Welcome to Optimist Theatre's 2026 Cast and Crew Portal
The health and safety of our cast and crew is our number one priority therefore, the Sunday, July 19, 2026 performances at Sherman Park have been canceled. Please see the Air Quality Policy and Procedure for details on how this determination is made. Please don't hesitate to contact your supervisor, Susan or Melissa if you have any questions.
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This page contains info you will need to know and things you will need to do. The URL is hidden from the main Optimist Theatre website menu. Please do not share it with anyone who is not a 2026 company member.
Navigation Quicklinks and Table of Contents
NEW Air Quality (AQI) Policy and Procedure
Optimist Theatre is dedicated to presenting every scheduled Shakespeare in the Park performance whenever it is safe to do so. To make that possible, our first priority is the health and safety of our cast and crew.
The Executive Director and Stage Manager will review the Air Quality Index (AQI) on AirNow.gov no later than 8:00 a.m. on each scheduled performance day.
If the Air Quality Index (AQI) is above 150 at 8:00 a.m., all performances scheduled for that day will be canceled.
Because air quality conditions are not expected to improve sufficiently over the course of a day, a cancellation due to AQI applies to the entire performance day and will not be revisited later.
A cancellation applies only to the scheduled performances for that day. If performances are canceled on Saturday, that decision does not imply that Sunday performances will also be canceled. Air quality will be evaluated again on Sunday morning using the same procedure.
If a cancellation is necessary, notification will be made by text message as follows:
If you do not receive a cancellation text message, you are expected to report and participate as scheduled.
Every cast and crew member is responsible for ensuring that the phone number listed for them on the Cast & Crew Contact Sheet is accurate and reaches them directly.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZkoololGGA7Oh1G4ah27O5sfC52oDnGgPaxmyXQ5Lwk/edit?usp=sharing
A separate procedure governs notification of audience members and the public.
Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and consistent process for everyone. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please don't hesitate to contact your supervisor.
The Executive Director and Stage Manager will review the Air Quality Index (AQI) on AirNow.gov no later than 8:00 a.m. on each scheduled performance day.
If the Air Quality Index (AQI) is above 150 at 8:00 a.m., all performances scheduled for that day will be canceled.
Because air quality conditions are not expected to improve sufficiently over the course of a day, a cancellation due to AQI applies to the entire performance day and will not be revisited later.
A cancellation applies only to the scheduled performances for that day. If performances are canceled on Saturday, that decision does not imply that Sunday performances will also be canceled. Air quality will be evaluated again on Sunday morning using the same procedure.
If a cancellation is necessary, notification will be made by text message as follows:
- Melissa Wanke, Stage Manager: Actors, Assistant Stage Manager, and Wardrobe
- Katy Lane, Production Crew Lead: Production Crew and Audio Engineer
- Jenni Glueckstein, House Manager: House Crew, Surveys, Games, Guest Relations, and Concessions
If you do not receive a cancellation text message, you are expected to report and participate as scheduled.
Every cast and crew member is responsible for ensuring that the phone number listed for them on the Cast & Crew Contact Sheet is accurate and reaches them directly.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZkoololGGA7Oh1G4ah27O5sfC52oDnGgPaxmyXQ5Lwk/edit?usp=sharing
A separate procedure governs notification of audience members and the public.
Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and consistent process for everyone. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please don't hesitate to contact your supervisor.
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Our tech schedule plus....
Screenshot from the master calendar showing our tech schedule and the first couple of weekends. In addition to the schedule below....
