drama INK - Fall 2020

drama INK

The donor newsletter of Milwaukee Rep ISSUE 15 • FALL 2020

SPEAKING

directl y

In ordinary times, our theaters would be bustling with activity.

Three ground-breaking productions, including the epic musical Titanic, would be playing to thousands. We would be in the beginning stages of producing the next three productions, including A Christmas Carol.

But these are not ordinary times. Due to COVID-19, we have had to alter the way we do business drastically. Fortunately, the loyal support of donors and patrons like you have made this process easier and your unwavering commitment to Milwaukee Rep gives us the courage and strength to continue forward.

People are everything to us and we are committed to keeping as many of our staff and artists employed as possible. Instead of canceling completely, we pushed our 2020/21 season to next year and programmed a reduced Season Reset of offerings. We are excited to open our Reset Season in a few weeks, starting with the one-person version of Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol starring Rep favorite Lee Ernst. Also in the season will be Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song, McGuire, Nina Simone: Four Women, and the world premiere of Antonio’s Song/I Was Dreaming of a Son. When you purchase your Reset pass, you will have the option of attending virtually or in person with state-of-the-art safety measures put into place.

To support the theater during these uncertain times, we launched the Rep Rising Emergency Fund. All gifts this year will be applied to this special relief fund and will allow us to keep many incredible staff and artists employed as we weather a 50% decrease to our annual operating budget. As a special incentive, our Board of Trustees will match any new or increased gift dollar for dollar up to $500,000.

Mark Clements Artistic Director

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A recent report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum declared that COVID-19 has created a grave “existential threat” for arts organizations and highlights that, prior to COVID-19, Wisconsin ranked dead last in the nation for public support of the arts. On September 1, we participated in the nationwide #WeMakeEvents effort where entertainment and cultural organizations around the country lit their buildings red to raise awareness for the extreme challenges that our industry is facing right now, as is pictured on the cover. You can contact your representatives to voice your support of cultural organizations by visiting: https://wemakeevents.org. Additionally, we urge you to help all of the cultural organizations in the city. There is no better time than the present to show your support for the theater you love!

As we write this early fall update, we are waiting with anticipation for our virtual Curtain Call Ball, emceed by beloved Milwaukee actor James Pickering. The Curtain Call Ball is usually a sell-out, so we appreciate that this year’s virtual format allows more Rep supporters to attend. We are, of course, looking forward to the performances by acclaimed local and national theater artists and also for this opportunity to raise critical funds to help sustain the theater as part of the Rep Rising Emergency Fund.

Thank you to all who are registered to join us and special thanks to Anthony Petullo and Beverly Trier for offering to match all new and increased donations throughout the evening.

We miss you and look forward to seeing you either in person or virtually soon!

Chad Bauman

Executive Director Cover: The Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex illuminated red in support of #WeMakeEvents.

SCENES

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Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol: Behind-the-Scenes with Mark Clements A Milwaukee Rep production of A Christmas Carol has graced The Pabst Theater for more than four decades. The upcoming 45th anniversary production welcomes Lee E. Ernst back to Milwaukee Rep for an intimate, one-person production of Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol — in the Quadracci Powerhouse.

We spoke with Artistic Director Mark Clements for the backstory.

minimalist, innovative, one-person version, where one actor plays all the characters and tells the story. It’s in line with the tradition that you see in my adaptation at The Pabst, with Dickens himself controlling the story and bringing the characters to life. In this version, Dickens uses the viewpoint of Jacob Marley to offer audiences a new perspective.

What will it be like to direct this production?

The process will begin with getting together with Lee and the creative team to talk about what we want the feeling to be for the audience. What are the challenges of the piece? The actual task for Lee will be to learn and create this role. My main responsibility is supporting the actor in that vision. It’s a much different process for a one-person show and a tour-de-force for any actor!

How did the idea come to you for a one-person show?

