An April Resolution for all our Sunset Playhouse friends

Take a look at these books. What a mixed bag of thoughts, ideas, and writing styles. If you attach each of these books to a person, bring them together and put them in the same space, you've got a really eclectic gathering.

We have these books at The Playhouse right now because we offered a ticket incentive to our patrons for the final weekend of TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, the lovely production featuring Don Devona and Stephan Roselin that just closed this week. The books will be donated to the local chapter of REACH OUT AND READ and the Elm Grove Public Library and we can be thankful to our fabulous and eclectic group of patrons who make this contribution.


To me, sharing a book is sharing a bit of your personality and a bit of your history. I have a story in my head about all the books we collected and how they came into the individual lives of the people who were kind enough to pass them on to the next reader who will end up with one of these page turners. It got me thinking about The Playhouse, what we can do for you, and what challenges and opportunities we have for all our friends to participate in during the future.

I'll admit that a lot of my time is filled with facts, figures, spread sheets and donation requests. It sometimes can be daunting to keep the whole picture in perspective, and the way I recharge my batteries and understand the basic goodness of what we do at The Playhouse is to stop into a rehearsal, gab with one of our amazing volunteers when I might instead be adding numbers in a column, or peek in at a set being built onstage. I'll also admit that I've been bad about sharing those little moments when I see them and have had to rely on the kindness of a superb staff and volunteer base to keep putting the good word out about The Playhouse.

That's all about to change. I love blogs. I really do. And I love that The Playhouse maintains ths Troupes Blog honoring a lovely publication that used to be mailed to our volunteers on a semi-regular basis. I tasking myself with something today, and I need your help to keep me true to my word: today begins a daily process of posting at least one Playhouse experience from my perspective during the busy work week (okay, I've going to give myself the latitude of doing five posts a week sometime between Monday and Sunday because my schedule shifts due to production and sometimes the days can be full).

There's my April resolution for you all. My content. More blog. You'll continue to see fine stories from our volunteers and staff, but it's time for me to throw my voice in, too.

I mentioned opportunities and challenges, and there are many. Opportunities abound, and our biggest task is being specific about how you all can help. Today, I'll mention one of those.

Waterstone Bank is doing a pretty great thing to celebrate their 90th Anniversary. They are giving $90,000 to area nonprofits in a challenge. It's a simple one. You go online to following this link vote for Sunset Playhouse as many times as you possibly can, and if we get the top number of votes we win $30,000. If we're not top dog but in the top four below that, we get $15,000. So vote away, my friends. My fingers have been clicking away.

This opportunity brings up one of our biggest challenges. When you look at the voting for the Waterstone Bank challenge you can learn a lot about a group. I hadn't heard about Sophia's Heart, the top ranking group in this Waterstone Bank Challenge, but when I looked on line and found it was Danny Gokey's charity, I was impressed. He's a cool dude, we all know, and his non-profit aspires to do great thing. Quickly he has done something really great, too--built a community that believes in supporting a worthy cause.

We've built a community, too. But we can do better. It comes down to us all believing in The Playhouse. I guess that's why I think it's important for me to challenge myself to tell you my Playhouse stories many times a week, because I believe abundantly in the goodness that we do here at The Playhouse. We may not have the star power of a Danny Gokey, right now, but we've got something really great to believe in for anyone who loves theatre, meeting friends, and believes in the value of education and volunteerism. Our numbers need to grow, and hopefully story upon story upon story we'll see our community swell in a super swell way. (Warning: I have been accused of superlatives and embrace the accusation with gusto.)

Just have a great day today. And please vote if you're able. It's election time in your neighborhood, and voting makes you thinner, prettier and smarter (I know, I voted already.)

Jonathan West
Managing Director

Opening Weekend Re-Cap

March 14, 2011

TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE opened this weekend at the Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove, and aside from a few small technical difficulties (who knew that the wheelchair would decide to move of its own accord?!), things went fabulously.

