SPEAKINGdirectl y

we will begin with the Powerhouse Theater, complete with a beautiful new Grand Lobby that will connect all three of our performance spaces and provide greater accessibility. The new building will give us the capabilities we need to generate even greater impact for our community.

Our “Rep to the Future: an 80s Rewind”, Curtain Call Ball in May raised a record-breaking $1 million that will go toward the renovation. A special thank you to our co-chairs Ray and Dawne Manista, Clark and Diane Slipher, and Rich and Jean Tennessen for their leadership of such a successful event.

Finally, we want to welcome the newest additions to our Board of Trustees: Dr. Eric Durant, Jay Franke, Jason Graham, Deborah Kaerek, Dawn Lindsey, Ray Manista, Anne Noyes, and Allison Scrivner. We are thrilled to have them join our Board and look forward to working with them.

Even though we are in the dog days of summer, we are busy gearing up for our exciting 70th Anniversary Season. Work is underway to launch our World Premiere musical of Run Bambi Run in the Quadracci Powerhouse, with music by Milwaukee’s own Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes. Rehearsals begin in August and we can’t wait to bring this quintessential Milwaukee story to a broader audience. Also coming up is the world premiere of Parental Advisory by Idris Goodwin in the Stiemke Studio this fall. More than 600 students will have the opportunity to participate in special student matinees for the production, which will explore the line between censorship and expression in popular music.

The timeline for construction of the new Associated Bank Theater Center will be announced in August. This facility project is part visionary, part necessity. We have grown over the last 40 years, but our building is holding us back from where we could be 40 years from now. When construction is under way,

Thank you for your continued support of Milwaukee Rep. We have so many exciting things on the horizon, but none of it would be possible without your unwavering belief in our work.