FALL 2017
Community Engagement Events
WHAT IS MPACT? Mpact is Milwaukee Rep’s initiative to ignite positive change in the Milwaukee community. In a world that is increasingly complex, diverse, and in serious need of empathy, Milwaukee Rep demonstrates how a theater can create bridges between disparate communities, bring us together in the examination of varying worldviews, and discover creative ways to address community needs and maximize our collective opportunities. Theater asks us to sit under one roof with our neighbors as we listen to and empathize with people different from ourselves. For thousands of years, communities have used theater to share stories, stories that remind us who we are and allow us to imagine who we can be. This season, we continue that tradition here at Milwaukee Rep, and you’re invited to join us: to listen, to share, and to imagine. The Cast of The Royale (2016/17 Season). Photo Michael Brosilow.
Mpact is sponsored d by THE LUBAR FAMILY FOUNDATION additional support from GRAEF RAEF
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Join Milwaukee Rep for these free, public events featuring worldclass artists and locally-inspiring community partners. Visit the Events page on our website for more information.
Guys and Dolls Pride Night Thursday, September 21st, 6:30pm Reception; 7:30pm Curtain Milwaukee Repertory Theater | Purchase online at milwaukeerep.com Enjoy a free pre-show reception with a special appearance from Nicholas Rodriguez before seeing a performance of Guys and Dolls at a special price! Use code PRIDE when you purchase your tickets online, or call 414-224-9490.
Dance Workshop Saturday, September 30, 2017, 2:00-3:00pm Milwaukee Repertory Theater | RSVP to nnelson@milwaukeerep.com Bring your dancing shoes and join a member of the cast to learn parts of Olivier Award-winner Stephen Mear’s choreography for our production of Guys and Dolls.
Singing Workshop Thursday, October 12, 2017, 5:30pm-6:30pm Milwaukee Repertory Theater | RSVP to nnelson@milwaukeerep.com Sing along to the Tony Award-winning musical’s greatest hits with Guys and Dolls’ Music Director Dan Kazemi.
The Who & The What Open Mosque
November 11, 11am-4pm • ISM Brookfield | 16670 Pheasant Dr. Brookfield, WI 53005 • ISM Main Center | 4707 S. 13th St. Milwaukee, WI 53221 • ISM University | 2223 E Kenwood Blvd. Milwaukee, WI 53211 Hosted in collaboration with the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition The Who & The What takes you inside the home of a Muslim-American family; the Islamic Society of Milwaukee would like to invite you inside their doors for an Open Mosque after the run of the show! Don’t miss this special opportunity to meet your Muslim neighbors and learn more about their faith and beliefs.
Holmes and Watson Veteran’s Night
Wednesday, November 29, 6:30pm Reception; 7:30pm Curtain | Milwaukee Repertory Theater Hosted in collaboration with the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce As a Blue Star Theater and member of the Veterans Chamber of Commerce, we will be honoring our veterans with a fun and family-friendly night out at the theater. A special discount and pre-show reception in the lobby, featuring veteran performer Jesse Frewerd, will be provided for all service members, veterans, and their families. Everyone is also invited to stay after the show for a panel discussion on veterans in the media, such as the portrayal of Dr. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes stories.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS Throughout our season, we create opportunities for our audiences to connect the stories of their own lives and communities with the stories on our stages. Check out the various free Community Conversations programs below and visit the Events page on our website for more information. •
Rep-in-Depth: Arrive at The Rep approximately 45 minutes before any performance in the Stiemke Studio or Quadracci Powerhouse to get an insider’s scoop about the production from a member of the cast or creative team.
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Panel Discussions: Stay after a performance to hear a conversation with local experts about the play’s central themes and issues.
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TalkBacks with the Cast: Engage with your favorite Rep artists during a post-show conversation with cast members.
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Community Responders: Hear a short, post-show response from a Milwaukee community leader.
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Act II Dialogues: Contribute your voice to facilitated dialogue circles based in the themes of one of the plays in our season.
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Community Dinners: Gather around the dinner table with us to meet Milwaukee neighbors and talk about one of the plays in our season.
In the past two years, over 8,500 audience members have stayed for Act II Dialogues. 95% of participating Disgraced audiences felt it contributed positively to their experience of the play.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: PANEL DISCUSSIONS
This Fall, we’re collaborating with a number of organizations and individuals from throughout Milwaukee to host conversations sparked by the plays in our season. These discussions are free to the public and take place directly after a performance.
The Who & The What “The Role of Art in Promoting and Dismantling Stereotypes” Sunday, October 1st, following the 2pm performance Curated by the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition How can art impact attitudes, behaviors, and values in communities? Is art created solely for the sake of the artist, or does it have greater intellectual and societal impact?
“Fathers and Daughters” Sunday, October 8th, following the 2pm performance Join fathers and daughters from throughout the city to hear perspectives on the influence of father-daughter relationships in moments of disagreement and difference. Panelists include Jarrett Luckett (Exploit No More) and father/daughter duo John Kordsmeier (Chair of The Rep’s Mpact Council, formerly Northwestern Mutual) and Sarah Kordsmeier.
