An Eventful Time

After a year of hosting virtually reimagined events, First Stage is thrilled to be able to gather once again for food, fun, friendship and fundraising! So far this season, First Stage has enjoyed reconnecting with our friends, families and supporters at our annual ImpACT Event and Wine Tasting & Dinner Event, as well as our Donor Preview Events. In case you missed it, our ImpACT Event Recap can be found here.

 

12^TH ANNUAL WINE TASTING & DINNER EVENT

On Saturday, November 6, 2021, 111 guests spent “An Evening in the City of Lights” with First Stage at the University Club of Milwaukee – Country Club for our 12th Annual Wine Tasting & Dinner Event. Along with the five-course Parisian-inspired dinner created by Chef David Magnasco of The Chef’s Table, guests also enjoyed world-class wines—during the pre-dinner tasting and course pairings.

 

The traditional fun and games also returned as attendees tried out their aim with an Eiffel Tower Ring Toss and hoped for a winning combination for the Wine Suitcase Raffle. Of course, the highlight of the evening was the performance by First Stage Young Performers, Bryn Dresselhuys and Michael Loomans. Bryn and Michael sang “Light” from the musical NEXT TO NORMAL, and shared the impact of their First Stage experience.

 

“I wouldn’t be the same person without First Stage. First Stage has given me more than just a stage to perform on, it has helped me discover a whole new me. Being a kid is hard, and trying to find where you fit in and what your drive and purpose is, is even harder. I was really a shell of myself when I was away from theater, but coming back to First Stage and performing, renewed my happiness and built up my confidence. First Stage is a safe place, where we can be who we want, and feel completely free of judgement. It really is the best place to be.” – Bryn

 

“Because of First Stage, I am able to walk confidently in a room and not be shy to make friends, speak up, and not be afraid to make mistakes. It may sound cliché or boring, but it is so true. First Stage truly can change your life. I have made so many cool connections and found some of my closest friends doing theater. It has opened so many doors for me. There’s no better place to be than First Stage.” – Michael

 

Overall, this event was a culinary treat all while raising more than $90,000 in critical funds to support First Stage’s mission of transforming lives through theater.

 

Thank you to all who made this year’s Wine Tasting & Dinner Event a success!

 

PREMIER SPONSOR

Johnson Controls

 

TABLE SPONSORS

Amy & Bob Arzbaecher, Ellen & Seth Dizard, Caryn & Jim Esten, Patrick Horne, Melissa & Eric Nelsen, Physicians Realty Trust, The Lantz and Ziegler Families.

 

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

Amy & Bob Arzbaecher, BMO Wealth Management, Donna & Joel Nettesheim, N2 Advantage, and O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, Dejong & Laing S.C., Capitol Husting Company, Inc., and The Chef’s Table

 

2021 WINE TASTING & DINNER CHAIRS

Corrie & David Prunuske

 

2021 WINE TASTING & DINNER COMMITTEE

Bob Arzbaecher, Sally Cartwright, Secily Clason, Kathleen Dohearty Penniston, Tim Lantz, David Magnasco, Melissa Nelsen, Kristin Severson, and Gail Teigeiro

 

DONOR PREVIEW EVENTS

To express our ongoing gratitude for our donors’ generous support, First Stage has brought back our series of Donor Preview Events this season. These events include a pre-show donor reception with insightful presenters and an invitation to see a preview performance of select productions.

 

On December 2, 2021, a small group of donors gathered prior to the preview performance of Young Company’s THE LARAMIE PROJECT in the newly renovated Milwaukee Youth Arts Center (MYAC) for a pre-show reception. Guests joined in on mini-tours of MYAC’s new layout with First Stage Managing Director Betsy Corry and then enjoyed some light refreshments as they heard from Matt Daniels, the Director of Young Company, about the production and the Young Company program.

 

On January 20, 2022, more than 40 guests met at the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Donor Lounge for a donor reception catered by Sazama’s while they heard from Brandite Reed and Jeff Frank, the co-directors of THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM – 1963.

 

“I hope that our young audiences are able to see how this real life event affected each one of the characters and relate to their experience, because there are historical events taking place today. This play is an imitation of life. It gives a good example of family and how to love one another through these real life events—whether they be bad, great or whatever they are. These events have to be processed.” – Brandite

 

“Yes, that’s the strength of the love and support of family. We always hope, too, that this play provokes thought and curiosity. That our young audiences become like Kenny. That they want to know why… why was it like that? Is it still like that? What is still like that? What still needs to change? Audiences fall in love with Kenny and his family and then Kenny’s family runs smack into this historical event that shatters them and shatters us as the audience.” – Jeff