Author Archives: Katie Danner
Announcing Our 62nd Mainstage Season!
July of 2018 marks the beginning of Waukesha Civic Theatre’s 62nd season. WCT is proud to be part of an elite group: according to the American Association of Community Theatres, of the roughly 7,000 community theatres in the United States, only about 100 can claim 60 years of continuous operation. Since the theatre opened in 1957, WCT has produced or presented more than 650 shows, over 14,000 people have volunteered, 450,000 audience members have been entertained, and more than 15,000 students have been served.
We are thrilled to announce our 62nd Mainstage Season:
Comedy | September 14 – 30, 2018
Snowed in at their wealthy patron’s Westchester estate, a creative team reunites to launch a new show – stalked by the “Stage Door Slasher,” who haunted their last Broadway flop. (NOT a musical. YES a comedy!)
Directed By Carol Dolphin
Musical Comedy | October 26 – November 11, 2018 
Set during the miners’ strike of 1984-85, this musical follows Billy as he trades in boxing gloves for ballet shoes and develops the courage to be uniquely himself. This show contains strong language – discretion advised.
Directed By Mark E. Schuster
Holiday Variety Show | November 30 – December 16, 2018 
Celebrate with a cast of all ages acting, singing, and dancing through classic seasonal songs and stories. This WCT family tradition is a must-see part of the holiday season.
Directed By John Cramer & Kelly Goeller
Comedy | February 8 – 24, 2019 
Adapted by Steve Martin; this comedy is set in Germany, 1910. As events unfold, Theo worries about scandal and repercussions at his job as a government clerk. Louise allows herself to revel in newfound fame, reveling in the possibilities. They explore scandal, fame, and gender roles through intricate wordplay.
Directed By Phil Stepanski
Musical Comedy | March 29 – April 14, 2019 
Millie, a small town girl from Kansas, arrives in New York ready to become a star. This madcap musical comedy is full of bright, 1920s music and dance.
Directed By James Padovano
Drama | May 3 – 19, 2019
Jonas lives in a utopia with no pain, no fear – and no choice. Jonas is assigned to be the Receiver of his community’s memories and learns that life does not have to be so black and white. Based on the Newberry Award winning novel by Lois Lowry.
Directed By Katie Lynne Krueger
Comedy | June 7 – 23, 2019 
Barnaby Folcey is murdered at a family gathering where he had the motive to murder everyone, but no one had reason to want him dead. Everything seems to go wrong in this absurd comedy – there are secret passages, poison in the sherry, and the police take forever to arrive, so the eclectic group tries to unmask the murderer themselves.
Directed By David Kaye
Subscription Packages Go On Sale May 1, 2018 | Individual Mainstage Tickets Go On Sale July 1, 2018
See you at the Theatre!
A Note From The Playwright
I was asked by an ACAP member to think about doing a show about baseball, which is her favorite pastime. I was initially reluctant to consider a baseball show because sports movements are a bit tricky on stage. But before I dismissed the idea I researched some baseball productions and only found Damn Yankees as something usable. Mix that with a little A League Of Their Own and some baseball history of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox scandal and you get Darn Yankees.
Baseball is as American as it gets. And when gangsters try to corrupt it, you have the makings of a Frank Capra-style production. Capra was a lover of America and its institutions; all his films depicted the power-mongers gobbling up America until a humble, all-American boy (usually Jimmy Stewart) stops them in their tracks with nothing more than honesty and heart.
Our story follows that theme. It shows what happens when good meets bad, power meets virtue, and sophisticated-greed meets good old-fashioned honesty.
Many thanks to the wonderful cast and technical crew who turn written pages of text into a living breathing experience of love and joy before our very eyes. You gotta have heart and they all have miles and miles of it! So let’s play ball!
Mark Cage
Playwright
No Foolin’ – April Is Full Of Fun At WCT!
We have another full month coming up and I hope you can join us! We kick off the month with our next Education And Outreach production, Broadway Bound tomorrow morning, Saturday, April 7 at 10:00 am. Come see Waukesha’s future stars in this musical revue!