Our backstage crew, Zach and Nina, are pretty much rock stars in disguise. Everything that happens onstage really could not happen without these two. They are responsible for all props, for set pieces appearing and disappearing, and for making sure that the right side of the stage's revolve is showing at the right time--oh, and they do all of this from underneath a five-foot platform that's only about three feet deep and six feet wide. They live under the platform for the duration of the show with various props, a headset to communicate with each other and me, two large chairs, two end tables, a wheelchair, and only a small light to guide their way.

Things in this show wouldn't be possible without the backstage crew, and I think that the way they've worked out how to do things in this show is pretty awesome. I'm hoping to take some photos so you all can see exactly how they maneuver such things as the chairs, the the tables, the revolve, and, of course, the magical appearance of the record player.

So this is a techie appreciation post: thanks, guys! I seriously could not do this show without you.

Posted by Erin Brophy - Stage Manager

tuesdays with morrie: entering tech week

Yesterday was our first official tech day for MORRIE at Sunset Playhouse, and we managed to cue-to-cue the entire show and run sections of it in a nine-hour period--not bad for a first technical rehearsal!

The set looks incredible--it amazes me how much happens overnight when no one else is around to see it. Michael Desper, our resident set designer, really outdid himself on this set, if you ask me. Everything has this ethereal, dreamy quality to it, and the light design really emphasizes that.

This was the first tech experience I've had where I could spend the entire rehearsal sitting in the lightbooth, watching the process, and it is thanks to Nina, one of our stagehands, that that could happen. She sat backstage on headset and directed actors via myself and Matt Daniels, the show's director, and did so with much goodwill.

This was definitely one of the most fun tech rehearsals I've ever been part of. Not only did we accomplish things, we also made jokes and talked about things outside of the theatrical world, to give us a small break when one of us would become slightly stir-crazy.

The best part of the evening? By far trying to figure out how to differentiate from "Morrie" and "Mitch" in the visual/audio cues for lights to be called in the SM script. In blocking notes, I'd been writing "Mo" and "Mt" (as though they were scientific elements--which, I suppose, actors are, in a way, in the world of a play) but there wasn't enough room in the opposite margin for that as well as the cue number as well as the moment to anticipate the cue. But problems were solved, glow tape was laid down, revolve problems (yes, the stage revolves!) were solved, and today we go into our first tech/dress with fingers crossed.

I think things will go swimmingly--we've already been doing full runs of the show for nearly two weeks. Stephan and Don are just racing along with this show, and so far it's been a fun ride.

-Erin B
Stage Manager
Sunset Playhouse

Don Devona--he was born to play Morrie!

Starting today, we're featuring some profiles of folks working on our production of TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE that runs from March 10-April 3 as part of our Furlan Mainstage Series. We thought you'd enjoy learning a little more about some of the folks creating the work on this really wonderful stage adaptation of Mitch Albom's best-selling book of the same name.

We begin today with a profile on the wonderful actor and charming Sunset Playhouse volunteer Don Devona who plays Morrie in our production. Thanks to Kay Tierney, a superb new addition to our volunteer corps for this insightful profile. Enjoy! (And get your tickets now for TUESDAY WITH MORRIE by clicking this link.)

Don Devona Plays “Morrie”

Actor Don Devona brings some valuable experience to the role of “Morrie” at Sunset Playhouse. He already has played the feisty, ailing college professor in TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, at Milwaukee’s Soulstice Theatre in 2009.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to do the play again,” Devona said. “Morrie’s attitude is so positive. He is trying to make people think more about getting along…he is interested in helping people become better.”

Sunset is staging the acclaimed play March 11 to April 3. Based on the best selling autobiographical novel by Mitch Albom, the story centers on the wit and wisdom of Morrie Schwartz. Albom describes a series of weekly visits to his former teacher that became a last class in the meaning of life.

Critics have called the play moving, powerful, and packed with humor and insight. The NY Daily News described it as “a touching, life-affirming deeply emotional drama.”

Devona says the play has an uplifting spirit despite Morrie’s impending death from Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The script is filled with gems such as one of the actor’s favorites: “Love is the only rational act. Without love we are like birds with broken wings.”

