SUPPORT THE ARTS FOR BETTER AND BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES.

from Program - "The Greatest Love For Whitney"

Whether it’s live theater, music, cinema or school programs, art makes our communities feel alive. That’s why we’re proud to back an esteemed organization like Milwaukee Rep, and the newly created Associated Bank Theater Center, helping to make our community even more vibrant.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater Presents

Music Director and Accompanist

Dan Kazemi

Sound Designer

Tate E. Thompson

Costume Coordinator

Destiny Harris

Associate Music Director

Jose Simbulan

Casting Director

Dale Brown

MARCH 24 – MAY 28, 2023

Stackner Cabaret at Associated Bank Theater Center

Lighting Designer

Dakota Kroes

Production Coordinator

Josh Hart

Corporate Sponsor

Executive Producers

Carol & Ivor Benjamin

Dawne & Ray Manista

Diane K. O’Connor

Karen Plunkett

Associate Producers

Rich Grunke & Bill Grasch

Renee & Tom McCutcheon

Meredith & Thomas Scrivner

Performers

Alina Cherone • Alesia Miller • Charlotte Odusanya

At each performance only two artists will perform. For a specific performer schedule please visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com/Whitney

Production Support

The Greatest Love for Whitney will be performed with a 15 minute intermission.

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Production Staff

Milwaukee Repertory Theater operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT Theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE and our stagehands and carpenters are members of Milwaukee Theatrical Stage Employees’ Union IATSE Local 18. Milwaukee Rep is an equal opportunity employer. Milwaukee Rep is proud to be a member of The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), which provides major annual financial support.

Alina Cherone

Performer

Alina is a singer/songwriter from New Jersey with a BFA in Theater Arts. After graduating from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, she ventured into songwriting and music engineering. She studied songwriting with the Johnny Mercer Foundation and has been writing in Los Angeles ever since. She recently released her first solo EP album, Analog Love (available on Spotify), and is currently working on her next project. It’s been seven years since she performed on the Milwaukee Rep stage and she is beyond thrilled to be back!

Alesia Miller Performer

Alesia is a lyrically sincere songstress that brings together the harmonies of love, life, and experience through song, is a proud Milwaukee native with a degree in psychology from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. While splitting her time being a mother to her incredibly talented son, she also wears the hat labeled CEO for Soul Brew Kombucha, Wisconsin’s 1st Black woman owned kombucha company. This exceptional talent has always stood out in a crowd, exposing her both locally, and abroad so much so that her gift continues to open doors. Credits include but are not limited to: Soprano in the Bel Canto Chorus; lead singer with The Eddie Butts Band, lead actress in C.L. Woodson’s; After the Love Has Gone, Andre Lee Ellis’; “Quiet as it’s Kept”, season 10 Hollywood edition semifinalists on American Idol. She recently was given the opportunity to represent Milwaukee at the Fiserv Forum in singing the National Anthem prior to a Bucks game. This multitalented, singer/songwriter, recording artist, actress and community advocate continues to shine by adding faith, determination and motivation to her collection. She has a heart for music and the arts in which believes that faith without work is dead, so do the work, and keep the faith!

Charlotte Odusanya Performer

Charlotte is thrilled to be making her Milwaukee Repertory Theater debut in The Greatest Love for Whitney. Charlotte was most recently seen in North Shore Music Theatre’s production of Little Shop of Horrors (Crystal). She has been in an Off-Broadway show Audrey: A New Musical (Ella Fitzgerald/ Edith Head). She also appeared in the 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour of Rent (Seasons of Love Sol./U.S. Joanne). She gives a huge thanks to God, family, and friends for their constant love and support. Instagram: @ charlqtte.

