Peggy Sue Dunigan - Page 10

n Björklunden's lush garden situated in Bailey's Harbor, Wisconsin, Door Shakespeare conjures the Bard's classic tales with sophisticated simplicity. Each Saturday, the company presents both plays from their 2016 season so theatergoers may enjoy each selection in one night, with other individual performance scheduled throughout the week, planned perfectly by Artistic Director Amy J. Ludwigsen. When  5:00 p.m arrives, Shakespeare's The Tempest opens and begins high atop a balcony surrounding an age old tree with a trunk too immense to imagine, designed by Aaron Kopec This lofty perch transforms into the railings of a ship's deck-- the ship destroyed in the fierce storm Prospero conjures with his magic to send his enemies onto his island and into his power.

What is the value of an education? Does consumerism closet society's need to connect with art and literature, a "something more" to be experienced in the world than merely a career? Stage Door Theatre Company at Third Avenue Playhouse revisits these questions in Educating Rita, a 1983 play written by Willy Russell. Many theatergoers may remember the 1983 award-winning film starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters, although the original Russell play has recently been revived in Chichester, England this spring.

Optimist Theatre names their mission to reach artists and audiences across economic, ethnic and experiential landscapes. On opening night for the company's 5th anniversary, the landscape was an amphitheater in Kadish Park overlooking the lights of Milwaukee's sklying twinkling like stars where young and old revive thier souls with a 1967 take on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The company's new tribute to anti-establishment flower childfen playing in the guise of Shakspeare's fairies conjure mischeif in the forest along with their King Oberon and QueenTitania. The mayhem continues when two love struck couples muddle the magic between the forest's fairy royalty, yet the audience applauds a happy ending.

On a Wisconsin evening that resembed a humid New Orleans's summer, Tennessee Wiilliams' Pultizer-Prize winning play A Streetcar Named Desire produced a humbling reverence for the Southern drama on stage at American Players Theatre (APT). Two people traveled from Maryland to see family working at APT, and had already attended several productions at both theatres. Accustomed to East Coat entertainment, which included New York, the couple concluded APT's weekend performance of Streetcar,  'Amazing.. We've never seen a good one [production].'

First published more than 200 years ago, Jane Austen's famous novel Pride and Prejudice comes to American Players Theatre (APT) and revisits significant gender issues audiences might assume have been resolved. Former Milwaukee Reperatory Theater Artistic Director Joseph Hanreddy and acclaimed J.R. Sullivan adapted one of the world's most popular novels into a compelling, senstive stage play that breathes life into Austen's romantic couples who search for their futures on Spring Green's Up the Hill stage this summer.

n a tribute to Athol Fugard and his 1973 Tony and Drama Desk Critic Award winning play, American Players Theatre in their Touchstone Theater stages The Island. When first produced by Fugard in South Africa, the play attempted collaboration between the black and white actors and/or prisoners in a theatrical protest agianst the country's injust apartheid policies. The original actors and co-writers, John Kani and Winston Nishona, were actually imprisoned on South Africa's Robben Island where the country's eventual preseident Nelson Mandela spent more than 25 years. During this period in time, even the name Robben Island was prohibited from being spoken outloud.

An old adage claims a person can only have their heart broken three times before their entire soul breaks apart. For those persons interested in dating after losing a partner, by chance, divorce or death, online dating can either be a welcome consolation or a cause for consternation. Third Avenue Playhouse in conjunction with Riverway Studio of East Haddam, Connecticut for the Stage Door Theatre Company premiere a heartwarming and humorous prodcution titled METHUSELAH's Guide to Online Dating.

Door County's Peninsula Players Theatre (PPT) celebrates their 80th season with an exceptional world premiere A Real Lulu. Written by former PPT actor who is currently featured on Broadway in Finding Neverland, Paul Slade Smith crafted a timely production overflowing with clever plot twists reflecting the contemporary political climate with class and humor. The two act evening highlights the acting talents of a seven person cast, and especailly Greg Vinkler, playing Ned Newley, and Erin Noel Grennan, in the role of Louise Peaks.

What's the difference between a dry rub or a wet barbecue sauce brushed on a rack of ribs? For anyone uninitiated into the competitive world of barbecuing, Northern Sky Theater presents a second world premeire for their 2015 25th anniversary season with this theme tiltled: No Bones About It.

A 25th Anniversary landmark deserves a special celebration. The newly christened Northern Sky Theater with a permanent home in Door County's Peninsula State Park presented the World Premiere of When Butter Churns to Gold  to introduce their 2015 summe season.

