First Stage Announces its Season!

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1 Office address: 325 W. Walnut Street Milwaukee, WI Tickets: (414) Fax: (414) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Erica Davis (414) or First Stage Announces its Season! Our 28 th season includes two world premiere productions Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars and Luchadora! Big Fish and the return of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. Milwaukee First Stage announces its 28 th season, featuring six Family Series productions to be performed at the Todd Wehr Theater in the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts in Milwaukee, two First Steps productions our interactive theater series geared towards children ages 3 to 6 at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, and three fully-produced plays performed by the Young Company First Stage Theater Academy s advanced actor training program for high school students performed at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. The season begins with the world premiere play SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS October 17 November 15, 2014, adapted from the series of graphic novels by New York Times Bestselling Graphic Novelist Tony Lee with art by critically acclaimed Dan Boultwood. When Sherlock Holmes goes missing, the Baker Street Irregulars a gang of street kids hired by Sherlock himself to help solve cases accept the challenge of defending the Victorian city against the forces of evil. The Baker Street Irregulars wield their blend of brains and moxie, proving what they ve learned from the great Sherlock Holmes, said First Stage Artistic Director Jeff Frank. It s a bold, fast-paced adventure with plenty of action including a battle under the streets of London, and a chase on top of a moving train. Powered by live music performed by John Nicholson and young performers, this production promises to kick off our season with a bang.

2 First Stage announces season/add one RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL returns from November 28 December 28, Celebrating its 50 th anniversary, the beloved holiday classic makes its leap from the small screen to the stage once again. Rudolph has quickly become a First Stage holiday classic and one of the best-selling shows in our history, remarked Frank. After taking the show to Chicago last year, we re bringing it back home to Milwaukee with new surprises including brand new orchestrations by Timothy Splain and a new and improved Bumble. January brings celebrated playwright Y York s STARGIRL from January 16 February 15, 2015, celebrating first love, individualism, and the similarities that connect us all. Adapted from the critically-acclaimed young adult novel by Jerry Spinelli, STARGIRL tells the story of how Leo Borlock s life is changed when an eccentric and fascinating homeschooler arrives at Mica Area High School. Stargirl faces a choice conform and take the path of least resistance or stay true to herself, said First Stage Associate Artistic Director John Maclay. I m not sure that there is a more important story to present to today s young people. The season continues with the madcap misadventures of Nate Wright in BIG NATE: THE MUSICAL from February 27 March 29, Based on the popular comic strip and book series by Lincoln Peirce, this story originally commissioned by Michael Bobbitt at Adventure Theatre MTC in Maryland will rock your world. Big Nate boldly springs from the page to the stage in this raucous and outrageously funny musical, said Frank. The story includes a bit of everything that makes the school world go round including an arch-nemesis, a love interest, struggles to avoid detention and a happening battle of the bands. Spring marks the world premiere of LUCHADORA! April 10 26, 2015, the next play in the Wisconsin Cycle, First Stage s new play development initiative honoring the local history and heritage of Wisconsin. Written by Alvaro Saar Rios, LUCHADORA! explores questions of identity and honor, the meaning of family, and the world of wrestling. Audiences will love this story, said Frank. It s a journey of discovery told boldly and with humor

3 First Stage announces season/add two that celebrates the rich culture of Mexico, and the secret world of the Lucha Libre wrestling tradition. The Family Series at the Todd Wehr Theater concludes with a splash with a new Theatre for Young Audiences musical adaptation of BIG FISH May 8 31, Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, BIG FISH centers on Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest. Broadway veteran Jeff Whiting (Bullets Over Broadway, Big Fish) returns to choreograph this enchanting musical. After working on the Broadway production, I m so thrilled to have the chance to bring this touching story to life for audiences in Milwaukee, said Whiting. It s a story full of life, heart and, of course, fantastical big fish tales that will leave you honoring the storytellers in each of our lives for it is the dreamers that inspire all of us. First Stage s First Steps Series introducing children ages 3 to 6 to theater in a fun, interactive setting presents two productions this season by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, the team behind Mary Poppins and Honk! Created just for younger audiences and their families, THE THREE LITTLE PIGS November 1 23, 2014 and GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS January 31 February 22, 2015 are both a perfect fit for First Stage s youngest audiences. Both productions are wonderfully upbeat with lively music, clever lyrics and plenty of funny moments to keep families talking long after the show. Performances take place at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 W. Walnut Street, Milwaukee. First Stage s award-winning Young Company s eleventh season opens with ONCE UPON A MATTRESS December 12-14, 2014 a beloved and side-splitting American musical comedy based on the story of The Princess and the Pea. We ve done some heavy material in Young Company addressing a wide range of important social issues. This is not one of those shows and that s OK, said First Stage Associate Artistic Director and Director of the Young Company John Maclay. Our students will develop their comedy chops and train in the nuances of classic