Devona has been involved in theatre since he was a teenager. A teacher overseas for many years, he participated in drama groups wherever he was working. He played in “The Foreigner” in Italy, “Our Town” in Germany and in a number of other productions.

When he moved to Milwaukee in 1998, Devona took an acting workshop that led to an offer of two small parts in ROOM SERVICE at Next Act Theatre. He has been in 22 local plays since that time, playing Truman in GIVE 'EM HELL, HARRY, Kris Kringle in MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, Norman in ON GOLDEN POND, and other roles.

He also has had major singing roles in a number of musicals including JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, THE KING AND I and MY FAIR LADY.

--Kay Tierney

The greatest thing I've heard all day and the greatest thing I've seen all day

Jonathan West here. Managing Director, and all.

Okay, so, Friday afternoon at The Playhouse. Hum drum, right? Oh, no. Far from it.

First of all, allow me to present you with this tale. Sarah our Box Office Manager just walked into the office and told me an unbelievable story about the sale of 26 Subscriptions she just took. Believe me, I call any sale of 26 Subscriptions an unbelievable story, but this one takes the cake.
A lady came to our Box Office today to buy the 26 Subscriptions. She and her co-workers had just been sacked, down sized, laid off, shown the door. It was a sad day for the whole lot of them.

But these downsized workers all looked at each other and said, "Hey, we all really like each other, let's keep doing stuff together." So they pooled their money (yes, some of it from their separation packages) and decided that the fun thing they would do together in the coming year was to go to plays at The Playhouse. I mean, seriously,a story like this could make a fella cry.

So, to the All State Alumni Group (LOVE THE NAME!) I say, "We salute you!"

Continuing with the show portion of SHOW AND TELL, my Aussie friend Andrew Bednall from the Mayfair Rotary Club shot me an e-mail today. The Mayfair Rotary Club has bought out the July 31st performance of HAIR for a fundraiser and in the spirit of "getting their groove on", some of the members were recently caught promoting in a fairly cool, not decidedly traditional Rotarian way. Here for your viewing pleasure are our Rotarian friends.


Pretty glad I didn't play hooky today, I must say.

Unsung Heroes Backstage

In theatre, there are always unsung heroes, who get very little public credit. Two on this show, among others, are husband and wife, Scott and Merry Jaeger. In the program, they are simply listed as props coordinators. In reality, they are an indispensable part of the team. Besides gathering and preparing the necessary props, they are also serving as stage hands, moving furniture, and opening and closing the curtain. (They can be seen for a few minutes in dim light setting up the party scene as "caterers".)

So instead of working three to six performances per show, as is usual for props crew members at the Sunset, this requires them to be there for every performance. And best of all, they do it responsibly and cheerfully! A rousing round of applause for Scott and Merry and for all backstage volunteers in theaters everywhere!

Check out the video featuring Scott and our props shelves.

Elm Grove Memorial Day Parade...we were louder than the bag pipes!

We marched in the Elm Grove Memorial Day Parade on Monday, and we had a ball! (Fueled by many Krispy Kreme donuts, mind you.) We were positioned between the Friends of The Elm Grove Library which featured a lady dressed like a book (clever) and a group of bag pipers (we were much louder). When asked if they knew any show tunes, the bag pipers kind of shrugged their shoulders. Someone get those lads and lassies in kilts the original cast recording of BRIGADOON!

Here's some photos of our spirited crew for your viewing pleasure.

It Takes a Village to put on a Play

Lots of cleaning up of scenes at Tuesday night's rehearsals… taking care of details… adjusting blocking… finding our way to spots for curtain calls …tangoing (tangoing? dancing the tango!)… pretty basic stuff done at a steady pace. And specifically for me, learning to hit someone with a cane without causing undue pain! Need to work at that.