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The Company Artistic
Director and Dramaturg - Cara Johnston Stage Manager - Melissa Wanke* Assistant Stage Manager - Molly Schmidt Cast - Libby Amato*,Rebekah Farr, Al (Annalyse) Lapajenko*, and Kaylene Howard* Costume Designer - Grace Thompson Set Designer - Courtney Miles Props Designer - Matt Norby Soundscape Designer and Fight Director - Ron Fry Merry Wives of Windsor Music Early Music Now - Executive Director Chuck Grosz Early Music Now Musicians - Tim Miller and Brett Lipschutz Puppet Richard III People
Designer - Courtney Miles Designer and Builder - Adam McAleavey Skills Trainer - Billy Ray Olsen Production
Production Manager - Susan Fry Production Crew Lead - Katy Lane Sound Engineer - Riley McTaggert Wardrobe - Carter Bauer Production Road Crew - Benji DeTorre Production Road Crew - Danny Pobaruyev Production Road Crew - Yousef Gardezi House, Surveys & Games
House and Games Manager - Jenni Glueckstein Surveys and Guest Relations - Norma Mortimer House Team Member - Guest Relations - Chris Carey House, Surveys and Games Team Member - Sofia DeTorre House, Surveys and Games Team Member - Annabelle Singer House, Surveys and Games Team Member - Theo Christenson |
2026 Contact Sheet
Your first point of contact should be your supervisor if you have one. Otherwise, feel free to reach out to me. If you need me ASAP, text 262-498-5777. Don't call. I rarely answer the phone. Unless it's Melissa. Or a cast or crew member. Okay, go ahead and call, I guess.
Show days - call me. |
2026 Master Calendar
Please download this calendar and take careful note of days and times you are called.
NOTE FOR CREW / ANYONE HELPING WITH LOAD IN. LOAD IN IS OFFICIALLY ON MAY 30 - NOT JUNE 6TH.
NOTE FOR CREW / ANYONE HELPING WITH LOAD IN. LOAD IN IS OFFICIALLY ON MAY 30 - NOT JUNE 6TH.
Our 2026 Master Calendar includes call times for everything - load-in, rehearsals, tech, show days, and strike Until the calendar is updated, please note these differences, special notes and clarifications:
CREW: Load-in to WLC the is officially May 30. This won't affect our rehearsal start of June 8.
CREW: Load-in to WLC the is officially May 30. This won't affect our rehearsal start of June 8.
Link to Master Calendar
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Master Calendar... Special notes...
If you aren't sure if a call applies to you, please ask. Special note to our production CREW members. In addition to your other calls, you are expected at all tech rehearsals that Katy schedules. Please see the calendar and mark all dates and times just in case. Special note to our Sound Engineer, RILEY. You will need to participate in a few rehearsals - schedule TBD. Please work that out with Melissa. Special calendar note to our CAST:
If you have a conflict that is not listed on this calendar, it is not approved. If you have a conflict arise, we expect you to try to re-schedule it so that you do not miss any rehearsals. Please bear in mind, you are a member of of a small cast, rehearsing two shows concurrently. Chances are, you're in every scene so we probably can't just rehearse around your absence. |
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Update to our calendar with details about our final weekend at the Schauer Arts Center in Hartford...
Saturday, August 15 Load in Katy and her crew will load in the set with the discussed modifications to fit the space. TBD Call Time No Actors called. |
Sunday, August 16
Show Day TBD - Crew Call - this will depend on many factors including weather. 12:00 PM - Actors Called - Brush Up Rehearsal (This term fits into the AEA rulebook for calling a rehearsal) 1:30 PM - Half Hour 2:00 PM - Richard III TBD - Dinner Break for Actors 4:30PM - Half Hour 5:00PM - Merry Wives |
POSSIBLE: Cast and Crew gathering at the Schauer after performances and after loading the truck.
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2026 Show Dates and Parks All performances and activities are held outdoors between 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm every afternoon. Please see the Master Calendar for call times, etc.
Lunch You need to eat! We will feed you!