Creative Team

Mark Clements Creator/Artistic Director

Mark is an awardwinning international theater director whose work has appeared in over 100 major theaters throughout Europe and the United States. He began his tenure as Artistic Director with the 2010/11 Season by bringing musicals to the mainstage, starting a tradition that is now the highlight of every season. Milwaukee Rep directing credits include the world premieres of One House Over, his own adaptation of the current A Christmas Carol, Five Presidents and American Song. Also directed for Milwaukee Rep: Titanic The Musical, West Side Story, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Things I Know To Be True (American Premiere), Junk, The Glass Menagerie, Of Mice and Men, Othello, Death of a Salesman, The History of Invulnerability, End of the Rainbow, Clybourne Park and Bombshells. Some of his New York and international work includes Speaking in Tongues, The Milliner and Blunt Speaking, in addition to creating and directing the West End and UK National Tour of Soul Train. Prior to joining Milwaukee Rep, Mark served as an Associate Artistic Director for several UK theater companies, most notably, Artistic Director for the award-winning Derby Playhouse in the UK from 1992-2002, where he directed over 40 productions. He has been nominated for an Olivier Award and several UK Theatre Awards, and has won three Barrymore Awards from his time at Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Mark is currently working with Ayad Akhtar on adapting his critically acclaimed novel American Dervish for the stage to make its world premiere at Milwaukee Rep in an upcoming season.

Dan Kazemi

Music Director and Accompanist

Dan is a composer, actor, director, orchestrator and music director. He directed Ring of Fire at Milwaukee Rep and Actors Theatre of Louisville. Dan has musically directed more than 30 shows at Milwaukee Rep including Titanic the Musical, Dad’s Season Tickets, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Hedwig, A Christmas Carol, West Side Story, In the Heights, Murder for Two, Guys and Dolls, Man of La Mancha and Dreamgirls. Other credits include: Lizzie (Barrymore Award), Herringbone (Barrymore Nom). Orchestration credits include Field Hockey Hot (Barrymore Nom) and Tulipomania. Dan’s music has been performed at Lincoln Center, SDC’s Mr. Abbott Awards, Le Cirque de Demain in Paris, Ballet Fleming and in the 213 collective’s Untitled Project #213. Dan is a composer of the musical podcast, Mythic Thunderlute.

Destiny Harris

Costume Coordinator

Destiny is a costume designer from Baltimore, MD. Designer Credits: Milwaukee Repertory Theater-Dino! An Evening with Dean Martin; The Naples Player- By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, As You Like It, and Escanaba in da Moonlight; WombWork Productions- Holly Down in Heaven. Assistant Designer Credits: The Naples Players- She Loves Me; Chesapeake Shakespeare Company- A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Co-Designer Credits: ArtsCentricBlack Nativity.

Dakota Kroes

Lighting Designer

Dakota is a Racine native lighting designer. Most recently, he has been working as the lighting director for Milwaukee Rep. Previously he has worked as the lighting designer for Six Flags theme parks. Dakota received his undergraduate degree from Illinois Wesleyan University.

Tate E. Thompson

Sound Designer

Regional credits include: A Christmas Carol, She Kills Monsters, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Clarence Brown Theatre) The Refugees (Adjusted Realists/ Davidson College). Tate is a member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association. As always, he sends all his love to Theo, Willow, Xoe, Megan, Dakota, Amaris, Stephan, Josh, Tyler, Anthony, Annika, Cristina, Keegan, Zoë, and Jasper.

Jose Simbulan

Associate Music Director

Jose is thrilled to be making his debut with Milwaukee Repertory Theater. He has been on the podium, at the piano, and in the orchestra pits of Arizona Theatre Company, Barrington Stage Company, American Stage Company, Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre Company, The REV, The Kennedy Center (Sondheim Celebration), Baltimore Center Stage, and Ford’s Theatre. His extensive work as an audition pianist includes regular engagements with the College Audition Project, Baayork Lee’s National Asian Artists Project, Disney Parks and Cruise Line, Unified Professional Theatre Auditions, and 29 years with the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC Hall of Fame inductee).

