The donor newsletter of Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Issue 5 • Spring / Summer 2017
THE MAGIC OF THEATER At The Rep, we believe the transformative power of theater goes beyond the performances on stage. Our education programs inspire the lives of Milwaukee youth by developing an appreciation for theater and understanding of the arts. These programs are designed to take middle school and high school students beyond the experience of watching a live performance to learning about the art form, connecting it to their school’s curriculum, and developing life skills as they immerse themselves in the magic of theater. Through various programs, Rep Education works to improve three areas: literacy skills, social-emotional learning, and theater appreciation. READING RESIDENCY PROGRAM
High school students participate in a Rep Immersion Day.
Now in its seventh year, this powerful in-school program uses an arts-integrated approach to teach literacy skills by engaging students in classroom activities developed around a specific Rep production. For example, this past fall, students studied Man of La Mancha in the classroom and absorbed key concepts through various methods, including class discussions, dramaturgical research, acting out scenes, and written assignments. “The skills that are developed and used in theater – such as empathy, self-confidence, creative problem-solving, communication and collaboration – can be applied and translated across the rest of their world, in all career pathways and everyday situations,” says Associate Education Director Hope Reed-Johnson. As one Milwaukee Public School (MPS) principal reaffirms, “Our goal for the Reading Residency program is to use drama to support the Common Core Standards in Reading and English/Language Arts. Additionally, the program helps build problem-solving skills, teamwork, and collaborative skills among the students. These are necessary skills for success in career and college.”
Students gather in the Quadracci Powerhouse during their Rep Immersion Day focusing on Man of La Mancha.
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DIRECTLY SPEAKING
Dear Friends, Summer is here, and for us it is a time to reflect on the tremendous success of the 2016/17 Season. One thing is clear: The Rep is having a moment. We are firing on all cylinders. From the art on our stages, to our increasingly impactful community engagement and education programming, to record-breaking ticket sales and annual fund contributions, we are starting to realize the potential of our new mission statement through every lens. The most rewarding part is that people are telling us they get it. YOU are telling us you get it, and we couldn’t be more excited. Artistic Excellence Our art is at the core of everything we do. We have experienced unprecedented response to our shows during the 2016/17 Season. Almost every one was met with critical acclaim and thrilled audiences. Man of La Mancha, The Foreigner and A Christmas Carol all exceeded their sales goals before the close of their runs. In the Stackner Cabaret, it was nearly impossible to get tickets to see Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill and I Love a Piano. It was nearly impossible to get tickets to see any production in the Stackner Cabaret. McGuire was so popular, it returned for a limited engagement June 1-18. Fundraising on Fire Your generous support of our annual campaign this year has been nothing short of amazing. We raised a record $1.3M in individual gifts, an increase of 14% over last season. We also implemented a challenge grant this fall that generated an additional $109,676 and hundreds of new donors. We’ve also seen increases in corporate and government funding. The Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) program, part of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, gave us a special grant to assist in the marketing of our new production of A Christmas Carol. The National Endowment for the Arts provided $20,000 to support our production of Jane Eyre, and CAMPAC, Milwaukee County’s own arts fund, increased their contribution by 45% with a gift of $53,000.
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Mark Clements
Chad Bauman
Community Impact Our community engagement and education efforts have reached new heights as we conclude the first full year of our Mpact initiative, which combines our education and outreach programs to create positive change in Milwaukee. Thousands of community members participated in our programming this year, including Rep-In-Depth, panel discussions, and our post-show dialogues around Disgraced. Meanwhile, more than 20,000 students benefited from our education programming through inschool residencies, student matinees, and afterschool programs. Our success this year sets the stage for an expansion of our Reading Residency program, which you can read more about starting on the front page. When we say “The Rep is having a moment,” we mean EVERYONE who has come together in every way, shape and form to contribute to our success – our staff, artists, volunteers, and most importantly you, our donors. Without you, none of this success would have been possible. Your faith in our work drives us to work harder, create more, and continue making a positive impact in our community. Thank you for the difference you made this season. We cannot wait to see what we can do together next year! Sincerely,
Mark Clements Artistic Director
Chad Bauman Managing Director
2017 GALA
IGNITE! THE POWER OF THEATER On May 13th, more than 300 people joined us at our annual Gala, “Ignite! The Power of Theater,” The Rep’s single largest fundraiser of the year. Theater is the spark that ignites the positive change we strive to achieve in our mission, and we are proud of the community support we received to help make that change happen. This year the Gala was chaired by Marc Colletti & John Halechko, and Linda & Greg Marcus.
