Melody Betts News

Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 2014/15 Quadracci Powerhouse Season kicks off in grand style with an uplifting production of The Color Purple. This hit musical, based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, will be directed by Artistic Director Mark Clements, who reunites with the same creative team behind last season's wildly successful hit production of Ragtime. This will be the fifth musical that Clements has directed at The Rep.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 2014/15 Quadracci Powerhouse Season kicks off in grand style with an uplifting production of The Color Purple. This hit musical, based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, will be directed by Artistic Director Mark Clements, who reunites with the same creative team behind last season's wildly successful hit production of Ragtime. This will be the fifth musical that Clements has directed at The Rep.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced casting today for The Color Purple, the glorious musical saga which opens Friday, September 26, 2014 and runs from September 23 - November 2, 2014.

The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) has announced over 25 nominations of actors, directors, designers and ensembles to be presented at 32nd Annual Elliot Norton Awards on Monday May 19 at The Wheelock Family Theatre.

WITNESS UGANDA explores the American impulse to change the world. It is an electrifying production that combines stellar design elements, breathtaking choreography, and an ensemble of energetic young artists committed to telling their story. Artistic Director Diane Paulus again shows her flair for guiding a complex production and getting the best from her performers.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University presents the world premiere of Witness Uganda, created by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie and Music Director, Remy Kurs. The production begins performances at the Loeb Drama Center at 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge tonight, February 4, and will run through March 16. Check out a first look at the production shots below!

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University presents the world premiere production of Witness Uganda, created by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie and Music Director, Remy Kurs. The production begins performances at the Loeb Drama Center at 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge tonight, February 4, and will run through March 16.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University has released a sneak peek at the world premiere of Witness Uganda, created by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie and Music Director, Remy Kurs. The production begins performances at the Loeb Drama Center at 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge on February 4, and will run through March 16. Below, check out a very first look at the cast, including Matthews and Emma Hunton, in rehearsal!

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University announced today the cast and creative team for the world premiere production of Witness Uganda, created by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie. The production begins performances at the Loeb Drama Center at 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge on February 4, and will run through March 16. It is available for press viewing from Wednesday, February 12, at 7:30pm.

To capture the long standing tradition of The Milwaukee Rep's adaptation of A Christmas Carol that opened last weekend at the Historic Pabst Theater, many families or friends crowd around the grand Christmas tree adorned and standing in the center of Milwaukee's Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex. They punch the button on their smart phones; take pictures of these memories withstanding the test of time, an annual event to be cherished. The Rep's production of A Christmas Carol has run consecutively each December for 38 years, a holiday present waiting to be opened again and again.

Nineteenth century London comes to life when Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit and Ebenezer Scrooge go on a fantastical journey thorough Christmas Past, Present and Future. Filled with beautiful music, stunning costumes and joyous dancing, Dickens' classic masterpiece celebrates its 38th year at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Proudly sponsored this year by Wells Fargo, this beloved holiday tradition has delighted families for generations at the historic Pabst Theater. Adapted by Joseph Hanreddy and Edward Morgan, Dickens' A Christmas Carol brightens the holiday season with its timeless message of hope, peace and love and the true meaning of the holidays. Check out a first look below!

Nineteenth century London comes to life when Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit and Ebenezer Scrooge go on a fantastical journey thorough Christmas Past, Present and Future. Filled with beautiful music, stunning costumes and joyous dancing, Dickens' classic masterpiece celebrates its 38th year at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Proudly sponsored this year by Wells Fargo, this beloved holiday tradition has delighted families for generations at the historic Pabst Theater. Adapted by Joseph Hanreddy and Edward Morgan, Dickens' A Christmas Carol brightens the holiday season with its timeless message of hope, peace and love and the true meaning of the holidays.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents Ragtime, the sweeping musical which will kick off The Rep's 2013/14 60th Anniversary Season in the Quadracci Powerhouse theater.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced casting today for Ragtime, the sweeping musical which will kick off The Rep's 2013/14 60th Anniversary Season in the Quadracci Powerhouse theater.

The Broadway Dreams recently made their west coast debut last week at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The week-long Summer Performing Arts Intensive culminated in a performance of CIRCLE OF DREAMS, a unique Broadway concert event featuring performances by Broadway favorites including Shoshana Bean (Wicked), Craig D'Amico (Annie Get Your Gun), Quentin Earl Darrington (Ragtime), Andrew Palermo (Wicked), Nicole Parker (MadTV,Wicked), Ryann Redmond (Bring It On: The Musical) and more alongside a talented roster of Los Angeles area BDF students. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

Tony Nominee Diane Paulus (Porgy and Bess, Pippin) is directing the workshop of Witness Uganda. Witness Uganda is the winner of the 2012 Richard Rodgers Award for Staged Readings, administered by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Producers, Eugene Dizon and Cory Goodrich have recorded a new holiday album of music SEASON OF CAROLS which features over one hundred Chicago theatre artists, singers and musicians. This new holiday CD was produced to raise funds for Season of Concern, which supports Chicago artists in need. SEASON OF CAROLS is now available for sale at www.seasonofcarols.com and will be kicked-off with a special concert tonight, December 3 at 7:30pm at Mercury Theater Chicago.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The 'Season Of Carols' concert, the 'Eastland' CD, short runs of 'Lucky Stiff' and 'They're Playing Our Song,' changes at Drury Lane and Circle, and a variety of alternative holiday performances!

Now in its 37th year, The Rep's production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, sponsored by MillerCoors, is Milwaukee's beloved holiday tradition which has delighted audiences for generations at The Pabst Theater. Adapted by Joseph Hanreddy and Edward Morgan, Dickens' classic masterpiece brightens the holiday season with its beautiful carols and timeless message of hope, peace and love and the true meaning of the holidays. Milwaukee Repertory Theater is delighted to announce that Aaron Posner returns to The Rep to direct A Christmas Carol. Posner directed The Rep's To Kill a Mockingbird, which broke all-time attendance records last season, as well as the lyrical, beautifully-realized production of My Name is Asher Lev in 2010. This will be the first time that Posner has directed A Christmas Carol. This year's cast includes Milwaukee actors Marti Gobel and Jonathan Wainwright; Rep newcomers Melody Betts, Renata Friedman, Melisa Pereyra, Luigi Sottile and accomplished stage actor Christopher Donahue as Ebenezer Scrooge. Returning to The Rep this year are former Rep Artistic Intern Ensemble members Alexander Pawlowski and Emily Trask and frequent Rep guest artist Jonathan Smoots. Also rounding out the cast are Rep Associate Artists Angela Iannone and Gerard Neugent and Chicago actor Erik Hellman. A Christmas Carol runs at The Pabst Theater from November 29 - December 24.

Producers, Eugene Dizon and Cory Goodrich have recorded a new holiday album of music SEASON OF CAROLS which features over one hundred Chicago theatre artists, singers and musicians. This new holiday CD was produced to raise funds for Season of Concern, which supports Chicago artists in need. SEASON OF CAROLS is now available for sale at www.seasonofcarols.com and will be kicked-off with a special concert on Monday, December 3 at 7:30pm at Mercury Theater Chicago.