APT Excitement!
American Players Theatre in Spring Green, WI is thrilled to have the world-premiere of a new play, The Death of Chuck Brown. Written and directed by APT Core Company member Gavin Dillon Lawrence, a barbershop is the backdrop for conversations about gentrification, race and family as the owner, Kofi, considers selling his beloved establishment while keeping his son Prince on the path to success. A funny, touching and devastating world-premiere about a DC community coming to terms with gentrification and the death of the Godfather of Go-Go.
The Death of Chuck Brown will open June 28th and run until September 25th.
APT is planning several exciting events to engage with our audience, including a community performance of The Death of Chuck Brown on July 27.
Additionally, in our efforts to strengthen our connection with the community, APT will offer accessibly priced tickets throughout the season and an opportunity to meet actors of color and delve deeper into the stories written and performed by Black artists.
For more information go to https://americanplayers.org/programs/community-engagement
American Players Theatre will officially kick off the 46th Season on June 8 with William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the 1,075-seat, outdoor Hill Theatre. Also playing on the Hill, the Noel Coward Comedy Fallen Angels, William Inge’s sultry coming-of-age story Picnic, Nilo Cruz’s Pulitzer-Prize winner, Anna in the Tropics and Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. In addition to Chuck Brown, the 200-seat, indoor Touchstone Theatre will offer Yazmina Resa’s comedy Art and Nina Raine’s Tribes. A story about a Deaf son in a prickly hearing family.
Tickets will go on sale to returning patrons in March, and to the general public in late April.
A Magical Story
Cinderella, presented by Children’s Theater of Madison
Where there is kindness, there is goodness, and where there is goodness, there is magic.”
There will be magic as Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM) presents Cinderella—Enchanted Edition, February 14-23, 2025 in the beautiful Capitol Theater at Overture Center. This production of the classic fairy tale features the songs and music of Rodgers & Hammerstein, including favorites such as “In My Own Little Corner” and “A Lovely Night.” A multiracial cast brings this story to life in a world where dreams come true.
This production is based on the show remade for television and produced by Whitney Houston and Debra Martin Chase in 1997. Brandy Norwood starred as Cinderella, Whitney Houston as her fairy godmother, and Whoopi Goldberg as the queen. The original Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella premiered in a live television broadcast in 1957, starred Julie Andrews, and was viewed by more people than any other program in the history of television at that time. The 1997 production was a huge hit with over 60 million viewers, making it the most-watched television musical in decades.
It takes many, many people to tell this story. There are 27 cast members, including Madison native Nyla Sabrine Eltahir in the role of Cinderella. Local Madison actors include Tierney Rae Chamberlain as the Fairy Godmother, and Kiah Calmese Walker as the Queen. The show features a live orchestra with Music Director Mark Wurzelbacher and conducted by Carrie Backman. The show is directed by CTM Artistic Director Brian Cowing. Yet, a stage is simply a space facing the rows of seats until the set designer begins the transformation. Seth Howard, a set designer based out of St. Louis, Missouri is taking on that challenge.
Seth shared that “theater is all about storytelling, and the setting is a key part of immersing the audience into the story.” He notes that the stage is a place that allows “the amplification of all voices” and each story that is brought to the stage aims to do just that. His overall design concept for Cinderella was to create a set that highlights the magic and enchantment of the world, and its connection with the nature that surrounds it. The set features tree canopies with trunks infused with gold. Spanning over the space is the proscenium arch, also covered with this magical gold—setting the scene for the action to follow. In the center of the set is a map of this faraway kingdom in which the show is set. Seth created and sourced many different elements to create the layout of the map using a digital art app called Procreate on the iPad. The design is then scaled up and hand painted by scenic painters on the large backdrop for the stage.
In Cinderella, Seth notes that “magic is hidden everywhere within this world.” Experiencing this magic live on stage will be exciting for audiences and just as fun for tech to create behind the scenes. This is Seth’s second show with CTM. Last year’s production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical featured Seth’s powerful designs. As an artist of color, Seth encourages other artists to “always put yourself (and your art) out there. Reach out to connect with others in the industry and carve your own path to success. Don’t hold yourself back!”
