From this morning’s email, I have a note that the PBS broadcast of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s opening weekend concert will be aired again, details from the email below. And if you want to see my comments on my experience that weekend, click here: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Holds ‘A Grand Opening’ With Opening!
On Saturday, October 3, Milwaukee’s PBS affiliate aired a live broadcast of our Grand Opening weekend concert, complete with pre-show, intermission, and post-concert specials. More than 22,000 households in Southeastern Wisconsin tuned in to watch this historic performance. If you missed it, or were hoping for a chance to watch it again, we are excited to share that the performance will be re-broadcast nation-wide on PBS on Friday, December 17 at 8:00 pm Central. Southeastern Wisconsin audiences can tune in on Milwaukee PBS on channels 10 and 36. The pre-concert special will begin at 7:30 pm Central, and it is also available to watch any time at milwaukeepbs.org/mso.
Be sure to tune in! Revisit the program notes online here.
There are a number of firsts here and if you can take the time to watch this re-broadcast, it will be worth every moment!!
The Superwoman concerto is about a struggle to be heard and a destination of empowerment. An ode to Nietzsche’s Zarathustra, I believe everyone is on a journey, and everyone finds fulfillment. This piece represents a journey of any kind, whether it is an internal discovery, or an external adventure. I dedicate this piece to my mother, the strongest person I know and a true Superwoman.
Yes it’s been two years since the last time the Milwaukee Repertory Theater opened their annual holiday run of Charles Dickens’, A Christmas Carol. And even though it was a Tuesday school night the audience was ready for some theater magic! And once again the Mark Clements adaptation of this Dickens classic delivers!
But before we get to the actors, lets talk about the action a bit. The most amazing and under appreciated part of the Rep’s Christmas Carol is the stage! Again and again, the stage rotates and resets on turn tables or giant lazy Susans if you will to present us with Scrooge’s office, London Streets, the Cratchit home, Belle’s home, more London Streets, Mr. Fezziwig’s shop, and the myriad sites that our various ghosts take our beleagered Scrooge to! It seems so effortless and natural but I can’t imagine the effort to make it all work just so!
And of course this year we have the long awaited return of Lee Ernst as Scrooge. He was after all meant to fill the role last year but was pandemic diverted to play Marley in the Rep’s streaming presentation of Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol instead.
Lee Ernst as Scrooge
And Mr. Ernst did not disappoint! So completely made up for the part, he delivered the cantankerous Scrooge on the streets of London and in his offices, easily delivering the fearful Scrooge with his encounters with Marley’s Ghost and the Ghost of Christmas Past, to the somewhat belligerent and fed up Scrooge with the Ghosts of Christmas Future and Present, to the transformed and very human Scrooge post re-awakening.
And I had heard that there was a new ghost and was concerned that my personal favorite, long time Rep member, Mark Corkins wasn’t returning. But I was relieved to see his name in the playbill and I relaxed when he made his appearance as Marley’s ghost! Probably his scariest Rep role (well except for maybe his appearance in Endgame) and he’s taken full ownership of the character!
But there is a NEW ghost of note! Kevin Kantor is the Ghost of Christmas Past! Scary? Yes scary but not in the usual ugly or menacing way of a ghost or monster. But instead, behind a costume of white and glitter and dreadfully black lipstick, they control and manipulate Scrooge through the events and visions that will eventually touch his soul. And in such a fluid and elegant manner that you wouldn’t find it at all threatening out of context. !!
Now in my little section of the audience, there was a wave of noticeable energy every time Tiny Tim appeared! When you purchase a single ticket you never know who you will find yourself seated next to…but Tuesday night I was seated amongst the Cratchit family! The Crachits? Well not really, but the parents, grandparents, and extended family of Lainey Techtmann, who plays Tiny Tim this season. I almost got invited to the family holiday party…almost…sigh! What a wonderful bunch of people!