I became aware of some one-person versions of A Christmas Carol. We looked at three different versions in seriousness once we decided to go ahead and ended up with Tom Mula’s. For a very brief moment I thought about adapting my version of A Christmas Carol for one person, but honestly once I read Tom’s, I thought, “Oh, this is so great!”

Anything else you would like to share about the production?

Just how I’m excited to be back working with Lee, with a great creative team, and directing work again for our audiences— doing what we love doing, doing what we do well and doing it in a safe way until we can be back full steam. We look forward to being back in The Pabst in 2021.

How does it feel to drastically scale down the show from a cast of 40 to one?

It would be an understatement to say that reimagining this huge Milwaukee tradition for the first time in 45 years is a challenge. We’ll miss The Pabst Theater as it’s so beautiful.

Another change is that normally we use 20 children from the community every year in these roles—some who have appeared over multiple years and some who have grown up to be professional actors.

Can you describe your vision for the show?

Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol is technically ambitious but in a very different way from the highly technical shows that I’ve directed for much of my career. We’re transitioning to a

CENTER STAGE: LEE E. ERNST To take on the formidable task of performing the oneperson Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Milwaukee Rep welcomes Lee E. Ernst back to the stage. Ernst is a beloved Rep performer who has starred in more than 85 productions, including several productions of A Christmas Carol. “I reckon I’ve been in Milwaukee Rep’s Christmas Carol at least a dozen times. I’ve played Scrooge. I have played Young Scrooge, Marley, Old Joe, Dick Wilkins, Topper—most of the men, I think,” Ernst says. When asked about returning to the theater, Ernst shares, “I expect it will be profound and affect the audiences in a monumental way, and add a greater significance to what it means to be a community.”

On this page: Lee E. Ernst in Milwaukee Rep’s 2004/05 Pabst Theater production of A Christmas Carol. Photo by Jay Westhauser.

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DIGITAL

going

As our stages will be dark a little while longer, we are focused on developing new ways for you to experience Milwaukee Rep. We are excited that patrons, donors and local students can engage with our work in whichever way they feel comfortable. From filmed versions of our productions to virtual education and engagement opportunities, we are looking forward to sharing our virtual programming.

Productions The first step in bringing our programs and productions directly to your home is investing in the necessary tools and staff.

We will film one performance of each Reset Season production, using multiple cameras placed strategically throughout the theater to catch every moment, from an entire stage view to the expressions on the actors’ faces. Once filming is complete, the footage from each camera will be edited together, creating a way to experience our productions virtually from home. These recordings are made possible through a special collaboration between Milwaukee Rep and HMS Media, Vimeo, Actors’ Equity Association, United Scenic Artists, and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Actor Josh Krause as Ebenezer Scrooge, preparing digital content for Rep Education.

New this year, we are offering REPair Divides, a monthly conversation series using the arts to encourage dialogue about Milwaukee’s most pressing issues. Each of these virtual conversations will be moderated by a Zeidler Group facilitator and will use monologues, songs and scenes to illuminate themes of racial justice and other civic issues. All are welcome to join in the conversation. Information about upcoming events will be available on our social media channels, or you may receive an email with more information.

Education Our Education staff members have been hard at work creating a brand new, online version of our successful Reading Residency program. Milwaukee middle school students will increase their literacy skills through theater with a combination of prerecorded video lessons, virtual lessons and activities with Rep Teaching Artists, as well as in-person lessons. Students have the opportunity to study either A Christmas Carol or a Shakespeare project specially designed for middle school students by the Emerging Professional Resident actors.

Community Engagement

Additionally, high school students will be able to participate in the August Wilson Monologue Competition, both virtually and in-person throughout the season.

Patrons will also have the opportunity to engage in pre- and post-show conversations and other community programming online. As you prepare to enjoy a Rep production, whether you are in the theater or joining us from home, you will receive an email ahead of time with a Rep-in-Depth pre-show lecture.

Following performances of Antonio’s Song/I Was Dreaming of a Son, we will continue our Act II post-show facilitated dialogues, in partnership with the Zeidler Group.

