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

I suppose there would have been a poetry of sorts to start Twelfth Night auditions on the 6th of January, but we just can’t wait.

Looks like we’ve got a full audition roster today.  Last year, I had no idea what to expect.  As the cycle starts to repeat I’m going to go out on a limb and make some predictions.

Prediction 1:  Personal cognitive dissonance will set in as I get to experience professionally run auditions and I’m not the one running them.  All I need to do is show up with my note pad and this handy expanding file for keeping track of headshots and resumes.  Wow.  Thank you, Mr. Tom Reed.  You’re amazing.

Prediction 2:  My mind will be blown by the depth and range of the talent we will see.  I love and admire my friends in the Chicagoland theatre world, but will happily stack up Milwaukee area talent.

Prediction 3:  I will again be amazed at Tom Reed’s near photographic memory of audition pieces.  After watching numerous actors and actresses, there’s that delightful part of the process where you start mixing and matching for the best cast combinations.  This is when I have to pull out headshots, resumes and notes to refresh my memories.  Not, Tom.  He’s got everyone in his head and it’s almost like magic.

Looking forward to it.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

It’s 1:00 in the morning, I’ve got a car full of Tribe leather and Ron’s delivering the Full Fathom Four piano.  The cast of The Tempest is might still be at Omega nomming on burgers and french toast.  I just discovered a surprise donation in the box.

Set the alarm for 7 am so we can get back to Alverno for strike tomorrow.

Life’s good.

On the Optimist Theatre Facebook page (click HERE to go to the album) there’s a new mish-mash of photos from our first all-cast rehearsal on May 11 and from our rehearsal on May 18.  It’s only been a week and we’re still blocking The Tempest, but the tranformations are amazing and beautiful.

Jim Pickering* (Prospero) still makes me cry.  I just want to punch him in the arm.

Angela Iannone* (Ariel) is lithe, sleek and kicks major butt.  She IS an anime heroine.

I’m shocked that Jacque Troy (Antonio) isn’t always surrounded by men.  She’s got this primal magnetism.  I know, I know.  It’s called acting, but it still makes me dizzy.

Ken Williams (Stephano) and David Flores (Trinculo) also make me want to cry and punch them, but I can’t because my soul is rolling on the floor laughing and holding my aching side.

Tom Reed* (Caliban) is primal.  We’ll be chitchatting about something like cutting wood for the stage platform legs and seconds later, my skin is crawling with fascination as I watch and listen with awe.

The Lovers, Andrew Voss and Jocelyn Fitz-Gibbon — Neil Haven  — Stacy and Flora  –  The Tribe…  I have so much more to say, but will save it for another post.

And, the best Stage Manager in the world.  I miss my Sandy Wood, but Sandy, you’d be so proud of Melissa Wanke*.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

Optimist Theatre is excited to welcome Ms. Angela Iannone to the cast of the Tempest in the role of Ariel.  Sparks are already starting to fly between Angela and Jim Pickering, as Prospero.  Like a moth to the flame – I know if I get too close, I’ll ignite.  But, what a way to go!

Shameless Plug Time…

The addition of Milwaukee theatre royalty like Angela to the cast is inspiring in so many ways.  I’m even more driven to make the dream real, and that takes your financial support.  I invite you to help us move beyond the thrill of dreaming and brainstorming to reality. Join us at the fundraiser on January 30th and become part of …

Such stuff as dreams are made on

The Tempest Act 4, scene 1

In Ars Veritas,

Susan Scot Fry

Grateful Managing Director

Optimist Theatre

Today I am determined to find at least 1,000 more people to invite to our Brave New World fundraiser.  It’s do-able.  Milwaukee has over half a million people in residence.  Surely, I can suss them out.

A key parameter is No Spam.  There are plenty of people who love Milwaukee, love Shakespeare, love festivals, love theatre, love…. you get the picture.  The key is to find them and let them know about this wonderful thing that’s happening.  I’m spending quite a chunk of time wading through Yahoo E-Groups today and that’s looking good!

So, if you’ve got any ideas or leads on special interest groups who would appreciate hearing about free Shakespeare in the Park and how to turn the dream into reality, wave and shout.  I’ll come running!

In Ars Veritas,

Susan Scot Fry

SSFry@OptimistTheatre.org

This summer Milwaukee will experience, for the first time, free of charge to the audience …

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK

Created by Milwaukee’s Optimist Theatre and performed outdoors on the campus of Alverno College, our premier production will be The Tempest, starring Scrooge himself, James Pickering as Prospero.

Mr. Pickering is actively supporting this production and would like to invite you to support it as well.

AN INVITATION…

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

“BRAVE NEW WORLD”

“How beauteous mankind is.  O brave new world, that hath such people in’t.”

The Tempest  Act V Scene i

Saturday, January 30, 2010

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

Alverno College

The (beautiful) Teaching, Learning and Technology Center

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

Event admission is $35 per person

To purchase your admission please visit our website.

We’d appreciate your confirmation by January 22, 2010

Purchase admission or make a donation by December 31 and receive your 2009 tax deduction.

Thank you for helping bring free Shakespeare in the Park to the great city of Milwaukee.