Highlights from Milwaukee’s first ever free Shakespeare in the Park

“A hit, a very palpable hit.”

Through temperatures and tempests.  On glorious, mild and star-spangled eve’s.  The cast and crew of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest brought it.

Huge kudos and thanks to all the goodly folke who created and came this past weekend.  The feedback in person and via email has been glorious and gratifying.  A a grateful speck in the big scheme, it’s imperative that I share this cache of happiness with you all.

Here’s what people have said…

Updated and added to 7-8-10:

Hi! We just returned from seeing “The Tempest”.  It was wonderful!  Thank you so much for such a lovely evening.  The creativity and acting were terrific.  You proved that one can do a lot without a big budget.  Good for you!  Do you plan on doing more productions?  Hope so.  Good luck in your endeavors! Thank you.

My daughter & I really had a wonderful evening for your first ever FREE Shakespeare in the Park………ALFRED AND LYNN WOULD BE SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU   (ck out the story on who may have  really authored all of W S work)   THANKS AGAIN AND SEE YOU AGAIN!!!!!

A friend and I enjoyed the Tempest at Alverno last evening.  The tribe was fantastic as was the entire cast.  We certainly hope that you are able to continue doing this wonderful evening entertainment for years to come.

Thank you for sponsoring such a wonderful event.  Bravo!

Wonderful evening. So glad we took the time to come out. Thank you so much.

Susan,  What a charming, divine rendering of the Tempest!  Of course, I was enchanted by the revels of Ariel and Prospero.  The words of the Bard lept off the page in their hands/feet and I was captivated.  Even being the first public show, it was an engaging company performance, as well.    Certainly the weather even helped give the island aura.  Bravo to all!  Not the least of which is your clear and expert handling of tickets and directions.  Many blessings for the rest of the run.

Saw the performance today – magnificent.  A bit warm, but that was not in your conrol.  Everything from the staging (simple but used well), costume design, talent, etc was a joy.  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…

 

Congratulations on this wonderful achievement. I do hope you can enlarge your schedule next year.

 

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed Sunday’s  presentation  of “The Tempest”. There were many memorable performances, particularly (but not solely)   those of  Ariel and Caliban .  As always, James Pickering was a delight.  The costumes of “The Tribe” and of the goddesses were  fascinating . The ”choreography” of their stage movements was very imaginative .  The peaceful, intimate  and secluded (yet accessible) courtyard of Alverno College  was a great choice.We will encourage our friends who were not able to attend this year to attend any future performances .We hope you will find the resources to mount one or more  productions of ‘”Shakespeare in the Park” in  2011.
 
We attended the performance last evening and were VERY impressed.  Beautiful setting, very well organized and the acting was superb!  Thanks to everyone for making this possible.
It was outstanding! Thank you for the opportunity to (finally) appreciate Shakespeare.
Just wanted to say that my daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance Friday night. We wanted to thank all those involved with making it a delightful evening, and wanted to especially thank the actors for pursuing it to the finish, even indoors. We appreciated that very much.  Well done all around!
Last night I attended the performance of The Tempest.  My five companions and I thoroughly enjoyed the show.  This is a wonderful project, and I sincerely hope that you are able to do it again next year!  Thank you, and my compliments to your talented cast and crew.
I did go last night and was able to get a seat. What a fantastic setting and production! I can’t wait for next season.

No Fear Shakespeare

There’s this lovely website called “No Fear Shakespeare”.  I started reading their side-by-side (Shakespeare’s text and a modern translation) text for The Tempest and found it to be non-simplistically, brain-candy enjoyable.

I say Hey!  Take the Fear out of Shakespeare!  Free Shakespeare for Everyone!  And if this helps, I also say AMEN!

Check out The Tempest at http://nfs.sparknotes.com/tempest/.

What a Brave New World.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

Jeanna Salzer is on 88.9 at 5:30 This Evening

Catch The Jeanna Salzer Trio live this evening on Milwaukee radio station 88.9.

Jeanna has a rich, soulful style which won her recognition as the Best Acoustic Musician and the Best Vocalist – Female in the Shepherd Express “Best of Milwaukee 2009″ issue.

AND, she’s a headliner at the Brave New World fundraiser on January 30th.

Enjoy!

Announcing… Angela Iannone as Ariel!

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

Find the Best People and Get Out of Their Way

I posted today in another blog called “A Year of Significance” that my goal for January 4, 2010 is to find our leaders — specifically for the upcoming Brave New World fundraiser.  Yes, that’s pretty ambitious, but I’ve already begun and have faith that it will happen.  Yes, it will take me more than just today to do. Yes, it’s worth the effort.

So many of the Optimist Theatre goals — for both the company AND Shakespeare in the Park — focus on community involvement.  Our work is a collaborative effort.  It’s not the only way to go about these things, but it is the approach we prefer.  Utopian?  Why not?

We have a unique blend of optimism, faith in people and practical experience to draw from.  It’s the approach that worked successfully when Ron and I ran entertainment for the Bristol Renaissance Faire and for the couple of years at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire.  Let’s see how this works for Shakespeare in the Park.

Hopes are high.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

An Ambitious Goal – 1,000 More Invitations Today

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

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.

 

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