(From left) Co-chairs Marc Colletti & John Halechko, and Greg & Linda Marcus.
In addition to the wonderful stylings of Greg Marcus’ Jazz Combo during the silent auction, guests were treated to entertainment by Rep favorites Michael Farina, Kelley Faulkner, Gavin Gregory, and Zonya Love in the Quadracci Powerhouse. Every year our Paddle Appeal raises money for a different aspect of Rep programming. This year, the Gala raised more than $300,000 to support the art on our stages through the Artistic Enhancement Fund. These funds will help offset the cost of producing shows that are more artistically ambitious, so our audiences can continue to experience the world-class theater and accompanying engagement programming our mission demands. n
(From left) Michael Farina, Zonya Love, Gavin Gregory, and Kelley Faulkner perform for guests.
Guests enjoy the silent auction and cocktail hour.
Bidding on live auction items generates applause.
All photos courtesy of Front Room Photography.
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THE MAGIC OF THEATER continued from front page Students agree. To quote just one: “I gained a lot of confidence. The activities helped me express myself.” Rep Immersion Day
Middle school students make the script come alive during a Reading Residency.
What sets the Reading Residency program apart is the inclusion of a full Rep Immersion Day. Every Reading Residency student participates in this daylong experiential learning opportunity at The Rep. The day includes a series of demonstrations led by our Production Department on how we bring a piece of theater to life on stage, a complimentary lunch in various backstage areas of The Rep, a matinee performance of the show they have been studying, and a TalkBack with the actors. Following their visit to The Rep, students have an additional opportunity to speak with an actor from the show in their own classroom. Feedback from participants is enthusiastic. “I thought it was so inspiring. In fact, I might want to be an actor myself when I grow up,” one student offered. “I walked into the building thinking it would be dull and boring but I left practically glowing with how fun, interesting and exciting it was. Because of this play I want to see more plays in the future and see how different all the plays are.” A Bright Future Because of the program’s success in increasing reading comprehension over the last seven years, we are working to expand the program into more classrooms in the Milwaukee area. Currently, efforts are under way to expand the Reading Residency program at the middle school level throughout Milwaukee Public Schools. The next year of programming will see the addition of four new classrooms.
Hope Reed-Johnson, Associate Director of Education, engages middle school students in a classroom activity.
Middle School Track
KEY FACTS ABOUT THE 2016/17 READING RESIDENCY PROGRAM The program follows Wisconsin Common Core State Standards and National Arts Standards, ensuring that the program aligns with the education goals of the Milwaukee Public School system and national best practices for arts education. Students are able to study theater and see how the themes and lessons of plays can reflect directly in their other studies and lives outside of school.
930
students
32
classrooms
20
contact hours per student
High School Track
The Reading Residency program currently serves more than 1,200 students in the Milwaukee area in two tracks.
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300
students
11
classrooms
10
contact hours per student
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION Becoming a successful artist is a difficult task for even the most talented. The theater world is hungry for more trained actors, more pre-professional training, and more opportunities. In response to this demand, The Rep has developed the Professional Training Institute (PTI). Inaugurated during the 2016/17 Season, the PTI auditions attracted 117 eighth to twelfth-grade students who wanted to learn from The Rep’s nationally renowned guest artists. Besides age, the only qualification was that the student must be interested in pursuing a career in acting for the theater.
Rep Associate Artist Nathaniel Stampley (left) teaches a PTI masterclass.
The 17 students selected were already equipped with strong acting skills and were chosen purposefully to be a diverse representation of the city, bringing together young people in a shared experience who might not otherwise meet. “One Monday per month, we provide a three-hour workshop with one of our artists. Students talk to actors, directors, choreographers, or casting directors, so they get all the facets of theater in an in-depth way,” describes Nabra Nelson, Community Engagement Associate at The Rep. “We treat them as professionals, and the program is designed to demonstrate what the professional world is really like.” The program is already proving successful in furthering careers. One student applied to the BFA theater training program through the Guthrie Theatre in Minnesota after meeting Marcela Lorca, the Guthrie’s Interim Director of Company Development, and was recently accepted into this prestigious program.
