It is not often that we are fortunate to have Ibsen performed in Milwaukee. From our friends at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre:
MILWAUKEE CHAMBER THEATRE’S A DOLL’S HOUSE EXAMINES GENDER ROLES AND SELF-IDENTITY IN TONY-NOMINATED NEW ADAPTATION FROM AMY HERZOG
Directed by Leda Hoffmann, the timeless masterpiece will feature Milwaukee favorites Jennifer Vosters, Josh Krause, Libby Amato, Matthew Bowdren, and Kat Wodtke alongside visiting artist Anand Nagraj
MILWAUKEE, WI – December 26, 2024 – Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) continues its landmark 50th Anniversary 2024/25 Season with Henrik Ibsen’s revolutionary classic A DOLL’S HOUSE, presented in an incisive new version by acclaimed American dramatist Amy Herzog.
Directed by Leda Hoffmann, the production will run from January 24 to February 9, 2025, in the Broadway Theatre Center’s Studio Theatre. Tickets are available online at www.milwaukeechambertheatre.org or by calling the Broadway Theatre Center box office at 414-291-7800.
For only the second time in 50 years, world-changing dramatist Henrik Ibsen appears in an MCT season! His most famous play, presented here in a devastatingly compact and celebrated new adaptation, shocked audiences and ushered in a new era of theater when it premiered in 1879. Culminating in what George Bernard Shaw described as “the door slam heard ‘round the world,” its unsparing examination of gender roles, marital dynamics, and the ongoing struggles for equality and self-knowledge remains blisteringly relevant today. Variety praised award-winning dramatist Amy Herzog’s Tony-nominated bold and compact adaptation as “gravitational… a pure view of what Ibsen meant to convey.
“Amy Herzog’s adaptation of A DOLL’S HOUSE gives us an extraordinary opportunity to connect this timeless story with modern audiences in a way that feels both urgent and personal,” said MCT Artistic Director Brent Hazelton. “At its core, this play is about the courage it takes to challenge societal norms and embrace the complexity of our individual identities—conversations that remain as vital today as they were when Ibsen first sparked them. For MCT, producing this piece during our 50th Anniversary Season is not just exciting; it’s a chance to reaffirm our commitment to telling stories that ignite meaningful dialogue in our community.”
Director Leda Hoffmann returns to Milwaukee Chamber Theatre for the first time in almost a decade, after previously directing Tennessee Williams’ A LOVELY SUNDAY FOR CREVE COEUR. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called that production “exceptionally well-acted… funny and poignant,” while OnMilwaukee’s Dave Begel described it as “four women… guided down individual and common paths under the delicate touch of Leda Hoffmann.” “Returning to Milwaukee to direct A DOLL’S HOUSE is a dream come true,” says Hoffmann. “When this play was written over 140 years ago it changed the world. Coming back to it now in a fresh, contemporary, energetic adaptation, the play feels as important as ever. What freedom exists in honestly seeing the world around us? What opportunities exist when we are able to imagine something different? I cannot wait for audiences to experience this dynamic and thrilling drive towards realization.”
The cast of A DOLL’S HOUSE is led by Milwaukee’s own Jennifer Vosters in her MCT acting debut as Nora Helmer opposite MCT favorite Josh Krause (INDECENT, GREAT EXPECTATIONS, JEEVES AT SEA). “When I first read A DOLL’S HOUSE as a senior at Brookfield East (thanks, Ms. Bustle!), the play—and the character of Nora—challenged me in ways I never forgot,” Vosters shared, “confronting me with questions about my place as a young woman in the world I was about to enter. Returning to it right here in Milwaukee feels like a full-circle moment, and the chance to tell this story with the brilliant team MCT has assembled is deeply meaningful both professionally and personally.”
The cast also includes MCT and Milwaukee favorites Kat Wodtke (MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET, acclaimed Milwaukee band Long Mama) as Kristine Linde and Libby Amato (MOUSETRAP, A THOUSAND WORDS) as Anne-Marie. Matthew Bowdren (Arizona Theatre Company, Hudson Valley Shakespeare) and visiting artist Anand Nagraj (Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Disney’s ALADDIN, Chicago Fire and Chicago PD) will round out the cast in their MCT debuts as Nils Krogstad and Dr. Peter Rank, respectively.
