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Piano Men

Created by Mark Clements

January 7 — February 27, 2022

Stackner Cabaret

Approximate Running Time: 90 minutes with no intermission
Recommended Age: 12 and up


From Bach to Broadway

What happens when you put two pianos onstage, add two virtuoso piano players, and throw in a limitless songbook that defies genre and decade? You get Piano Men! Equal parts concert and sing-along, this exhilarating and entertaining musical revue will have you clapping, laughing and calling out requests for your favorite songs. Inspired by the hard working piano players who play everywhere from bars to airports, hotel lobbies to grand concert halls, Piano Men will feature a unique set list from rock, pop, classical, Broadway and everything in-between. Filled with hilarious stories, this world premiere event will leave you wanting to come back for more.


Executive Producers
Carol & Ivor Benjamin • Diane K. O’Connor

Associate Producers
Jane & Stephen Chernof • Abigail & David Nash

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.

Media Gallery

Photo Gallery

Reviews

“A Playful Delight! Steve Watts and Nygel D. Robinson play and sing the heck out of audience requests.”
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“The Audience is literally amazed by the constant keyboard muscularity.”
Urban Milwaukee
“A party for everyone to enjoy! A pair of crowd-pleasing musicians [and] a cavalcade of hit tunes.”
Total Theater
“A night of electric, audience-fueled entertainment.”
BroadwayWorld

Cast

Headshot photo of Nygel D. Robinson
Nygel D. Robinson
Performer • Thru Feb. 6
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Headshot photo of Steve Watts
Steve Watts
Performer, Music Director
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Headshot photo of Colte Julian
Colte Julian
Performer • Feb 8 - Feb 27
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Headshot photo of
Nygel D. Robinson
Performer • Thru Feb. 6
Bio

Nygel is an artist based in New York City. Select musical theatre credits include: Brother Davis/musical director in The Amen Corner (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Jimmy Powers in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (North Carolina Theatre) and Actor/Musician in The All Night Strut! (Milwaukee Rep). Nygel is the co-creator of Mexodus, a new live looped musical, alongside Brian Quijada. Nygel is so happy to be back at Milwaukee Rep!

Headshot photo of
Steve Watts
Performer, Music Director
Bio

Steve has been knocking about in piano bars/lounges/clubs/cabarets/cruise ships and banging on the keys therein for nearly 20 years, doing so here in Milwaukee as well as in NYC, Chicago, Las Vegas and elsewhere both nationally and internationally. He is also an AEA actor: previous Milwaukee Rep credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, I Love a Piano and Ragtime. Many thanks to family and friends for continued love and support. Enjoy the show!

Headshot photo of
Colte Julian
Performer • Feb 8 - Feb 27
Bio

Based in sunny Las Vegas, Colte is a world-class talent and favorite entertainer at the legendary Don’t Tell Mama Piano Bar and Lounge. Other Las Vegas performances include: Million Dollar Quartet and Heartbreak Hotel. He is also a producer and performer of an original Elton John tribute show Wonderful Crazy Night. Other theatre credits include: Jean-Michel in La Cage aux Folles, Curly in Oklahoma! and Dr. Fine and Dr. Madden in Next to Normal.

Creative Team

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Headshot photo of Mark Clements
Mark Clements
Creator
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Headshot photo of
Mark Clements
Creator
Bio

Mark is an award-winning international theater director whose work has appeared in over 100 major theaters throughout Europe and the United States. He began his tenure as Artistic Director with the 2010/11 Season by bringing musicals to the mainstage, starting a tradition that is now the highlight of every season. Milwaukee Rep directing credits include the world premieres of One House Over, his own adaptation of the current A Christmas Carol, Five Presidents and American Song. Also directed for Milwaukee Rep: Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Things I Know To Be True (American Premiere), Junk, The Glass Menagerie,Of Mice and Men, Othello, Death of a Salesman, The History of Invulnerability, End of the Rainbow, Clybourne Park and Bombshells. Some of his New York and international work includes Speaking in Tongues, The Milliner and Blunt Speaking, in addition to creating and directing the West End and UK National Tour of Soul Train. Prior to joining Milwaukee Rep, Mark served as an Associate Artistic Director for several UK theater companies, most notably, Artistic Director for the award-winning Derby Playhouse in the UK from 1992-2002, where he directed over 40 productions. He has been nominated for an Olivier Award and several UK Theatre Awards, and has won three Barrymore Awards from his time at Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Mark is currently working with Ayad Akhtar on adapting his critically acclaimed novel American Dervish for the stage to make its world premiere at Milwaukee Rep in an upcoming season.

Steve Watts
Music Director
J Jumbelic
Sound Designer
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Aaron Lichamer
Lighting Designer
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Nicholas Hartman
Costume Coordinator
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Josh Hart
Production Coordinator
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Krista Kanderski
Stage Management Fellow
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Jorge López Rivera
Line Producer
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Steve Watts
Music Director
J Jumbelic
Sound Designer
Bio

Regional credits include: The Handmaid’s Tale (Boston Lyric Opera), A Doll’s House, Part 2 (Huntington Theatre Company), 9 Parts of Desire (Capital Repertory Theatre), Small Craft Warnings (Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival), Lost Tempo, The Honey Trap and Faithless (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre), The Boys in the Band, The Submission, Bent and The Normal Heart (Zeitgeist Stage Company), Ghost Train and Spamalot (The Barnstormers Theater), as well as frequent sound compositions in collaboration with choreographers and visual media artists.

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.

Nicholas Hartman
Costume Coordinator
Bio

Nicholas comes from Chicago and Florida but now calls Milwaukee home. He is the Costume Director at Milwaukee Rep. Nicholas had spent the past 15 years living in sunny southwest Florida at Venice Theatre as resident designer/shop manager. He was previously the resident designer/shop manager with the Manatee Players at Riverfront Theatre in Bradenton, FL, as well as resident designer for RWS & Associates in NYC. Nicholas holds an associate degree from International Fine Arts College in Miami, FL and a BFA from Illinois State University. He holds numerous awards in costume design and construction at national and state levels including National Outstanding Best Costume Designer at the AACT. Please visit Nicholas at his website: www.nicholashartmancostumes.com

Josh Hart
Production Coordinator
Bio

Josh is delighted to return to the Milwaukee Rep team! After graduating from the University of Chicago, he moved to Milwaukee and worked at Milwaukee Rep for two seasons as a stage management resident and fellow. Some of his favorite recent shows include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Niceties and A Christmas Carol at Milwaukee Rep and Stew at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. As always, he sends all of his love and gratitude to Amaris, Stephan, Rufio and Billina.

Krista Kanderski
Stage Management Fellow
Bio

Krista is delighted to return to Milwaukee Rep as the 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, Dad’s Season Tickets and A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Rep), truth: The Testimonial of Sojourner Truth (Hope Summer Rep), The Pillowman (The Constructivists), Hamlet (Voices Found Repertory) and Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre). Love and gratitude to A.

Jorge López Rivera
Line Producer