Theater for the people

Dave Begel

Imagine you’re on your lunch break — maybe you’re checking out Food Truck Fridays in Cathedral Square, sipping coffee in Pere Marquette Park, or cooling off in the Third Ward. Then, seemingly from nowhere, Mercutio and Tybalt begin a bloody fight for honor, right in the middle of the park. Or perhaps a few local actors re-enact a scene from Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in full costume on the street.

This is the sort of thing  Dave Begel wants to see happen in our fair city. As a life-long lover of the theater, Dave says he wants to find more ways for people to “touch, smell, and feel the power of live theater.” While he agrees that Milwaukee’s arts scene is robust, he notes that theater companies consistently struggle with building their audience. Sure, there are season ticket holders and loyal theater-goers, but what about younger generations or those who don’t always have access to live theater?

Dave’s idea: take it to the streets. It’s a thought that’s  equal parts guerilla theater and street marketing, and he thinks it could bring the best of Milwaukee theater to an entirely new audience. Of course, it’s just an idea, but today Mark and Dave get the conversation started.

Theater for the people: A conversation with Dave Begel

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