Darn Yankees, our next ACAP PlayMakers production, takes our stage April 12-15.
Our annual gala, Spring City’s Wild West Saloon, will be held on Saturday, April 14, at the Westmoor Country Club. It’s not too late to join us for this fun-filled night of entertainment, but don’t delay!
Our next Mainstage show is the classic Frederick Knott mystery Wait Until Dark performing April 27 through May 13.
Our tenth PIX Flix film of the season is Apollo 13 on Monday, April 30 at 6:30 pm. “Houston, we have a problem!” Directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, and more, this is the suspenseful re-telling of the Apollo 13 mission! All PIX Flix tickets are $5.00, or groups of ten or more for $4.00 each. And of course we have concessions available, including soda, water, beer, wine, cookies, beef sticks, and POPCORN from Pop’s Kettle Corn!
Registration is open for our A.C.T. Summer Sessions, including our summer A.C.T. production The Music Man JR.
Our current featured artist in the Waukesha State Bank Art Gallery is Jack Pachuta. Come enjoy his art through April 16. Our next gallery show will be a photograph display from the Consulate of Mexico in Milwaukee featuring photos of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo by Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Nicolas Murray, and Edward Weston from April 17 through May 21. A reception will be held on Saturday, May 5, from 3 pm to 5 pm.
Are you interested in helping WCT make decisions about everything we do? Join A Committee and get involved. We have lots of great committees to choose from: Education and Outreach, Finance and Facility, Fund Development, Fundraising Events (Gala), Governance, and Marketing.
And our Play Advisory Committee will be starting the process of choosing our 2019-2020 season. If you are interested in participating on this exciting and important committee please contact me as soon as possible. Our deadline for submitting titles for consideration is May 10, 2018, and our reveiw committee will meet May 24, July 19, and August 23.
We are already nine months into our 61st Season, with Fabulous Flex Passes and individual tickets on sale now, so please join us for some great entertainment!
Wait Until Dark
Father Knows Best
Individual tickets for our Random Acts Of Entertainment, Education And Outreach shows, and Fundraising Events are on sale now!
Broadway Bound
Darn Yankees
Spring City’s Wild Card Saloon
A.C.T. June Summer Showcase
Our PIX Flix Film Series is also on sale now, including our new group rate!
Apollo 13
Rear Window
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
And the artists that will be featured in the Waukesha State Bank Art Gallery in our lobby will be:
Jack Pachuta
Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Nicolas Murray, and Edward Weston
The League Of Milwaukee Artists
And don’t forget about all the ways to save on quality, live entertainment. WCT’s Ticket Promotions can’t be beat!
Fabulous Flex Pass – Save 22%
Subscriber Rate – Save 22 to 31%
Group Rate (Ten Or More Tickets) – Save 22 to 31%
Educational Group Rate (Ten Or More Tickets) – Save 31 to 63%
Student / Senior (60+) / Military Rate – Save 11%
Student Rush – Save 50%
Terrific Tickets – Save 50%
Pay What You Can – You Name Your Savings
All subscribers also recieve the Subscriber Benefits Card with discounts at 18 downtown Waukesha restaurants. And your ticket stub can save you money too!
Thank you to all of the generous donors that have supported us so far this season. If you would like to donate, you can choose from any number of ways you could help us not only maintain, but thrive, as Waukesha’s Cultural Cornerstone.
Please Consider Giving …
* A gift to our Operating Fund
* A matching gift through local sponsoring business employers
* A gift that will last a lifetime through your Will or Estate Planning
* A gift by donation to CARS
* A gift by shopping through Amazon Smile
* A gift by purchasing something on our Amazon Wish List
* Choose WCT as your Thrivent Choice charitable organization
* Become a Sponsor of outstanding performances and educational programs
See you at the theatre!
