The donor newsletter of Milwaukee Repertory Theater Issue 2 • Spring 2016

Welcome to

Welcome to the second issue of Drama Ink – a new publication where we offer

you, our generous donors, an insider, behind-the-scenes look at some of the

exciting things happening at The Rep.

Why Drama Ink?

When Mary John founded our theater in 1954, it was incorporated as “Drama,

Inc.,” and operated at the Fred Miller Theater. Then, a decade later, we became

known as the Milwaukee Repertory Theater to affirm our connection to the

community. We have operated under that name ever since!

In this issueIn this issue you will find an update from Mark Clements and Chad Bauman,

(The Rep’s Artistic Director and Managing Director respectively), background to

our world premiere of American Song, how our Associate Artists Initiative helps

achieve our mission, and much more…

Tell us…We appreciate your feedback – in fact we have changed to a magazine format

based on what we learned – and look forward to hearing from you about the

articles you enjoy and what you would like to see in future issues.

For contact information, please see back page.

You Make the Difference

It is our hope that through this publication you will see how your support makes

an extraordinary difference to the work we do.

Thank you!

Chad Bauman

Mark Clements

2 Five Presidents gather for Richard Nixon’s funeral in the 2014/15 Quadracci Powerhouse world premiere production. (From left) Mark Jacoby, Martin L’Herault, Brit Whittle, Steve Sheridan, and Jeff Steitzer.

Dear Friends,

Just a few weeks ago we announced our spectacular 63rd Season. This season will encompass a major revival of a Tony Award-winning classic, one of the original world premieres commissioned by The Rep, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama that is now the most produced play in America. An exciting highlight will be our new production of A Christmas Carol, complete with a new script and the most advanced set we have ever created.

Alongside the groundbreaking works on our stages next season, we will continue to focus on our key strategic initiatives aligned with our new mission statement:

Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity.

One such initiative is Community Engagement and Citizenship. At its most basic, we will call upon the transformative power of theater to better our community. With a new Department of Community Engagement, we will provide innovative arts education programs to nearly 20,000 students, support local non-profits and community development agencies, and develop engagement programs that align with our programming, such as our Act II discussions after every performance of American Song.

Another key initiative is our New Play Development Program. The Rep is committed to commissioning, developing and producing new plays that highlight fresh voices, speak to a growing cultural diversity in our city, and focus on local issues with a national resonance. World premieres from our 2014/15 Season, such as Five Presidents, have gone on to play around the country and reinforce Milwaukee’s stature as an incubator for creativity and innovation.

As you read this issue of Drama Ink, the world premiere of American Song by Joanna Murray-Smith will have just opened in the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater. Certainly American Song and Act II exemplify both a world-class theater experience and offer the opportunity for inspirational community dialogue.

To you, our closest friends and strongest supporters, we thank you. Your faith in our work inspires us. Your unwavering support sustains us. Read on to see how we are collectively creating an impact.

All our best,

Mark Clements Chad Bauman Artistic Director Managing Director

DIRECTLY SPEAKING

Photo by Tim Fuller

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ACT II

WORLD PREMIERE OF AMERICAN SONG ASKS “WHAT IF?”How often do we look back and think “what if?” or “if only!” If only this or that, perhaps our lives and those of our families would have turned out quite differently.

The Rep audiences will be the first to see American Song, a play that is the result of an almost three-year creative journey. The world premiere runs from March 15 to April 10 in the Quadracci Powerhouse.

In American Song, a father asks, “What if I could have done better?” as he reflects on the course his life has taken and how the choices he made affected his wife and their son. Award-winning actor James DeVita stars as the man who asks what it means to be a parent, a husband, and a citizen in a complex world.

Artistic Director Mark Clements had the idea to explore the world of a parent, who after learning his son, a high-school student, had conducted an inconceivable act of violence, struggles with “what went wrong.”

Clements commissioned internationally renowned playwright Joanna Murray-Smith to write the play. A mother herself, Murray-Smith has crafted a moving and provocative look at parenting in today’s fractured society where acts of violence are increasingly prevalent.

Clements, who also directs the play, is especially proud that The Rep, with its world-class reputation, has the standing to be able to commission a playwright of Murray-Smith’s stature.