Dale Brown

Casting Director

Dale Brown Casting Director with Milwaukee Rep: Dino! An Evening with Dean Martin, Beehive The 60s Musical, Titanic The Musical, My Way, New Age, West Side Story, Things I Know To Be True, In the Heights, The Chinese Lady, The Who & The What. Off-Broadway: Our Brother’s Son, Gorgeous Nothings (both upcoming); America Is Hard To See, Daddy Long Legs (Drama Desk Nom); with Tara Rubin: Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot; A

Little Night Music, Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls (Broadway). Many thanks to Mark, et al. Great to be making live theater again! dalebrowncasting.com

Josh Hart

Production Coordinator

Josh is delighted to return to the Milwaukee Rep team! After graduating from the University of Chicago, he moved to Milwaukee and worked at Milwaukee Rep for two seasons as a stage management resident and fellow. Some of his favorite recent shows include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, A Christmas Carol and Piano Men at Milwaukee Rep and Misery and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. As always, he sends all of his love and gratitude to Amaris, Stephan, Rufio, and Zippy.

Cecilia Aguirre

Stage Management Resident

Cecilia is a recent graduate from The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) where she had the opportunity to enhance and hone in on her stage management skills. She is thrilled to be joining the Milwaukee Repertory Theater post-graduation all while having the opportunity to be challenged and grow from this experience. Reflecting on the past decade of being a new works musical focused stage manager in the Chicagoland area, she now calls Milwaukee home. Stage Manager credits at BRAVO Performing Arts Academy and UIC include: Disney’s The Lion King Jr., Wicked, Heather’s The Musical, Sister Act JR and Passage. When Cecilia is not backstage she’s photographing weddings, cuddling her cat and discovering new coffee shops with her supportive fiancé.

Emily Newmark Artistic Coordinator

Emily is a director, actor, and filmmaker from Janesville, Wisconsin. She graduated, last spring, from Oberlin College with degrees in both Theater and Psychology. As a part of Milwaukee Rep’s Emerging Professional Residency, Emily has worked as an assistant director on multiple productions this season including: The Nativity Variations, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Heart Sellers. While here in Milwaukee, Emily also directed a staged reading of a new play titled This Is Not The Reunion with her resident cohort. Her collegiate directing credits include: Next to Normal and The Tempest, as well as two short films: Scouts and Boys Who Fly. Emily has also worked as the Assistant Artistic Director for Oberlin Summer Theater Festival’s 2019 season and as an intern for Victory Garden Theater’s development team. emily-newmark.com.

Chad Bauman Executive Director

Now in his tenth season at Milwaukee Rep, under Chad’s guidance the theater has grown significantly from a $9M to $14M organization. He’s completed two capital campaigns, one to remodel and expand the Stackner Cabaret and the other to build the endowment, launch the John (Jack) D. Lewis New Play Development Program, create a new A Christmas Carol and deepen the theater’s community engagement programs. Through his efforts, the theater has been awarded UPAF’s Good Steward Award six times and became the only performing arts organization in Wisconsin with a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Previously he was the Associate Executive Director at Arena Stage in Washington, DC, where he was instrumental in opening the Mead Center for American Theater, a 200,000 square feet, performing arts complex dedicated to American voices and playwrights. While at Arena Stage, he worked on the Broadway transfers of Next to Normal (Pulitzer Prize; Tony Award), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Tony Award), Wishful Drinking starring Carrie Fisher, in addition to the world premieres of Marcus Gardley’s Every Tongue Confess starring Phylicia Rashad and Red Hot Patriot starring Kathleen Turner. He has been named to Milwaukee Business Journal’s Top 40 under 40 and a “Friend of the Hispanic Community” by the United Community Center. He currently serves as the President of the Milwaukee Arts Partners, Vice President of the Board of Pathways High School, Treasurer of Imagine MKE and Coordinator for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion for AFS Student Exchange Programs. Bauman is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management program with a Master of Fine Arts in producing from the CalArts. He and his husband Justin live in Whitefish Bay.