John Cramer
Managing Artistic Director
jcramer@waukeshacivictheatre.org
The Waukesha State Bank Art Gallery Presents: Jack Pachuta
Wisconsin artist Jack Pachuta takes a non-traditional approach to his subject matter. Combining printmaking techniques with the craftsmanship of pencil and ink renderings, his works are known for their vibrant colors and unique textures.
Jack says, “An artist’s challenge is to portray the usual in unusual ways and to make people see what they might not otherwise see.”
Having no formal training in art, Jack has always been able to draw. He holds a bachelor’s degree in radio and television from Kent State University, then earned master’s degrees from Michigan State University and the University of Southern California on the G.I. Bill, all the while pursuing art as a hobby.
Fourteen years ago, Jack found the art medium that has become the focus of his attention – printmaking. Working with Paul Yank at the Ozaukee Art Center, Jack has developed his own distinctive style and artistic perspective. A member of the Cedarburg Artists Guild, Jack is the president of the League of Milwaukee Artists and was a 2015 Featured Artist of MPTV’s Great TV Auction.
Jack met his English wife, Renira, over breakfast “on holiday” in Portugal while they were both living and working in Germany.They were married on Shakespeare’s birthday in 1976 and now have two daughters, a cat named Zoe, and a house that borders a Christmas tree farm. They have lived in Cedarburg since 1979. Jack’s works have been displayed in galleries throughout southeastern Wisconsin and he is a frequent exhibitor at art shows in the Midwest.
Jack is also a professional speaker, trainer, consultant, and the owner of Management Strategies, Inc. Plus, he is a murder mystery writer with consulting clients and a cadre of whodunit aficionados on six continents.
His work will be displayed in the Waukesha State Bank Art Gallery through April 16, 2018.
Spotlight On The Board Of Directors: The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged)
To be, or not to be, that is the question
-Hamlet, Act III, Scene I.
What quote could be more quintessential than this line from quite arguably the most renown English poet and playwright of all time, William Shakespeare. If you thought you were about to embark on an emotional journey of a tragic Shakespeare play, then the answer to the question is “not to be.” O…there will be emotion, not of a tragic nature but of a comedic twist on the plays that have shaped and influenced countless authors, playwrights, and screenwriters for centuries. Get ready to be taken on a witty paradoxical weaving of all 37 Shakespearean plays in 97 minutes.
We have many opportunities throughout the year to enjoy, in more than one way, the offerings at the Civic. If after seeing The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged) you want to dust off your acting skills, we encourage you to audition for any of our upcoming shows. If acting isn’t up your alley, purchasing tickets to our upcoming shows or donations are always a welcomed support of the theatre. We also have many opportunities for volunteering your time to the theatre to help keep it in the pristine state and experience you are used to after all of these years of entertainment.
So grab your tissue box–not for the traditional tears of sadness you get from Shakespeare but because you will have countless tears of joy from the non-stop laughter from this fresh take on these timeless stories. Please spread the word to your family and friends about the great works Waukesha Civic Theatre has to offer. Remember, we cannot provide this great entertainment without the support of our collective Civic family.
Rich Johnson
Treasurer
Board of Directors
MAD Corner: The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged)
I love, love, love, love, love William Shakespeare. I have been blessed to appear in four different productions written by the Bard, and they are some of my favorite memories. When I was a young man of 17 years, I set a goal for myself to read everything Shakespeare wrote over the summer. I didn’t quite make it. I read all the sonnets and about half of his plays, but that was as far as I got before the fall came and I had to move on to my exciting first year of college. If only The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged) had been available to me then! I first saw this play almost twenty years ago, and it made a huge impression on me. It became one of my favorite plays of all time. One of the great things about this comedy is that you don’t need to be a fan of Shakespeare to enjoy it. The madcap mayhem is accessible to everyone!
We hope you enjoy this clever and silly show as we present 37 of the Bard’s plays in just 97 minutes!
