Who's who in ANATOLE?

by Amanda Corazzi 

While First Stage’s production of ANATOLE might be a world premiere musical, many members of the cast are no strangers to First Stage or the Milwaukee theater scene! Let's meet the cast! 

DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER- Molly Rhode

Molly has been a part of First Stage since starting academy classes as a child. She went on to perform in five productions as a young performer, seven productions as an adult and directed MISS NELSON IS MISSING. She has performed and directed shows all over the country, last show directing Skylight’s LES MISERABLES. She is honored to be back working at First Stage.

ANATOLE- Gerry Neugent

After playing two cats, Gerry is thrilled to be able to play the lead mouse hero. He returns to First Stage after appearing previously as Bilbo Baggins in THE HOBBIT, The Cat in the Hat in SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL and Chester the Cat in BUNNICULA. He is also a regular performer at the Milwaukee Rep.

Neugent and Pendzich as "Anatole" and  "Gaston"
Photo by Paul Ruffolo

GASTON- Rick Pendzich

Rick was last seen at First Stage in JUNIE B. JONES AND A LITTLE MONKEY BUSINESS as The Boss of the School, and SEUSSICAL as Horton. Rick has worked with many of Milwaukee’s theaters including Skylight Opera Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee Shakespeare, In Tandem Theatre and American Players Theatre. 

Drew Drhel as "Duval"
Photo by Paul Ruffolo

DUVAL- Drew Brhel

Karen Estrada as "Charlemange"
Photo by Paul Ruffolo

Drew returns to First Stage playing the owner of the cheese factory. He has appeared with First Stage last season as Yukon Cornelius in RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. No stranger to Milwaukee audiences, Drew has appeared over the past thirty years with just about every theatre in town.

DOUCETTE/CHARLEMANGE- Karen Estrada

Karen is very excited to be performing in ANATOLE as Anatole’s wife and the cat. She was last seen on the Todd Wehr Stage in PINKALICIOUS, RUDOLPH and SEUSSICAL and previous to that in AESOP'S FABLES and GIGGLE, GIGGLE, QUACK with First Stage's First Steps series at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.  

NEWBIES- Zach Thomas (Francois) and Kaylee Annable (Bouvier) may be making their First Stage debut in ANATOLE, but they are not new to the Milwaukee Stage. They were both most recently in the Skylight Music Theatre’s production of LES MISERABLES with some of their ANATOLE cast mates.

Swiss Cast Young Performers with Neugent
Photo by Paul Ruffolo 

The adult cast are not the only ones returning back to First Stage!

Returning Young Performers:

Anna Fitzsimmons (Cheddar Cast)

First Stage show: Five Little Monkey

Claire Holtebeck (Cheddar Cast)

First Stage show: Gathering Blue

Henry Lynch (Cheddar Cast)

First Stage show: Jackie and Me

Riley Halpern (Swiss Cast)
            First Stage Show: Five Little Monkeys

Luke Brotherhood (Swiss Cast)

           First Stage shows: Jackie and Me; The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2009)

Lindsay Nelsen (Swiss Cast)

First Stage show: Mole Hills Stories

Thomas Mazza (Swiss Cast)

First Stage shows: Neverending Story; Diary of a Worm; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Grace Becker (Swiss Cast)

First Stage show: Alexander and the Terrible Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day

Casey Kitzmann (Swiss Cast)

First Stage shows: Big the Musical; Shrek the Musical

Cheddar Cast- Young Performers
Photo by Paul Ruffolo

Congrats to the young performers who are making their First Stage Debut! 

Cheddar Cast- Benjamin Usatinsky, Sydney Johnson, Nathan Desing, Harry Frey, Noa Rubnitz, George Marn

Swiss Cast- Jack Trettin, Harper Navin, Jack Burns 

See the cast in ANATOLE running through March 16 at the Todd Wehr Theater. 

First Stage Young Company presents: SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD

We recently sat down with Director Tommy Novak and Young Company student Conlan Ledwith to talk about the Young Company’s upcoming production SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD.

Tell me what you like about this play:TN:  It’s so unique!  It’s not a linear plot, it’s about moments and snapshots of people’s lives where they have to take a step forward, but they don’t know what’s ahead.

Sounds a lot like the First Stage cheer, “I take risks!  I conquer my fears!”
TN:  Absolutely, whatever crossroad or moment we are at in our lives, at any age, there should be support through that.  At the center of the play’s theme is the idea of staying open to listening and engaging with others and knowing that we are valuable.

