schlenker. While creating her designs for this “green and gold” musical comedy, Schlenker came to Rep Props Director Jim Guy with an unconventional request; in addition to a lucky bobblehead, a variety of game-day snacks and even a Packers-themed Christmas tree, the Props department was asked to create a couch capable of being adjusted to different heights onstage while remaining fully visible to audiences. After nearly two decades of collaborations with Guy on productions such as Milwaukee Rep’s 2019/20 production of Nunsense, Schlenker knew that Guy and his incomparable props team would be able to work their magic. Props Carpenter Erik Lindquist took the lead in designing the mechanism for a couch that could accommodate Schlenker’s design. He developed several plans to demonstrate how the back of the couch could move from a fully upright to a lowered position. Once the movement of the couch was perfected, Props Artisan Tayler Varney was in charge of upholstering the couch to blend seamlessly into the set design while hiding Lindquist’s mechanism from the audience’s view.
Plans drawn to scale for how the couch operates.
Lindquist’s first design idea would have used springs and guiding tracks located on the inside of the couch, which would allow the actors to push the back of the couch down and latch it into the lowered position. There were two main shortcomings with this design: a spring-loaded piece could jam or break, and the actors would need to be the ones to adjust the couch while onstage, adding yet another responsibility on top of their primary focus—performing. So, Lindquist moved on to the next design for a couch that could be controlled by using pressurized air to move the back of the couch into the lowered position and then released up with the touch of a button. Using a small air tank typically used for scuba diving and an electronic switch, a member of the production crew operates the couch from the control booth, adjusting the height of the back of the couch with ease. When turned on, pressurized air engages a switch hidden in the back of the couch to secure it in the “down” position. Once the pressure is released, the couch returns to its full height. After conducting several tests, Lindquist and Guy knew they had found their solution. This design does not require any actor interaction to work, and the shift is so subtle that audience members may not even notice it. To experience this one-of-a-kind couch in action, be sure to reserve your tickets for Dad’s Season Tickets now through January 2, 2022 in the Stackner Cabaret.
Kelley Faulkner and Rick Pendzich in Dad’s Season Tickets. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
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OUR JO
restaging the future: As we look to build a completely new theater complex on our current downtown Milwaukee footprint, we are embarking on a critical journey that will transform and define Milwaukee Rep for the next generations.
We face similar challenges and now is the moment we must expand artistic capabilities, improve audience experience, grow our impact within the local arts community, nurture emerging talent, and continue our path to make Milwaukee Rep the most accessible and welcoming theater in the country.
Expand artistic capabilities The Quadracci Powerhouse and Stiemke Studio are two of the oldest unrenovated theaters in the country. While we do our best to work within their limitations, the truth is we need advanced, modern theaters if we are to continue producing shows of the highest quality, attracting top talent and remaining competitive nationally. An investment in a new theater complex will come with the modern technology necessary for 21st-century storytelling, flexibility to adapt theater configurations to match a director’s vision, and production capabilities on par with theaters in Chicago, New York and around the world as we seek to export new work created in Milwaukee to theaters globally.
Improve audience experience The historic We Energies power plant, later converted into the Patty & Jay Baker Theater Complex.
A recent study conducted by leading theater design and consulting firm, Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, confirmed what we knew: 1. We have expanded beyond the capacities of our current space. 2. After nearly four decades of use as Milwaukee’s most popular performing arts venue, wear and tear necessitates replacement of nearly every system in our building. 3. To continue to produce world-class artistry, our performance spaces must be completely overhauled and upgraded. Apart from Milwaukee Rep, every major arts and culture institution in Southeast Wisconsin has undertaken major capital improvements since the opening of the Patty & Jay Baker Theater Complex in the mid-1980s. For perspective, two major live entertainment spaces opened the same year as the Baker Theater Complex: the Bradley Center and the Marcus Amphitheater (now the American Family Insurance Amphitheater). The first has been completely demolished while the latter recently underwent a complete remodel, as it could no longer support high quality live bands.
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As arts organizations continue to upgrade their spaces and enhance patron experience, audiences expect certain amenities, technologies and comforts from the moment they enter that we are currently unable to provide. Improvements to our space will be key to attracting the next generation of Rep audiences. Additionally, our current performance venues lack accessibility and are very difficult for persons with disabilities to navigate. These limitations make it challenging for potential audience members to experience the work on our stages.