In other areas work went on as well. Upstairs, work was progressing on the set, and the costume shop which is directly next to the rehearsal hall was busy! Rey Dobeck, our guest designer, who has worked at the Milwaukee Rep for many years, was having actors try on costume pieces, checking for needed alterations, and making notes about what still needs to be done, while Pat Boeck and Paula Kroening were busily sewing and hemming. Pat, who has been our resident volunteer costume person for a number of years, is stepping back from being the leader but continues to help out. Paula has come on board over the past few years and has become a regular. Take a peek at this busy threesome! Couldn't get them to say much though, especially Pat, maybe because she had a mouthful of pins!

More Than Just Learning Lines!

To actors, "blocking"has nothing to do with football; it means deciding where you are going to be when you say a line, and where you will move to during a scene and everything to do with your actions on stage. Sometimes that's easy to figure out and sometimes it's not, especially when a large prop is involved. Last Saturday's rehearsal was a case in point. The scene takes place in a small train compartment and involves a large suitcase which is necessary to the plot. After a rather lengthy discussion of where to put the suitcase - and when - and a few trial runs, this tentative blocking was the result. No guarantee that this will work on stage when the time comes.... but a good start. Watch the footwork from Matthew Patten (the dark haired actor) and Spence Mather (the light haired actor)!

Trying to Confuse an Old Lady?

I have a relatively small part in this show so spend a lot of time just observing, even though our director Mark Salentine has thoughtfully arranged the schedule so none of us have to spend a whole evening at rehearsal if we are only needed for part of it. But, even with the script in hand, I can get confused. Our dynamic duo, Matthew Patten and Spence Mather, change back and forth from "Jack" to "Stephanie" and from "Leo" to Maxine" at a furious rate. Would be easy on TV or in a movie, but here it is surprising and amazing... one of the joys of live theatre... and just wait until it involves costumes!

Also had the rare pleasure tonight of watching Gene Schuldt attempting to seduce Mathew... or was it the other way around? And exactly what was going on behind that screen? Stay tuned!

Read Through of LEADING LADIES

There is always that feeling of excited anticipation and a little apprehension before the first read through. How will it turn out? As people introduce themselves, I listen intently and speculate. It looks like a good mix, but since Mark Salentine (our director) runs partially closed auditions, you only get to hear the people with whom you audition. There is still the question, will this cast "play nicely" together?

I have been on stage before with Matthew Patten and Gene Schuldt, I have seen Jeff Anderson, Jacque Gosz and Spence Mather perform, and the two newcomers to the Sunset, Dan Myers and Chelsey Peterson, look eager and pleased to be here. When, fueled with pretzels and Twizzlers, we start reading, it becomes clear... okay! If good acting can make a show, then we have a winner! Hmm, scary thought...I may be the weak spot here - will have to step it up to everyone else's level, but that's a good thing!

I leave you with one last question to consider. Why was Rey Dobeck, our costume designer, checking to see if Mathew has chest hair?

Sharing Time: 50th Anniversary Gala

Okay, a little catch up.

On March 10th we had a 50th Anniversary Gala at The Wisconsin Club. This was pretty significant because it marked the start, 50 years to the day, of The Sunset Playhouse. (Though it must be noted that legend and lore has the idea of The Sunset Playhouse starting in any number of Elm Grove living rooms over some smart highballs back in the late 50s--oh, the drinks and chatter must have been something back then!)

In any event, here are some pics (from our Playhouse official shutterbug Mark Frohna of FroPhoto) that give you a glimpse into all the good times had by the gang at this lovely affair.

Dames, Dolls, Divas, and Who Let Him In?

Did you know there’s a whole website devoted to divas? Divasthesite.com lets you hear from all kinds of glorious women in their own words--everyone from those Hepburn gals, Audrey and Katherine, to Eva Peron and Cleopatra. Which begs the question of who sets the standards for diva-hood. But the cast of Sunset's next Musical Mainstage DAMES, DOLLS & DIVAS checked any diva attitudes at the door when they began rehearsals Tuesday night. Rana Roman, Becky Spice, Linda Stieber, Eric Nelson, and Rising Star Ellen Jenders had a great time getting their vamp on. With Paula Foley Tillen at the keys, the cast had some serious fun working out their parts for some dame-good medleys. Here's just a sample of what's in store...