Category: The Arts

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First Stage: The Young Company Brings Us, Shakespeare’s The Tempest

I came to love Shakespeare while in high school. First via a PBS rendition of Hamlet and then their broadcast of the BBC’s An Age of Kings, a serial based on the history plays. Or maybe it was the other way around. But my faith in William Shakespeare abides. Of course my favorite play has changed over the years from Hamlet to Macbeth to more recently The Tempest…which brings us to this happy event…the Young Company’s presentation of The Tempest in their black box theater in the round at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center!

And just a moment, let me remind you about the Young Company. They are the older group of actors at First Stage. Generally high school age they present challenging adult oriented plays with minimal sets and costuming. There are seldom any adult actors on stage and the plays are driven by the action and the text: very very effectively. Last spring’s, An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen for example.

(left to right) Elena Marking, Josie Van Slyke, Sophia Bernhardt, and cast in
THE TEMPEST. First Stage Young Company, 2024. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

So, let’s take a look at this minimalist perspective. If you look at the photos you’ll see that our stage is a central collection of steps. These steps acted as a dais, bed, rock, threshold and all manner of things under heaven. And Costume Coordinator Michelle Verbos primarily outfitted the cast in simple and elegant items in white. All the better for Director Marcella Kearns to tell the story of the The Tempest through words and movement.

And what a lot of expressive movement and motion, something that First Stage does exceptionally well on all of their stages. Director Kearns and Fight and Movement Director James Cheatham bring out the drama and pathos that Shakespeare has provided with a very active cast. At points the motion is more dance than drama and it keeps the focus on the cast and action…if you turn away for a moment you will surely miss something grand! There can be more life to Shakespeare than you would imagine when done right…and the Young Company cast here was certainly into it.

At the center of any good The Tempest is a regal and determined Prospero. And as Prospero, Silver Anderson has a stage presence that brings out the mage and the vengeful and the loving and forgiving character traits of the character. From stirring the sea like a pot of soup into The Tempest, to playing matchmaker to Miranda and Ferdinand, to bringing reconciliation to the conflict between Prospero, his brother, Antonio, and the King of Naples, Anderson strikes the proper balance in each scene and moves easily from one pose to the next. They may be too overconfident in knowing the text however, because they sometimes spoke so fast that we had a hard time hearing what was being said.

Silver Anderson in THE TEMPEST. First Stage Young Company, 2024. Photo
by Paul Ruffolo.

Abram Nelson and Alice Rivera bring the included love story to the stage as Ferdinand and Miranda…as Prospero’s magic brings them together…they instantly are lost in the moment and never wonder how this all came to pass. And Maya Thomure captures the resistant and loutish Caliban and just can’t wait to betray her enslaver, Prospero, to the drunken sailors. Even in the face of red flags that seem to suggest that they aren’t quite the ‘gentlemen’ that they appear to be.

Silver Anderson (top center), Alice Rivera (bottom left), Abram Nelson (bottom
right), and cast in THE TEMPEST. First Stage Young Company, 2024. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

The most enchanting portrayal on this stage is Josephine Van Slyke as Ariel. Whenever she is in a scene, she tends to steal it, even when she doesn’t have any speaking lines. When off to one side or another and just observing the action in front of her, Van Slyke employs any number of slight physical tics or corvid like head twists to let us know that she is a sprite and not a human presence. And throughout any of the action, she is nimble and graceful and just sweeps across the stage in some of the most dance like moves among the cast. And her confidence in the opening stage of the actual tempest, as she destroys the ship and hinders the crew in their efforts to save the day, is the most fluid fight scene that you will ever see. And then there is her voice…at once eerie, haunting, and compelling…it is no wonder that sight unseen, she is able to lure the stranded sailors to whatever purposes that Prospero has for them.

Amélie Davis-Quiroz (center) and cast in THE TEMPEST. First Stage Young
Company, 2024. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

The Tempest runs through December 15. 2024 at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. It runs for about two hours and includes a short intermission. Recommended for families with young people ages 13-17 and theater lovers of all ages. Additional information and ticket ordering can be found here!

And as always, Extra Credit Reading: the digital playbill. The playbill includes cast listings, etc.

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First Stage’s Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer, The Musical, Reigns Over The PAC!