Grow Education and Engagement capacities In any given year, we welcome more than 300,000 people to our theater complex (including 20,000 students from 150 schools), support the development of local artists through our Professional Training Institute and Emerging Professional Residency, and collaborate with community organizations to create meaningful opportunities for connections through audience and engagement programs. At present, the Baker Theater Complex does not have the spaces to support our education and community events onsite. To develop local talent, provide meaningful literacy-based learning programs and serve as a gathering place for our community, we must create areas of our building dedicated to these programs that can support learners of all abilities.
OURNEY BEGINS Milwaukee Rep’s Patty & Jay Baker Theater Complex today.
Reduce maintenance costs and avoid a potential crisis We spend more than $1 million in repairs to our building annually (nearly 10% of our annual budget) finding temporary fixes for issues that can only be solved by a complete building renovation. In recent years, we have experienced leaks and flooding, elevators catching on fire and our rigging system being declared unsafe to operate. Our outdated systems are not energy efficient, and cost tens of thousands of dollars to operate that could be saved and reinvested in our art and community programs.
Moving forward In summary, while leaving our current location would be an option, our strong preference is to remain in our historic, cleverly converted former We Energies powerplant and build an entirely state-of-the-art, new complex within its walls. Leaving our current location would create a large hole in the vibrant landscape of downtown that would be very hard to fill, given our venue is a national historic landmark. Creating a new facility within our current walls allows us to continue to repurpose and utilize to the maximum the tremendous gift to our community from We Energies. Initial plans for updating our facilities were unanimously adopted by our Board of Trustees in October 2019 as part of a strategic planning process led by former Board President Greg Oberland and trustee Catherine Robinson. This was followed by Oberland and current Board President Judy Hansen ordering a thorough analysis of fundraising capacity by Elizabeth Meyer of Fund Development Corporation and an in-depth review of our facility plan by John Hunzinger of Hunzinger Construction. Both studies were presented to the Board of Trustees and unanimously approved at our September 2021 meeting.
From our very founding with visionary leadership from Mary John Sullivan, Jane Bradley Uihlein, and Fred Miller, Milwaukee has understood that a world-class city deserves a world-class theater. Milwaukee Rep has grown and has been stewarded brilliantly by generations of local leaders since its inception, becoming known both as an artistically brilliant and financially well-managed cornerstone of our community. The next couple of years will be both exciting and challenging as we embark on the largest fundraising campaign in our theater’s history, engage architects to creatively capture our future opportunities, and begin a phased construction process that will allow us to remain on site and fully producing while we build our new home. – Chad Bauman, Executive Director
The original Fred Miller Theater on Oakland Avenue served as Milwaukee Rep’s first home from 1954 – 1968.
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SPOTLIGHT:
Milwaukee Rep’s leaders
Introducing Board President Judy Hansen As we look toward the future of Milwaukee Rep, we are thrilled to welcome Judy Hansen as our board president. Hansen has served on the board since 1992, and served previous terms as board president from 1995–1998 and 2011–2014. Hansen Judy Hansen is a Tony Award-winning producer whose notable works include the 2009 revival of Hair, as well as revivals of Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward, and David Mamet’s November and Race.
How did you first get involved with Milwaukee Rep? I was a co-chair of the first gala in 1990, which was called “Rep Roaring Affair.” Soon after, I joined the board so I could play a larger role in the theater’s success.
What inspired you to step into a leadership role at Milwaukee Rep? The people. Milwaukee Rep’s Board of Trustees is a terrific group of smart, passionate and forward-thinking individuals who are constantly finding ways for Milwaukee Rep to make an impact—not just in Milwaukee but on the arts on a national scale. Additionally, I am so grateful for leadership and staff, who work tirelessly to create top-tier productions and programs that serve local communities. Finally, Milwaukee Rep is fortunate to have an incredible network of supporters who, through their generosity and their engagement with Milwaukee Rep productions and programs, make the theater’s success possible.