We are also proud to welcome our 2020/21 Professional Training Institute cohort, comprised of 15 high school students, who will participate through monthly virtual workshops until it is safe to meet together in person. With the move to virtual workshops, students will have the unique opportunity to connect with professional artists from across the nation, helping them to expand their network and make crucial connections wherever their future careers may take them.

Antonio’s Song/ I Was Dreaming of a Son: Antonio Edwards Suarez. Photo by Seth Freeman.

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UPDATE

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) have been central to Milwaukee Rep’s mission since 2015, when we updated our mission statement to reflect our desire to be a place that is welcoming to all. As we navigate our new normal, including the recent racial tensions, it has become clear that we must accelerate our pace to create an inclusive, equitable environment for our staff, artists and community. The theater industry has the unparalleled ability to introduce audiences to new perspectives and bring communities together and, as an anchor cultural institution of our region, we have a unique opportunity to help Milwaukee become an inclusive community for people of all backgrounds and abilities.

The cast of Milwaukee Rep’s 2016/17 Season production of The Royale participating in a TalkBack after a performance.

Listening The journey of acknowledgment, learning and promise for change has fueled Milwaukee Rep’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work. The first step in this process has been listening deeply to our staff, artists, community partners and stakeholders to identify the perceptions of diversity and inclusion at our organization. Throughout the last month, we have held focus groups facilitated by the Kaleidoscope Group, a leading equity and diversity firm we have hired to help us determine our strengths and weaknesses as a company. These focus groups will be pivotal as we determine our next steps.

Learning We are continuously learning more about the experiences of our community by seeking opportunities to connect with people with perspectives that may not be represented by our staff alone. We value the individual experiences and perspectives our employees, artists and partners bring to Continued on page 6

KEY ED&I LEADERSHIP CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER:

TAMMY BELTON-DAVIS With a background spanning over two decades in government, education and public relations, Tammy Belton-Davis merged her love of policy, advocacy and community with communication in 2009 by launching Athena Communications, a firm delivering strategic and impactful communications to its corporate and government affairs partners. Belton-Davis is an award-winning public relations professional having been inducted into Alverno College’s Vanguard Society in 2017, the highest honor bestowed upon an alumnus for their professional achievement and community service. In March 2018, her firm was recognized with a Diversity in Business Award by the Milwaukee Business Journal.

INTERIM CHIEF EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER:

JENNY TOUTANT Jenny Toutant began her tenure at Milwaukee Rep in the 2005/06 Season. As the leader of the education and engagement programs for Milwaukee Rep, she designs programming for all ages. Toutant also teaches at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and has worked as an educator for University of Wisconsin – Parkside, Virginia Commonwealth University, First Stage Children’s Theater, and School of Performing Arts in the Richmond Community, and serves on the boards of multiple organizations throughout Milwaukee. She earned her MFA in Theatre Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University and a BA in Theatre Arts from University of Wisconsin – Parkside.

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UPDATE

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion KEY ED&I LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT:

N’JAMEH CAMARA N’Jameh Camara is a Milwaukee actor and author. She is a first generation American of Filipina and Gambian ancestry.

She was recently in the John Doyle production of Macbeth at Classic Stage Company OffBroadway. She was also seen in the post-Broadway run of Junk

by Ayad Akhtar at Milwaukee Rep, and the Broadway Tour of the Tony Award-winning Revival The Color Purple in the principal role of Nettie.

Camara received her MFA from University of California – San Diego. She has taught acting and movement workshops at various universities, including UW – Madison, Loyola University – New Orleans, UC San Diego, SUNY Oswego, Northern Arizona University, and University of Central Missouri.

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the table. On September 9, we hosted the “20/20 Vision for Milwaukee Arts” panel, which featured local arts leaders, artists, funders, and community members, amplifying Black voices as part of the first annual Milwaukee Black Theater Festival. As part of our vision of success, we commit to a sustained investment of resources and continuous learning.

We will be thoughtful, collaborative, and persistent in our approach, meeting people where they are in their respective journeys. These conversations will help influence how we drive meaningful change and hold us accountable as an organization.

