Free Bus Rides on New Year’s Eve

MillerCoors is stepping up to the plate again this year and offering free rides for any MCTS bus after 8 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Service on 13 routes will also run every half hour until 4 a.m. Think, don't drive.

Roses in December

Artistic Director Mark Bucher is quite proud of the fact the Boulevard Theatre consistently produces plays that are premieres in Milwaukee. The most recent premiere produced by the Boulevard is Roses in December, by Victor L. Cahn. A play composed entirely of letters with no true interaction between characters can be daunting for both the director as well as the actors. However, the Boulevard proved incredibly capable with this early work of Cahn’s. The correspondence begins with a young woman, Carolyn Meyers, inviting a writer, Joel Gordon, to a college reunion. Even though Carolyn writes in a professional capacity, she also has a few personal reasons that unravel as their letters become less perfunctory and more intimate. Although Joel sees her letters as mildly annoying he begins to enjoy them and appreciate his growing relationship with Carolyn. With only two characters that are never physically in the same location, both actors need to respond to a growing relationship with another human being via letters. In the first half of the show, Bucher allowed his actors only a single moment of eye contact. As their letters deepen and explore the past, Bucher allows more direct interaction which helps to heighten the devotion both Joel and Carolyn feel towards their long distance relationship. Anne Miller, playing Carolyn, is as charming as Carolyn’s self-description. Miller’s exuberance and refined determination drive the play forward making a series of what could just be monologues into a lively exchange. David Ferrie lends an oddly engaging allure to a character that could easily be played as a one dimensional curmudgeon. Ferrie gives his character layer after layer of history and pathology that shape Joel’s entire adult life, lifting each overlay only when appropriate. Miller and Ferrie’s work together build the complex relationship that this type of play demands. Roses in December runs through January 18 at the Boulevard Theatre in Bayview. 414.744.5757 or boulevardtheatre.com.

Betamax, you’re off the hook. The makers of Sparks, not so much

Fig.1: a fish killed by Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia, or VHS. This is not the “VHS” we will be discussing here, but as maladies go, it has a pretty cool name, don’tcha think? The era of VHS is at its close. Pop culture is finally hitting the eject button on the VHS tape, the once-ubiquitous home-video format that will finish this month as a creaky ghost of Christmas past. After three decades of steady if unspectacular service, the spinning wheels of the home-entertainment stalwart are slowing to a halt at retail outlets. On a crisp Friday morning in October, the final truckload of VHS tapes rolled out of a Palm Harbor, Fla., warehouse run by Ryan J. Kugler, the last major supplier of the tapes. “It’s dead, this is it, this is the last Christmas, without a doubt,” said Kugler, 34, a Burbank businessman. “I was the last one buying VHS and the last one selling it, and I’m done. Anything left in warehouse we’ll just give away or throw away.” … Kugler is president and co-owner of Distribution Video Audio Inc., a company that pulls in annual revenue of $20 million with a proud nickel-and-dime approach to fading and faded pop culture. Whether it’s unwanted “Speed Racer” ball caps, unsold Danielle Steel novels or unappreciated David Hasselhoff albums, Kugler’s company pays pennies and sells for dimes. If the firm had a motto, it would be “Buy low, sell low.” VHS has been very good to me over the years; my band used to “enhance” our live performances (and by “enhance” I mean “mask the lack in quality of”) with VHS footage of cheesy old sci-fi (the Desi Arnaz Jr.-anchored Automan), Japanese techno-virus art films (Tetsuo: The Iron Man), and blow-up doll porn. Sure, that could all be done with DVD now, but there’s something romantically punk rock about spackling together a cheap light show out of the refuse of your local Goodwill, and back in the early ‘00s, nothing spelled “kickass thrift store throwaway” like outmoded technology. Fig.2: VHS enabled my band to introduce Automan to literally dozens of Manitowoc punk kids But earlier today, as I read the LA Times article linked above, I didn’t find myself pondering nostalgia as much as I was thinking about how finally, at long last, the people who fucked up the marketing of Betamax are off the hook for letting the market flood with a subpar video format. Revolutionary for its day, the Betamax format was on its way to becoming the industry standard until the appearance of JVC’s VHS a year later. Betamax was probably a bit sharper and crisper, but VHS offered longer-playing ability, which made it possible to record an entire movie on one three-hour tape. The two formats were locked in a struggle that was eventually won by VHS. A number of theories as to why VHS emerged victorious have been floated, but the longer playing time was certainly crucial, as was the fact that VHS machines were cheaper […]

