We Did It!
This Spring, we launched a new education initiative called the Supreme Creativity Studio with MPS Music Teacher Meaghan Heinrich and Neeskara School. Working with Meaghan - plus five faculty members from MOT - we taught basic songwriting and collaborative skills to two different classes of fifth graders at Neeskara.
Supreme Creativity Studio Faculty Jill Anna Ponasik, Brit Nicole, Nicole McCarty, Steph Lippert, and Danny Brylow
After 8 weeks in the classroom, 10 original songs were born, with such loveable titles as
"Good Vibes", "What Does it Mean to be a Queen?", and "Keepin' the Kool Aid Sweet."
We're so proud of the work that the students did!
"Good Vibes", "What Does it Mean to be a Queen?", and "Keepin' the Kool Aid Sweet."
We're so proud of the work that the students did!
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We'd like to extend a huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped us reach our fundraising goal in support of our this initiative! Thanks to you, we've raised
$8,193 in support of this project. Super Special Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor who helped us out with a $3,600 matching grant!!!
If you'd like to contribute, we are still taking donations! To donate, visit the link below, or send a check to
Milwaukee Opera Theatre P.O. Box 182 Elm Grove, WI 53122 |
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The 5th graders and our faculty thank you!
Hear from our Supreme Creativity Studio collaborative partner,
MPS Music Teacher Meaghan Heinrich!
MPS Music Teacher Meaghan Heinrich!
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My two 5th grade classes had struggled all year with being kind to each other and working together. In a post-pandemic school environment, they were still suffering from the isolation brought on by two years of virtual and socially distanced school, and their emotional regulation and collaboration skills were at an all-time low. The Supreme Creativity Studio was not only an incredible opportunity for them to explore new musical skills, but more importantly, an outlet for processing these difficult emotions over time and relearning these skills together. By the end of the project, I was amazed that each small group had truly taken ownership of their original song, showing great care and pride in their efforts to perform it well. The greatest gift, however, was seeing each class finally come together as a community - students from other groups were singing along with their classmates' songs and cheering each other on. The process of writing a song together with the nurturing guidance of the MOT faculty brought out each child's strength, vulnerability, individuality, and perseverance, and I know it is an experience they will never forget.
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Some preliminary resources we used to generate lyrics with the students.
And here's what some of the participating students had to say!
I’m going to start being less shy singing.
Thank you for giving me confidence when I needed it the most.
Brit, you’re so positive, brave, and graceful. Every time you say a poem,
It makes me feel like I am fearless.
Nicole, I love your singing. It can help someone on a hard day.
Jill, your laughter is contagious and brings a million rainbows to the room.
Danny, your humor is magnificent.
Steph, I think your piano skills are so good,
I want you to put some of your songs on Spotify.
You could have been at a different school,
but you chose this one, thanks so much.
We are so happy to have y’all come into our life!
Thank you for giving me confidence when I needed it the most.
Brit, you’re so positive, brave, and graceful. Every time you say a poem,
It makes me feel like I am fearless.
Nicole, I love your singing. It can help someone on a hard day.
Jill, your laughter is contagious and brings a million rainbows to the room.
Danny, your humor is magnificent.
Steph, I think your piano skills are so good,
I want you to put some of your songs on Spotify.
You could have been at a different school,
but you chose this one, thanks so much.
We are so happy to have y’all come into our life!
Thank you for a great season!
"What are we in Wisconsin without fearlessly imaginative companies like MOT and Quasimondo, daring to dream a better version of who we are so that we might create a better version of the world?"
~Mike Fischer, World Premiere Wisconsin
~Mike Fischer, World Premiere Wisconsin
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Night of the Living Opera
(Concert Reading)
"The new opera may outdo Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor for blood, carnage, and madness."
~Gwen Rice, GwendolynRice.com Co-produced with Angry Young Men, LTD
Learn more about Night of the Living Opera!
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The Meaning of Christmas
"MOT’s work is brilliant
and has so much integrity." "MOT serves the city in a unique and beautiful way." ~Audience Comments Co-produced with the Decameron Opera Coalition
Learn more about The Meaning of Christmas!
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Requiem
"Very beautiful and uplifting. Keep creating and sending out all of that beautiful positive energy into the world!...It made my day!"
"An unforgettable experience…" ~Audience Comments Co-produced with Chant Claire
Learn more about Requiem!
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Rusalka
"Immensely funny, fanciful,
lighthearted, all-around delightful" ~Kelsey Lawler, Planet Kelsey "Rusalka was intoxicating!" ~Audience Comment Co-produced with Danceworks MKE
Learn more about Rusalka!
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Impossible Operas
"An appealing evening of song and story that feels deliciously surreal in so many interesting ways...I desperately need more of this sort of thing in my life."
~Russ Bickerstaff, The Small Stage Co-produced with Quasimondo Physical Theatre
Learn more about Impossible Operas!
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Magnificent Bird
"Just a breathtaking, devastating, and ultimately comforting performance."
"A treat like no other…" ~Audience Comments Co-produced with Present Music
Learn more about Magnificent Bird!
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"MOT...makes it clear that opera can be both glorious and fun,
combining theater, dance, and music in a way that no other art form can quite match."
~Mike Fischer, World Premiere Wisconsin
combining theater, dance, and music in a way that no other art form can quite match."
~Mike Fischer, World Premiere Wisconsin
Plus: Not one but TWO Education Programs!
In addition to our long-running Script & Score program, we also added a brand new education initiative:
the Supreme Creativity Studio! Through the Studio, we partnered with MPS Music Teacher Meaghan Heinrich and Neeskara School to teach basic songwriting and collaborative skills to two different classes of 5th graders!
Here's what some of the participants had to say:
the Supreme Creativity Studio! Through the Studio, we partnered with MPS Music Teacher Meaghan Heinrich and Neeskara School to teach basic songwriting and collaborative skills to two different classes of 5th graders!
Here's what some of the participants had to say:
"I’m going to start being less shy singing."
"Thank you for giving me confidence when I needed it the most."
"We are so happy to have y’all come into our life!"
"Thank you for giving me confidence when I needed it the most."
"We are so happy to have y’all come into our life!"
Stay tuned for more info about how you can help make programs like these a reality in future seasons!
If you enjoyed our work this season, 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!
Photo Credits:
Night of the Living Opera, Requiem, Rusalka, and Impossible Operas: Mark Frohna
The Meaning of Christmas: Eric Miranda
Magnificent Bird: Samer Ghani
Night of the Living Opera, Requiem, Rusalka, and Impossible Operas: Mark Frohna
The Meaning of Christmas: Eric Miranda
Magnificent Bird: Samer Ghani
Banner Photo Descriptions, clockwise from top left: Requiem Composer Paula Foley Tillen; Erin Sura, Brennan Martinez, and Tabetha Steege as the Three Wood Nymphs in Rusalka; Tim Rebers as Vaudemónt in the Iolanta section of Impossible Operas; David Guzmán as Vodník in Rusalka; Elizabeth Blood as Barbara in Night of the Living Opera; David Guzmán as Wotan in the Die Walküre section of Impossible Operas; Tim Rebers as the Prince and Jason Powell as the Moon in Rusalka; Kathy Pyeatt as Fata Morgana in the Love for Three Oranges section of Impossible Operas.
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.
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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.