The cast of West Side Story performs “Somewhere: The Remix” as part of Milwaukee Rep’s “From Our Home to Your Home” series.

Taking Action

MPACT COUNCIL CHAIR:

JACOBO LOVO Jacobo Lovo is the Managing Artistic Director of Latino Arts, Inc., a Milwaukee nonprofit arts organization dedicated to bringing high quality arts experiences and cultural awareness through the work of Latinx artists from around the world. Under Lovo’s leadership, Latino Arts has been nationally recognized for its arts education and cultural initiatives. In addition to his work with Latino Arts, Lovo has worked as an art teacher at BruceGuadalupe Community School for the last fifteen years.

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Finally, we are taking action by elevating underrepresented voices and producing work that celebrates the many facets of the human experience — both on our stages and through our “From Our Home to Your Home” programming. We encourage you to join in the conversation so we can grow together.

All ED&I initiatives will be overseen by key Milwaukee Rep leadership: Chief Diversity Officer, Tammy Belton-Davis; Interim Chief Engagement and Education Director, Jenny Toutant; Associate Director of Engagement, N’Jameh Camara; and our Mpact Council, led by Managing Artistic Director of Latino Arts, Inc., Jacobo Lovo.

We value authenticity in storytelling and the diversity in the stories we showcase. We recognize there is much more work to do and hope you will join us on our journey toward greater Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within Milwaukee Rep and our community at large. We encourage you to stay informed of our progress through our monthly ED&I updates, which can be found on our website.

MARK

on the

Ask Artistic Director Mark Clements...

What do you think the theater will look like post COVID-19?

This is an excellent question but one we struggle with on a daily basis because so much of it is outside of our control.

None of us has a crystal ball, so everything is speculation at this point.

I really believe that, at the end of all this, there will be a renaissance of live arts. When something is taken away from you, such as this pandemic shutting down all live entertainment, you no longer take it for granted.

How quickly we ramp up will be in relation to what’s happening in America, in the world, and in Wisconsin and Milwaukee. If we start seeing the rate of COVID-19 infections going down, then we can get back to a normal state much sooner. But if we are still seeing high rates of infection into the winter and spring, then the changes we’re making now — masks required indoors, socially distanced seating, smaller cast sizes — may become our new normal.

We have the additional complexity of working with our unions. Each season, we work with Actors’ Equity Association, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, United Scenic Artists, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees to cast, direct, and build our productions.

Currently, each union has its own rules and requirements as to when a theater can resume productions safely. Not only do we need to comply with federal, state, county and city health regulations, but we also must take into account regulations set forth by these unions, which is partly why we needed to change our 2020/21 Season.

Despite these challenges, I’m optimistic. Our experiences from the last six months have made an indelible mark on us and shaped how we approach the world going forward. I think this will lead to people being more cognizant about how they are feeling, staying home if they’re sick, and encouraging people to make handwashing and sanitizing surfaces second nature.

I also think that this consciousness toward protecting others will get people to start thinking about other human beings and increase empathy for one another.

In terms of programming going forward, I think you will also see some of our digital content become a mainstay. While it’s too early to tell, I hope that our streaming services will continue to be a significant option. Some of our audiences physically can’t come to the theater as they age, and we have a large audience base that travels to Arizona or Florida in the winter. I think streaming will offer an opportunity that wasn’t there before and maybe expand our audience reach. My hope though is that it doesn’t become a replacement, because I don’t believe anything can truly replace the exhilaration of attending live theater. Theater is such a shared experience and there’s something special about that. My expectation is people would rather be part of a live performance and wouldn’t want streaming to be a permanent substitute.

I really believe that, at the end of all this, there will be a renaissance of live arts. When something is taken away from you, such as this pandemic shutting down all live entertainment, you no longer take it for granted. You’re suddenly confronted with how much you love something and how complacent you’ve been. This pandemic serves to remind us all how important theater is. We’re beginning to see this already with the number of new patrons purchasing Reset passes and making first-time donations. People are supporting us now, so that we can be there for them when we can move forward. It’s very encouraging!