The production will be designed and created by Jimmy Balistreri (Lighting Designer), Gina Cornejo (Intimacy Follow), KaiLee Evans (Intimacy Director), Bri Humke (Assistant Stage Manager), Dani Kuepper (Stage Movement Director), Lisa Schlenker (Scenic Designer), Josh Schmidt (Sound Designer), Simone Tegge (Associate Scenic and Properties Designer), Emily Marie Wilke (Stage Manager), and Winter Olamina (Costume Designer).
Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s production of A DOLL’S HOUSE is generously supported by Executive Producers Deborah and Jamshed Patel and Mike Reavis; Producers Emily and Leopold Shircel, Chris and Judi Collins, and the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin; and Associate Producers Kelly Schlicht and Steve Weber. A DOLL’S HOUSE is produced in partnership with TEMPO, Girls Rock/Ladies Rock, Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM), and the Cactus Club’s Cactus Plus.
Here2PlayCommunity Launch Event Join MCT for the launch of A DOLL’S HOUSE in the community on Wednesday, January 8th from 6-8pm at the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin. Here2Play sets the stage for meaningful conversations by highlighting each production’s community partners and contextualizing the play’s themes within Milwaukee. Enjoy themed hors d’oeuvres from the Woman’s Club’s celebrated kitchen, a cash bar, live local music, and sneak-peek readings from the play. A lively panel discussion featuring local leaders will explore the play’s timeless relevance, followed by an exclusive ticket discount for attendees. The event is free and open to the community! RSVP highly encouraged. Complimentary valet parking available. RSVP: HERE!!!
KEY DATES + EVENTS: Ibsen’s A DOLL’S HOUSE, in a new adaptation by Amy Herzog, will run from January 24 to February 9, 2025 at the Broadway Theatre Center’s Studio Theatre, 158 N Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
ASL Interpretation: Friday, February 7 at 7:30 PM
Preview: Friday, January 24 at 7:30 PM
Opening Night: Saturday, January 25 at 8:00 PM
Pay-What-You-Choose: Monday, January 27 at 7:30 PM (walk-up tickets available starting one hour before the show)
Talkbacks: Thursdays, January 30 and February 6, following the 7:30 PM performances
SipStudio: Saturday, February 1 (complimentary drinks and exclusive experiences for matinee and evening attendees)
PERFORMANCE AND TICKET INFORMATION Tickets can be purchased by phone at 414-291-7800 (M-Sa 12-6 pm and 2 hours prior to BTC show times) or online at www.milwaukeechambertheatre.org/a-dolls-house
Throughout the run of A DOLL’S HOUSE, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s 3-Play Flex Pass subscriptions will still be available for purchase. Learn more about subscriber benefits and lock in your seats for the season at www.milwaukeechambertheatre.org/shop.
ABOUT MILWAUKEE CHAMBER THEATRE Founded in 1975 by Montgomery Davis and Ruth Schudson, guided until 2020 by Michael Wright and Kirsten Finn, and now led by Brent Hazelton, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) partners with other arts organizations, community-based organizations, and universities to produce thought-provoking productions and innovative outreach programs on an intimate, human scale, to create conversations among multicultural and multigenerational audiences that bring our community closer together. As part of its five-decade commitment to strengthening Milwaukee and Wisconsin’s local artist community, MCT provides regular employment and a stable artistic home to professional artists through a five-play subscription series, the Young Playwrights Festival (YPF), and the Montgomery Davis Play Development Series (MDPDS).
“Sublime, I know what that means” may seem like an odd title and opening statement but it is a quote from one of the characters in the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s Clyde’s at an important pivot point in the play. What is Clyde’s? It’s a humble cafe/diner that has a growing reputation for sandwiches. Sandwiches you say? Yes, sandwiches, a key plot thread that ties our story and characters together. Who is Clyde? Well Clyde is the proprietor of Clyde’s.
left to right: Justin Huen, Nate Press, Bryant Bentley, and N’Jameh Camara. Photo courtesy of MCT, Photographer: Michael Brosilow
And what is Clyde’s the play? The setting is the kitchen of Clyde’s the diner. And although mentioned that sandwiches is a thread that creates a tie that binds, Pulitzer Prize Winner, Lynn Nottage didn’t give us a simple play about sandwiches or diners. Clyde’s discusses in detail a number of serious cultural and societal issues, including sexism and sexual harassment, racism, and because all of our characters have been incarcerated, issues around how they try to manage new lives once being released from prison. Nottage gives us great insight and great stories and compelling language here. Keep in mind that some of it is very adult language in various forms. This is also a story about love, acceptance, friendship, disappointment, and redemption as Clyde’s kitchen staff learns to work together and work for Clyde but eventually, how to take care of themselves.
