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Dad's Season Tickets

Book, Music & Lyrics by Matt Zembrowski
Directed by Ryan Quinn

October 29, 2021 – January 2, 2022

Stackner Cabaret

Approximate Running Time: 2hrs and 35 minutes including an intermission
Recommended Age: 12 and up

Important Update
As a result of COVID-19 cases with vaccinated members of the Dad’s Season Tickets cast, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the remaining week of performances to safeguard the health of our artists, staff and audiences.  Our COVID health and safety protocols have been robust and our ongoing testing protocols with our cast and staff did exactly what they were designed to do – detect Covid-19 prior to it being able to spread. Our Ticket Office will contact those who purchased tickets to one of these performances, all tickets will be refunded in full.


A New Musical Comedy Celebrating Family, Folly, and Football 

Direct from its sold-out engagement in Door County where it became the best-selling hit in Northern Sky Theater’s 28-year history, comes this new musical comedy for football fanatics and the people who love them. Who will inherit Frank’s treasured season tickets at Lambeau Field? The Kosinski sisters employ every trick in the playbook, on the way to relearning that family isn’t everything; it’s the only thing. With songs like “When You Live in Green Bay” and “What Do You Do with a Bye Week,” this quintessential Wisconsin musical will warm your heart and leave you rooting for the home team!

“Everything melds – the singing, the music, the flow…a fabulous show.” – WFRV Green Bay


Sponsored by

Funded in part by a grant from the

Executive Producers
Karen & Mark Bitzan • Chris & Judi Collins • Clark & Diane Slipher

Associate Producers
Meredith & Thomas Scrivner

Part of the Camille & David Kundert Stackner Season


COVID PROTOCOLS

As announced in September, all patrons will be required to follow the protocols listed below when attending our productions. For those 12 and older:

  • Proof of a full COVID vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of your performance date
  • Wear masks through your time in our building

Note: If a patron can’t provide one of the items above, they will not be able to attend. For those audience members 11 and younger they do not need to provide the above but do need to wear a mask.

Please be sure all the people attending with you know about the COVID safety protocols.

Arrival Time
Please arrive 30 minutes prior to curtain to allow time to go through our vaccine safety check-in station before you enter the theater.

Learn more about our COVID Health & Safety protocols here.

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Reviews

“Like Desmond Howard in Super Bowl XXXI, Dad's Season Tickets takes it to the house and the crowd goes wild.”
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“Unforgettable, electrifying, uproarious and ingenious…the entire ensemble is phenomenally strong…[Dad’s Season Tickets] scores the touchdown.”
Ryan Jay
“Dynamite cast, family-friendly vibe, and catchy songs, you don't have to be a Packers fan to enjoy this musical… [with] lots of entertaining, toe-tapping numbers to be had.”
Broadway World
“Milwaukee Rep scores a touchdown…takes Packers’ pride to a new level…perfectly cast.”
Shepherd Express
“Aimed right where its laughter and vaudevillian pastiche is meant to schtick – in the heart of Green Bay Packers enthusiasts.”
Urban Milwaukee

Cast

Headshot photo of Jonathan Gillard Daly *
Jonathan Gillard Daly *
Frank Kosinski
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Headshot photo of Kelley Faulkner *
Kelley Faulkner *
Rhonda Kafura / Movement Director
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Headshot photo of Sophie Grimm *
Sophie Grimm *
Gabby Nimwitz
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Headshot photo of Jackson Evans *
Jackson Evans *
Edgar Nimwitz
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Headshot photo of Jamie Mercado *
Jamie Mercado *
Cordy Kosinski
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Headshot photo of Rick Pendzich *
Rick Pendzich *
Ralph Kafura
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Headshot photo of
Jonathan Gillard Daly *
Frank Kosinski
Bio

Jonathan, a native Wisconsinite, remembers Bart Starr’s game-winning quarterback sneak in the Ice Bowl as if it were yesterday. Jon spent twenty seasons as a resident actor at Milwaukee Rep and is delighted to be back. He is also a playwright (The Daly News, To the Promised Land, An Evening of Carl Sandburg); he has spent the pandemic writing a memoir about his life in the theatre, called Rough Magic, which he hopes to publish by the end of the year. Love, as always, to Gale, Sam and Emily.