'The flower of the garter blooms for every Windsor heart.' So sings the American Player Theatre cast when Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor arrives to open the Up The Hill Theatre season. These beloved characters celebrate 'The Most Noble Order of the Garter' ceremony, which APT stages similar to an early 20th century American Independence day celebration only with English patriotism---summer entertainment costumed by Holly Payne complemented by Nathan Stuber's scenic design.

A college classroom, perhaps set in Ireland because a bottle of Jameson Whiskey appears for the poet to quench his thirst, greets the Touchstone Theatre Audiences at American Players Theatre (APT) in their opening play An Iliad. Outside the classroom rumblings and unrest from unidentified crowds can be heard--Unite James DeVita enters playing the narrator, the poet, the teacher in corduroy pants, tweed suit coat, a woolen vest, pliad tie and white shirt. Similar dress to what the part-time teacher, poet and writer James Joyce, who set contemporary literature on edge with his epic 'Ulysses', the latinized name of hero warrior Odysseus in Homer's 8th century 'Iliad' and 'Odyssey.' Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare wrote the stunning 2012 adaptation of 'Iliad' directed at APT by John Langs.

A little bit of science fiction, a little bit rock 'n roll, All in Productions revisits the 1980's Broadway Musical Little Shop of Horrors based on Roger Corman's 1960 film this summer in Milwaukee. Next Act Theatre offers their intimate stage to the fledging company that gives the production, now 50 years old, spirited soul. To get the audeince in the appropirate mood, when entering the theater, vagrant persons roam through the audience before the performance opens---The Mushnik Flowerl Shop stands amid New York's Skid Row. The raggedy characters beg for money, talk to the audience and pull at their shirts similar to someone experiencing a schizophrenic episode.

This July, try something new to christen midsummer. Attend Shakespeare in the Park! Come and enjoy the outdoors, picnic, and view theatre under the stars for free! Inspired by New York City's renowned Shakespeare in the Park, Milwaukee's Optimist Theatre co-founded by Ron and Susan Scot Fry and their dedicated cadre of Milwaukee, the theatrical troupe began a journey to produce the admission free production to realize their planned mission: 'Theater driven to reach artists and audiences across the economic, ethnic and experiential landscape.'

Perhaps a playwright or poet discovers hidden beauty in the blackest of subject material---the places buried deep his dreams and heart. Tennessee Williams' 1953 play Camino Real appears to illustrate the darkest human emotions can be spoken in haunting poetic language to challenge the actors and audience alike.

In conceiving a contemporary fairytale masterpiece, the legendary Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine sing and write of why these fantasies and tales resonate in modern culture with their incredible Into the Woods. The renowned musical makes theatergoers' wishes come true in the Cabot Theatre when Skylight Music Theatre locally sources a marvelous cast that will make hearts melt under award-winning Edwin Cahill's direction.

In a fitting finale to their grand six years of acting, directing, educating and producing together, Uprooted Theatre staged Tennessee Williams' riveting Suddenly Last Summer at Next Act Theatre under the direction of company Co-Founder Dennis F. Johnson. Marti Gobel, also a Co-Founder, appeared playing the playwright's New Orleans society woman Violet Venable while also creating backstage as costume, set and scenic designer. A formidable challenge for any actor cast as Williams's commanding matriarch grieving from the death of her son, Sebastian.

Be shaken as well as stirred by this inventive trio at Sturgeon Bay's Third Avenue Playhouse. Robert Boles, James Valcq and Ryan Patrick Shaw conjure contemporary mayhem from an 18th century Italian opera in Stage Door Theatre Company's enchanting Maid To Marry. This evening's play on words captures the essence of merry on the way to marry.

Forget what might be known or understood regarding Richard Wagner's epic The Ring Cycle- a legendary series of four complete operas he composed over 26 years ( 1848-1874) that requires more than 18 hours to perform. Instead enjoy The Skylight Ring, Skylight Music Theatre's cheeky, slightly irreverent yet oh so entertaining two hour and four actor version on the Studio Stage at the Broadway Theatre Center.

The age-old story of a cinder girl disdained by her step family but destined to change her life to glitter and gold arrived at the Milwaukee Ballet's when Cinderella closed the season. This enchanting fairytale envisioned by Artistic Director Michael Pink captivated the audience with romance and some exaggerated humor courtesy of Pink's choreography and his casting--And the accompaniment by the 50 piece Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra under the direction of Pasquale Lurino gave Sergei Prokofiev's legendary score exceptional nuances to entrance the audience.