Thank you to everyone that supports WCT! All of our volunteers help us out in any number of ways by acting, ushering, serving on the board of directors, providing maintenance or office support, or working on sets, costumes, props. Our patrons come to WCT see quality live entertainment, the fruits of our volunteers’ labor. Our donors help keep us financially sound by their gifts to the Annual Operating Fund, the Endowment Fund, or by joining our Curtain Call Club and including us in their planned giving.
The generosity of the Waukesha community astounds me, and I truly appreciate all the time, talent, and money that you give to WCT.
One way, and arguably the best way, to support WCT is to spread the word about Waukesha’s best kept secret. It always amazes me when I meet someone in Waukesha who has no idea what a fantastic organization we have right here in the heart of the community. Tell people about what we do and all we offer.
Enrich. Challenge. Entertain. That says it all, so keep watching, keep participating with, and keep supporting this cultural cornerstone. We couldn’t do it without you.
Managing Artistic Director
Director’s Note: The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged)
I usually use this space to share with you the themes of the play, what they mean to me, and how they apply to our present time and culture. And indeed, the plays of William Shakespeare have had a profound impact on my life. It was seeing The Comedy Of Errors as a sophomore in high school that first got me interested in theatre and radically changed my life. I am working my way through seeing all his plays performed on stage or screen (only six to go!).
Well, forget all of that. Sure, The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged) is an appreciation of the playwright and his immeasurable impact on the world. But, don’t worry – no knowledge or love of Shakespeare is needed. I think The Today Show put it best when, reviewing the show they stated: “If you like Shakespeare, you’ll love this show. If you hate Shakespeare, you’ll love this show!”
So, prepare yourself for a whirlwind theatrical experience that is unlike anything you’ve seen before. This is going to be a high-speed roller coaster ride so buckle in and keep your hands and feet inside the theater at all times.
Oh, and one more thing… you best be ready. You never know when we might be calling on you for help tonight!
Dustin J. Martin
Director
PIX Flix Spotlight On The Board: Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing – A 31 Year Old Favorite
So if you’re looking for a movie to make you feel good, has toe tapping catchy music, sexy dancing, great acting and an awesome story line filled with a little spice and good girl falls for bad boy – Dirty Dancing is the film to see! Released in 1987, Dirty Dancing is one of the best dance/teen love movies ever made. It’s also the movie that catapulted the career of Swayze. Just three years later he went on to make the movie Ghost with Demi Moore (another awesome love story, but let’s stay focused!) Dirty Dancing is literally one of those movies you can watch again and again, and never get tired of it.
It’s been said that Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey had terrible chemistry off camera – but you’d never know that watching them on the big screen. The movie takes off when Baby Houseman and her family go on vacation to a resort in New York. After Baby meets the camp’s dance instructor, Johnny, and signs up for dance lessons…well, let’s just say sparks begin to fly. Some of the scenes between Johnny and Baby draw you in and leave a feeling of happy, sad, excitement – and might even make you think you could dance. There have been many movies made with music and dancing since 1987 – but none quite like Dirty Dancing. It’s in a category all by itself.
So bring a friend, relative or significant other to the Waukesha Civic Theatre to watch this nostalgic feel-good feature film. Future movies include The African Queen, Apollo 13, Rear Window, and the final PIX film feature – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. In addition, there are many Mainstage performances to choose from.
Come see Dirty Dancing on Monday, February 5th at 6:30 pm and have ‘the time of your life’! See you at the PIX!
Anthony Ventress
Board Director
Introducing The Cast Of The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged)!
What actors in their right minds would agree to perform all 37 of William Shakespeare’s shows in only 97 minutes? When there are only 3 of them?
Turns out, JJ Gatesman, Nicholas Callan Haubner, & Jillian Smith are up for the challenge! Here’s a little bit about this phenomenal group of actors:
JJ Gatesman
JJ is MFA from Western Illinois University. Currently in Milwaukee, his recent credits include Romeo & Juliet (Summer Stage Of Delafield), The Glass Menagerie (Company Of Strangers), and The Nautical Journey of Dick III (Quasimondo). JJ would like to thank all those folks for whom Shakespeare is challenging and came to the show anyway.