The 2016/17 PTI Ensemble. From left, (back row): Braylen Stevens, Jason Schlaman, Dominic Schiro, Zoe Powell, Max Pink, Cole Hines, Meghan DeRoche; (center row): Saleaqua Winston, Frederico Santana, Samuel Landmark, Alexis Monroe, Joenecia Cook; (front row): Chantae Miller, Jack Burns, Kai Liebenstein, Luke Brotherhood, and Megan Watson.
So Thrive My Soul The PTI will culminate with a special adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, titled So Thrive My Soul, to be performed July 13-16, 2017, in the Stiemke Studio. Commenting on the play’s theme, a student says, “I think it has a good message of acceptance and love . . . and I think right now in our world that’s an important topic. It could be something that the audience could take home.” The members will be employed as professional actors working with The Rep’s professional production team. As Nabra Nelson explains, “The point is to showcase the extreme talent in Milwaukee, and the ensemble members have a lot of agency to be creators. This adaptation will integrate and highlight each of their talents.” Wisconsin native, Ryan Quinn, created So Thrive My Soul for the ensemble and is directing. He worked on the 2011/12 Season production of Yellowman, when he also conducted workshops with our Education Department at local
schools. When he was approached to work with the PTI, he was eager and ready. Quinn believes, “Teaching people to see from other perspectives and understand how other people think are great lessons for these students to take with them in their lives.” He is especially excited to come back and be a part of the community where he grew up.
Ryan Quinn
Programs such as the Professional Training Institute are crucial to fulfilling The Rep’s mission. Our long-term goal is to foster the next generation of nationally leading theater artists, so they can work anywhere in the world but come back to Milwaukee as their home. Don’t forget to mark your calendars to see So Thrive My Soul premiering on July 13. Tickets on sale now! n
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SPOTLIGHT ON THE DONOR
DIEP AND JASON GRAHAM HAVE THE RIGHT RECIPE Cooking for company can be intimidating and certainly cooking for an entire Rep cast could be considered even more stressful. Diep Graham says she makes time to volunteer at The Rep, “because I enjoy it. I feel that it is a safe environment to push myself out of my comfort zone. I was afraid to cook for a big group at a specified time but I hosted a couple of Sundown Suppers [for the cast between the two Saturday performances] and know now that I can do it and it’s fun!” Jason Graham volunteers, too. He has chaperoned a Rep Immersion Day for Milwaukee students and participated in one of the intercultural dinners that were part of the community engagement activities for Disgraced. He comments, “In both instances, I’ve witnessed how The Rep uses the power of theater to spark introspection, awareness, and dialogue around important social issues. In particular, it’s this component of The Rep’s mission that speaks to me as a volunteer and donor.” Giving Back The Grahams give generously of both their time and financial resources as they appreciate the vital role The Rep plays in our community. As Jason Graham explains, “I think theater in general and The Rep in particular help create individual self-awareness and understanding. Moreover, The Rep is unafraid to take on controversial topics and engage its audience in dialogue on those topics. I believe all this fosters positive societal change.” Diep Graham’s motivation for supporting The Rep is very personal. She says, “When I came to this country from Vietnam as a high school freshman, I was introduced to The Rep through my drama teacher. I found that it helped me build confidence, learn a new language, and develop my appreciation for the art in general. I want to give back for that pure reason.” Family Favorites They both have their favorite productions from recent seasons. Jason Graham was impressed by The Invisible Hand. “The play itself is very powerful but
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Jason (left) and Diep Graham (center) prepare a Sundown Supper with friends in The Rep’s Hub Kitchen.