Silvia Stoeger in RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEERTM: THE
MUSICAL. First Stage, 2024. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

If you aren’t quite in the holiday spirit as you approach the Marcus Performing Arts Center, you will be by the time you reach the lobby, if like me, you find yourself climbing the stairs to the Todd Wehr Theater among youngsters quietly singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer to themselves…

And once inside, the room was electric until the lights went down and an immediate hush fell over the crowd in anticipation. And it was as near a full house (just a handful of empty seats) as I have ever experienced at the Todd Wehr so this silence from the young crowd here was amazing. This is the magic of First Stage, it engages the young audience in a big way but it entertains the entire family.

We all know the basic Rudolph story from the popular song. But Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, the Musical has more story to tell! And we get some help keeping up with the plot via the narrator, Sam the Snowman, depicted by James Carrington. What a voice! What a presence on stage! Although Rudolph is our focus and hero, this story wouldn’t be as clearly told without Carrington’s portrayal of Sam.

David Flores (center) and cast in RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED
REINDEERTM: THE MUSICAL. First Stage, 2024. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

As my long time readers and fans of First stage already know, the large musicals that First Stage presents at the Marcus are anchored by a few adult actors in pivotal roles and then two casts of young actors who rotate from presentation to presentation. So for Rudolph, we have the Silver Cast and the Gold Cast. You can find a complete cast listing here or here so if you know someone acting at First Stage you may want to consult the cast listings before ordering tickets. So, we do have two Rudolphs: Gwen Madson in the Silver Cast and Sylvia Stoeger in the Gold Cast. I saw the Silver Cast perform at the 1 P.M. matinee on December 1st.

So on with our story. We first meet Rudolph shortly after his birth as his mother proudly introduces him to his father Donner. All is joy and happiness until Rudolph’s nose starts to shine bright red. As Donner says, you could even say it glows. But it brings on great consternation between Donner and Santa. Eventually, Donner devises a nose mask to cover his nose. And as he grows, he eventually joins the other young bucks in reindeer games…essentially training under the watchful eye of Coach Comet. You know who that is, right? Well, despite being the longest and most successful flyer amongst the trainees, once his mask falls off, Comet banishes him from any reindeer games.

And just across Santa’s North Pole, the elves are making toys for Christmas. And elves love making toys and are making quick work of their tasks. Well, all except Hermey who doesn’t like making toys, for which he is ridiculed by his elfin peers. Hermey wants to be a dentist and he gets laughed at for that as well.

Zach Thomas Woods (left), Tim Linn (center), and cast in RUDOLPH THE
RED-NOSED REINDEERTM: THE MUSICAL. First Stage, 2024. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

Feeling ostracized, Hermey and Rudolph run away from their respective groups and team up and leave town. So of course they get lost and get into trouble. And they are threatened by the Bumble, a great snow monster who is able to track them via Rudolph’s nose. They meet Yukon Cornelius, played by adult actor Zach Woods (he also plays Comet). Woods plays a flamboyant over the top unsuccessful prospector looking for silver and gold in the Yukon. The three of them team up to overcome the Bumble and then make their way home.

And everyone back home is missing them and looking for them and they all arrive just in time for Rudolph to save Christmas by leading Santa’s sleigh with his red nose!

Now, be in your best voice because you are going to want to sing along with the cast as they sing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer for the grand finale. I mean it, you will be wholly ready to give yourself to the moment.

(left to right) Zach Thomas Woods, Silvia Stoeger, and Maryn Davis in RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEERTM: THE MUSICAL. First Stage, 2024. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

Some very special mentions here. There are a number of actors dressed entirely in white who hide around the set and move the snow banks, ice bergs, and pine trees. But their most important function is to operate and voice the many puppets that populate the North Pole. There is a seal, a pair of owls, another pair of birds, squirrels, a raccoon, and of course the Bumble. But the Bumble is more than life size and inhabited by Timm Linn who controls his eyes and mouth. But the Bumble’s arms are controlled by a pair of actors in white.

And I am guessing the first day of rehearsal for the elves is learning to float around the stage in their special shoes with the long curled toes.

And one last feature of every First Stage play: the talk back afterwords. This is a ten minute feature where the audience members can ask questions about the play or set or costumes or whatever and the cast will take turns answering. This week we learned that the musical is based on the animated film from 1964, that Sam is made out of foam and James Carrington is sitting on a chair attached to the costume’s floor and is wheeled about the stage. And that the choreography back stage…moving on and off stage…and moving to new entrance points is more important than the choreography on stage. So make sure you stay for the talk back.

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, the Musical runs from now through December 29, 2024. But don’t put off getting your tickets, it is a very popular show. Rudolph runs about 75 minutes and there is one intermission. It is recommended for ages 3 to 12, but I think the top age limit is unlimited! Tickets can be ordered here. There are some special days during the run, so check the link here to see what and when.