What is your vision for the future of Milwaukee Rep? I would like to envision a new Milwaukee Rep with the facilities we need to support all the exciting work happening here. From our world-class productions to our innovative new plays in development, to our continually expanding Education & Engagement programming, it will be critical to make improvements, so our spaces can serve the projects both on and off our stages. The historic Patty & Jay Baker Theater Complex is now approaching 40 years old. It is about time to make sure our building is able to support all we are doing! I am looking forward to seeing Milwaukee Rep rebuilt to continue being a leading theater nationally for generations to come.
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Lights! Camera! Action! Spotlight is a group for emerging leaders who enjoy the opportunity to socialize with other Milwaukee professionals with VIP access to Milwaukee Rep events and, at the same time, make a profound impact on Milwaukee Rep and the local community. “One of the many things I love about Milwaukee Rep is its efforts to reach out to and engage with the Milwaukee community. I think it is so important to the long-term future of Milwaukee Rep that it connects with the community and draws Antony D’Cruz in more diverse stakeholders. Spotlight provides a great way for its members to support Milwaukee Rep in this regard and enjoy some awesome benefits,” comments co-chair Antony D’Cruz, Senior Vice President, Director of Information and Project Management, HSA Bank. Co-chair Nina Beck, Associate, Godfrey & Kahn adds, “Spotlight provides volunteer opportunities, financial support for programs and initiatives (like last year’s August Wilson Monologue Competition), and exclusive ‘meet and greets’ with Nina Beck the actors. Given the challenges and uncertainty caused by COVID-19, I felt it was more important than ever to remain active in Milwaukee Rep and to reengage our members to ensure the survival and success of our beloved theater.” Last season’s events were, of course, virtual. The group focused on support for the August Wilson Monologue Competition, which allowed Milwaukee high school students to express themselves through performances of monologues by prolific American playwright August Wilson. In a year when opportunities for arts education were limited, Spotlight allowed these young artists to develop their self-confidence and compete for cash scholarships, as well as for the opportunity to perform at the national level. Spotlight membership requires a subscription to a minimum of four plays and a donation of $250 or more. For more information, contact Cassidy Skorija, Associate Director of Development, Institutional Giving, at 414-290-0716 or cskorija@milwaukeerep.com. We are grateful to Godfrey & Kahn for the firm’s sponsorship of our 2021/22 Spotlight group, encouraging members to continue to make a positive impact on Milwaukee Rep as the future leaders of our community.
MARK
on the
Ask Artistic Director Mark Clements...
What makes Antonio’s Song/I Was Dreaming of a Son so personal to you? I always try to produce the theater I want to see—pieces that are surprising and performances that you remember decades later. This is one of those pieces. I had been talking with the playwright Dael Orlandersmith about commissioning a new work from her. During our conversations, she mentioned she had co-written Antonio’s Song/ I Was Dreaming of a Son with Antonio Edward Suarez after he sought out her Dael Orlandersmith help to tell his story. The play hadn’t been performed yet and was looking for a home. I told Dael I’d read it, but she wanted me to see it because it really needed to be experienced. She was very persistent that I hear Antonio read it out loud! So, I went to New York and saw Antonio reading from a lectern with some movement to show what the staged production might look like. I felt an instant connection with Antonio. While the story does concern a mixed-race man not being “enough” of any one race, it’s mostly about a straight man growing up in a tough environment, finding the arts, and becoming a father. That was the connection between his story and my own, and it deeply affected me. Following the reading, he saw the tears in my eyes and said, “We need to talk.” Afterwards, I was asked to direct the premiere production, which took place at the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. I was hesitant as a white man directing a mixed-race man’s story but, ultimately, the play is about men reconciling certain machismo ideals; where do we put this aggression that’s part of our DNA, and how does that fit into being involved in the arts and managing our relationships with our children and parents? These issues are part of what I navigate every single day as a son, a father and an artist. There is something special about Antonio’s story and his lived experience, and it is particularly wonderful to hear him tell it. Antonio is a gifted performer and brings a new level of humanity and complexity to this narrative. Anyone who gets to watch him perform gets to see something extraordinary that another performer simply wouldn’t bring.
Antonio Edwards Suarez in Antonio’s Song/ I Was Dreaming of a Son. Photo by Seth Freeman.
