Michael Wright News

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) announced this morning that it has reached the first benchmark in its ongoing Sustainability Campaign fundraising effort, achieving more than $1.5M in pledges for new and increased support for this and the next two fiscal years.  As a result, MCT will proceed with its 23/24 season, to be announced in late March or early April when the renewal period for season subscribers opens. 

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre announces a $150,000 challenge match as part of its ongoing Sustainability Campaign launched earlier this month to provide the financial foundation necessary to avoid closure.  In doing so, MCT will restructure organizationally to continue its five-decade leadership of developing Milwaukee and Wisconsin's professional artists and continue to reflect its community through meaningful and excellent live theater productions. 

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre has announced the World Premiere of HOOPS adapted by Eliana Pipes with original music by B~Free from the HOOPS Project portrait series by Nicole Acosta.

The Jim Henson Company comedy stars multi-time Golden Globe nominee Sam Neill (Peter Rabbit, Jurassic Park) and Patrick Gibson (The OA, Tolkien),  joining two-time Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained, No Time to Die) and Sophie Wilde (Eden, You Don’t Know Me).

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) announces the first professional Milwaukee production in over two decades of Edward Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, directed by Keira Fromm and featuring Wisconsin theater legends Laura Gordon and James Ridge in the iconic roles of George and Martha.   

A Spy Among Friends is based on the New York Times best-selling novel written by Ben Macintyre. Produced by ITV Studios in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television, A Spy Among Friends stars Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning actor Damian Lewis (Homeland, Billions) and Emmy winner Guy Pearce (Jack Irish, Mare of Easttown).

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre's Managing Director Amy Salat has announced that she will step down from her role at the end of 2022. MCT is sorry to lose Salat after her leadership the past two seasons in navigating the Theatre during a global pandemic.  

The newly unveiled brand will debut in conjunction with the Season Three premiere of the acclaimed series Godfather of Harlem. The show’s second season was EPIX’s best performing season of all time, breaking records for single-title streams in a single day across EPIX’s digital channels.

The series, narrated by Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street), reflects how quintessential horror films have revealed and reflected the real-life scares of the world to the audience, uniting us with shared understanding, catharsis, and entertainment. Series will also feature influential filmmakers, producers, and actors working in the genre.

Each episode will feature an intimate portrait of one of the band’s charismatic members (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and the late Charlie Watts), exploring different dimensions of their personalities, their musical brilliance, and their cultural impact. The series aims to reveal The Rolling Stones’ creativity.

This June, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre welcomed Noele Stollmack to the organization as its newest Production Manager. 

The show made a splash on Broadway a dozen years ago, garnering several Tony Awards, mainly in the craft categories (scenic design, sound, lighting, choreography). The sketchy book is like a sketchbook of rapid-fire episodes that leans heavily on the strength of the ensemble to pull it off. This ensemble is more than up to the task.

On Friday, June 3, I had the pleasure of seeing PETER AND THE STAR CATCHER at the Ridgefield Theater Barn in Ridgefield, CT.  This play with music was written by Rick Elise.  This stellar cast’s talents come alive under the first-rate team of director Katherine Ray, assistant director Rae Janeil Sutherland and choreographer Sharon Houk.   It is not a musical in the traditional sense, but the use of song is incorporated throughout, resembling a musical in certain parts.  It is obvious that these cast members are having a wonderful time up on stage, bringing positive energy that radiates throughout the audience, with excellent stage chemistry between the cast. 

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Associate Artistic Director, Marcella Kearns, has announced that she will step down following the 2021-2022 Season after 10 years of service. Kearns will transition this summer to her, in her own words, “other favorite Wisconsin theatre company,” Forward Theater Company in Madison, where she will assume the part-time role of Artistic Associate.  

Written, directed and produced by Edward Burns (Saving Private Ryan, Public Morals) - who also stars - this six-episode, half-hour romantic comedy series set in the early 1980’s revolves around a group of recent college grads setting out to pursue their dreams in Manhattan while still clinging to the familiarity of their Long Island hometown.

The series premiere of FROM was EPIX’s most viewed original series premiere in the history of the premium network and current performance analytics track that the entire series is on pace to be EPIX’s second most-watched original behind Emmy winning series Godfather of Harlem, executive produced by and starring Forest Whitaker. 

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre has announced their full 2022-23 season consisting of five full productions, the return of the celebrated Young Playwrights’ Festival Showcase, and readings of two new plays by Wisconsin playwrights in its Montgomery Davis Play Development series.   

The epic, sweeping drama series takes place during one of the most provocative periods in Roman history, following the extraordinary rise of Gaius, Emperor Augustus Caesar’s third wife, Livia Drusilla, played by Kasia Smutniak (Perfetti Sconosciuti, Loro, Devils).  Domina is scheduled to begin production this spring at Cinecittà Studios in Rome.

Theatreworks New Milford’s Page2Stage reading series will present The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence by Madeleine George. The reading will be directed by Michael Wright of Newtown. Admission is free.

Premium cable network EPIX® announced today that Godfather of Harlem, from ABC Signature, which is a part of Disney Television Studios. The critically acclaimed drama starring Forest Whitaker was created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein (Narcos). It is scheduled to begin production in New York this summer.