And Extra Credit Reading: The Digital Playbill!

And in case you need some help: Lyrics for Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

Based on the animated television special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and the stage production directed and conceived by Jeff Frank and First Stage. Directed by Jeff Frank.

J.T. Backes (left) and cast in RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEERTM:
THE MUSICAL. First Stage, 2024. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

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Milwaukee Rep Continues A Cherished Tradition With The 49th Anniversary Of ‘A Christmas Carol’!

For me at least, the Christmas Season doesn’t truly get underway in Milwaukee until the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s presentation of A Christmas Carol opens at the Pabst Theater. Even though you know the story, this adaptation by Director and Rep Artistic Director Mark Clements is the one to see. And even if you have seen it recently, this would be a good year to make the time to see it again. I felt some extra magic this year…yes the story is unchanged although Clements version brings the core story cleanly to the fore. And the set and lighting once again put us in awe of the theatrical spectacle brought to bear in the elegant Pabst Theater.

The Cast of A Christmas Carol. Photo by Michael Brosilow.

Yes, there is all that but certainly much of the magic is from the cast itself. Clements has always excelled at bringing the Dickens’ characters to life with just the right actors. And this year of course is no exception, but for me the cast felt immensely connected and involved than ever. Bravo.

Matt Daniels and Mark Corkins. Photo by Michael Brosilow.

But A Christmas Carol would be impossible to make real without the ideal actor in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. And the Rep is fortunate to have the very popular and ever versatile Matt Daniels for their Scrooge. After a number of years in the role now, he simply inhabits Scrooge. From the initial sinister Bah Humbug persona at play’s open to the defiant old sod in the face of Marley’s Ghost and the Ghost of Christmas Past to the fearful and resentful toy of the other Ghosts to finally the jubilant Scrooge who’s found redemption, Daniels doesn’t seem to be acting at all. Hopefully he’s feeling as much joy in the role as the joy he is giving the audience so that he stays the course in the future.

Matt Daniels and Kevin Kantor. Photo by Michael Brosilow.

And beyond the perfect Scrooge, the story is untold without a proper Marley’s Ghost or the other Ghosts of Christmas. Mark Corkins returns as Marley and feels the weight of his chains and puts the initial scares into Scrooge quite effectively. A ghostly presence not easily forgotten. The Ghost of Christmas Present makes a startlingly eerie entrance at the start of Act !!. In his glowing green satin Santa inspired costume, Todd Denning just dominates the stage…appropriately dominating a now very fearful Scrooge.

Kevin Kantor. Photo by Michael Brosilow.

But it is the Ghost of Christmas Past that is the pivot point in our story. Keven Kantor looms large over the stage and sets a high bar for the other ghosts. Controlling and mocking Scrooge, they easily move from a soaring and screaming Valkyrie like presence to a booming and dominating spirit who finally breaks Scrooge’s defiance.

Reese Madigan, Matt Daniels and Jordan Anthony Arredondo. Photo by Michael Brosilow.

Two other stand out characters are of course, Fred, Scrooge’s nephew, and Bob Cratchit. Reese Madigan does an outstanding job as the resilient Bob Crachit, from subservient clerk at Scrooge and Marley, to doting father at home. And Jordan Anthony Arrendondo is ideal as the effervescent and social Fred, even in the face of his uncle’s various Bah Humbug retorts.

Clements’ version of Dickens’ London is aswirl with constant movement, song, and dance. From the many carolers, townspeople, the staff at Fezziwig’s, to the alms collectors, there is always activity as befits a major city street. All the more events to keep us focused on the story being told.

Luke Drope, as Tiny Tim, and the Cast of A Christmas Carol. Photo by Michael Brosilow.

A Christmas Carol runs from now through December 24, 2024 at the Pabst Theater downtown. Additional information and ticket ordering can be found here. Run time is about 2 hours and 10 minutes including one intermission. Recommended Age: 6 and up.

Extra Credit Reading: Program for A Christmas Carol is here.

All photos courtesy of the Milwaukee Rep.

Added note 12/4/2024: Extra Extra Credit Reading: A little tidbit from Jim Higgins at The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the history of some of the props in A Christmas Carol.

And yes, it still snows inside the Pabst Theater on ‘Christmas’!

Matt Daniels., and the Ghost of Christmas Future (Gabriel Armstrong). Photo by Michael Brosilow.