I want the audience to experience the play in the same way I did when I first saw Antonio read it. It is an honest, revealing, and sometimes shocking story, but ultimately it is a story of redemption. These are the types of stories we need to hear now: stories of redemption and survival against all odds. Antonio’s Song/I Was Dreaming of a Son is part of the John (Jack) D. Lewis New Play Development Program, which takes new works by up-and-coming playwrights and launches them into the national conversation. We intended to produce this striking new work as part of our original 2020/21 Season, then as part of our Reset Season, and now we are finally bringing this piece to life in the Stiemke Studio starting January 26, 2022.
Do you have a question for Mark? Submit your questions to onthemark@milwaukeerep.com and see his answers in an upcoming issue!
UNTIL THE FLOOD DIGITAL STREAMING
Milwaukee Rep is proud to collaborate with six other theaters to provide access to a digital recording of Rattlestick Playwrights Theater’s production of Until the Flood by Dael Orlandersmith, available to stream for free through 2023. Produced in the Stiemke Studio during the 2017/18 Season, this powerful solo performance tells the story of the 2014 shooting of teenager Michael Brown and the aftermath in his hometown of Ferguson, Missouri. You can access the production online at:
www.milwaukeerep.com/shows-and-tickets/at-home/until-the-flood/
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LIMELIGHT LEGACY SOCIETY Are you interested in playing a role in Milwaukee Rep’s story for years to come? Join the Limelight Legacy Society, a group of dedicated donors who have named Milwaukee Rep in their estate plans. By joining the Limelight Legacy Society, you ensure that the future of Milwaukee Rep will be sustained for decades to come.
Why do members make a legacy gift? “We would like our children, our grandchildren and any future generations to enjoy what we’ve enjoyed because it’s so remarkable,” says former Limelight Legacy Committee co-chair Karen Dean. “If we can help that continue on in some small way, we want to be a part of that.”
There are many ways to make a legacy commitment; name Milwaukee Repertory Theater as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement account, or by designating us through your will or trust. There is no minimum amount required, and you do not need to send us a copy of your full will or Estate Plan.
If you have already designated Milwaukee Rep in your estate plans, or if you are interested in learning more, please contact Director of Major and Planned Giving, Alli Engelsma-Mosser at (414) 290-5366.
When you join the Limelight Legacy Society with your legacy commitment, you will make an enduring impact on Milwaukee Rep. Members are invited to exclusive events with Rep artists and gain access to the Quadracci Powerhouse’s Donor Lounge. See your name included on the Limelight Legacy Society plaque in the Quadracci Powerhouse and in playbills for every production.
UPCOMING EVENTS December 7, 2021
First Rehearsal of Toni Stone Donors $1,500+ are invited to join us virtually for the first rehearsal of Toni Stone. Meet the cast and listen to the director and designers introduce the production.
January 7, 2022 Opening Night of Toni Stone Donors $2,500+ will be invited to an opening celebration of a Quadracci Powerhouse production each season. The evening includes a dinner at Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel and tickets to the opening night performance.
Limelight Legacy Society Members, Karen and Bob Dean
Milwaukee Repertory Theater Development Department 108 E. Wells Street • Milwaukee, WI 53202 Chuck Rozewicz
Morgen Clarey
Chief Development Officer crozewicz@milwaukeerep.com
Associate Director of Development, Events & Stewardship mclarey@milwaukeerep.com
Amy Dorman Director of Development adorman@milwaukeerep.com
Alli Engelsma-Mosser Director of Major and Planned Giving aengelsma-mosser@milwaukeerep.com
Danielle Szmanda Major Gifts Officer dszmanda@milwaukeerep.com
Cassidy Skorija Associate Director of Development, Institutional Giving cskorija@milwaukeerep.com
Stephan Thomas Development Database Manager sthomas@milwaukeerep.com
Yolanda Doney Development Associate ydoney@milwaukeerep.com
To make a gift in support of Milwaukee Repertory Theater, please contact the Development Department at
414-290-5376 or visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com Cover Photo Credits: Clockwise from top left: Dan Kazemi and his band perform at the Free Day of Theater October 2, 2021; Emma Rose Brooks performs at the Free Day of Theater; Milwaukee Rep’s Costume Department provides a behind-the-scenes look at wigs and costumes; Janet Ulrich as M’Lynn and Phoebe González as Shelby at the first rehearsal of Steel Magnolias; Nygel Robinson performs at the Free Day of Theater; Meg Thalken as Ouiser at the first rehearsal of Steel Magnolias.