4 First Stage announces season/add three musical comedy. Join Princess Winnifred, Prince Dauntless, Queen Aggravain, Lady Larkin, King Sextimus and a wild cast of ridiculous characters as they turn this fairy tale on its ear. Next the Young Company undertakes Thorton Wilder s masterpiece OUR TOWN March 13-15, Set in the New England town of Grover s Corner, George and Emily meet, fall in love, marry and spend a life together with all of its joys and pains; triumphs and failures. As they do, Wilder shines a light on the fleeting nature of existence and how we measure a human life. It s a play about humanity and our shared journey through life that lends itself to a level of theatricality that matches the Young Company s production approach, said Maclay. It is a truly a beautiful play. It is a play every American should see. Having earned a reputation for performing the works of Shakespeare with clarity and skill well beyond their years, the Young Company will collaborate with professional Shakespearean actors to produce HAMLET May 15 17, HAMLET is a play which has impacted western culture more than any other play in history, said Maclay. Our Shakespeare strives to put the focus where it belongs: on the language and the journeys of the characters. First Stage s season: FAMILY SERIES at the Todd Wehr Theater First Stage s Family Series at the Todd Wehr Theater offers plays for every age range. Performances are located at the Todd Wehr Theater in the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 North Water Street in downtown Milwaukee. SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS A world premiere October 17 November 15, 2014 A world premiere play by Eric Coble

5 First Stage announces season/add four Based on the series of graphic novels by Tony Lee and Dan Boultwood Sherlock Holmes is missing, and the streets of London are awash with crime. Without the famously shrewd detective to save them, who will help the people of London? The Baker Street Irregulars a gang of street kids hired by Sherlock himself to help solve cases accept the challenge of defending the Victorian city against the forces of evil, including the criminal mastermind believed to be the notorious Moriarty. Based on the graphic novels by New York Times best-selling author Tony Lee, drawn by critically acclaimed artist Dan Boultwood, and supported by one of the world s foremost authorities on Sherlock Holmes, Leslie S. Klinger, this family-friendly adventure will unveil clues as to the true fate of Sherlock Holmes. The game is afoot! For everyone ages7 and up. RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL November 28 December 28, 2014 Adapted from the Animated Television Special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert Penola. All elements from the 1964 television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and TM, presented under license from Character Arts, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Orchestrations and Arrangements by Timothy Splain. And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows! Celebrating its 50 th anniversary, the beloved stopmotion classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and his friends soar off the screen and return to our stage this holiday season. From fleeing the Abominable Snow Monster to saving Christmas, join Rudolph and his friends, Hermey and Yukon Cornelius as their adventures teach us that what makes you different can be what makes you special. Don t miss this wonderful holiday tradition that speaks to the little misfit in all of us! For everyone ages 4 and up. STARGIRL January 16 February 15, 2015 By Y York Adapted from the novel by Jerry Spinelli When an eccentric and fascinating homeschooler arrives at Mica Area High School, hallways buzz with texts, whispers fill the air, and eleventh-grader Leo Borlock s life is changed forever. Based on the critically-acclaimed young adult novel by Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl celebrates first love, individualism, and the similarities that connect us all. For everyone ages 10 and up. BIG NATE: THE MUSICAL February 27 March 29, 2015 Based on the comic strip and books by Lincoln Peirce Book by Jason Loewith & Lincoln Peirce Lyrics by Christopher Youstra & Jason Loewith Music by Christopher Youstra

