This is farcical theater to the extreme, aimed at testing your reflex for laughter. What a fun and funny way to kick off the 2019a?"2020 theater season here in Milwaukee. I'd say this 'Farce' is anything but unnecessary.
Another op'nin, another show! This time it's a battle of the sexes and a Golden Age musical by Cole Porter. Inspired by the real-life backstage bickering of famous husband-and-wife actors Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, Kiss Me Kate is both based on real-life events as well as Shakespeare's controversial Taming of the Shrew.
Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven is the story of titular character Annie Jump, a 13-year-old science prodigy living in the small town of Strawberry, Kansas, with her alien-hunting dad. He's kind of the town crackpot. Extraordinary things begin to happen when the skeptical Annie is visited by the out-of-this-world Althea, an intergalactic supercomputer manifesting as a teenage mean girl with killer hair. Althea alleges that Annie is "the chosen one" of Earth, destined to guide humanity to link up with other intelligent beings in the universe.
This weekend, Renaissance Theaterworks will open a new play called 'Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven.' The title alone had my ears perked and curious to learn more. What I discovered got me even more jazzed. Here are five reasons to jump up for Annie Jump.
2017 Tony Award winner for Best Play, Oslo, by J.T. Rogers, is Repertory Theatre St. Louis' artistic director Steven Woolf's final directing project before his retirement begins. It is the story of the Norwegian couple-an academic and social scientist, Terje, who has developed a new approach to conflict resolution, and his clever wife, Mona, who is a dignitary in the office of the Foreign Ministry-who together initiated and facilitated clandestine peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinian Liberation Organization in 1992 and 1993; talks that would highlight the past and decide the futures of two peoples, each having reasonable grievances, though each striving to find resolution.
For longtime Repertory Theatre of St. Louis artistic director Steven Woolf, Oslo is his final directing project before his retirement at the end of this season. So it's no surprise that The Rep is pulling out all the stops in its production of the 2017 Tony Award winner for Best Play, assembling an all-star cast and design team to bring this grand political epic to The Rep stage.
A fun, new musical adaptation of an audience favorite comes to First Stage this holiday season. Created by the talented husband/wife team of Jahnna Beecham (Playwright/Lyricist) and Malcolm Hillgartner (Composer/Lyricist) and based on the play by Barbara Robinson, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL is filled with catchy,'60s-inspired original music and a delightful story that both young and old will enjoy. The horrible Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. The entire town panics when these rowdy six siblings are cast in the church's annual Christmas pageant. It's up to good-hearted Mrs. Bradley to help the Herdmans - and the rest of the town - discover the true meaning of Christmas before it's too late. Silent night? Not a chance, but sometimes a little joyful noise is just right for Christmas. Sponsored by Associated Bank and Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren.
A fun, new musical adaptation of an audience favorite comes to First Stage this holiday season. Created by the talented husband/wife team of Jahnna Beecham (Playwright/Lyricist) and Malcolm Hillgartner (Composer/Lyricist) and based on the play by Barbara Robinson, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL is filled with catchy,'60s-inspired original music and a delightful story that both young and old will enjoy.
'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever' sets a merry tone for the holiday season - a season that, in the world of this Christmas pageant, challenges kids to focus on something other than just Santa and presents. The holiday season is all about renewed faith and finding something good and peace-willing to believe in. 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever' reminds us of that, and such reminders are always a gift for kids young and old.
A fun, new musical adaptation of an audience favorite comes to First Stage this holiday season. Created by the talented husband/wife team of Jahnna Beecham (Playwright/Lyricist) and Malcolm Hillgartner (Composer/Lyricist) and based on the play by Barbara Robinson, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL is filled with catchy,'60s-inspired original music and a delightful story that both young and old will enjoy. The horrible Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. The entire town panics when these rowdy six siblings are cast in the church's annual Christmas pageant. It's up to good-hearted Mrs. Bradley to help the Herdmans - and the rest of the town - discover the true meaning of Christmas before it's too late. Silent night? Not a chance, but sometimes a little joyful noise is just right for Christmas. Sponsored by Associated Bank and Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren.
A fun, new musical adaptation of an audience favorite comes to First Stage this holiday season. Created by the talented husband/wife team of Jahnna Beecham (Playwright/Lyricist) and Malcolm Hillgartner (Composer/Lyricist) and based on the play by Barbara Robinson, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL is filled with catchy,'60s-inspired original music and a delightful story that both young and old will enjoy. The horrible Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. The entire town panics when these rowdy six siblings are cast in the church's annual Christmas pageant. It's up to good-hearted Mrs. Bradley to help the Herdmans - and the rest of the town - discover the true meaning of Christmas before it's too late. Silent night? Not a chance, but sometimes a little joyful noise is just right for Christmas. Sponsored by Associated Bank and Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren.
Leading the cast of Animal Farm will be Milwaukee Rep Associate Artists Jonathan Gillard Daly (Man of La Mancha andMousetrap) as Benjamin/Pilkington and Deborah Staples (A Christmas Carol and Harvey) as Clover. Rounding out the cast is Milwaukee native Brendan Titley (Penguin Rep Theatre's Trayf) as Snowball/Minimus, Melvin Abston(Broadway's Sister Act) as Napoleon, Tiffany Rachelle Stewart (Broadway's A Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-time) as Squealer/Mollie and Stephanie Weeks (Tennessee Shakespeare Company's A Midsummer Night's Dream) as Boxer/Major.
Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents an adaption of the landmark novel, Animal Farm, in the Quadracci Powerhouse beginning January 9 through February 11, 2018. George Orwell's novel, adapted into a play by Ian Wooldridge, transforms this literary classic into a vibrant and moving production that is still resonant today.
Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents an adaption of the landmark novel, Animal Farm, in the Quadracci Powerhouse beginning January 9 through February 11, 2018. George Orwell's novel, adapted into a play by Ian Wooldridge, transforms this literary classic into a vibrant and moving production that is still resonant today.
With a story as epic and revered as Hamlet, a theatre company has to either go big or go home. And with its first-ever production of William Shakespeare's iconic tragedy (running October 11 through November 5), The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is most definitely going big with an all-star cast and production team.
With a story as epic and revered as Hamlet, a theatre company has to either go big or go home. And with its first-ever production of William Shakespeare's iconic tragedy (running October 11 through November 5), The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is most definitely going big with an all-star cast and production team.
Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 2017/18 Season is filled with timeless classics, award-winning contemporary works and full-scale musicals spanning 13 productions in four theaters. While casting is heavily underway for all shows, here is a first glimpse into what audiences can look forward to next season. Complete casting and creative teams to be announced soon.