Home | History | Our Productions | Resources/News | Links | Contact Us!
626 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 802 / Milwaukee, WI 53202 (Administrative Office) / 414.347.1685 / fax 414.347.1690
©2013 Milwaukee Public Theatre. All Rights Reserved.
Programs
Original Theatreworks: Available for Touring
Past Original Theatreworks:
PIECES: In My Own Voice (2012, 2013)
FLOW: The Traveling Water Circus (2011) From the Start, Consider the Finish (2011)
Healing Arts: Other wellness programs
Healing Arts: Tap the Potential Disability Awareness Month
Educational Workshops & Arts Residencies
Special Events & Custom Programs
Cultivating Community through Public Art: Parades, Festivals, more
Milwaukee Public Theatre is one of the area's few professional nonprofit touring companies that increases awareness of current social issues, promotes cultural diversity, and provides healing arts and wellness resources.
Artists & Performers include:
musicians - classical, jazz, hip hop, pop, world cultures, drummers, Broadway, opera, operetta
dancers - all styles
actors - classical characters, historical impersonators, improv performers
scriptwriters
craft & workshop artists
jewelry makers
face and body painters
dollmakers
caricaturists
chalk artists
muralists
martial artists
flag & fire spinners
puppeteers
fortunetellers
magicians
storytellers
clowns
balloon clowns
mimes
ventriloquists
jugglers
stiltwalkers
designers
costumers
Educational Workshops & Arts Residencies:
Milwaukee Public Theatre designs workshops and longer arts residencies featuring artists from many cultures and arts disciplines. Most can be tailored for all ages and abilities.
STORYBRIDGE: An intergenerational literacy program. Professional artists and adult volunteers work with first through third grade children, using stories and theatre arts to increase communication, writing and literacy skills. The 2013 StoryBridge program began in February at Keefe Avenue School. Additional sites will participate this summer.
Volunteers ages 55 and over are sought to help us expand the summer program. Please call 414-405-4309 or email for details.
MPT professional theatre artist and storyteller Azeeza Islam directs the program, which is funded through the Helen Bader Foundation, the Greater Milwaukee Realtors Youth Foundation, MPS Partnership for the Arts and Humanities, and Northwestern Mutual Life.
Teacher comments:
"It was a good experience. My students had a great time and enjoyed each meeting."
"I feel these workshops have opened up the children’s mind to be more creative and visual in their writing lessons. It also gives them the opportunity to write freely without worrying about getting a grade for their work."
"Ms. Ballou helped my students add creativity to their writing. She also helped them work on the mechanics and grammar. I think my students really benefited from Ms. Ballou's lessons on public speaking. She worked with them on reading with expression and entertaining the audience."
"I was able to get a lot of great ideas that I will use in my classroom in the future."
"Having people of different ages work with my students teaches them respect for all. I really enjoyed it and would do it again."
2012 sessions at Cass St. School and Emmaus Lutheran School were led by MPT professional theatre artist/storyteller Kim Ballou. 2011 sessions were held at Clark St. School and Cass St. School and in 2010 at Keefe Avenue School. The program was oirignally developed by Azeeza Islam in 2007.
(Slide show at right is from 2010.)
Milwaukee Public Theatre works extensively with MPS and other educational institutions. See the Milwaukee Arts Education Directory for the ways that MPT relates programming to various curricula.
Read a feature story about 2012's Keefe Avenue extended residency and review MPT's 2013 Arts Residencies.
We also are one of six nonprofit organizations under Ripple Effect Milwaukee awarded a grant by the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Violence Prevention Initiative. MPT's Sheri Williams Pannel will work with youth ages ages 5 to 18 to create a theatrework for their peers and families in summer 2013. The Boys and Girls Clubs is the lead agency. Read more.
MORE WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES
MPT workshops and arts residencies feature artists from many cultures and disciplines. Cost depends on program length, number of artists, and materials. Note: To produce a performance or showcase requires a minimum of ten hours of hands-on workshops.
