News to You
Milwaukee Rep Announces Latest Pay-What-You-Can Performances
If you’re looking for an affordable way to see some great live theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theater offers Pay What You Can for select performances, you literally pay what you can afford for the ticket. (A minimum donation of $5.00 is suggested.) Tickets go on sale at 5:30 on the day of the Pay What You Can Performance. There is a limit of 10 tickets per person for the Quadracci Powerhouse performances and 4 tickets per person for the Stiemke Theater performances. Pay What You Can Performances for I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN are Wednesday, April 8th and Thursday, April 9th. Dates for THE CHERRY ORCHARD are Tuesday, April 14th and Wednesday, April 15th. I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN will be playing in The Rep’s Stiemke Theater, and THE CHERRY ORCHARD is in The Rep’s Quadracci Powerhouse Theater. All Pay What You Can Performances begin at 7:30. Both theaters are located at 108 E. Wells Street. For more information, please call The Rep’s Ticket Office at 414-224-9490. Enjoy!
Apr 7th, 2009 by Jon Anne Willow
Participate in MKE County park clean-up
(Milwaukee, WI) – Volunteers both young and old, as well as families, youth groups, schools, businesses and churches are invited to take part in the Keep America Beautiful 2009 Great American Cleanup, with the official Community Cleanup Day kick-off event starting on April 18 from 9am to noon at Gordon Park, 1321 E. Locust Ave in Milwaukee. Cleanup supplies will be provided. Participants should bring their own gloves, if available. Participants are encouraged to join in litter cleanup, park, roadway, river and lake cleanup, or beautification projects. On Saturday, April 18th from 9am to noon cleanups will take place at the following Milwaukee County Parks: Cudahy Park at 3000 E. Ramsey Ave. Falk Park at 2031 W. Rawson Ave. Sheridan and Warnimont Parks at 4800 S. Lake Drive Grant Park at 100 E. Hawthorne Ave. Humboldt Park at 3000 S. Howell Ave. Lake Park at 3233 E. Kenwood Boulevard Lakefront Bike & Trail Bluffs meet at McKinley Marina Parking Lot 1750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr. South Shore Park at 2900 S. South Shore Dr. Washington Park at 1859 N. 40th Street Whitnall Park/ Potters Forest at 5879 S. 92nd Street Last year in greater Milwaukee alone over 45,000 volunteers worked diligently to clean and beautify local communities. Interested parties may sign up to become a site coordinator or cleanup volunteer by visiting the website at kgmb.org. For additional information or to receive a paper copy of the registration form, please contact Karolynn Pohl at (414) 272-5462 x104.
Apr 3rd, 2009 by Amy Elliott
Help the arts! Help UPAF!
ThirdCoast Digest and VITAL Source have remained committed to the arts in Milwaukee for the entire eight years we’ve been doing this, and we’ve had the tremendous pleasure to watch the arts community grow and thrive. But any conversation about the health of arts in Milwaukee MUST include discussion of the United Performing Arts Fund. This muscular organization – the largest performing arts fundraising group in the country – has raised over $208 million for the arts since 1967 and has, as a result, touched the lives of millions and millions of residents in the region and fostered the growth of a community that contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy. Including – she said with a smirk – the survival of local arts publications like this one. So it’s absolutely crucial that UPAF receives the support it needs from the public. And here’s your chance. This ain’t no bake sale – support now. -Sr. Ed. MILWAUKEE – (March 26, 2009) – The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) has announced its 2009 campaign goal of $9 million by mid-June and is reaching out to the southeastern Wisconsin community in a comprehensive way to help achieve this goal. UPAF is a nonprofit organization based in Milwaukee that supports 36 of the region’s performing arts groups through its annual community-wide fundraising campaign. UPAF is reaching out to the entire southeastern Wisconsin community by providing everyone with an opportunity to show their support for the performing arts. In addition to donating at work through a UPAF employee giving campaign, all residents of southeastern Wisconsin can donate by visiting the UPAF Web site at UPAF.org and clicking on “give now.” Those donors who are able to give a gift of $100, or $2 per week, will receive UPAF’s signature benefit smART Card – a $400.00 value in buy-one, get-one-free tickets to all UPAF Member Group performances. “UPAF is acutely aware of the difficult economic conditions everyone is experiencing, which is why we ask that you give what you can, since every gift matters to our performing arts groups,” said UPAF President Cristy Garcia-Thomas. “Your single gift to UPAF is critical to allowing our 36 Member and Affiliate groups to continue offering exceptional live performances, award-winning education, mentoring and outreach programming to children and members of our community who ordinarily would not have access, while providing a substantial economic impact to our region.” Through community support of UPAF, its 36 Member and Affiliate Groups are able to provide education and outreach to over 400,000 children, provide over 2,000 live performances and reach over 1,000,000 people every year. In addition, these southeastern Wisconsin performing arts groups: Have an economic impact of more than $236 million, together with regional cultural organizations. Account for hundreds of jobs – not just for performers, but for the hundreds of those who work behind the scenes as well, those who help make the performing arts a reality. Help Milwaukee-area businesses attract and retain talented professionals. Make the region […]
Apr 2nd, 2009 by Amy Elliott
Milwaukee Film announces 2009 Milwaukee Film Festival!