“. . . I’ve witnessed how The Rep uses the power of theater to spark introspection, awareness and dialogue around important social issues. In particular, it’s this component of The Rep’s mission that speaks to me as a volunteer and donor.” – Jason Graham
one of the things that struck me was the degree of financial sophistication evident in the dialogue. Most artistic depictions of business and finance tend to be one-dimensional and inaccurate ... here it was very nuanced and informed.” The Foreigner is Diep Graham’s first choice because, she says, “I’m a foreigner and therefore relate to some of the lines, and the acting was so authentic.” Their two boys, Drew (7) and Mitchell (5), now have a favorite too! They saw A Christmas Carol for the first time this past year. As the Grahams tell it, “Our boys were thrilled (albeit a little scared!) and can’t wait to attend again. This will become an annual family tradition and allow for us to take them to see other Rep productions when age appropriate.”n
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR MARK? Submit your questions to onthemark@milwaukeerep.com and see his answers in an upcoming issue!
What factors influence your casting decisions each season? One of the primary factors that influence our casting decisions is an actor’s level of experience, which usually means they are a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the national union for actors and stage managers. While there are very specific rules we follow in terms of whether we hire Equity or non-Equity actors, the majority of our actors are Equity members. Equity status is a good benchmark for what an actor has achieved and demonstrates the level of talent that we look for on our stages. There has been a gradual shift in the way we cast our productions. Prior to when I started, seasons were created around the Resident Acting Company and plays were chosen to highlight their talents. Now, we select the plays first and then cast the actors based on the needs of each play. We look at our Associate Artists and identify roles over the season that would suit them. Oftentimes, even if they are interested in playing a particular role, they have already committed to perform or direct somewhere else. We also look to local Milwaukee Equity actors (including actors that have worked with us before and those that may not yet have had an opportunity), non-local actors that have worked with us before, and any people a director suggests for their production. Depending on the production or a particular role, we will also host auditions in Chicago or New York.
Another major factor is our commitment to diversity, including diversity of race, gender, age, and geography. With a renewed focus on community, we want to make the world we create onstage more accurately reflects the world we live in. As we select plays from a much more diverse canon, we necessarily cast a more racially diverse group of actors. Even with more traditional plays such as Man of La Mancha, we look for ways to take a more conscious approach to casting. We are proud to say that for the last three years, more than 50% of the actors across our stages have been people of color. Because we now base our casting decisions on the plays we select for the season and not based on a resident company, we are able to hire more local actors than ever before, highlighting the wide diversity of local talent. We are blessed to have so many Equity actors who call Milwaukee home. The Rep has grown into a professional theater of a certain caliber, and we are committed to maintaining that standard of excellence while focusing on our community. As our Casting Director, Frank Honts, says, “We are elite but not elitist.” We are thrilled to bring back local favorites next season, including Mark Corkins, Jonathan Gillard Daly, Kelley Faulkner, Laura Gordon, Chiké Johnson, Norman Moses, James Pickering, Rana Roman, Jonathan Smoots, Deborah Staples, Jonathan Wainwright, and Jack Forbes Wilson, and many more! n
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Masthead Photo: Michael Sharon and Margaret Ivey in Jane Eyre. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.
UPCOMING EVENTS June 18, 2017 McGuire Summer Closing Night
June 22, 2017 2017 Footlights Performing Arts Awards, Quadracci Powerhouse
July 13-16, 2017 So Thrive My Soul Professional Training Institute performances, Stiemke Studio
August 17, 2017 Backstage Tour ($100+ donors)
August 22, 2017 First Rehearsal for Guys and Dolls Potawatomi Hotel & Casino ($250+ donors)
Issue 5 • Spring / Summer 2017
September 10, 2017 Souvenir Opening Night
September 23, 2017 Guys and Dolls Opening Night
September 29, 2017 The Who & The What Opening Night
For a full list of events, please visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com
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Milwaukee Repertory Theater • Development Department 108 E. Wells Street • Milwaukee, WI 53202 • 414-290-5366
Marina S. Krejci Chief Development Officer mkrejci@milwaukeerep.com
Meghan Roesner Associate Director of Annual Giving mroesner@milwaukeerep.com
Chuck Rozewicz Director of Major and Planned Giving crozewicz@milwaukeerep.com
Shannon Theiss Development Events Manager stheiss@milwaukeerep.com
Amy Dorman Director of Annual Giving adorman@milwaukeerep.com
Nicholas Pjevach Development Database Manager npjevach@milwaukeerep.com