Optimist Theatre's Blog and Latest Info

“Something Wicked This Way Comes” – You’re Invited

optimisttheatre — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:04:59 +0000

Are you ready for some “double, double toil and trouble”? Well, “screw your courage to the sticking place” and get your tickets now for Optimist Theatre’s …

“Something Wicked This Way Comes”

Saturday, February 4, 2012, Optimist Theatre hosts our third annual winter fundraising party. This year we celebrate the 2012 summer production of free Shakespeare in the Park …

Macbeth

By William Shakespeare

Macbeth will feature Mr. Tom Reed* as Macbeth, Ms. Marti Gobel* as Lady Macbeth, Mr. James Pickering* as Duncan and, with your help, is slated for June and July of 2012. Whether there are 2 or 3 weekends of performances will be determined in large part by how well this fundraiser goes.

The Details:

Something Wicked This Way Comes will be held…

Saturday, February 4, 2012
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Alverno College
The Teaching, Learning and Technology Center
3900 S. 43^rd Street
Milwaukee, WI

Tickets are only $35.00 each. To purchase tickets
Please CLICK HERE to visit the Optimist Theatre webpage and
select the Add to Cart button.
$20 per ticket is tax deductible.

Unable to join the fun that night, but you want free Shakespeare in the Park to happen? Please consider a 100% tax deductible donation also via the Optimist Theatre support webpage.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Something Wicked This Way Comes will be a delightful evening of fiendish-fun including…

Tarot readings by Nina Harlan-Kohl, “Tarot Politico” columnist for The Huffington Post.
Your Fairy Godmother Deosil discovering your color aura or reading your palm
Numerology readings with Fairy Godmother Widdershins
The generous riches of The Milk of Human Kindness Silent Auction. One of the best silent auctions in Milwaukee has something for everyone and for every budget. Bid on great items such as airline tickets to anywhere and a signed, first edition of Christopher Buehlman’s blockbuster, award-winning novel “Those Across The River”
Sweet and savory snacks and a no-host bar
Your chance to cast your vote for the 2012 Shakespeare in the Park seating reservation system you would most like to use

Stage Entertainment featuring…

Comedy by Optimist Theatre favorite, Mr. Phil Johnson, juggler, ropewalker, foolish mortal. Phil’s sublime, physical and musical comedy is a huge hit with Optimists every year and we’re extremely excited to bring him to Milwaukee again. www.philipearl.com

Music by Milwaukee’s own Mr. John Sieger of Tune du Jour. “One of our local treasures” – onMilwaukee.com. “The man oozes soul, and his talent is not in question.” – ExpressMilwaukee.com. www.johnsieger.wordpress.com/

Alverno Colleges’ Chamber Choir and Flute Ensemble. Featured around town at venues including MAM After Dark, both groups were favorites of the pre-performance picnic crowd during 2011’s production of Twelfth Night.

Thank you for again making the dream of free Shakespeare in the Park a reality. We couldn’t do it without you.

See you there!

* Member of Actors Equity Association

Inquiries? Please call or email Susan Fry, Managing Director at 262-498-5777 or SSFry@OptimistTheatre.org

Come See TWELFTH NIGHT!

optimisttheatre — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:54:21 +0000

Last night, we opened Twelfth Night to a happy, appreciative audience. Not surprising. It’s a wonderful show. Laura Gordon is an amazing director. Steve Barne’s (painted by Linda Freund) set is lovely. Jason Fassl’s lights are magical. The only surprising thing about last night were the number of empty seats. It was a lovely evening. Where were you?

Our final house count was 197, including lawn seating. We have a total audience capacity of 240. Our 200 chairs per evening have been ‘sold out’ for weeks. Where were the other 43 people? It’s a mystery. Much like theatre.

It’s probably a bit intimidating to be on a waiting list that tallied 118, as was the case for last night’s show. All I can say is, Everyone Got In. Just like last year.

