As our theaters sit empty with remarkable productions in the wings it is hard not to feel defeated. As I put our exchange student on an emergency flight back to his home country last week, fighting back the tears that would eventually flow anyway, it struck me that things that bring us joy and comfort are suddenly and shockingly unavailable leaving us with a feeling of whiplash and disbelief. How could we go from life as normal to this in just a couple of weeks?
However, we know that just like theater artists, our country and those across the world are creative and resilient. The arts bring beauty and hope in darkness, and they are playing that same role now. Italians are singing with their neighbors on balconies. We are streaming brilliant plays into your homes. Choirs are rehearsing on Zoom. For thousands of years, we have gathered in theaters to celebrate our shared humanity in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. The theater has survived plagues, world wars, economic collapses and political uprisings. With your support, your Milwaukee Rep will survive as well and will be ready to lead us back to a beautiful normalcy. This too shall pass.
While I’m confident in the enduring power of live theater, I’m mindful of the fragile environment we exist in. Non-profit arts organizations, which employ thousands of local Wisconsinites, are being hit exceptionally hard. People are everything to us. We pride ourselves on having the best talent, audiences and donors of any theater in the country. You deserve the best from us now too. We are continuing to pay staff, have gone to extraordinary lengths to bring uplifting artistic experiences to you, and are designing productions for our 2020/21 Season. Due to our prudent financial planning, we are better prepared than most, but we too have limits.
If you are looking for a meaningful way to help, you can play a leading role in our future. Please consider the following…
Renew Your Subscription Today (and buy with confidence). Tallulah Bankhead famously quipped, “If you want to help the American theater, don't be an actress, be an audience.” We understand the uncertainty that the current environment has created so we have a new guarantee and a special incentive. For all Subscribers that renew, we will:
• Guarantee a 100% refund for cancelled performances
• Provide a free ticket voucher to bring a friend to any play of your choice (up to a $100 value)
• Allow free exchanges with up to 24 hours advance notice
Subscribers can renew online at www.MilwaukeeRep.com – our easy process takes just a few minutes, or you can call the Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.
Catch our Production of Eclipsed in your living room! Through a unique partnership with HMS Media and Vimeo, we are one of the first theaters in the country to bring world-class productions from the stage to you. For only $15, watch a high-definition, professionally produced video of Danai Gurira’s (The Walking Dead, Black Panther) brilliant play here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/eclipsed.
Our entire team is working remotely and here to help. We miss you and would love to hear from you. Additionally, we are exploring creative and innovative ways to bring Milwaukee Rep to you. Please follow and engage with us on social media by clicking on various platforms below:
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And of course, our online content portal – Milwaukee Rep News Center.
Be safe. Be kind. Don’t be a stranger.
Chad Bauman
Executive Director