2023 was a big year for us! We produced a whopping five productions,
including Requiem, Rusalka, Impossible Operas, Magnificent Bird, and the world premiere of Night of the Living Opera!
including Requiem, Rusalka, Impossible Operas, Magnificent Bird, and the world premiere of Night of the Living Opera!
If you've enjoyed the shows we've produced this year, please consider helping us out this Giving Tuesday
with a tax deductible donation in any amount!
with a tax deductible donation in any amount!
If you'd prefer to donate by mail, please send a check to:
Milwaukee Opera Theatre
P.O. Box 182
Elm Grove, WI 53122
P.O. Box 182
Elm Grove, WI 53122
Checks may be made out to "Milwaukee Opera Theatre"
Thank you for helping us keep the lights on at Milwaukee's Microbrewery for Opera!
Pictured
Top Row: Jerome Síbulo (Ben) and the cast of Night of the Living Opera
Middle Row: Carla Kihlstedt in Magnificent Bird; David Guzmán as Wotan in Impossible Operas
Bottom Row: Erin Sura, Brennan Martinez, and Tabetha Steege as the Three Wood Nymphs in Rusalka;
Soloists Lydia Rose Eiche and Nathan Wesselowski with Chant Claire in Requiem
Top Row: Jerome Síbulo (Ben) and the cast of Night of the Living Opera
Middle Row: Carla Kihlstedt in Magnificent Bird; David Guzmán as Wotan in Impossible Operas
Bottom Row: Erin Sura, Brennan Martinez, and Tabetha Steege as the Three Wood Nymphs in Rusalka;
Soloists Lydia Rose Eiche and Nathan Wesselowski with Chant Claire in Requiem
Requiem, Rusalka, Impossible Operas, and Night of the Living Opera Photo Credits: Mark Frohna
Magnificent Bird Photo Credit: Samer Ghani
Magnificent Bird Photo Credit: Samer Ghani
Libretto by Josh Perkins | Music by Andrew Dewey
Co-Created with Julianne Perkins
Co-Created with Julianne Perkins
Thank you to everyone who made our world premiere of Night of the Living Opera happen!
Special thanks to our collaborative partner, Angry Young Men, Ltd.
Special thanks to our collaborative partner, Angry Young Men, Ltd.
Learn more!
"Puppets Take the Stage in Milwaukee Opera Theatre’s ‘Night of the Living Opera’" ~Russ Bickerstaff, Shepherd Express
"A Brilliant Horror Show from MOT" ~Dave Begel, Leave it to Begel
"Opera is the best form of entertainment" ~John Hamann (aka "Milverine")
"What to expect: 'Night of the Living Opera' at Milwaukee's Broadway Theater Center" ~CBS 58
"The Zombies are Back, and Biting, at Milwaukee Opera Theatre" ~Dave Luhrssen, Shepherd Express
"Puppets, Horror, Music and More" ~Russ Bickerstaff, The Small Stage
"Sorta Ridiculous: Julianne and Josh Perkins talk about Night of the Living Opera" ~Riverwest Radio
"6 spooky Milwaukee theater shows hitting the stage for Halloween" ~OnMilwaukee
"A Brilliant Horror Show from MOT" ~Dave Begel, Leave it to Begel
"Opera is the best form of entertainment" ~John Hamann (aka "Milverine")
"What to expect: 'Night of the Living Opera' at Milwaukee's Broadway Theater Center" ~CBS 58
"The Zombies are Back, and Biting, at Milwaukee Opera Theatre" ~Dave Luhrssen, Shepherd Express
"Puppets, Horror, Music and More" ~Russ Bickerstaff, The Small Stage
"Sorta Ridiculous: Julianne and Josh Perkins talk about Night of the Living Opera" ~Riverwest Radio
"6 spooky Milwaukee theater shows hitting the stage for Halloween" ~OnMilwaukee
October 27-November 5, 2023
Studio Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center
158 N Broadway, 53202
Studio Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center
158 N Broadway, 53202
Cast
Barbara: Julianne Perkins
Johnny: Emanuel Camacho
Ben: Jerome Síbulo
Harry: Nathan Wesselowski
Tommy: Jesse Weinberg
Judy: Kaisa Herrmann
Helen: Kathy Pyeatt
Sheriff: Danielle Gedemer
Karen: Becky Cofta
Radio Announcer: Brett Sweeney
Gaunt Man/Fire Ghoul: David Guzmán
Johnny: Emanuel Camacho
Ben: Jerome Síbulo
Harry: Nathan Wesselowski
Tommy: Jesse Weinberg
Judy: Kaisa Herrmann
Helen: Kathy Pyeatt
Sheriff: Danielle Gedemer
Karen: Becky Cofta
Radio Announcer: Brett Sweeney
Gaunt Man/Fire Ghoul: David Guzmán
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Zombie Chorus
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Zombie Puppeteers
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Becky Cofta
Danielle Gedemer David Guzmán Shayne Steliga Brett Sweeney |
Elizabeth Ahlstrom
Alice Hammers Billy Ray Olsen Miranda Pride |
Shadow Puppetry Consultant: Anja Notanja Sieger
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Orchestra
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Creative Team
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Synthesizer: Nicole McCarty
Violin I: Lodewijk Broekhuizen Violin II: Fátima Gómez Viola: Evan Lane Cello: Yeng Thao Double Bass: Alec Henry Electronics: John Webber |
Stage Director & Librettist: Josh Perkins
Conductor & Composer: Andrew Dewey Music Director: Nicole McCarty Lighting Design: Jim Padovano Puppet Direction: Billy Ray Olsen Stage Manager: Marge Frey Prop Coordination: Lisa Schlenker Costume Coordination: Jill Anna Ponasik Rehearsal Pianist: Susan Gedemer |
Check out Cast and Creative Team Bios here!