Headshot photo of
Kelley Faulkner *
Rhonda Kafura / Movement Director
Bio

Milwaukee Rep favorites include Pip in the American premiere of Things I Know To Be True, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Curley’s Wife in Of Mice and Men, Mollie in The Mousetrap, Nurse Kelly in Harvey, Brooke in Noises Off, Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime, Sally Bowles in Cabaret and the title role in Always...Patsy Cline, as well as choreographing Murder for Two, The All Night Strut! and Nunsense. Other work: Optimist Shakespeare, Arizona Theatre Company, TheatreFest, Walnut Street Theatre, Fireside Theatre and the New York City Opera. BFA in Acting from Montclair State University. Kelley is a native New Yorker by way of Philadelphia and now happily resides in Milwaukee. She is a proud member and regional VP of Actors’ Equity Association. Kelley has a food blog and charcuterie business at www.butternutposh. com and can also be found sharing recipes and more on Instagram @butternutposh. This one is for Lara.

Headshot photo of
Sophie Grimm *
Gabby Nimwitz
Bio

From Ellsworth, WI (the cheese curd capital of Wisconsin!), now a Chicago-based vocalist and actor, Sophie makes her Milwaukee Rep debut! Credits include: Paulette in Legally Blonde (Paramount Theatre), Mom in Trevor (Writers Theatre) based on 1994 Academy Awarded Best Short Film inspiring The Trevor Project (a national 24 hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth – 1-866-488-7386), Desdemona in Othello: The Remix (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), and across the country in jazz, cabaret, concert and TV/commercial settings (Carnegie Hall, Auditorium Theatre, WI Lottery, ABC’s “In An Instant”). Love to Vasily and family – to practicing true (self) love every day. IG: @sophiegrimminthehouse

Headshot photo of
Jackson Evans *
Edgar Nimwitz
Bio

Milwaukee Rep debut! Milwaukee credits: Matilda, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Big: The Musical, Seussical (First Stage). Regional credits: Peter and the Starcatcher, The Full Monty (Peninsula Players); Beauty and the Beast (Paramount Theatre – Jeff nomination); Boys in the Band (Windy City Playhouse), My Fair Lady (Lyric Opera); Ride the Cyclone, Seussical, SS! The Taming of the Shrew (Chicago Shakespeare); Matilda, Spamalot (Drury Lane Theatre); Bunny Bunny, Avenue Q (Mercury); Singin’ in the Rain (Marriott Theatre); The Producers (McLeod Summer Playhouse); as well as work with Victory Gardens, Theatre at the Center and About Face. Tour: The Realish Housewives with Second City. TV & Film: “Chicago PD,” “Sirens.” Giant thanks to all who are vaccinated!

Headshot photo of
Jamie Mercado *
Cordy Kosinski
Bio

Jamie is a theater actress born and raised right here in Milwaukee. She is beyond delighted to be making her debut at Milwaukee Rep this fall! Past credits include:  originating the role of Cordy Kosinski in Dad’s Season Tickets at Northern Sky Theater, Spot Conlon in Newsies at Skylight Music Theatre, Matilda at First Stage and Songs for a New World at All In Productions. She would like to thank her friends and family for their love and rt. On Instagram: @jamielynnmercado

Headshot photo of
Rick Pendzich *
Ralph Kafura
Bio

Born and bred in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rick trained at UW- Whitewater to learn how to act and sound like he was not himself. He has had the privilege of  working with Skylight Music Theatre (Lockstock in Urinetown), Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (Oscar Wilde in Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily), In Tandem Theatre (Wally in The Fabulous Lipitones) and First Stage (Rock in The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors). For this show, Rick can forget all his training and finally be h waukee! Enjoy da show!”

Creative Team

Headshot photo of Matt Zembrowski
Matt Zembrowski
Book, Music & Lyrics
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Headshot photo of Ryan Quinn
Ryan Quinn
Director
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Headshot photo of Dan Kazemi
Dan Kazemi
Music Director
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×
Headshot photo of
Matt Zembrowski
Book, Music & Lyrics
Bio

In the summer of 1999, after seeing a bunch of Lumberjacks dancing in the woods, Matt decided to give up his lifelong dream of pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers and proceeded to spend eleven non-consecutive years obtaining a theater degree from UWM. He eventually wrote Doctor! Doctor!, Dad’s Season Tickets and Whatever Happened To Karl Janko?, all of which premiered at Northern Sky Theater in Door County. Matt wishes to thank his wife Lori and daughter Kathryn, as well as Molly Rhode, Jeff Herbst, Fred Alley and Mark Clements for helping him get to this point. In loving memory of Don Nappe.