Time: 12:30 pm for crew (includes house and stage). 3:00 pm for cast and stage management Location: Tent behind the Richard III set We're all on site between 5 and 9 hours - you need to eat and we're going to do our best to make sure that happens. Lunch will be provided every day. It will probably be sandwiches unless we manage to obtain a special deal with a non-sandwich provider. There will also be bottled water, gatorade and decidedly unhealthy snacks all day. Associate's Handbook UPDATE: The Optimist Theatre Governmental Agency Interaction Policy and Procedure documents have been added on July 6, 2026. Although extremely unlikely to occur, this is a timely addition to address any interactions any associate may have with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE)
Our 2026 Associate's Handbook available here will also be distributed to everyone with their individual letter of agreement. Topics include policies and procedures about weighty topics such as non-discrimination, equal opportunity and health & safety.
Yet, while this Handbook addresses serious topics that are important to working together responsibly, it exists in service of a joyful purpose, which is to share the magic of Shakespeare in the Park with our community. OT values creativity, generosity, curiosity, and mutual respect, and we strive to create working environments that reflect those values. 
Link to the 2026 Associate's Handbook
Weather (aka rain) ... it's a fact of life and a big consideration for outdoor shows.
Shakespeare in the Park is a rain or shine show. What that really means is our crew will drive to the show location to set up regardless of the weather. If there's a downpour, Melissa and I might hold set up until we see a break. If the weather radar doesn't show any let up, we'll still wait until the last minute to make the call to set up or not. The goal is to do the shows no matter what. If we set up and the weather turns bad... - Is it bad enough to push through or do we need to pause the performance?
Melissa will make the final decision on whether or not to continue to hold or if we need to call it a day and pack up. Everyone has a favorite, but I'm usually monitoring Accuweather. LINK TO ACCUWEATHER FOR MILWAUKEE |
2026 Line-up of shows and activities
Show and activity times are in progress and will be shared here as soon as possible. Once the schedule is set, it will be the same for every show day. This rundown does not currently include call times for set-up, scene or set changes and strike. Finding the shows - cast and crew The parks where we perform are large and you know where to go. This map will cover the info WE need - vs the public.
Unless you're already sure where to go, crew will meet at top of the call follow the leader as we drive on. Anyone else - Carter/ Wardrobe, House - please take a look at this and make sure it's understandable. IF you get lost, call or text Katy (CREW), Jenni (HOUSE) or Susan. Cast - Melissa will also email you directly with instructions on where to meet, call times, etc. Crew - Katy, Jenni or I will email you where and when to meet. The map will get you there but it won't necessarily show you where to drive on if you have anything to deliver. If you need to drive on to drop off, please feel free to do so. We will drive van(s) on site however you might not be able to leave your car on site as well. Ask case-by-case. 2026 Map - Complete and Updated
Payroll Unless otherwise specified, payroll dates are:
Cast and Stage Manager - weekly with delivery by Thursday Designers, etc (anyone who's work is largely done by the time we open: June 19, July 2 and July 12 Crew: July 19, August 2 and August 16 Contracts and Letters of Agreement have been issued to everyone. If you haven't signed and returned it prior to first payroll, your pay will be delayed. If you have specific questions, don't hesitate to contact Susan Flyers Spread the word!
Send flyers to friends, family, and random strangers All Flyers On the landing page you will find:
We keep a printed supply of the version for all dates and locations in the House tent too. WEATHER, CONTINUED....
This was drafted August 2026 in response to potenially calling the show due to rain forecast. Copying it here to be integrated into the basic procedure also detailed on this page.
Rain.... The current Saturday forecast calls for rain. Our full weather policy is available on the Cast & Crew Portal, but here's some practical guidance of how we typically handle rainy weather. The number one thing to keep in mind is that we approach the day assuming we will perform. We all arrive at our scheduled call times, then adapt as conditions change based on health and safety, protection of our equipment and costumes, Melissa & Susan will make the callsMelissa and I monitor radar throughout the day and will provide guidance as conditions become evolve. Melissa has final authority over weather-related performance decisions, including delays and cancellations. General guidelines:
Overall expectationsUse common sense.
Crew & House
Packing up
Thanks, everyone! See you on Saturday at Lake Park! |