Milwaukee Opera Theatre
Milwaukee Opera Theatre
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It's Rusalka time!

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Music by Antonín Dvořák   |   Libretto by Jaroslav Kvapil
Adapted by Jason Powell
Produced in collaboration with Danceworks Performance MKE
February 9-12, 2023
Danceworks Studio Theatre
1661 N Water Street, 53202
Danceworks Performance MKE and Milwaukee Opera Theatre take the stage for their 7th
collaboration by plunging into the tale of Rusalka: a water nymph determined to find love by way
of magic, featuring singing sprites, dancing goblins, and Jason Powell as The Moon. Rooted in
Slavic folklore, and packed with ravishing music, Rusalka remains Antonín Dvořák’s best known
opera. This tale’s classic arias will accompany a modern day restructuring of the story by Powell,
with singing in Czech, speaking in English, and dancing in...dance!
​Be transported by this one-of-a-kind collaboration.

Check out all things Rusalka!
"Beautiful Aquatic Dichotomies" ~Russ Bickerstaff, The Small Stage
"5 Reasons “Rusalka” is a Bewitching Romp" ~Kelsey Lawler, Planet Kelsey
"Local theater arts companies collaborate for latest production" ~WISN12's Arts Avenue
​"Milwaukee Opera Theatre and Danceworks Brings Imagination to Dvořák’s ‘Rusalka’"
~David Luhrssen, Shepherd Express
"A Charming and Beautiful Fairytale" ~ MOT Board Member Paul Kosidowski
Read Rusalka Song Translations here!
Cast & Creative Team
Cast
Rusalka:
Saira Frank
Vodník: David Guzmán 
Prince: Tim Rebers 
Ježibaba: Colleen Brooks 
First Nymph: Tabetha Steege 
Second Nymph: Erin Sura 
Third Nymph: Brennan Martinez 
The Moon: Jason Powell
Dancers
Katelyn Altmann
Nekea Leon
​Kaitlyn Moore
Cuauhtli Ramirez Castro​
Tessa Ritchey
Isaac Jerin Robertson
Halle Sivertson
Gabi Sustache
Creative Team
Choreographer:
Christal Wagner
Stage Director: Jill Anna Ponasik
Music Director: Ruben Piirainen
Set & Lighting Designer: Colin Gawronski
Harpist: Erin Brooker-Miller
Read Cast and Creative Team Biographies here!​
Performance Dates & Times
Thursday, February 9 - 7:30 PM
Friday, February 10 - 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 11 - 4:30 PM & 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 12 - 3:00 PM & 6:00 PM
Rush Tickets Still Available!
The show is Sold Out, but if you haven't gotten your tickets yet, don't fret!
A small number of mat seating rush tickets will be available as
 walk up sales before each performance,
​and will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis.

Explore the rest of our season!
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Impossible Operas

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Created by Tim Rebers, Brian Rott, Jeffrey Mosser, Anja Notanja Sieger and Jill Anna Ponasik

​Featuring the music of
​Mozart, Wagner, Bartók, Handel
(and more!)
May 19-28, 2023
Studio Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center
158 N Broadway, Milwaukee


Some operas are so challenging,
​they’re considered practically impossible.
With our friends at Quasimondo Physical Theatre, we’re going to present seven of them…in a row. 

Birds of a Feather

May 31 & June 1, 2023
Jan Serr Studio
2155 N Prospect Ave, Milwaukee


We’re teaming up with Present Music
for a concert featuring Gabriel Kahane,
performing a new version of his solo album
Magnificent Bird - plus a newly commissioned work
from chamber music superstar Paul Wiancko.
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Plus monthly Voice Labs, our Script & Score program,
and a new Composer Librettist Studio education initiative!

Help us continue our mission to serve as
​Milwaukee's Microbrewery for Opera
with a tax-deductible donation in any amount!
Donate Now!
Your support is greatly appreciated!

Graphic Design: Andrea Klohn
Rusalka Photo Credit: Christal Wagner
Impossible Operas Artwork: Anja Notanja Sieger

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.
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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.
Milwaukee Opera Theatre is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.
Mailing Address:
Milwaukee Opera Theatre
PO Box 182 
​
Elm Grove, WI 53122
Jill Anna Ponasik
Producing Artistic Director 
Daniel J. Brylow
Company Manager
​dbrylow@gmail.com
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