Headshot photo of
Ryan Quinn
Director
Bio

Ryan is an actor, director, teacher, husband to Katie and dad to Zoë. As a native of Wisconsin, he is thrilled to be back at Milwaukee Rep where he can watch the Packers on local TV with his mom. Previously at Milwaukee Rep he directed Everybody, Lost Girl and So Thrive My Soul for the PTI program and played Eugene in Yellowman. Earlier this year he directed The Mountaintop at Arc Stages and The Tempest at The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, where he has also directed Macbeth, The Two Noble Kinsman and two productions of Romeo and Juliet for the tour/conservatory company. Ryan is a co-founder and the artistic director of Esperance Theater Company, directing productions of Twelfth Night, Youth and Ambition and Breitwisch Farm. BA: UW-Madison. MFA: Yale School of Drama. For Dad who taught me how to tell stories.

Headshot photo of
Dan Kazemi
Music Director
Bio

Dan is a New York-based composer, actor, director, orchestrator and music director. He is an Associate Artist at Milwaukee Rep. He most recently directed Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash at Milwaukee Rep’s Stackner Cabaret and Actors Theatre of Louisville. His recent musical direction credits for Milwaukee Rep include Jacob Marley’s Dan is a New York-based composer, actor, director, orchestrator and music director. He is an Associate Artist at Milwaukee Rep. He most recently directed Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash at Milwaukee Rep’s Stackner Cabaret and Actors Theatre of Louisville. His recent musical direction credits for Milwaukee Rep include Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, A Christmas Carol, Nunsense, West Side Story, In the Heights, The All Night Strut!, Murder for Two, Guys and Dolls, Man of La Mancha and Dreamgirls. In Philadelphia, Dan musically directed Lizzie (Barrymore Award), Herringbone (Barrymore Nom) and orchestrated and musically directed the world premiere musicals Field Hockey Hot (Barrymore Nom) and Tulipomania. Dan’s music has been performed at Lincoln Center’s American Songbook Series, SDC’s Mr. Abbott Awards, Le Cirque de Demain in Paris, Ballet Fleming and in the 213 collective’s Untitled Project #213. Dan is also a composer of the new musical podcast, Mythic ThunderluteChristmas Carol, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, A Christmas Carol, Nunsense, West Side Story, In the Heights, The All Night Strut!, Murder for Two, Guys and Dolls, Man of La Mancha and Dreamgirls. In Philadelphia, Dan musically directed Lizzie (Barrymore Award), Herringbone (Barrymore Nom) and orchestrated and musically directed the world premiere musicals Field Hockey Hot (Barrymore Nom) and Tulipomania. Dan’s music has been performed at Lincoln Center’s American Songbook Series, SDC’s Mr. Abbott Awards, Le Cirque de Demain in Paris, Ballet Fleming and in the 213 collective’s Untitled Project #213. Dan is also a composer of the new musical podcast, Mythic Thunderlute.

Lisa Schlenker
Scenic Designer
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Debra Krajec
Costume Designer
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Aaron Lichamer
Lighting Designer
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Eric Backus
Sound Designer
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JC Clementz
Casting Director
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Jade Bruno *
Stage Manager
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Krista Kanderski
Stage Management Fellow
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Hannah Steele
Stage Management Resident
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Emma Johnson
Assistant Director
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×
Lisa Schlenker
Scenic Designer
Bio

Ms. Schlenker is excited to return to Milwaukee Rep with the Dad’s Season Tickets team as the entire ensemble dives into the fusion of musical theatre, family storytelling and comedy sportz styling! Lisa enjoys a diverse professional life as a freelance scenic designer, and also serves as Florentine Opera’s Production Manager. Lisa’s book with co-author Sandra Strawn: The Properties Director’s Tool Kit is available on Amazon. com. Recent design work: Fires in the Mirror (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre); Nunsense (Milwaukee Rep); The Tragedy of Carmen (Florentine Opera); Leona Lionheart (Kohl’s Wild Theater); The Niceties (Forward Theater); Fisherman’s Daughter, Naked Radio, Karl Janko (Northern Sky); The Blacksmith (Opera Lafayette at Mancos and Wolf Trap). Thank you for supporting live local theatre! Member of Local USA 829.