Milwaukee Actor is “GANGBANGER 1” in GRAND TORINO

lets end the REEL Milwaukee year with a warm n fuzzie. Peep a letter we received at Vital from Elvis Thao repping all the indie-film-actor-milwaukee-hmong’s out there. Peace y’alls: Howie ____________________________________________ I’m a local Milwaukee resident that just landed my first major film. Yes, as a cast. The title is Gran Torino and hits theatres here on January 9th, 2009 (wide). A Warner Bros film directed by Clint Eastwood. It is a four star movie and is in chase of an Oscar award. This is his LAST film acting, at that. Plus, hes already nominated for Best Actor. This is HUGE! All the major television and publishing companies nationwide already have their hands on this. The limited release had already come out December 12th. And the reviews are high. Check your search engines for ratings. However, the film has NOT landed here yet. SOON! This city needs some exposure to it. Lets create a demand for Milwaukee actors and city exposure. By increasing ratings. Also being Hmong, Id like to shed light on our community. Let me know how I can contribute to your corporation and yours to mine. We can even attempt to promote advanced ticket screenings and things of that nature directly from the WB. I have those contacts. Hope you catch the movie and hope to hear from you soon. Take care Elvis Thao

Fine, Let the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Expand in Wauwatosa

Back in March, 2008 I started an organization that worked to convince the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee that expanding into Wauwatosa was the wrong choice for the university, the City of Milwaukee, and Southeast Wisconsin. T

Weekly Bookmarks – Monday, 29. December 2008

OnMilwaukee.com Travel & Visitors Guide: Pfister Hotel earns Travel Green WI certification State expects minor collision between tourism and interstate rebuild OnMilwaukee.com Politics: Should voters pick School Board representatives? Deal of the Week – BizTimes Cardinal Stritch expanding to The Brewery – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: Holloway names 5 to suggest RTA stand – JSOnline mid coast views: Mayor endorses downtown location for UWM engineering campus

Friday Photos Friday, 26. December 2008

Milwaukee Intermodal Station Milwaukee Intermodal Station Milwaukee Intermodal Station Milwaukee Intermodal Station Milwaukee Intermodal Station

Riders on the Earth Together

Protecting the Milwaukee River? Or Overreaching Zoning?

Over the past few years the Milwaukee River Work Group ("MRWG") has pushed to create an overlay district to "protect" the Milwaukee River. This overlay district would create new building setback requirements, height limits, and introduce the concept of a viewshed for properties along the Milwaukee River.

