Marcella Kearns News

First Stage is announce its safe and triumphant return to live theater performances in the 2021/22 season. 

First Stage has announced its safe and triumphant return to live theater performances in the 2021/22 season. First Stage has announced the full 35th season kicking off in November at the Marcus Center's Todd Wehr Theater with the perennial and beloved holiday favorite, A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre has introduced two new staff members who joined the organization this winter. Samantha Martinson takes the formal position of Education Associate after working with MCT since 2014 in varying capacities including acting, assistant producing, and literary support for the Young Playwrights Festival, and Malkia Stampley will establish the role of Milwaukee Black Theater Festival Artistic Producer.

Winners have been announced for the 2020 BroadwayWorld Milwaukee Awards - which were back bigger than ever, celebrating the best in local theatre of the past decade! 

 Next up in First Stage's 2020/21 Virtual Season of Plays is THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, one of Shakespeare's earliest plays. This adventurous, romantic comedy directed by Marcella Kearns has it all - love, betrayal, hidden identities, a gang of gentlemen outlaws - even a double wedding!

First Stage, one of the nation's leading theaters for young people and families, has announced Through Our Lens - A First Stage Virtual Performance Series which will offer streaming plays, short-form episodic performances, new play readings and other signature theater events shared exclusively online.

Six local nonprofits are set to partner with the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce for this year's Veterans Light Up the Arts event, to be held Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Milwaukee Art Museum's Windhover Hall. The event is presented jointly with the Milwaukee County War Memorial.

Door Shakespeare, Producing Artistic Director Michael Stebbins, and Managing Director Amy Ensign, has announced the company's 25th Anniversary Summer Season.

First Stage will fuel the imaginations of audiences young and old with their next 2019/20 mainstage production, A WRINKLE IN TIME, based on the bestselling book by author Madeleine L'Engle, adapted for the stage by John Glore and directed by First Stage Artistic Director Jeff Frank. The play explores the adventures of female protagonist Meg Murry with her brother Charles Wallace and their new friend Calvin O'Keefe. On a dark and stormy night, a mysterious stranger arrives at Meg Murry's home and she embarks on a wild, empowering journey of self-discovery. Joining forces with Charles, Calvin, Mrs. Whatsit, and many more, they travel through space and time to battle the forces of evil so Meg can rescue her father, save humanity and find herself. This fantastical adventure of a lifetime will propel the imaginations of First Stage audiences and help them discover what a tesseract is. Sponsored by Enerpac Tool Group.

First Stage's Young Company, the Theater Academy's award-winning training program for advanced high school actors, will present William Shakespeare's THE WINTER'S TALE as their first Performance Project for the 2019/20 season. The play explores multiple facets of the human condition – from false assumptions and lost children to truths revealed, redemption found and the appearance of marvelous wonders. As one of Shakespeare's late plays, it tells the story of wandering and separation leading eventually to tearful and joyous reunion. Sponsored by United Performing Arts Fund. 

First Stage's Young Company, the Theater Academy's award-winning training program for advanced high school actors, will present William Shakespeare's THE WINTER'S TALE as their first Performance Project for the 2019/20 season. Directed by Marcella Kearns, the play explores multiple facets of the human condition - from false assumptions and lost children to truths revealed, redemption found and the appearance of marvelous wonders. As one of Shakespeare's late plays, it tells the story of wandering and separation leading eventually to tearful and joyous reunion. Sponsored by United Performing Arts Fund.

Forward Theater Company will conclude the celebration of their 10th anniversary season with the Wisconsin premiere of Life Sucks., written by Madison-born playwright Aaron Posner. This lively and freewheeling play will be presented in the Playhouse at Overture Center, March 28 - April 14, 2019.

Forward Theater Company will conclude the celebration of their 10th anniversary season with the Wisconsin premiere of Life Sucks., written by Madison-born playwright Aaron Posner. This lively and freewheeling play will be presented in the Playhouse at Overture Center, March 28 - April 14, 2019.

First Stage invites a recent Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts production to Milwaukee for a Midwest premiere: Mockingbird (mok'ing burd). The National Book Award WinnerYoung Adult novel by Katherine Ersking and adapted by Julie Jensen presents the story of Caitlin-a 12 year old challenged by autism. To add to the young girl's life, Caitlin recently lost her brother Devin. This leaves only her father and she to deal with their grief and moving forward in the compelling and poignant production. 

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) announces its 43rd season, centered on 'The Mysteries of Life.'

Aspiring young performers from across the country challenge Shakespeare on the 400th anniversary of his death (April. 2016) in a national festival this past fall. To do so, First Stage's Young Company, Milwaukee's pre-professional training program for young actors, recently traveled to the Utah Shakespeare Festival with Associate Artistic Director John Maclay and Teaching Artist Marcella Kearns to compete with literally 100's of schools and theaters from across the country on how Shakespeare inspires young audiences. While eleven members competed in the 2016 Young Company, two identical twins, Alex and Sydney Salter both participated in the festival competition and play the twin Dromios in the Company's upcoming Comedy of Errors, As First Stage celebrates 30 years, Young Company begins this 13th season. Maclay comments on the program when he says, '[Young Company] It's about challenging these fantastic young artists with difficult material and working to inspire an ethic of excellence.'

What happens in Bucks County, Pennsylvania-Upper Back Eddy, Bucks County to be specific? Playwright Christopher Durang called Bucks Country home and set his award winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike in their country house right there. A place where almost nothing happens except a blue heron visits a pond on the property each morning that Vanya and Sonia wait for while drinking their morning coffee. Milwaukee Chamber Theater opens their 2016-2017 season in the Cabot Theatre with this 2012 Tony Award for Best Play that captures three siblings, one adopted, contemplating their midlife regrets and revelations. Or as Durang would say: 'Their hidden reservoirs that haven't been tapped.'

As Milwaukee Chamber Theatre prepares for its 42nd season, the company is excited to announce two changes within its administrative team. Beginning this summer, education & literary manager Marcella Kearns will become MCT's associate artistic director, working directly with producing artistic director C. Michael Wright. Additionally, MCT has added Matthew Reddin as the company's marketing director.

Twenty years and 21st century technology bring Kevin Henkes' beloved picture book, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse to First Stage this May and June to send their audiences into summer on a brilliant high. In a production combining three Henkes' stories, including 'Chester's Way' and 'Julius, Baby of the World,' Kevin Kling's theatrical adaptation of Henkes' tiny mice tales delightfully portray Lilly, 'Queen of the World.' Stories where Lilly discovers friendship and family carry her through those times when as Henkes wrote: 'Today was difficult, tomorrow will be better.'

The popular Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse returns to First Stage for Kevin Kling's theatrical adaptation of Kevin Henkes best selling children's book beginning this May. A picture book written in 1996, Henkes' story features a tiny little girl mouse struggling to be who she is, wearing glitter sunglasses and mismatched outfits--as Lilly called herself, 'The Queen of the World' who liked everything' and in 2016, celebrates 20 years still tucked firmly in children's hearts.