If you have reservations and cannot make it, please give us at least 24 hours notice. That will give us time to make contact with the next person on the waiting list. We have an on-line Box Office, but it’s really a human-powered system. Help out your fellow Shakespeare in the Park aficionados.

If you’re on the waiting list, give it a shot! Come see Twelfth Night. Everyone got in last night. And, it was so worth it.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

Managing Director

TWELFTH NIGHT Weather Page is Updated

optimisttheatre — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:27:25 +0000

Hey Shakespeare in the Park Goers!

We’ve updated our Shakespeare in the Park weather blog page and it’s all ready for some Twelfth Night daily forecasts. Each performance day, we’ll post the weather forecast for that evening HERE.

Generally speaking, we go on. Rain, schmain. It’s outdoors! Up until the point where it becomes dangerous, a little damp doesn’t deter our spirits. Are you with us? Excellent!

In case there actually IS a weather situation that we know is dangerous and we also know has no chance of letting up during the performance, we will also use this page to notify folks that the performance has been canceled.

In the meantime, pack that picnic and plan on a lovely evening at Alverno College.

Thanks for joining us for an evening of magic and comedy.

Optimistically,

Susan

Lawn Seating for TWELFTH NIGHT

optimisttheatre — Tue, 31 May 2011 18:49:26 +0000

Greetings Shakespeare in the Park fans!

Didn’t quite make it for audience seating reservations for TWELFTH NIGHT? Well, all is not lost! Lawn seating is still a possibility. Here’s what to do…

#1 Get your order in anyway. That order enters you onto the waiting list and those are the folks who will get first dibs for lawn seating, too.

There are 3 lawn seating areas available within the Alverno Alumnae courtyard and, between them all, we can welcome 40 more people in per the fire regulation limits. Your name will already be on the waiting list for a specific date, so you would have priority for lawn seating space that evening.

Enter your order via the Optimist Theatre Box Office by clicking HERE.

#2 Consider blanket versus lawn chairs.

2 of the 3 spaces available for lawn seating will only be for blankets. The 3^rd space will accommodate lawn chairs, but visibility of the stage is limited. The 2 spaces that will be available for blankets on the grass both provide good visibility to the stage. We’re sorry, but we cannot allow any lawn chairs within the 2 lawn spaces closest to the stage.

#3 Give it a shot!

Last year, we discovered that there is a percentage of folks who reserve seats but just don’t show up. We were happily able to accommodate everyone who walked-in either within the audience because of no-shows or on the lawns with their own chairs and blankets.

This year, we anticipate fewer ‘no-shows’ but there will be some. Parking is free at Alverno. The grounds for pre-performance gathering are grassy and lovely. Fellow theatre-lovers will be picnicking and enjoying some live music. We hope to see you there, too.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

Managing Director

Seating Reservations — More Seats are Coming!

optimisttheatre — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:04:52 +0000

Here’s the haps… As of 10:01 am on May 18, 2011, the seating reservation system shows that there are only 51 seats left available. Please get on the waiting list! Each evening, there are a small number of seats that were pre-reserved to honor our sponsors. At some point (June 2 or so…?) the seats not assigned to actual people will be released for the taking and we’ll start with the names on the top of the waiting list. The June 23 matinee is specifically on our line-up to encourage day groups. On June 2, unclaimed seats will be released for general public reservations. That may add up to 100 more seats.

Then, there’s always lawn seating…

Hope this helps!

Seating Reservations are Open for Twelfth Night

optimisttheatre — Wed, 18 May 2011 01:23:20 +0000

The brand, spanking new Optimist Theatre on-line Box Office is open for business. Don’t delay. Seating reservations for Twelfth Night are going fast.

http://optimisttheatre.org/in_the_park/boxoffice

Hope to see you at Alverno this June!

First Rehearsal for Twelfth Night

optimisttheatre — Wed, 11 May 2011 16:50:19 +0000

Last night was Optimist Theatres’ first rehearsal for Twelfth Night. What a JOY!