CL:  The play encourages us to accept and understand the reasons why people do things.  Empathizing and understanding…  we don’t do enough of that… and we should.

Director Tommy Novak and cast of Songs for a New World

I had the privilege of sitting in on some of your first rehearsal, you all sounded amazing.  What are the challenges of this show?
CL:  I like the extremely inventive storytelling it takes to make each moment truthful even though the play doesn’t follow a single story.  And the extreme challenge of the music.

TN:  The play is a song cycle, meaning it is a series of songs that come together as a show.  It is so difficult.  Each song is its own story and I believe it will be a great challenge to look into the text and music for the clues of something so abstract.

Do you have any favorite songs?
TN:  I do!  “Christmas Lullaby” give you bits and pieces of a story that is really engaging.  There is a song near the beginning of the play where the ensemble pleas for help, we don’t know where we are going or what’s ahead, it’s very exciting.  And then “Hear My Song” toward the end encompasses everything!

Anything else you want to say about the play?
TN:  It’s really wonderful, contemporary, and a huge challenge.  I think it will be fun for the performers to take a step outside of traditional musical theater styles.  Plus, it reminds us that everyone has a story to tell and those stories should be heard. 

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD runs March 14-16 at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.  Tickets are $12.  Tickets may be purchased ONLINE HERE or through the First Stage Box Office at (414) 267-2961.

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About First Stage Young Company

Young Company is First Stage Theater Academy’s award-winning training program for our most advanced young actors.  These emerging artists, training with some of Milwaukee's top professional actors, have developed a reputation for engaging, inspiring work.  Revenue from these high-level performances helps ensure opportunities for all students who wish to participate in our Theater Academy.  Learn more about the Young Company.  

Respect, honor and cheese for all! ANATOLE Preview

by Amanda Corazzi

First Stage is proud and excited to be bringing ANATOLE to the stage for the first time! Based on the beloved series of stories by Eve Titus, this world première musical tells the story of the brave mouse Anatole as he saves a cheese factory, restores his family’s honor, conquers a cat and truly becomes a Mouse Magnifique! 

Director and Choreographer Molly Rhode talks about the
 book series during the Meet and Greet. 

The series of 10 books follow the life of Anatole as he goes on adventures around France. Eve Titus and Illustrator Paul Galdone were nominated for the Caldecott Medals for Anatole and Anatole and the Cat. The books were later named Caldecott Honor books in 1971.

The books and lyrics for this new show were written by Lee Becker and First Stage Associate Artistic Director John Maclay. They kept in mind First Stage’s young audience when adapting the show for First Stage. 

“At its heart ANATOLE is a story about family, doing the right thing and living an honorable life. The journey that Anatole (played by Gerard Neugent) takes allows for excessive humor and laughs,” Maclay said. “The humor and silliness will not only appeal to our youngest audience members, but will entertain the entire family.”

The lively musical numbers, with compositions by James Valcq featuring arrangements and orchestrations by Timothy Splain, set the tone for this story. Splain based some of the arrangements off French style music and hopes the music will transport you to the world of Anatole. 

Set design by Brandon Kirkham 

Anatole Illustrator Paul Galdone used a color scheme of blue, red and white, based off colors of the French flag, to design the world of Anatole. Set Designer Brandon Kirkham kept true to these illustrations when designing the set. The set features a moving turntable, hidden doors and even a mouse trap! The set is not the only thing French inspired. The costumes, designed by Alison Siple, are all based on the French colors and styles. 

Costume Rendering by Alison Siple 

Should be très magnifique musicale!

ANATOLE opens February 21 and runs through March 16 at the Todd Wehr Theater. 

Our Make Believe Ball Story

By Deadra Richelle-Purifoy

As an employee of Briggs & Stratton for over ten years, I am extremely proud of the Company’s commitment to support the communities in which they operate. Briggs & Stratton’s contribution to communities through education, health and wellness, and civic participation encourages all employees to give back in some way. Thanks to my personal community involvement and my position in marketing at Briggs & Stratton, I was asked to represent the Company at First Stage’s Make Believe Ball. I was aware of First Stage’s reputation in the Milwaukee community for providing wonderful performances by the best and brightest talented youth so I was excited to support. I am also the proud aunt of the most incredible little girls, (Zaniyah age 4, Madison age 5, Zariah age 7, and Gigi age 13) so I thought this would be a great opportunity for what we dubbed Titi's (short for Auntie’s) Weekend. This was usually a weekend where we engaged in "girl stuff" like getting our nails & hair done, shopping, eating out at a fancy place and then having a slumber party. This was an opportunity to go into overdrive and add a BALL to the mix! We call ourselves "The Words’ Girls," which is our family surname.  