Don’t miss this production of Cinderella. Tierney Rae Chamberlain, in the role of the Fairy Godmother said, “Growing up, I watched the Cinderella movie on repeat. Now, working with Brian Cowing after growing up dancing and performing at the same studio brings back so many nostalgic memories! It feels surreal to step into a role once played by such an iconic music legend as Whitney Houston. I even dressed up as Whitney’s Fairy Godmother for Halloween a few years ago. I hope to do her justice in this role.”
For more information go to ctmtheater.org.
February, the month of love, brings Madison audiences a vibrant celebration of artistry with music and ballet at its core. From the rhythmic allure of Oliver Davis’s compositions to the fresh vibrancy of Mozart-inspired performances, Madison Ballet and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) offer audiences a chance to immerse themselves in unforgettable moments.
This season is brimming with excitement, featuring world premieres, unique collaborations, and an invitation to explore the joy of experiencing something entirely new – and these programs have the vibe Madison’s been asking for.
First up is Madison Ballet’s second program of their 24/25 season with “Mozart & More”. Ja’ Malik, Artistic and Executive Director of the Ballet, brings more insight to the program and the premier of his own choreography.
“Our ‘Mozart & More’ performances in February will be the first time I have choreographed to Mozart which was a complete shock as I love and admire his compositions so much. I was also super excited to work with WCO violinist Paran Amirinazari on how we could bring Mozart’s ‘Concerto 23 for Piano and String Quartet’ to life with live music. The Madison premier of ‘The Hour Before’ is a ballet that really started my choreographic career when the NYTimes declared me a ‘Choreographer to Watch’ so I am ecstatic to introduce this ballet to our Madison community as it has not been performed in 15 years and to have live music accompany it is very special. Another work on the program, ‘The Time That Runs Away’ by Stephanie Martinez is a co-commision between Madison Ballet and American Repertory Ballet which is really thrilling. I think audiences will be surprised by her statement about time and posing the thought ‘how we may never truly understand our desires, but the effort is necessary to attain happiness.’
When asked about his choreographic process, it’s all about knowing what’s missing.
“My choreographic process is organic. I try to know my music extremely well, I like to live with it for a minimum of 6 months. From there I get into a studio with dancers and I just start moving to the music as it’s a part of my body. I have the dancers follow me and then I watch what they think they saw me do and I add or subtract and layer. I relate it often to cooking from scratch, you know what spices are needed and when it’s missing something, and I keep going until I feel the taste of the ballet is right.”
On February 28th at 7:30 PM, the WCO will perform the third concert of their Masterworks Season with Davis & Dvořák with Madison Ballet. The concert opens with world premier choreography by Ja’ Malik to works composed by Oliver Davis, while the second half of the evening features Dvořák’s timeless “Serenade for Strings”, a challenging work full of lush melodies and rich harmonies.
“I just fell in love with Oliver’s compositions and have now created six ballets to his music. I find his music rhythmical and beautiful, it has imagination and wonderment. It has speed and lyricism, it has elements of surprise, and these are all things I am drawn to as a choreographer. Oliver’s music paints pictures sonically, and I create the visual picture with movement that enhances the music.
For this performance I want audiences to become engulfed in the entire experience. Take in the music, take in the orchestra, take in the dancers, let it wrap around your mind and spirit and see how it makes you feel at the end. This particular work is fully about the music. I hope the audience sees the music through the ballet, and ballet informs the ears and helps audiences hear parts of the music previously undiscovered.”
Explore a future in the arts with ACES summer program
Overture Center for the Arts’ three-week summer Arts Career Exploration Spotlight (ACES) program empowers Madison-area middle and high school students of color to explore local arts organizations and career possibilities through hands-on experiences.
ACES offers tailored activities that match students’ interests and abilities, with exposure to a wide range of arts careers—from administration to technical roles to artistic creation. Students engage in diverse art forms from painting and drawing to music, dance and theater, gaining valuable career insights along the way.
“I enjoyed being able to experience and learn about the arts and be connected with other people and things in the arts community,” said a 2024 student participant.
Open to rising seventh graders through recent high school grads, ACES offers a stipend to students who complete the program
“My empathy and cultural sensitivity have deepened, enhancing my ability to connect with and support students from various backgrounds. I’ve gained adaptability, a broader artistic perspective, and a more substantial commitment to fostering creativity and personal growth in others,” said an ACES counselor.
The ACES student application for summer 2025 opens in February, with priority consideration applied to applications received by March 14. Find an interest form, more details, photos and 2025 dates at overture.org/engage/aces.