Debra Krajec
Costume Designer
Bio

Deb is happy to be back at Milwaukee Rep doing live theater! Deb is a Theatre faculty member at Marquette University, where she has served as a director as well as a costume designer for the past 36 years. She received her MFA from Texas Christian University and has worked professionally as a costume designer, director and performer. Locally, Deb has designed costumes for Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, First Stage, Renaissance Theaterworks and Next Act Theatre. She is very active in the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, where she is a board member and a fellow of the Institute.

Aaron Lichamer
Lighting Designer
Bio

Based out of Chicago/Milwaukee, Aaron is the current Lighting & Video Director for Milwaukee Repertory Theater. He has worked extensively throughout the Midwest, and is glad to have had the opportunity to design for Milwaukee Rep. He holds a BFA in Lighting Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Eric Backus
Sound Designer
Bio

Eric is excited to return to Milwaukee Rep after designing Mark Twain’s River of Song and The All Night Strut! A Chicago-based, award-winning composer and sound designer, Eric has worked around the country in theatre,

film and podcasts. Off-Broadway: Hollow/ Wave (United Solo Festival), Churchill (Solo Chicago Theatre). Regional: Shakespeare in Love, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (TheatreSquared), Legally Blonde (Northern Stage), Working: A Musical, Murder for Two (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse), Rock of Ages (Lake Dillon Theatre Company). Recent Chicago credits include productions at Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Windy City Playhouse. Please visit ericbackus.com.

JC Clementz
Casting Director
Bio

JC is the Casting Director at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company and a freelance stage director. He has cast productions out of Chicago and New York over the past decade including the Broadway productions of Linda Vista, The Minutes and Pass Over. Prior to Steppenwolf, he spent four seasons as casting director at Milwaukee Rep where he has directed seven productions including Forever Plaid, Murder for Two and The Nerd. He is currently serving as Associate Director on the upcoming Broadway musical The Devil Wears Prada. JC is a proud member of SDC and the Casting Society of America.

Jade Bruno *
Stage Manager
Bio

Jade is excited to be back at Milwaukee Rep after working on Two Trains Running in 2019. Credits include Utah Shakespeare Festival, Second City Chicago, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, First Stage, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Goodman Theatre. Love to Todd and Rufus.

Krista Kanderski
Stage Management Fellow
Bio

Krista is delighted to return to Milwaukee Rep as a Stage Management Fellow this season. She is a Milwaukee-based stage manager and 2019 graduate of Marquette University. Some of her favorite credits include: West Side Story (Milwaukee Rep); truth: The Testimonial of Sojourner Truth and Murder for Two (Hope Summer Repertory Theatre); The Pillowman (The Constructivists); Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet (Voices Found Repertory); and Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre). Love and gratitude to A.

Hannah Steele
Stage Management Resident
Bio

Hannah is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a BA in Stage Management with minors in Arts Administration and Design/Technical Theatre. At UWL, she stage-managed several outstanding productions such as Little Women the Musical, Middletown and The Country Wife. Outside of collegiate productions, Hannah has spent two seasons with the Great River Shakespeare Festival where she worked on Every Brilliant Thing, White Rabbit, Red Rabbit and Love’s Labour’s Lost (stage manager) and Macbeth (asst. stage manager). In her free time, Hannah loves caring for her plants, cuddling with animals and watercolor painting.

Emma Johnson
Assistant Director
Bio

Saint Paul native, Emma, is thrilled to join Milwaukee Rep this season as a directing resident! She graduated with a BS in Theater and English Education at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2019 and has worked as a high school language arts teacher and theater artist ever since. While at River Falls, Emma was a co-founder of the university’s Improv Troupe and directed a student-led production of Beyond Therapy before receiving a Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Certificate of Merit for her direction of Proof. Outside college, Emma has worked in the Twin Cities as a classroom assistant at SteppingStone Theatre and as a stage manager with Shakespeare & Company- Minnesota and Mosaic Productions.

*Denotes an artist represented by Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.