About the playwright

Described by US Variety as Australia’s foremost female playwright, Murray-Smith’s plays include Honour, Songs For Nobodies, Redemption, The Female of the Species, Bombshells (part of The Rep’s 2010/11 Season), and the adaptation of Scenes From a Marriage. Many have been performed internationally and translated into dozens of languages. Her plays have appeared on Broadway, at the Royal National Theatre and in London’s West End. Additionally, she has authored novels, opera librettos and several screenplays.

Murray-Smith arrived in Milwaukee in early March to participate in rehearsals as The Rep prepares her drama for the Quadracci Powerhouse stage.

This season’s world premiere

Clements is thrilled that Milwaukee audiences will be the first to experience American Song, which will be the second production commissioned and produced by The Rep as part of its New Play Development initiative.

“We are immensely grateful to receive a $35,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts in support of American Song, particularly because the content is so pressingly relevant,” Clements continues.

“I am eager to put on stage a bold play that invites nuanced conversation by avoiding generalization; a play that honestly explores the impact of violence on those who are left to pick up the pieces. Often it is only the voice of the victims and their families that is in the media, and I wanted to make sure the story of the perpetrator’s parents was told.

“While the play offers a multifaceted look at the issues, it aims to create a platform for dialogue rather than provide solutions or place blame on any one factor.”

Act II Extends the Conversation

Act II will follow after every performance of American Song. A series of curated, post-show public discussions in partnership with the Frank Zeidler Center for Public Discussion, Act II will begin with a five-minute response to the production from an “expert responder.” Mental health experts, counselors, parenting advocates, emergency medical personnel, teachers, civic leaders, public policy analysts, funders, media personalities and social services providers have been invited to serve as expert responders. (Visit www.milwaukeerep.com for the complete list.)

Audience members will then be invited to participate in facilitated small group discussions. Based on research showing that deep listening leads to greater understanding amongst disparate groups, the Zeidler Center uses reflective structured dialogue to encourage meaningful conversation.

We expect this play will elicit a wide variety of opinions, so we are offering Act II to serve as a platform for audiences to discuss their reactions and how they feel we as a society can move forward.

James DeVitaJoanna Murray-Smith

“The Rep is thrilled to have Lou Bellamy direct Fences at The Rep. There is no one in our industry today who has a closer connection or insight into the August Wilson canon of work.”

— Mark Clements

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THE WHAT AND WHY OF THE ASSOCIATE ARTIST INITIATIVE

What is the Associate Artist Initiative and Why is it vital to today’s and tomorrow’s success?

Three years after its inception, The Rep’s Associate Artist initiative brings substantial benefits and continues to help the theater thrive. This program brings together actors, directors, designers and playwrights to lend their artistic expertise, diversify the work on The Rep’s stages, and increase the theater’s reputation for excellence both locally and nationally. This makes it possible for The Rep to program eclectic and adventurous works such as An Iliad, The Color Purple, and The Invisible Hand.

As part of its new mission, The Rep is committed to serving as a catalyst for change within the community and using its art and resource to make a positive impact – with their diverse skill sets and creativity, the Associate Artists are guiding the way.

Then ... And Now

This initiative builds off of the early years of The Rep, when a core group of artists was augmented by the greatest stars of the day. The rise of resident acting companies across American regional theaters in the 1960s began when many cities often did not have a large pool of local professional stage actors.

Nationally, it is becoming the standard for regional theaters to work with a key group of actors and artists who have a special association with the theater, while allowing these artists the freedom to take on other projects and maximize their earning potential.

Many Benefits

Most of the Associate Artists either have a close association with The Rep or have worked with Artistic Director Mark Clements in the past. These artists form a collaborative model that encompasses a broader creative conversation. They have the flexibility to work elsewhere, expanding The Rep’s sphere of influence and prominence, while expanding their own sense of artistic possibility.

With greater flexibility in programming and the ability to produce productions with broad audience appeal, The Rep has been able to increase subscriptions and single ticket sales, ensuring its future viability.

Today, The Rep is able to attract renowned performers, playwrights, and artists to Milwaukee — actors such as Nova Y. Payton and Zonya Love, and Emmy Award-winning writer Rick Cleveland, as well as nationally recognized artists from Milwaukee such as Nathaniel Stampley and Ayad Akhtar who have become our newest Associate Artists.