Nicholas Callan Haubner
Previous WCT performances include 33 Variations (Mike) and Leading Ladies (Leo). Favorite Shakespearian roles include Much Ado About Nothing (Benedick) and Romeo & Juliet (Mercutio) with SummerStage of Delafield, and King John (Hubert) with Shakespeare & Company. Local favorites include Beauty And The Beast (Gaston), Of Mice And Men (Lennie), Same Time Next Year (George), and Oscar in The Odd Couple (2017 Footlights Performing Arts Award Winner-Best Actor). Training: BFA in Acting from UWM.
Jillian Smith
Jillian has spent the last decade making Soulstice Theatre her creative home on stage and off, serving as Artistic Director since 2013, and is thrilled to now be making her WCT debut! Her favorite role is Sarah in Children Of A Lesser God, while directing highlights include tick, tick… BOOM!, The Explorers Club, and Secret Garden. Jillian and her husband, Shannon, are raising beautiful theatre nerd daughters, Sydney and Zoe, in Milwaukee.
In the capable hands of director Dustin J. Martin, you know this madcap comedy will be smart, hilarious, and brilliantly executed. Join WCT for a foray into the Bard’s work like you’ve never experienced before! Performances are February 2-18, 2018, including two morning performances for school groups. Call or email kdanner@waukeshacivictheatre.org for more information about educational group rates. Tickets are available online 24/7 or at the box office (Tuesday-Friday, noon-5 pm) 262-547-0708.
“…it gives me great pleasure to announce that we are about to attempt a feat that we believe to be unprecedented in the history of civilization. That is, to capture, in a single theatrical experience, the magic, the genius, the towering grandeur of The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare.”
Vintage Mix – The Road To Germany
The Waukesha Civic Theatre is thrilled to welcome Vintage Mix to our stage!
Vintage Mix is a mixed quartet of 16-year-old quadruplets that enjoy singing Barbershop, A Cappella, Standards, Show Tunes, Hymns, and Jazz selections. They are the 2016 and 2017 Wisconsin State High School Quartet Champions and have recently qualified as one of only two quartets to represent the US in a World Mixed Quartet competition in Munich, Germany this spring. You can support their journey here.
Over the past two and a half years, Vintage Mix has had many opportunities to perform both locally and nationally: Pittsburgh for the 2015 International Barbershop Convention; Reno for the 2016 Mid-Winter Convention; San Antonio for the 2017 Mid-Winter Convention; on the USS Milwaukee; Navy Pier for the Chicago Toy and Game Fair; WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour in Lexington, Kentucky; the Cannery Ballroom; the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville; and the nationally syndicated news show Fox & Friends out of New York. Most recently, they performed the National Anthem at Lambeau Field for the 2017 Green Bay Packers Family Night.
Vintage Mix has been recording since 2016. They have three singles available and an EP that released January 1, 2018. They are juniors at Waukesha West High School where they sing with the Concert Choir and the Master Singers. Although they have been singing for just a short time, we are sure you will enjoy this young, talented quartet.
Opening for Vintage Mix is the Easy Days Barbershop Quartet. They are all members of The Midwest Vocal Express (MVE), a championship Barbershop Chorus from Greendale, WI. Easy Days competes as a Seniors quartet in the Barbershop Harmony Society contests, and has placed in the Top 10 in both the Illinois and L.O.L District contests. They are the 2009 Land O’ Lakes District Seniors Champions.
Enjoyed by audiences of all ages, Easy Days has established a reputation as a good singing, entertaining, full-of-fun quartet. Easy Days performs a fast paced, 45 minute floor show featuring a repertoire filled with familiar songs of the 30s and 40s, arranged to please audiences of all ages. Audiences appreciate Easy Days’ breezy banter and style which sets them apart from other a capella performers.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, February 3, 2018, at 1:00 pm! Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by phone at 262-547-0708, online, or in person at the box office.