The evolution of our theme began with one of our co-workers, who upon learning that the ball theme was the Wizard of Oz (inspired by that year's production of THE WIZ) suggested we wear red sparkly shoes… and it took off from there. We found red Ladybug dresses with black dots for the U:BUG:ME themed ball. CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY saw us donned in chocolate ball gowns.  Anecdotally, this was a particularly difficult year for us because my sister-in-law was saying her last goodbyes due to breast cancer. We are so fortunate that she was able to pick out the dress and shoes for her Madi one last time.  

The next year brought us a challenge. How would we "girly-fy" the theme based around JACKIE AND ME and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game?" Well, being the creative bunch we are, we wore blue and gold ball gowns to support our hometown team and had Brewers earrings to match. This was also the first year that the Make Believe Ball became a “movement” expanded to a full-blown Words' Girls' Weekend. Family members couldn't wait until their daughters got old enough to participate so that year we added a few more cousins, daughters, and nieces to the team.

We went out the night before to get our nails done and made it a Words' Girls' night that included 20 people at the nail salon (including those who weren't attending the ball). Afterwards, we went to dinner and had a slumber party. The next day was spent in the “beautification” process and by 5:30 p.m. we were ready!! Upon arrival, we posed for formal pictures at the bottom of the winding staircase with the professional photographer. The girls then enjoyed the art & crafts activities, the magician, the photo booth, and the Racing Sausages! We then had a wonderful dinner and ended up dancing the night away. Every year it is truly a magical evening!

I enjoyed the Make Believe Ball and believed in First Stage so much as an organization that I knew I wanted to do more to support their mission of “transforming lives through theater,”so I joined the First Stage Board of Directors. I am so proud to be a part of a group of people who truly care about our community and are not only providing entertainment but also educating through wonderful performances such as A MIDNIGHT CRY; helping our youth cope though Bully Ban Workshops; and providing outlets for growth and acceptance through the Next Steps program for children with Autism.

This year is First Stage’s 20th annual Make Believe Ball!  The theme is ANATOLE, inspired by First Stage's upcoming play based on the story of France’s bravest and most honorable mouse. Our nail & hair appointments are made, dinner reservations are made, our theme is set (although we can't divulge it until that night) and we're ready!

Come join us! C'est une fête!   (It's a party!) 

Find out more about First Stage and the 20^th Annual Make Believe Ball, CLICK HERE.

Underground Railroad brought to life through distance learning event!

On January 11, First Stage Lead Teacher (and Music Director of A MIDNIGHT CRY), Sheri Williams Pannell and Kimberly Simmons teamed up to offer students a unique distance learning opportunity with the Milwaukee Public Museum.  Students experienced the world of Caroline Quarlls, the first documented person to make her way to freedom through the Underground Railroad and the inspiration for A MIDNIGHT CRY.  In character as Caroline Quarlls, Sheri recounted the details of her harrowing journey.  Kimberly Simmons, Caroline's direct descendant, shared details of the Underground Railroad in the 1840’s and how her story is closely connected to Milwaukee.

Kimberly Simmons (left) and Sheri Williams Pannell
recount the journey of Caroline Quarlls 

“The opportunity to re-create the historical character Caroline Quarlls for the distance learning project was exciting enough, but to interact with her great-great-great granddaughter was thrilling,” said Sheri. “I was so moved when after the broadcast, Kimberly Simmons told me my French accent represented the way she believed her Creole great-great-great grandmother Caroline would have spoken.”

Sheri Williams Pannell  

The performance was broadcast live to third, fourth and fifth grade students from 11 Milwaukee area schools. Artifacts and photographs from the Underground Railroad and Milwaukee's role in this movement were provided by the Milwaukee Public Museum and their Education Department.  Kimberly Simmons fielded questions from the students immediately after the presentation.

This Distance Learning program is available for classrooms free of charge. Please contact First Stage Education Director Julia Magnasco with questions at (414) 267-2971 or julia@firststage.org.

A MIDNIGHT CRY runs at the Todd Wehr Theater through February 9. 