John McGivern’s Winter Tales

By Christina Sajdak Lucchesi   Actor, comedian and master storyteller John McGivern performed his much anticipated one-man show, Winter Tales (presented by Next Act Theatre) to a sold-out house this past Thursday.  At oncehilarious and heartwarming, the production delivers on all counts as it invites us to gaze into McGivern’s personal scrapbook of holiday memories from the legendary duplex on Bartlett Avenue. Comics have always found fodder for jokes in marriage, family and memories of growing up and John McGivern is no exception.  What makes his comic style unique, however, is his tremendous warmth, sincerity and candor. These qualities and his remarkable talent for storytelling have won him a legion of fans who return to his shows again and again with newcomers quick to join the ranks. In Winter Tales, McGivern relates his childhood experiences with an exuberance and gregariousness that reaches out and leaves one with the feeling of having been there.  As each colorful anecdote and pithy profile brings another relative to life, one cannot help but recognize a crazy aunt, dashing uncle or doting grandmother of one’s own in these people.  The set functions as a time machine – a stack of LPs resting against a fireplace; six ashtrays scattered across a table amid the cocktails, the good china and the Thanksgiving turkey.  As McGivern tells of praying for snow days at the sight of the first snowflake, of careening down hills on slippery silver saucers, and “grown up” parties in the rec room downstairs, it makes one think.  Did everybody do this?  Together we laugh at the things we find we had in common, both good and bad, and never knew we did.  And laughter is cheaper than therapy. The audience’s proximity to the stage in this production is a boon.  The intimacy of this marvelous 99-seat theater is the perfect setting for McGivern.  The actor has no reservations about breaking the fourth wall and engages with audience members when the spirit moves him.  Such being the case, there is no hard line drawn between actor and audience, house and stage.  All are one and all are gathered together to reminisce.  Leaving no one out, McGivern interacts with his audience like he’s hosting a party for them, making eye contact with each audience member as if he or she were the only one in the room.  It’s no wonder people leave with smiles on their faces ready to face the cold again with very warm hearts. Winter Tales runs through January 4 in the Off Broadway Theater. 414-278-0765 or nextact.org.

Dale Gutzman’s Holiday Punch Green

Spiked with humor and a generous spritz of decadence, Dale Gutzman’s Holiday Punch Green lightly focuses on environmental issues. Together with this politically correct “green” emphasis, the two-hour performance also spoofs Gutzmans’s longevity as the company’s artistic director. In these 28 loosely related sketches, the twelve cast members (including Gutzman who appears on stage to host the show) change costumes and scenes effortlessly in the intimate space while Chris Wszaleck’s piano and Patrick Hopkins’ percussion provide the music. The revue presents Gutzman’s particular take on the holidays with panache and a decidedly deviant slant, although several installments could be eliminated to spark a stronger show. During the first half, a number titled “That Special Store” parodies West Side Story with a clever rendition of ”IKEA…the most beautiful store I ever knew”to the award-winning melody of Maria.Jeremy C. Welter follows by singing the timely and touching Brother Can You Spare A Dime? Even box office manager Mary R. Henricksen participates with two satiric versions of The Night Before Christmas in mocking tribute to Off the Wall Theatre. Just before the intermission, a rousing version of Obama Mia! reprises the popularity of Abba’s musical and movie phenomena with catchy political lyrics honoring the recent election. When returning to the theater after sipping real punch, the second act showcases the musical numbers Hard Candy Christmas, featuring the feminine side of Off the Wall, and If I Ruled the World sung solo by Gutzman. A very funny finale closes the show, which was never intended to offer family-friendly entertainment, with a piece that makes this all too apparent. Yet when Off the Wall’s Rickettes immortalize New York’s famous Rockettes to celebrate their 75th birthday the comedic choreography portrays the male cast baring their bellies and legs to conclude the evening with raucous hilarity. While this spicy Holiday Punch may be a delightful drink for those seeking adult seasonal spirits and entertainment, the production will not be everyone’s cup of Christmas tea. These festive moments and music will certainly provoke that kick of sardonic laughter that is Off the Wall’s signature ingredient to the Milwaukee theater scene. Off the Wall Theatre presents Dale Gutzman’s Holiday Punch Green through December 31. For information call 414-327-2552.

Weekly Bookmarks – Monday, 22. December 2008

City Hall Restoration Finished MilwaukeeWorld: KAYE V KOHLER, D’AMATO, ET AL DISMISSED City approves extension for Ghazi project – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: Cardinal Stritch to build new satellite campus at Pabst brewery – BizTimes OnMilwaukee.com Milwaukee Buzz: Return to glory for City Hall Milwaukee might vie for gas tax cash Cardinal Stritch to expand at Pabst site – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: Special needs housing expanding – JSOnline City Hall reborn in all its glory – JSOnline Milwaukee resolution would oppose I-94 widening plan – BizTimes Milwaukee council OKs $1.1 million for apartment project – JSOnline Infrastructure to Nowhere More WHEDA funds for King Drive project – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: