Skylight Music Theatre Announces SkylightENSEMBLE Outreach

Skylight Music Theatre announces SkylightENSEMBLE, a young professional outreach initiative created in October 2012. ENSEMBLE brings together young professionals through special events, volunteering and musical theatre with the goal of engaging a new generation of theatre patrons and supporters.

"ENSEMBLE is our way of inviting younger audiences in and making what we do accessible, exciting and affordable to a group of people who don't necessarily see us in those terms. We're saying come in, join us. You're going to love it," says Amy Jensen, managing director at Skylight.

Following the recent unveiling of incoming Artistic Director Viswa Subbaraman's inaugural season, ENSEMBLE hopes to tap into the new energy Subbaraman is bringing to Skylight and to the Milwaukee arts community.

"ENSEMBLE is here to offer a unique experience to those looking for something beyond the Friday night status quo," says Emily Vitrano, audience development manager at Skylight. "It's about enlivening the community and reinventing a night at the theatre for both new patrons and current patrons."

ENSEMBLE consists of a core committee of 12 members who meet once per month to discuss the future of Skylight from a young professional mindset, plan events and identify volunteering opportunities. Participation in the core committee is open to young professionals interested in Skylight, musical theatre, networking and volunteering.

Since launching in December, ENSEMBLE has hosted several social events to raise awareness of the new organization and is planning three other events to round out the 2012-2013 season: a celebrity bartending contest at Pfister's Blu on April 11th, a fundraiser at Hamburger Mary's in Bay View on May 5th and a 2013-2014 season launch party at Hot Water Wherehouse on June 28th.

Each event will be distinctive and special with the ultimate hope that those who attend will come back to Skylight during the 2013-2014 season. ENSEMBLE will also be offering three unique events surrounding next season's productions of Fidelio, In the Heights, and Hair.

"2013-2014 will be a conversation about freedom and revolution and we look forward to extending that discussion through ENSEMBLE events," says incoming Artistic Director Viswa Subbaraman. "Sure, at first, someone might come only for the happy hour or the networking or the food. But the next time they come, we hope they'll be coming for the show, the people and the community - whether there's food or not."

More information on SkylightENSEMBLE and upcoming events can be found at www.skylightmusictheatre.org/about/skylight-ensemble or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SkylightENSEMBLE.