Alison Pogorelc

OPERA America has announced the eighth cycle of the Robert L.B. Tobin Director-Designer Prize to four teams of creative artists. The biennial prize recognizes promising stage directors and designers for their ingenuity in bringing operatic work to life for contemporary audiences and connects these rising artists with producers who can advance their careers.

Justin McDevitt's short play TELL ME HOW I DID will stream as part of a virtual play festival presented by the Fifth Avenue Theatre of New York. The play will begin streaming on November 15th.

What allows a child or person to say yes or no to any request. To use intellect and free will to voice their choice? First Stage follows a World Premiere with another World Premiere this spring by presenting an adaptation of Gail Carson Levine's 1997 Newbery Award winning book Ella Enchanted. The novel garnered a cult follwoing for this Cinderella story turned on edge. First Stage commissioned the production together with Adventure Theatre MTC in Maryland while two more women Karn Zacarias wrote the stage play and lryics alongside composer Deborah Wicks LaPuma. With more than ten original musical numbers, the production celebrates young girls and women in every sense, although young men have a place in Ella's heart.

What a privilege to watch Young Company produce an all feminine All's Well That Ends Well. On Sunday night at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, Shakespeare's  coming of age romance unfolded under the direction of Marcella Kearns, who produced an amazing performance. Young Company's Director John Maclay acknowledged the beauty of the play, asking the audience to 'lean in and listen to the Bard's beautiful and evocative language.'

First Stage's prestigious Young Company, a troupe of advanced high school aged professionals-in-training, recently earned top honors in the Utah Shakespeare Festival/ Southern Utah University Shakespeare Competition this October. The 12-year old company of more than 50 youths sends a select group to compete in Utah and then tackles classical theater year round in Milwaukee that continually prepares them for these elite competitions. This December, under the direction of veteran Milwaukee actor Marcella Kearns (pictured) Young Company tweaks a challenging Shakespeare play with mature themes: All's Well That Ends Well.

First Stage concludes its 25th anniversary season with DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER AND A FLY, a musical based on the popular book series by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, today, April 13 - May 13, 2012 at the Todd Wehr Theater, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts at 929 N. Water Street, Milwaukee.

First Stage concludes its 25th anniversary season with DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER AND A FLY, a musical based on the popular book series by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, April 13 - May 13, 2012 at the Todd Wehr Theater, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts at 929 N. Water Street, Milwaukee. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Marcus Center box office at 929 N. Water Street, by phone at (414) 273-7206 or online at www.firststage.org.

First Stage concludes its 24th season with MISS NELSON IS MISSING!, a musical adaptation of the popular children's book by Harry Allard and James Marshall. MISS NELSON IS MISSING! closes June 5, 2011 at the Todd Wehr Theater in the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water Street, downtown Milwaukee. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Marcus Center Box Office at 929 N. Water Street, by phone at (414) 273-7206 or online at www.FirstStage.org.

First Stage concludes its 24th season with MISS NELSON IS MISSING!, a musical adaptation of the popular children's book by Harry Allard and James Marshall.

First Stage concludes its 24th season with MISS NELSON IS MISSING!, a musical adaptation of the popular children's book by Harry Allard and James Marshall.

THE MUSIC MAN, a Broadway treasure, loved by generations, previews November 3rd, opens November 14th, and runs through January 9th, 2011 at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. THE MUSIC MAN stars Bernie Yvon and Johanna McKenzie Miller, directed by Gary Griffin, and choreographed by Matt Raftery.

THE MUSIC MAN, a Broadway treasure, loved by generations, previews November 3rd, opens November 14th, and runs through January 9th, 2011 at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL.

THE MUSIC MAN, a Broadway treasure, loved by generations, previews November 3rd, opens November 14th, and runs through January 9th, 2011 at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. THE MUSIC MAN stars Bernie Yvon and Johanna McKenzie Miller, directed by Gary Griffin, and choreographed by Matt Raftery.

THE MUSIC MAN, a Broadway treasure, loved by generations, previews November 3rd, opens November 14th, and runs through January 9th, 2011 at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. THE MUSIC MAN stars Bernie Yvon and Johanna Mckenzie Miller, directed by Gary Griffin, and choreographed by Matt Raftery.

THE MUSIC MAN, a Broadway treasure, loved by generations, previews November 3rd, opens November 14th, and runs through January 9th, 2011 at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. THE MUSIC MAN stars Bernie Yvon and Johanna McKenzie Miller, directed by Gary Griffin, and choreographed by Matt Raftery.