“Contemporary Women in Religion: An Interfaith Discussion” Sunday, October 15th, following the 2pm performance Curated by the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee A discussion with women from a variety of faiths in Milwaukee about contemporary conceptions of womanhood in their religion. Panelists include Sister Kathy Slesar (Racine Dominicans), Reverend Sandra Banks (Jerusalem Empowered African Methodist Episcopal Church), Rabbi Toba Schaller (Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun), Dr. Saloumeh Bozorgzadeh (Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee), and Shauna Singh Baldwin (award-winning novelist and playwright).
“Depictions and Perceptions of Prophet Muhammad” Sunday, October 22nd, following the 2pm performance Curated by the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition Revered by 1.6 billion Muslims throughout the world, yet misunderstood and even maligned by some: Prophet Muhammad continues to evoke deep emotions.
“Muslim Women Speak Out!” Sunday, October 29th, following the 2pm performance Curated by the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition
Do Muslim women need to be saved from their faith and culture? Join us as Muslim women share their thoughts and invite the audience to engage in robust discussion.
Holmes and Watson “Dr. Watson is a Vet?! Representations of Veterans in the Media” Wednesday, November 29, following the 7:30pm performance Curated by the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce
Featuring Tarik Moody (88Nine Radio Milwaukee), this panel discussion focuses on the representation of veterans—such as Dr. John Watson—in theater, TV, and film.
Animal Farm “The Co-opting of Social Movements” Saturday, January 20th, following the 2pm performance
Hear local community organizers and activists including Cacy Kemp (Safe & Sound), Emilio De Torre (ACLU of Wisconsin), and Rayhainio Boynes (FLYE) talk about social organizing in Milwaukee.
Visit the Events page on our website for more information
www.MilwaukeeRep.com
COMING THIS SPRING… The Neighbor Series This spring, Milwaukee Repertory Theater is producing three plays: One House Over by Catherine Trieschmann, Until the Flood by Dael Orlandersmith, and Thornton Wilder’s classic American drama, Our Town. We’re calling these three plays The Neighbor Series. Each play in The Neighbor Series invites conversation about what it means to be a neighbor, and we’re hosting over 80 free Neighbor Series events from February to May 2018 around this topic. Community members will share reflections in Act II Dialogues, engage with the perspectives of others at Community Dinners, or hear from a local leader during the Responder series. In collaboration with our Mpact Council and Pillar Partners, we invite you to add your voice, tell your story, and participate in Milwaukee Rep’s mission to ignite positive change in our community.
SAVE THE DATE Community Dinners Registration opens February 27, 2018
• Monday, April 16, 2018, 6:30-9:00pm: United Community Center’s Café el Sol • Saturday, April 21, 2018, 1:00-3:30pm: Phongsavan Asian Market • Saturday, April 28, 2018, 1:00-3:30pm: Troop Café • Monday, May 7, 2018, 6:30-9:00pm: Big Eazy Restaurant
Act II Dialogues and Community Responders In partnership with the Frank Zeidler Center for Public Discussion Following every performance of Until the Flood, hear from a local community leader as they share their perspectives on the issues of the play. Then, join other audience members in a facilitated dialogue around the themes found in Dael Orlandersmith’s compelling drama.
www.MilwaukeeRep.com | 414-224-9490 Photos courtesy of Milwaukee Rep.
MPACT COUNCIL John Kordsmeier, Chair of Mpact Council Former President of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation
Dr. Dan Bergen Executive Director, Office of Community Engagement, Marquette University
La’Ketta Caldwell Senior Program Manager, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee
Bridget Clementi Vice President, Community Health, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
Ricardo Diaz Executive Director, United Community Center
Karen Gotzler Executive Director, Milwaukee LGBT Community Center
Dionne Grayson Co-Founder & Executive Director, Lead2Change
Will Harvill English Teacher, Milwaukee Public Schools
Katie Heil Community Volunteer
Suzanne Hupy Community Volunteer
Deb Jolitz Arts Manager, Milwaukee Public Schools
Cacy Kemp Associate Director, Safe & Sound
Glenn Kleiman Executive Director, 88Nine Radio Milwaukee
Connie Kordsmeier Community Volunteer
Susan Lloyd Executive Director, Zilber Family Foundation
Ruth Maegli Chief Academic Officer, Milwaukee Public Schools
Robert H. Manegold Milwaukee Rep Board Member
Tonen O’Connor Resident Priest Emerita, Milwaukee Zen Center
Paula Penebaker President & CEO, YWCA
Tom Schneider Executive Director, COA Youth & Family Centers
Marcus White Vice President, Community Engagement, Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Dr. Katherine Wilson Executive Director, Zeidler Center for Public Discussion
PILLAR PARTNERS