And now … the news you’ve all been waiting for … with a brand-new logo to boot. So exciting! – Ed. Milwaukee Film, the new and independent organization dedicated to presenting Milwaukee’s premier film festival, is proud to announce the dates and a call for entries for its 2009 Milwaukee Film Festival. Running September 24 through October 4, the back and better-than-ever Milwaukee Film Festival will showcase more than 100 films at venues throughout the city, including the Landmark Theatres Oriental Theatre and the Marcus Theatres North Shore Cinema. The Film Festival will feature films from around the country and the world, providing a unique community platform for films that would otherwise not screen in Milwaukee. “We’re incredibly excited to be able to announce the Film Festival dates today,” said Jonathan Jackson, Milwaukee Film artistic director. “We’re confident that the new festival will be the best Milwaukee has seen and that it will be a Milwaukee institution for many years to come.” The early deadline for film submissions is April 6. Entry fees start at $10, but the fees are waived for any film created by a Milwaukee filmmaker. The festival will offer cash and production prize packages, to be announced at a later date. Tickets for individual films will be $10, but Milwaukee Film will offer discounts for those purchasing their ticket packages and passes early. The first ticket packages will go on sale in April, and in addition to early discounts, Milwaukee Film is planning a series of contests, promotions, incentives, and special events leading up to the film festival. “Thousands of Milwaukeeans filled the seats at the film festival in years past, and this year our goal is to bring those guests back and to attract a diverse new audience,” said Diane Bacha, executive director of Milwaukee Film. “The response we’ve gotten since forming the organization last year has been overwhelmingly positive, and we can’t wait to present Milwaukee with this world-class festival come September. It’s truly a privilege to be able to essentially bring the whole world to Milwaukee through film.” About Milwaukee Film Milwaukee Film was founded in 2008 to serve as the area’s independent organization dedicated to presenting Milwaukee’s premier film festival. The 2009 Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 24 – October 4. In addition to the film festival, the organization hosts a series of film events throughout the year. Visit www.milwaukee-film.org for information on the film festival and the organization, special events, ticket availability and promotions and contests, and to sign up for the email list and to donate funds. Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (search “Milwaukee Film” in groups) and on Twitter (@MilwaukeeFilm), and visit the Milwaukee Film blog at www.milwaukeefilm.blogspot.com. About the Milwaukee Film Board Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Chris Abele, Tom Barrett, Sue Black, Tina Chang, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, James Gelly, Bill Haberman, Carmen Haberman, Tracey Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Marianne Lubar, Cathie Madden, Steve Mech, Paul Mathews, Andy […]
Mar 18th, 2009 by Amy Elliott
Choreographers vie for top spot in Milwaukee Ballet’s “Genesis”
Next month, three choreographers will get a unique opportunity to showcase their work during Milwaukee Ballet’s third international choreographic competition, Genesis: Choreography for the Next Generation, March 26-29. Held every other year, the competition demonstrates Milwaukee Ballet’s continued commitment to generating new and innovative works. While ballets internationally often follow the same model, Milwaukee Ballet is one of few companies in this country hosting a truly international competition. Milwaukee will be among the first to witness the evolving new talent in international ballet production. Genesis will include three Milwaukee premieres choreographed by finalists Maurice Causey, Cameron McMillan and Timothy O’Donnell. The winner receives $3,000 and is offered the chance to create an original piece for Milwaukee Ballet the following season. Second place receives $2,000; third place receives $1,000; and the audience favorite receives $500. The three choreographers are handpicked by Artistic Director Michael Pink, who watches and critiques over 30 submissions from across the globe. This year, Pink received entries from Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, United States and Vietnam. “I look for musicality and creativity in the steps; the original way in which the choreographer brings together music and dance,” Pink said. Pink also invites a panel of renowned judges to select the winner. This year’s panel includes André Lewis, artistic director of Royal Winnipeg Ballet; Gil Boggs, artistic director of Colorado Ballet; Katherine C. Kersten, founder and artistic director of The American Ballet Competition; and John McFall, artistic director of Atlanta Ballet. Each choreographer is given a dance team of eight performers to create a 20-minute work. The dancers and choreographer will then have three weeks, a total of 90 rehearsal hours, to make their piece ready for the panel of judges and the audience. As in year’s past, this year’s competition takes place at Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater, providing audiences with a rare opportunity to get an up close experience with the Ballet’s dancers. In the ornate Baroque and Renaissance style of this intimate auditorium, audiences will discover the athleticism, strength and versatility of the dancers—every muscle and bead of sweat is distinguishable. The show’s choreography pushes the boundaries of dance from ballet to contemporary, providing an incomparable performance for experienced ballet-goers, and an accessible introduction to ballet for novices. Milwaukee Ballet also runs a voting process, allowing ballet goers to pick an audience favorite by the end of the show’s run. Genesis: Choreography for the Next Generation runs March 26-29 at the Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee. Tickets to the performance begin at $22. To order tickets or for additional information, call (414) 902-2103 or visit www.milwaukeeballet.org.Genesis is sponsored by Briggs and Stratton.
Mar 4th, 2009 by Erin Petersen
