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

If music be the food of love, play on!

Twelfth Night, Act 1, scene 1

Mark your calendars – Save the date – It’s party time.

Optimist Theatre will be holding our winter fundraiser on Saturday, February 12, 2011.  The theme is “Play On!” and as the name suggests, the focus is on fun.

The official invitation will be sent out to everyone on the email list the week of January 2.  If you aren’t on it, drop me an email at SSFry@OptimistTheatre.org and I’ll make sure you’re added.

Happy New Years!

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

THANK YOU, City of Milwaukee Arts Board!

Optimist Theatre is the proud and grateful recipient of a grant from the Milwaukee Arts Board to aid in our production of The Tempest!  At least, the letter grasped tightly in my hot and sweaty little hand says so.

Makes it hard to type, but I can’t quite bring myself to put the letter down yet.

Please join me in extending a huge THANK YOU to the people at the Milwaukee Arts Board for their faith and support.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

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’s celebration of Shakespeare in the Park, this past January was a microcosm of the talent, support and sheer joy that is being brought to this project.

Many area artists gathered and strutted their substantial stuff for an appreciative audience.  Laughter, great music and an enticing Tempest preview (accompanied by a killer gourmet popcorn bar) made for a great evening.

Enjoy this show snippet and we hope to see you at The Tempest this June on the beautiful Alverno College campus.

(Aren’t Ken and David – aka Stephano and Trinculo — just the cutest?  More pix of these 2 coming soon…)

In Ars Veritas,

Susan Scot Fry