The Rep will present August Wilson’s Fences to close out the 2015/16 Season. The beloved Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning drama explores one family’s hopes and dreams in a rapidly changing 1950s America. Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball player, must grapple with the reality of his life as a sanitation worker in Pittsburgh.

Legendry director and actor Lou Bellamy, who has been described as an artist who radiates both humility and openness, will direct an all-star cast in this powerful modern-day classic. Fences is the sixth in Wilson’s ten-part “Pittsburgh Cycle.” Like all of the “Pittsburgh” plays, Fences explores the evolving African-American experience.

“The Rep is thrilled to have Lou Bellamy direct Fences at The Rep. There is no one in our industry today who has a closer connection or insight into the August Wilson canon of work,” says Mark Clements.

As the founder of St. Paul’s Penumbra Theatre Company, Bellamy has spent nearly four decades building the company from a community arts project into one of our nation’s foremost African-American theaters.

Penumbra has staged all 10 of Wilson’s “Pittsburgh” plays. Wilson, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner who died in 2005, lived in St. Paul from 1978 until 1990 and worked extensively with Penumbra during his Minnesota residency. Bellamy is recognized for his expertise in staging August Wilson writings, having been fortunate enough to act in, produce, and direct more of his work than anybody else. Bellamy earned an Obie Award for his direction of a 2006 off-Broadway production of August Wilson’s Two Trains Running.

LOU BELLAMY DIRECTS FENCES

Jonathan DalyJonathan Daly joined The Rep in 1998 and has appeared in over 25 productions. Most notably, he has performed in Harvey, A Christmas Carol, and Cabaret. 1. Milwaukee 2. University of Wisconsin3. I wanted to be a play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Braves.4. Every recorded song by The Beatles5. Too many great experiences to pick one, but I have a special place

in my heart for The Diary of Anne Frank6. Fred Rogers

Laura GordonLaura Gordon has worked with The Rep since 1993. Over the course of 23 years, she has appeared in more than 75 productions, including The Mousetrap, Good People, and The Lady With All The Answers. She also has directed productions at The Rep such as Venus in Fur, Almost, Maine, and Gutenberg! The Musical!1. Chagrin Falls, Ohio2. BS in Speech Communication and Theater from Clarion University

in Pennsylvania; MFA in Acting from the University of Iowa3. I always wanted to be a teacher. I actually went to college to

become a speech pathologist. But I would have enjoyed pursuing a journalism career and working for NPR, or culinary school to become a chef.

4. My music choices vary drastically depending on what project I’m currently working on

5. Most recently I’d have to say Good People. I also adored Escape from Happiness and Mary Stuart. And directing Almost, Maine.

6. Maybe Julia Child, especially if she cooked the meal

Angela IanonneAngela Ianonne has been a staple at The Rep since 1994. She has appeared in such productions as Cabaret, Lombardi, The History of Invulnerability, and A Christmas Carol. 1. Columbus, Ohio/Ascoli Piceno, Italy2. College was a long time ago. Current training is with DelSarte

Master Teacher Joe Williams, Michael Chekhov Master Teacher Janice Orlandi, and Laban Master Teacher Giles Forman.

3. Translator at the U.N. 4. “Better When I’m Dancing” by Meghan Trainer and “Hamilton” by

Lin-Manuel Miranda5. I don’t have favorites 6. I am the author of a series of plays about American actor Edwin

Booth. They have been performed Off Broadway, here in Milwaukee, and at the home of Edwin Booth in NYC. I have dinner with Edwin Booth a lot.

Nathaniel StampleyA new face at The Rep, Nathaniel Stampley made his debut with the smash musical The Color Purple. He has since performed in Dreamgirls and will star in next fall’s Man of La Mancha. Prior to making a return to Milwaukee, Stampley played the title role on the first national tour of Porgy and Bess and has appeared on London’s West End and on Broadway. 1. I am originally from Milwaukee, but my family and I live in Jersey

City, New Jersey2. I graduated from Whitefish Bay High School and the University of

Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelors of Music degree3. I always wanted to be a lawyer because I thought that I could be

like Perry Mason and never, ever lose a case4. Rock with You by Michael Jackson5. My favorite production so far has been The Color Purple. It was

the show where I made both my Broadway and Rep debuts. I also haven’t had the opportunity to play that many bad guys in my career – it was fun! Some patrons are still upset with that character from two seasons ago.