Explore the rest of our 23-24 Season!
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I Wanna Fly
Featuring the music of Maury Yeston and
a new work by Gwen Rice and Matt Zembrowski March 1-10, 2024
Florentine Opera Center 926 East Burleigh, 53212 Experience this one-of-a-kind cabaret performance starring Voice Lab alum and beloved local singer Lynette Ryan, with pianist extraordinaire David Bonofiglio on the keys. I Wanna Fly will feature a performance of Maury Yeston's introspective song cycle, "December Songs", a brand new song by writer Gwen Rice and composer Matt Zembrowski,
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Voice Lab
September 2023 through June 2024
Voice Lab will take place at various TBA venues across the city Voice Lab is back! After taking a short break last season, we're bringing back a full slate of the Labs that you've come to know and love. Come belt out your favorite aria, art song, musical theater piece,
pop song...it's all up to you! Get the feedback you've always wanted, learn and grow with us, or just sit back and enjoy twelve of your peers singing their hearts out once a month throughout the season. Learn more about Voice Lab here!
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Script & Score
Spring 2024
Parkside School for the Arts We continue our longtime educational initiative as MOT Teaching Artist Nathan Wesselowski returns to Parkside School for the Arts to work with sixth graders to create an original musical based on their
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Supreme Creativity Studio
Spring 2024
Neeskara Elementary School After the success of our pilot Studio this past May, we're teaming up with dedicated MPS Music Teacher Meaghan Heinrich to teach songwriting and collaborative skills to two classes of fifth graders at Neeskara Elementary again next spring.
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Meet Our New Staff!
We're so excited to welcome two new staff members to our team for the 23-24 Season!
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Danielle Gedemer, Company Manager
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Kaisa Herrmann, Marketing Manager
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Danielle Gedemer, soprano, is thrilled to join the MOT staff, after having performed in Night of the Living Opera and L'Orfeo in recent seasons. Since graduating from UW-Milwaukee with a BFA in Vocal Performance, she has enjoyed working with the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in their Connections program, writing a libretto for the Florentine Opera Company’s children's show, Cinderella, singing at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and annually composing songs with her mother for West Bend Parks and Rec Department's summer theatre show. In her free time, she loves spending time with her incredible family and friends.
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After recently completing an MM in Vocal Performance at CU Boulder, Kaisa is excitedly building her career and takes a special interest in early and new music. Having started a love for early music ensemble singing in high school through madrigals, she was a founding member of the Milwaukee-based ensemble Aperi Animam and later sang with the CU Boulder Early Music Ensemble. Recent roles with MOT include “La Musica” and “Euridice” in the concert reading of L'Orfeo in 2021, “Euridice” in the fully-staged production in 2022, and “Judy” in Night of the Living Opera. Kaisa’s heart is fully steeped in the performing world, and she is so thankful for this company that truly works for the artists of Milwaukee.
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If you're as jazzed about our 23-24 Season as we are, please consider helping us out
with a tax deductible donation in any amount.
with a tax deductible donation in any amount.
Your support is greatly appreciated!
Our season was supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board
with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
MOT is a proud United Performing Arts Fund Affiliate and appreciates the generous support received annually thanks to your UPAF donation.
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Our Mission
We are Milwaukee’s micro-brewery for opera, proudly producing small batches of high quality, local lyric theatre.
We tell stories through music...unconventionally.
We tell stories through music...unconventionally.
Milwaukee Opera Theatre is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.