As we got to know each other in this first gathering, some fun stuff came up and I’m going to share…

Not only does Milwaukees’ free Shakespeare in the Park get to revel in her directing talents before she heads to Utah Shakespeare, but this is the largest cast that Ms. Laura Gordon has ever directed.
We have a name for our ensemble! Last year, they were “The Tribe”. This year, they are (drum roll….) “The Nocturnes”.
Todd “Some Men Are Born Great” Denning has done Twelfth Night 6 other times but this is his first as Malvolio. We WIN!
The live music score being composed by TJ Hull is drawing from heavily from the Postmodern Era. Oooo, I can’t wait to hear what he comes up with.
Marcy “A Horse of That Color” Kearns was an English Major and is almost as fascinated by the kind of paper she’d write about Twelfth Night as she is about playing Maria. ALMOST.

There’s much more in store, but I suppose we should keep some things a surprise… Oh! But I so want to tell you about the beautiful costume drawings done by Ms. Leslie Vaglica! And the set design by Mr. Steve Barnes! No… I must be strong.

In the meantime, enjoy the album of first rehearsal photos on the Optimist Theatre Facebook page.

Fittingly, the evening was concluded by Mr. Tom Reed, channeling Mr. Jim Pickering:

“Holy *&^%, Mr. Willy Snake&*^%”.

Amen.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

Dark Clouds and Silver Linings

optimisttheatre — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:37:28 +0000

Our dear friend and Founding Company Member, Mr. James Pickering*, must bow out of the role of Malvolio in Optimist Theatre’s upcoming free Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night. At this time, Jim’s highest priority must be to stay as close as possible to his dear wife Rose as she continues to fight the good fight for her health. This tough decision came on the heels of a happy choice that Jim recently made to join the Board of Directors for Optimist Theatre. As we go forward with this seasons’ free Shakespeare in the Park, we are fortunate to announce that Jim will continue to bless us with his invaluable good counsel — as is his wont. If you wish to convey a message of support to Jim and Rose, we encourage you to visit Optimist Theatre’s Facebook page. It’s the perfect place to chime in. Jim frequents the page, and we’re sure he’d appreciate hearing from you.

Optimist Theatre is pleased to announce that accomplished Milwaukee actor Mr. Todd Denning* has agreed to step into the role of Malvolio. Todd has a well-earned reputation for his exceptional stage work, both as an actor in multiple Milwaukee Shakespeare productions and as a director/fight choreographer. Todd is also a regular cast member at First Stage, where he guides the Young Company, a selective group of advanced acting students.

Please join us in wishing Jim godspeed and welcoming Todd to the cast.

Optimistically and With Great Love and Respect,

Susan Scot Fry

Announcing the Cast for TWELFTH NIGHT

optimisttheatre — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:07:16 +0000

It gives Optimist Theatre great pleasure to announce the cast for 2011′s free Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night directed by Ms. Laura Gordon.

Mr. Tom Dillon as Fabian

Ms. Alison Forbes as Olivia

Mr. Ron Scot Fry as Sir Andrew Aguecheek

Mr. Dan Katula* as Sir Toby Belch

Ms. Marcella Kearns as Maria

Mr. Clayton Hamburg as Sebastian

Mr. Tim Linn as The Captain

Ms. Georgina McKee as Viola

Mr. Todd Denning* as Malvolio

Mr. Tom Reed* as Feste

Mr. Robb Smith as Orsino

Mr. Andrew Voss as Antonio

And, our Ensemble (working name ‘The Nocturnes’) Ms. Allie Babich, Mr. Derek Nelson, Mr. Andrew Parchman, Ms. Tamsyn Reed, Mr. Eric Schabla, Ms. Elodie Senetra, and Ms. Liz Shipe.

Ms. Melissa Wanke* has again joined the Shakespeare in the Park crew as Production Stage Manager.