The following workshops and/or residencies can focus on promoting teamwork, communication skills, and self-esteem exploring themes that can relate to any curriculum, e.g., Literacy, Environment, Health, History, Math, Science, Social Studies, Conflict Resolution. They are also available for adult groups.
MULTI-CULTURAL ARTS & CRAFTS WORKSHOPS: MPT artists of many cultures guide a variety of projects including jewelry/beading, leatherwork, printmaking, doll making, origami, sewing, headwraps and many more. One-time workshop or extended residency. Grade 1 - Adult.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESIDENCY: Learn the basics of running a business by making and selling craft items such as hand-made paper cards, tie-dye t-shirts and pillows, candles, soap, etc. Grade 3 - Adult.
PUPPETRY RESIDENCY: Make puppets in an array of sizes and styles, from simple hand puppets to giant puppets. Extend your residency and perform with them in plays based on existing multi-cultural stories, or from scripts created by participants themselves. K - Adult.
DANCE/MOVEMENT: African, Latin, Hip Hop, Zumba, Nia, Tap, Ballroom, Salsa, Rumba, Ballet, Capoiera taught by professional dancers from diverse cultures. One-time demonstration or extended residency. Grade 1 - Adult.
MUSIC WORKSHOPS/RESIDENCIES: a) Learn drumming, rhythms, songs and chants from diverse cultures; b) Make and play simple instruments; c) Compose original songs and record on CD. Grade 1 - Adult.
FUN&FIT4EVER: Build fitness, communication, self confidence and team skills in a variety of active workshops from martial arts to physical theater. Designed to be age and site-specific. K - Adult.
PIRATE TREASURE ADVENTURE: Combine fun and fitness activities as 20-80 participants are led on challenging mental and physical games. K - Adult.
RAINBOW CIRQUS ARTS: Participants learn a variety of circus skills and develop a performance to include juggling, tumbling, clowning, and specialty acts. One-time workshop or extended residency which can address healthy lifestyle and nutrition choices. Grade 3 - Adult.
CREATIVE DRAMATICS/ACTION THEATRE: Create characters and tell stories through improvisation, movement, gesture and facial expression, then present an original show. Workshops or extended residency. K - Adult.
PARADES AND LARGE-SCALE COMMUNITY EVENTS: Create masks, banners, headdresses, costumes, giant puppets, floats, etc. and participate in Milwaukee Latino Carnaval, Summer of Peace, Walnut Way, Dia de los Muertos, National Night Out, and other community events. Grade 1 - Adult.
In addition, MPT creates highly acclaimed original theatreworks about contemporary themes and social issues. Call 414-347-1685 or email for more details.
FAQS (Facing Adolescent Questions about Sex): An original show with music by and for young people, about HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. 30 minute performance and 20-30 minute talk-back; Middle and high school classrooms or small assemblies. Supported by funds from the Grand Slam Charity Jam/Hometown Heroes, Inc.
What People Say...About FAQS
From Audubon Middle School Students:
It was good, makes me want to get tested.
(I liked) that it was funny but it teached you about being safe and making the right choice.
From Lincoln Center of the Arts Students:
I like it because it gave us facts about the truth.
I like the songs explaining facts about HIV.
From Teachers:
Very informative. Hearing and seeing from young people… the facts may very well stay in their minds. . . . It is in touch with today’s youth with the rapping and dance.
. . . It broke stuff down in an understandable way without boring anyone.
Recent organizations which have sponsored residencies or workshops include:
Alliance School, Boys and Girls Clubs (numerous locations), Children's Outing Association (Riverwest and Goldin), Cass Street School, Emmaus School, Keefe Avenue School, Lincoln Center of the Arts, Longfellow Middle School, Milwaukee High School of the Arts, Mitchell Street School, Neighborhood House, Next Door Foundation, North Division High School, Rufus King High School, Washington Park/Urban Ecology Center, Westside Academy/Our Next Generation and others.
- Dave Chief, Oglala Lakota -