An Invitation to “Play On!”
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. 43rd 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 Kaboo
m! – 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
Tempest Rehearsal Photos – Enjoy!
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
Brave New World
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. 43rd 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.