6. It is so hard to name just one person from history, but I would enjoy a long full course meal with Langston Hughes. He was an important artist who expressed himself in different mediums of writing. He was ahead of his time and yet always poignant.

ASSOCIATE ARTISTS Q&A

In each issue of Drama Ink, we will feature some of our Associate Artists. We hope you enjoy learning a little more about these talented individuals.

Questions1. Hometown?2. College/Education/Training?3. If not your current profession, what did you want to be

when you grew up?4. What is your most played song?5. What was your favorite project to work on at The Rep?6. If you could have dinner with anyone from history, who

would it be?

Nathaniel StampleyJonathan Daly Laura Gordon Angela Ianonne

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Julia and Bladen Burns have always loved live theater and became subscribers when they moved to Milwaukee in 1996. Julia Burns recalls, “We were newly married, and The Rep was our favorite place for date nights. It was wonderful to immerse yourself in a different time and place for a few hours and gain new perspectives on the world and human condition. Theater makes you think deeply, and the conversations Bladen and I had after shows were lively and rewarding.”

A shared love

Now, five children later, the Burns’ are delighted the next generation has inherited their love of theater. The lively discussions continue with the children – about all aspects of the performance: story, staging, set design, acting, and music.

Once the children were old enough to attend shows, their parents began taking them to First Stage Children’s Theater and now to some Rep shows. Their oldest son, Jack (13), has been acting in musicals and plays since he was 10, including appearing in The Rep’s A Christmas Carol.

Theater offers life skills

Julia Burns believes, “Jack’s acting and theater education experiences have provided him with so many important life skills: the ability to collaborate with peers and adults, to think on his feet, and to find his voice and publicly and confidently express himself ... we encourage and support our kids’ participation in theater as students, audience members, and actors, when they have interest.”

Getting to know the Emerging Professional Residents

“In particular, we have enjoyed supporting the Emerging Professional Resident (formerly Artistic Intern) program. It is one of the top three in the country for providing emerging theater professionals exclusively hands-on acting or directing experience.” (Read more about the Emerging Professional Resident (EPR) program in On The Mark, see right)

“We appreciate the many benefits of being Rep donors and the interaction with the EPRs is one of the most rewarding. We can see first-hand how our contributions are benefiting new generations of actors and directors,” Julia Burns explains.

Looking to the future

When asked what they like most about The Rep, the Burns’ applauded the focus and commitment to new play development and long-term community engagement. They believe strongly in The Rep’s additional programming to reach more area students as well as increasing community dialogue about important topics affecting us all. “We want to support these efforts in any way we can,” they tell us.

The Burns’ see their involvement with The Rep as a way to give back to the community. “We benefit so much from The Rep and want to ensure others continue to be enriched by The Rep’s productions and education programs for many years to come.”

How do you cast your productions?

JC Clementz, our casting director, works with me to see shows in Milwaukee and around the country to become familiar with what talent is out there. Once we have chosen the plays for a season, JC holds general auditions for actors who are members of Actors Equity Association in Milwaukee and Chicago. Following these auditions, we hold callbacks for specific roles.

What is the Emerging Professional Resident program?

This is our longstanding and prestigious Artistic Intern program – just with a new name. We were finding that prospective candidates had misconceptions about the program because of the word “intern,” which they associated with the sometimes menial tasks that accompany such a title. With the name change, we are describing the program more accurately: a full-season full-time intensive residency where emerging actors, directors, and technicians focus exclusively on their craft by working side-by-side with our world-class artists and guest artists. Each year, nearly 300 applicants apply for just 20 spots. The EPRs serve as assistant directors, supporting actors, and understudies for all of our productions. This name change allows us to attract the most talented emerging artists across the country.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE DONOR

JULIA AND BLADEN BURNS SHARE THEIR LOVE FOR THEATER

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR MARK?Submit your questions to onthemark@milwaukeerep.com and see his answers in an upcoming issue!

Portrait Art by Lisa Marie

Julia and Bladen Burns with their children (from left) Grace, Colin, Jack, Reed, and Margaux.