6 First Stage announces season/add five Sixth-grader Nate Wright holds the world record for detentions in school. When the Battle of the Bands contest is announced, Nate and his friends are sure their band Enslave the Mollusk! can win. Can Nate change his ways to keep his band in the contest? Follow the madcap misadventures of this comic strip favorite and see if he can reform long enough to win the coveted prize. For everyone ages 5 and up. LUCHADORA! April 10-26, 2015 A world premiere play by Alvaro Saar Rios When Vanessa discovers a pink mask in her Nana s briefcase, Lupita s story of growing up in 1950s Texas and her family s legacy of lucha libre unfolds. When the World Championship match in faraway Milwaukee is announced, Lupita anticipates simply watching the match until she learns her ailing father is one of the wrestlers. Concerned for his safety, she prepares to take his place, but finds difficulty in keeping her secret from her friends and more importantly her father. Through the prism of Mexican culture, Luchadora unmasks the significance of family traditions and cultural identity, as shared among generations. For everyone ages 7 and up. BIG FISH May 8 31, 2015 Book by John August Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa Based on the book by Daniel Wallace and the Columbia Pictures film Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, BIG FISH centers on Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest and then some! Edward's incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him except for his son Will. Edward has spends a lifetime encouraging his son to dream bigger, but Will insists on keeping his feet on the ground. Until one last epic tale changes everything. Overflowing with heart, humor and magic, BIG FISH is adapted from the hit Broadway musical, just for our family audiences. For everyone ages 7 and up. First Steps Series at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center These performances are geared toward children ages 3 to 6, introducing them to theater in an engaging, interactive and lively environment at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 West Walnut Street. Stiles & Drewe s THE THREE LITTLE PIGS November 1 23, 2014 From the musical team behind Mary Poppins and Honk!

7 First Stage announces season/add six Music by George Stiles Book and Lyrics by Anthony Drewe The pigpen is starting to look like a real sty, and Mama says it s time to leave and build something new. Help Cha, Siu, and Bao watch for wolves while they use hay, sticks, and bricks to make it in a big, bad world. Filled with humor, this gleeful adventure will huff, and puff, and blow you away! Stiles & Drewe s GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS January 31 February 22, 2015 From the musical team behind Mary Poppins and Honk! Music by George Stiles Book and Lyrics by Anthony Drewe On a trip through the forest, Goldilocks ventures into a seemingly uninhabited house. She makes herself at home, trying all the comforts of home to find what is just right. Little does she know the house belongs to a family of three bears, who are not too pleased to find their unexpected guest. Join us on an exciting musical journey through this well-loved fairytale. First Stage Young Company First Stage Young Company First Stage Theater Academy s award-winning training program for our most advanced young actors - will present three full-scale classic productions, including a hilarious musical comedy to a brilliant American classic, to perhaps the greatest play ever written. 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. Performances are held at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 W. Walnut Street, Milwaukee, WI, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS December 12 14, 2014 Music by Mary Rodgers Lyrics by Marshall Barer Book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer Adapted from The Princess and the Pea The award-winning Young Company s 11 th season opens with this beloved and side-splitting classic American musical comedy based on The Princess and the Pea. Join Princess Winnifred, Prince Dauntless, Queen Aggravain. Lady Larkin, King Sextimus and a wild cast of ridiculous characters as they turn this fairy tale on its ear. For everyone ages 6 and up. OUR TOWN March 13 15, 2015 By Thornton Wilder

8 First Stage announces season/add seven Set in the New England town of Grover s Corners Our Town remains one of the greatest American plays ever written. George and Emily meet, fall in love, marry and spend a life together with all of its joys and pains; triumphs and failures. As they do, Wilder shines a light on the fleeting nature of existence and how we measure a human life. For everyone ages 12 and up. HAMLET May 15 17, 2015 By William Shakespeare What a piece of work is man. Hamlet, prince of Denmark, mourns the death of his father the king. When the ghost of the King appears to Hamlet and declares he was murdered by his brother Claudius, Hamlet begins an uncertain and dangerous journey in search of the truth, justice and revenge. Having earned a reputation for performing the works of Shakespeare with clarity and skill well beyond their years, the Young Company will collaborate with area professionals to bring Shakespeare s greatest tragedy to life, continuing First Stage s work as one of the premier classical training centers for young actors. For everyone ages 13 and up. First Stage Family Packages First Stage Family Packages any combination of tickets for three or more plays are on sale to the general public beginning April 1, With a Family Package purchase, families receive free and unlimited ticket exchanges, the opportunity to attend free family workshops and a backstage tour, and more. Family Package prices are available at up to 50% off the cost of regular single ticket price through June 30. More information is available by visiting or calling (414) to request a season brochure. About First Stage Since 1987, First Stage touches hearts, engages minds, and transforms lives by creating extraordinary theater experiences for young people and families through professional theater productions that inspire, enlighten, and entertain; unparalleled Theater Academy training that fosters life skills through stage skills; and dynamic Theater in Education programs that promote active learning in our schools and community. In 2012, First Stage was selected to participate in the Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. First Stage is a member of TYA/USA, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education, Theatre Wisconsin, and Milwaukee Arts Partners, and is a cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF). # # #