Students applaud the cast of Of Mice and Men (2015/16 Season) during a Rep Immersion Day.

Do you have a question for Mark?

Submit your questions to onthemark@milwaukeerep.com and see his answers in an upcoming issue!

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ANNOUNCING A PARTNERSHIP WITH

SAINT JOHN’S ON THE LAKE Saint John’s On The Lake has generously agreed to serve as Digital Programming Sponsor for our 2020/21 Reset Season. This support will provide Milwaukee Rep audiences with original virtual performances, commissioned from some of the top artists across the country, as part of our continuing “From Our Home to Your Home” programming.

Residents of Saint John’s On The Lake will be treated to the world premiere of these virtual performances, written by some of the most prestigious playwrights in the country and performed by the talented actors you know well from our stages.

Highlights have included: • A performance from Milwaukee native DiMonte Henning as Prince Hal from Henry V. • A robust conversation with director and writer, KJ Sanchez (dir. Jane Eyre, Harvey and Noises Off) and award-winning playwright Karen Zacarías, (Destiny of Desire), discussing adaptation for the stage.

• A new piece by playwright and screenwriter Rick Cleveland called The Unknown Hero, featuring Maulik Pancholy (Jonathan in 30 Rock).

DONOR BENEFITS Being a donor has its perks! While things might look a little different this year, you will still have the opportunity to take a closer virtual look at the theater you love.

• Unscripted, a panel discussion series featuring

prominent Milwaukee Rep artists available to donors $100+. Previous events included virtual conversations with Rep-commissioned playwrights and panel discussions with Rep artists.

• Magic in the Making, a presentation for

donors $250+ led by one of Milwaukee Rep’s production artists to give you a behind-the-scenes look at how our productions are created.

• Tech Talk, an inside look at how our technicians make everything come together for the first time for donors $500+.

• Play Reading Club, during which donors $1,000+ are invited to read the script of an upcoming play and discuss with members of Milwaukee Rep’s artistic staff.

• First Rehearsal, during which donors $1,500+ enjoy a First Rehearsal presentation to learn more about an upcoming Rep production.

• Performers Series, which invites donors Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol December 1 – 24, 2020

Experience a new twist on a beloved holiday classic with this oneperson intimate tour-de-force adaptation featuring Lee E. Ernst.

Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song

$5,000+ to experience exclusive private performances by Rep artists.

For more information about donor benefits, please visit

www.milwaukeerep.com/give

February 16 – March 14, 2021

Award-winning actress Alexis J Roston salutes America’s favorite jazz singer, Ella Fitzgerald in this concert experience, featuring classic tunes by Ellington, Gershwin, Porter, and more.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater Development Department 108 E. Wells Street • Milwaukee, WI 53202

McGuire

March 23 – April 18, 2021 Back by popular demand from a sold-out extended run at Milwaukee Rep in 2017, a touching portrait of the uncommonly funny and profound man behind the legend with the man himself, played by Tony Award-winning actor Anthony Crivello.

Antonio’s Song/I Was Dreaming of a Son April 7 – May 2, 2021

The world premiere of the poetic journey of a dancer/artist/father questioning the balance of his passions – art, culture, family, by Dael Orlandersmith (Until the Flood) and Antonio Edwards Suarez.

Nina Simone: Four Women

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 Major Gifts Officer aengelsma-mosser@milwaukeerep.com

Cassidy Skorija Associate Director of Development, Institutional Giving cskorija@milwaukeerep.com

Stephan Thomas Development Database Manager sthomas@milwaukeerep.com

April 27 – May 23, 2021

The moving story of how iconic artist and activist Nina Simone found her true voice, featuring her most powerful anthems, such as “Four Women,” “Mississippi Goddam,” “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” and “To Be Young, Gifted and Black”.

To make a gift in support of Milwaukee Repertory Theater, please contact the Development Department at

414-290-5376 or visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com