Twelfth Night will be performed outdoors on the campus of Alverno College, opening June 16th, running for 8 performances and closing on June 26. Attendance is free to the public and seating RSVP’s will open up near the end of April / beginning of May. To be among the first to hear about seating, be sure to subscribe to the Optimist Theatre e-newsletter via THIS LINK to Constant Contact.

Godspeed and Break a Leg!

* Members of Actor’s Equity Association

An Invitation to “Play On!”

optimisttheatre — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:25:33 +0000

Last summer Milwaukee experienced, for the first time, free of charge to the audience …

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK

Audiences loved it.

Saw the performance today – magnificent … Hope you are able to find the means to continue this venue. We drove an hour to get there and would do it over and over again. Thanks to everyone involved….

- Miles & Barbara Capron

I think you might want to take a moment to consider the joy that your efforts generated. Prospero may have discarded his staff, but the final spell was cast by Optimists, and hundreds of grateful theater-goers and artists are still experiencing its uplifting charms! Join them.

– Lee Ernst

Critics loved it.

Optimist Theatre’s ‘Tempest’ a profile in stage courage, heart

- Headline, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Optimist Theatre’s performance of “The Tempest” gave the state an intoxicating taste of free Shakespeare outdoors.

- From “Wisconsin Theatre Evolving”, Mike Fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

So we’re doing it again, and we want you to be part of it.

AN INVITATION…

We invite you to enjoy an evening of entertainment at a fundraiser to benefit free Shakespeare in the Park that we’re calling …

PLAY ON!

“If music be the food of love, play on!”

Twelfth Night, Act I Scene i

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Reception at 7:00 pm / Show at 8:00 pm

Alverno College in the Teaching, Learning and Technology Center

3400 S. 43^rd Street – Milwaukee, WI 53234

Parking is free and plentiful

Event admission is $35 per person ($20 per person tax deductible)

To purchase your admission please visit CLICK HERE to visit our Paypal page …

If you are unable to attend, please consider a 100% tax deductible donation by CLICKING HERE.

Entertainment Highlights

Our evening of Play will include a fabulous silent auction, snacks and drinks, snippets from Twelfth Night (watch for Mr. James Pickering* and Mr. Tom Reed*), and entertainment from:

Molly Rhode and Chase Stoeger – From the Skylight Opera to American Folklore Theatre, Molly and Chase are perennial audie nce favorites. For “Play On!”, they bring wit, character, and show-biz style to an entertaining variety of show tunes and comic songs.

Radio WHT – Frequently heard on WMSE 91.7FM and seen at the Alchemist Theatre, Radio WHT brin gs contemporary laughs to “olde tyme” radio drama. www.radiowht.com

Women who Can’t Sing - The Tempest’s spellbinding Ariel, Angela Iannone*, will be joined by Tami Workentin and pianist David Bonofiglio for musical numbers that make great theatre.

Patrick Schmitz – Master of improv, sketch comedy, and stand-up, Patrick will be our Master of Ceremonies. In addition to keeping things moving and making us laugh, he’ll run a series of games to challenge your trivia knowledge and other skills. Big laughs and small prizes are guaranteed. “Play On!” indeed!

Doktor Kaboom! – Played by national performing artist David Epley, Doktor Kaboom will play with science, creating a series of entertaining, explosive, and occasionally successful experiments. Watch for Doktor Kaboom on his DVD release “Don’t Try This at Home” and an upcoming graphic novel. www.doktorkaboom.com

To learn more and purchase tickets for “Play On!”, visit OptimistTheatre.org, or contact Managing Director Susan Scot Fry at SSFry@OptimistTheatre.org or 262/498-5777 or Artistic Director, Ron Scot Fry at RSFry@OptimistTheatre.org or 262/498-9788.

Have a brilliant evening and thank you for helping bring free Shakespeare in the Park to Milwaukee.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

Managing Director

* Members of Actors Equity Association