When we are first introduced to Clyde’s we meet the three kitchen staffers that keep the place running: Montrellous (aka Monty), Rafael, and Letitia. Rafael is played by Justin Huen who presents us with a vibrant grill man who aspires to sous chef. Huen brings just the right bit of bravado and rhythm to the character and the kitchen…and he gives us a romantic Rafael with a big heart clearly on his sleeve. N’Jameh Camara’s Letitia is an often a distracted mother who can’t quite leave her troubles at the kitchen door. Montrellous and Rafael try to help her overcome her anxieties and she slowly falls into the flow of the kitchen and her compatriots. Camara makes Letitia’s transitions from anxious to angry to at peace a natural and very real experience. And Montrellous is described in the play as a Buddha at times. And Bryant Bentley seems to be just exactly that…working as mentor and advisor and lead sandwich maker…he keeps an even keel around the kitchen as our story unfolds.
left to right: N’Jameh Camara, Justin Huen, Bryant Brantley, and Nate Press. Photo courtesy of MCT, Photographer: Michael Brosilow
But then, a new character arrives at Clyde’s. Jason has just gotten out of prison and has a definite chip on his shoulder at this point. And Nate Press provides us the the anger and quick trigger that Jason’s backstory tells us got him in trouble in the first place. He can’t quite grasp the point of making sandwiches or working with his teammates or caring much about anything. And the others warn him about Clyde…he doesn’t necessary heed their warnings…but he does come to a realization that self-care with a bit of support is a valid goal.
Who is Clyde? Lachrisa Grandberry rules the roost here as Clyde. Working the front of the house and demanding constant work and efficiency from the kitchen staff…she is harassing and demeaning…and clearly lording it over them thinking that as felons they have no recourse than to accept her attitude. Grandberry is effective as the mean and outrageous Clyde. She comes across as very real as the villain and I don’t think anyone in the audience had any empathy for her. I do wonder if she was engaged in a bit of tough love here or as Jason shouted out, she was just mean. There are hints toward the latter but it is never resolved in my mind.
left to right: Justin Huen, Bryant Brantley, Nate Press, and N’Jameh Camara,. Photo courtesy of MCT, Photographer: Michael Brosilow
And that thread around sandwiches? When there is a moment of peace in the kitchen, our characters suggest their best sandwich recipes of the moment and at times create their best for presentation and critique. These asides are clearly the bonding moments that the characters crave but create organically in the moment.
Yes, this is a serious drama, but there is a good bit of word play and humor here…laugh out loud humor. After experiencing this, it is hard to imagine that there will be a more compelling drama the rest of this season. And Director Dimonte Henning has explored every nook and cranny of the text and extracted every bit of humor and drama to be mined here!
Clyde’s is being presented by the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center. It is extremely popular and as a result has been extended through November 30, 2024. More information and tickets here!Run time: approximately 100 minutes, no intermission and there is adult language.
What is your favorite sandwich?
left to right: Bryant Bradley, Lachrisa Grandberry, and Justin Huen. Photo courtesy of MCT, Photographer: Michael Brosilow
MILWAUKEE, WI – Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) continues its 50th Anniversary 2024/25 season with the Milwaukee premiere of CLYDE’S, the Tony Award-nominated comedy by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage. The production will runfrom November 8 to November 24, 2024, at the Broadway Theatre Center’s Studio Theatre. Tickets can be purchased online at www.milwaukeechambertheatre.org/clydes or by calling the Broadway Theatre Center box office at 414-291-7800 (M-Sa 12-6 pm and two hours prior to BTC show times).
From the director of last season’s smash hit THE MOUNTAINTOP comes Lynn Nottage’s new “flavor-bomb of a comedy” (Variety) that’s “a spicy feast for the senses” (Chicago Sun-Times). Set in a diner kitchen that might be hell, limbo, or just a greasy spoon off the Pennsylvania turnpike, CLYDE’S follows four formerly incarcerated cooks striving for redemption by creating the perfect sandwich—all under the devilish gaze of Clyde, their hard-driving boss. Combining uproarious humor, fulsome heart, and generous hospitality, CLYDE’S delivers a delicious theatrical meal that showcases why Nottage is one of America’s greatest living playwrights.