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BRONZEVILLE ARTS ENSEMBLE AND THE REP: STRONGER TOGETHER!Perhaps you had the opportunity to see the Bronzeville Arts Ensemble production of The Mojo and The Sayso at the end of January. Written in 1987 by Aishah Rahman, this play explores the tragedy of a child’s death three years later, with a family seeking to understand and cope with loss. American Theatre magazine recently named The Mojo and The Sayso as one of a handful of plays that could spark national conversation. The play was produced jointly by Bronzeville Arts Ensemble and Madison’s Theatre LILA in The Rep’s Stiemke Studio. Following its successful run in Milwaukee, the production ran at Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts in February.

A New Collaboration

So, here’s the backstory to this exciting partnership with Bronzeville Arts Ensemble. The moment was perfect for this new collaboration – coming at a time when The Rep has reaffirmed its commitment to investing in our community and while Bronzeville was seeking the resources we could provide through a residency here at The Rep. We are providing them with use of our theaters and office and rehearsal spaces, as well as marketing and fund-raising support. In exchange, Bronzeville is helping to expand our reach into new communities.

“Milwaukee is and always has been a complex and evolving cultural landscape,” says Managing Director Chad Bauman. “We endeavor to embrace that nature, and recognize how much more effective we can be when working in collaboration. It is with this in mind that we invited Bronzeville Arts Ensemble to take up residency at The Rep to help them in their next steps as an important emerging theater company in our city.

“With the production of The Mojo and The Sayso, we embarked on what we hope will not only be a fruitful joint venture for both our companies, but also the beginning of a relationship that will serve our audiences and the region for years to come.”

About Bronzeville

Bronzeville Arts Ensemble fills a space in Milwaukee that no other theater currently occupies. When Bronzeville’s Producing Artistic Director Malkia Stampley returned to Milwaukee after working in New York and Chicago, she saw a lack of black representation in theater here – both on stage and off. As she says, “If you don’t see what you want or who you want onstage, you have a choice. You can sit back and complain or you can do something about it. We’re doing something about it.” Bronzeville Arts Ensemble seeks to celebrate African American stories and serve as a platform for black playwrights, directors, artisans, and the many other careers in the arts where African Americans are underrepresented.

The name pays homage to the original Bronzeville neighborhood that was the vibrant cultural center for most African American residents of Milwaukee in the early 1900s-1960s and to the history of Bronzeville neighborhoods across the country. The partnership between Bronzeville Arts Ensemble and The Rep strengthens us both artistically and reinforces our commitment to engaging with our community on a broader scale. Stay tuned for upcoming shows and collaborations!

Marvette Knight and Gavin Lawrence in The Mojo and The Sayso.

Malkia Stampley

Photo by Ross Zentner

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March 18, 2016American Song Opening Night

March 31, 2016Out N About event with The Invisible Hand

April 5, 2016“Your American Song” Story Slam with Ex Fabula and The Rep’s Teen Council

April 28, 2016Professionals Night at Fences

April 29, 2016Fences Opening Night

May 14, 2016Block Party Gala

August 2016Backstage Tours TBD

September 11, 2016Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill Opening Night

September 24, 2016Man of La Mancha Opening Night

September 30, 2016The Royale Opening Night

October 2016Magic in The Making: Behind The Scenes TBD

For more information visitwww.milwaukeerep.com

As Milwaukee Rep embarks on a new mission to ignite positive change our community,

help us to create a city-wide platform for meaningful dialogue and world-class inclusive

experiences that inspire an audience representative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity.

Nothing brings a community together better than a neighborhood block party.

Eat, drink, bid, and be entertained at our 2016 Block Party Gala!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Marina S. KrejciDirector of Developmentmkrejci@milwaukeerep.com

Chuck RozewiczDirector of Major and Planned Givingcrozewicz@milwaukeerep.com

Amy DormanDirector of Annual Givingadorman@milwaukeerep.com Steph O’ConnorAssociate Director of Annual Givingsoconnor@milwaukeerep.com

Shannon TheissDevelopment Events Managerstheiss@milwaukeerep.com

Nicholas Pjevach Development Database Managernpjevach@milwaukeerep.com

Contributor: Megan Maikowski

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Issue 2 • Spring 2016

Milwaukee Repertory Theater • Development Department108 E. Wells Street • Milwaukee, WI 53202 • 414-290-5366