A MIDNIGHT CRY Opens with Special Guest Kimberly Simmons

Malkia Stampley as Lida in
A MIDNIGHT CRY

First Stage's moving historical drama with live music, A MIDNIGHT CRY:  The Underground Railroad to Freedom, opens Friday, January 10 and runs through February 9, 2014 at the Todd Wehr Theater in the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

Whisperings of a railroad helping slaves across to the free states seem too good to be true to young Lida Anderson. But with the help of other slaves and her family, Lida risks everything to be free. Leaving behind the only life she knows, she embarks on a dangerous journey out of slavery to freedom.  For everyone ages 9 and up.

"A MIDNIGHT CRY is the most powerful, moving, uplifting play I've ever been a part of"

                                    - First Stage Artistic Director Jeff Frank 

Opening weekend performances of A MIDNIGHT CRY will feature extended talkback sessions with Kimberly Simmons, a direct relative of Caroline Quarlls-Watkins, whose journey to freedom serves as the inspiration for the play. Quarlls is noted as being the first documented person to journey to freedom – through the Underground Railroad and the state of Wisconsin in 1842. She eventually made it to freedom in Toronto.

Simmons, Quarlls’ great, great, great granddaughter, will join the actors and other esteemed historians to participate in intimate talkback discussions immediately after the following performances:  

• Friday, January 10 at 7:00 p.m. (Opening night)
  Kimberly Simmons joined by Dr. Larry McClellan, historian
• Saturday, January 11 at 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, January 12 at 3:30 p.m.
  Kimberly Simmons joined by Clayborn Benson, Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Dr. Harry Oden, historian and MPS teacher

These discussions will focus on the themes and historical context of the play. Simmons will also discuss the impact Quarlls' courage and perseverance had on her and their family.  Talkbacks will last approximately 20 minutes, and are included with tickets to A MIDNIGHT CRY. 
For ticketing information please contact the First Stage Box Office at (414) 267-2961 or visit www.FirstStage.org.  A MIDNIGHT CRY opens January 10 and runs through February 9.

Caroline Quarlls-Watkins

More about Kimberly Simmons
Simmons is the founding President and Executive Director of the Quarlls Watkins Heritage Project and has worked with many organizations including Detroit Historical Society, Historic Fort Wayne, Essex County Black Historic Research Society, Chicagoland Historical Underground Railroad Network (CHURN), Michigan NAACP, Kenosha Civil War Museum and others. Simmons is the author of historic site designations across the upper Midwest, most notably the establishment of Johnson Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a National Park Service Network to Freedom site in April 2009.  She is also the executive director and president of the Detroit River Project. She works as a heritage and tourism professional and consultant with a concentration on Underground Railroad history.

Spiritual Music guides A Midnight Cry Journey

Rehearsals for First Stage's moving historical drama, A Midnight Cry, have officially begun! The cast and crew gathered for a Meet and Greet last week.

Director Jeff Frank talks about the production
and the set designs. 

A Midnight Cry, which premiered at First Stage in 2003, tells the story of a young slave named Lida as she journeys through the Underground Railroad to freedom. This production is inspired by the true story of Caroline Quarlls – who escaped slavery, made her way into Wisconsin – through Milwaukee to Detroit and eventually to freedom in Toronto.

After introductions were made, First Stage Artistic Director Jeff Frank, who directs the play, talked about the production and the history behind it. It is the third play in First Stage’s Wisconsin Cycle, a new play development initiative celebrating the local history, heritage and people of Wisconsin. Although the play is part of a dark time in American history, it more focuses on hope, the power of change, and the journey into a better life.

“It’s about inspiration,” said Jeff. “I want people to leave this theater feeling like they can take on the world, that they can move forward, that they can do something.”

Music Director Sheri Williams Pannell introduces the
style of music used in the play 

Music Director Sheri Williams Pannell explained how the use of live music and spirituals will add to the piece.  This style of music, inspired by the sounds of heartbeats and the rhythm of drums, helped preserved the culture and memories of a people as well as gave strength to keep going. A MIDNIGHT CRY will feature live music and, with the help of Percussion Director Jahmes Finlayson, recreate the music of that time.

Costume designer Pam Rehberg discusses
Lida's costumes 

The costume and set designs were introduced as well. Pam Rehberg, costume designer, talked about using the costumes to distinguish between the different social groups in the play.  Lida’s changing clothes, in particular will highlight her journey from slave to freedom. The set will also highlight the journey. Designed by Sarah Hunt-Frank, the set is comprised of pieces that resemble patchwork quilt sections. Throughout the play these sections will be assembled to reveal the Northern Star pattern, historically used to guide slaves along the Underground Railroad.

A Midnight Cry opens January 10 and runs through February 9 at the Todd Wehr Theater.