“We’ve had an appetite to produce CLYDE’s since it premiered a few years ago, and I’m thrilled to be able to share it with Milwaukee audiences,” said MCT Artistic Director Brent Hazelton. “We’ve assembled the perfect team to tell this story, led by Milwaukee native and frequent MCT collaborator Dimonte Henning. Anyone who saw last season’s THE MOUNTAINTOP knows that Dimonte is one of Milwaukee’s best theater storytellers, and his warm sense of humor, big-hearted empathy, and commitment to community are the perfect lenses through which to tell this story.” Also a leading local actor, Henning last appeared at MCT as Actor Two in the 2023/24 world premiere of THE NOT-SO-ACCIDENTAL CONVICTION OF ELEVEN MILWAUKEE “ANARCHISTS”. Henning’s onstage work will also be familiar to audiences of Milwaukee Repertory Theater, First Stage, and Next Act Theater, among others.
“CLYDE’S provides us with more than delicious sandwiches, but a deep insight into the lives of formerly incarcerated people who are determined to make their second chance at life a fulfilling experience,” said Henning. “As the characters strive to make the perfect sandwich, we watch their humanity, aspirations, and redemptive qualities on full display as they navigate the tumultuous and sometimes hellish kitchen environment that is Clyde’s sandwich shop. Through this transformational story, we are reminded of the power of forgiveness, perseverance, and the resiliency of hope even when the options seem limited.”
CLYDE’S will reunite Henning with the two stars of THE MOUNTAINTOP, Bryant Bentley and N’Jameh Camara, whom the Shepherd Express called “two powerhouse performers,” in the roles of Montrellous and Letitia, respectively. Camara also notably starred in MCT’s critically-acclaimed 2024/25 season opener AN ILIAD, where her performance was called “amazing…almost superhuman” (Ryan Jay Reviews), “Herculean” (Milwaukee Magazine), and “an emotional display of genius” (CopyWrite Magazine). CLYDE’S will also feature the MCT debut of Milwaukee favorites Lachrisa Grandberry (First Stage, Northern Sky) as Clyde, Justin Huen (Milwaukee Rep) as Rafael, and Nate Press (Next Act, Sunset Playhouse) as Jason.
“I’ve been eagerly anticipating being a part of CLYDE’S with Milwaukee Chamber Theatre all year,” said Grandberry. “Returning home to Milwaukee to tell this powerful story is truly special. Telling stories that raise awareness of the challenges faced by marginalized communities is a mission I hold close, and CLYDE’S does just that. It’s a story of second chances, redemption, resilience, and the healing power of creativity. At the same time, it explores the tragic cycle of bitterness and control, and the complexity of being a Black or brown person—especially one impacted by the criminal justice system.”
Playwright Lynn Nottage is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and one of America’s greatest living dramatists. MCT’s production of CLYDE’S will be designed and created by an all-local team including Maaz Ahmed (Lighting Designer), Gina Cornejo (Intimacy Director Follow), KaiLee Evans (Intimacy Director Lead), Stephen Hudson-Mairet (Scenic Designer), Pia Russo (Assistant Stage Manager), Josh Schmidt (Sound Designer), Lauren Marie Stoner (Wardrobe), Simone Tegge (Properties Designer), Emily Marie Wilke (Stage Manager), and Trinae Williams-Henning (Costume Designer).
Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s production of CLYDE’S is presented by Dwight and Marleen Morgan, Producers Pat Martin and Julie Anding and Lisa Kornetsky, and Associate Producers Keith and Paula Anderson and Kristy Nielson and William Lorber. CLYDE’S is produced in partnership with Kinship Community Food Center, the Milwaukee Freedom Fund, Food for Health, the Milwaukee Turners, and The Community.
PERFORMANCE AND TICKET INFORMATION:
CLYDE’S by Lynn Nottage will run from November 8 to November 24, 2024 at the Broadway Theatre Center’s Studio Theatre, 158 N Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
Preview: Friday, November 8 at 7:30 pm
Opening Night: Saturday, November 9 at 8 pm
Pay-What-You-Choose: Monday, November 11 at 7:30 pm (walk-up tickets available starting one hour before the show)
Talkbacks: Thursdays, November 14 and 21 following the 7:30 pm performances
SipStudio: Saturday, November 16, open to attendees of that day’s matinee and evening performances
ASL Interpretation: Friday, November 22 at 7:30 pm
Tickets can be purchased by phone at 414-291-7800 (M-Sa 12-6 pm and 2 hours prior to BTC show times) or online at www.milwaukeechambertheatre.org.
