Optimist Theatre / Our Sponsors

Our Sponsors

Shakespeare in the Park is made possible by the support of the following Partners, Collaborators and Sponsors:

Thanks to the generous sponsorship and partnership of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, join us for Shakespeare in the Park at the beautiful Peck Pavilion, summer of 2018.

2010, 2011, 2012, 2017 and 2018 Presenting Sponsor
Optimist Theatre will always be grateful to the Alverno College faculty and who have supported Shakespeare in the Park. Without their generous help, Shakespeare in the Park would not exist.

2018 Presenting Sponsor
The Brico Fund's visionary approach to actively supporting members of their fund family is inspirational. They seek to help organizations such as Shakespeare in the Park connect with other groups, making us truly greater than the sum of our parts. Thank you for your inspirational, holistic approach.

2017 Presenting Sponsor
Optimist Theatre is honored to be included in the Isabel and Alfred Bader Philanthropies family of support. In addition to generously funding Shakespeare in the Park, they treat us as an investment in the future, and seek to provide growth opportunities, enabling us to build a solid foundation. Thank you for your commitment to the health, vitality and viability of Milwaukee and beyond.

The Gerda A. Deblak Fund

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is a cornerstone of our great community. Their investment expertise, history and community knowledge make them ideally suited to support Shakespeare in the Park's mission. We are grateful for the faith and trust you have placed in us to help carry that torch

2017 Foundation Sponsorship
from The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation has a deep commitment to cultural activity and has enabled organizations to make a deep and sincere impact on the quality of life in the Greater Milwaukee area and well beyond. Shakespeare in the Park is honored to be recognized as contributing to that impact. Thank you.

The Herzfeld Foundation makes grants in the areas of Arts and Culture, Education, Arts Education and limited funding in Civic Improvements to Wisconsin-based organizations with an emphasis on those that benefit the people of the Greater Milwaukee area.

Mark and Laura Barnard

Max Samson and Nancy Pinter

Since 2010 (!!!) Shakespeare in the Park has been supported in part by a grant from the Milwaukee Arts Board and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the state of Wisconsin. Thank you for your invaluable help in making the dream of Shakespeare in the Park a reality.

2017 Sponsor Arts and cultural organizations contribute significantly to the quality of life and economic development in Milwaukee County. The Milwaukee County Cultural Artistic & Musical Programming Advisory Council (CAMPAC) seeks to ensure that our great community supports organizations who exemplify those contributions. Shakespeare in the Park is honored to be included in that esteemed company.

The Bert L. and Patricia S. Steigleder Charitable Trust has been a vital cornerstone in supporting a vibrant and exception arts scene in Milwaukee. We are honored to be likewise recognized and are grateful for their kind and generous assistance in making Shakespeare in the Park possible.

2017 Foundation Sponsor The Gardner Foundation provides aid to organizations who make an impact in the community and reach out to adults who are challenged in our society. Shakespeare in the Park is happy to be recognized as an organization that connects with these individual and helps bring all people together for this communal theatre experience.

Wisconsin Arts Board
2018 Public Foundation Sponsor - Shakespeare in the Park has been supported in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 in part by a Creative Communities grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the people of the state of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

2018 Business Sponsor. Optimist Theatre is eternally grateful to our Paris Dentistry for again sponsoring Shakespeare in the Park. Dr. David Paris has been a part of Shakespeare in the Park since the beginning and we're proud and honored to continue the association.

Shakespeare in the Park and Wisconsin Public Radio! What a perfect match. Thank you for sponsoring in 2015, 2016 and 2017!

Ruth and Chad Lawson

Mary Jill and Don Schwartz

Stewart Johnson Creative

Acacia Design

For their invaluable assistance with the production of 2016's Julius Caesar, Shakespeare in the Park offers special thanks to Angela Iannone and Marshall Anderson, and the UW Whitewater Theatre Dept.

2014, 2015 and 2016 Presenting Sponsor
We are honored to partner with the great people of Wisconsin Lutheran College's awesome Theatre Department. Thank you, Jay Szierzyn and Simon Provon for your continued championship.

BMO Harris Bank believed in Shakespeare in the Park very early in our history, and we strive to continue to be worthy of that belief. They made a leap of faith and helped Optimist Theatre when it was and has been needed most -- and continue to actively support our ongoing growth. Our Thanks will never adequately express our depth of feeling and appreciation - but Thank You.

Eternal gratitude to Dr. Barbara Leigh and Milwaukee Public Theatre for your ongoing friendship, advice and collaboration.

COA Youth and Family Centers, one of Milwaukee’s most venerable community youth organizations, is again hosting Optimist Theatre in the Selig-Joseph-Folz amphitheater and performance space in Alice Bertschy Kadish Park.

Wisconsin Humanities Council
"To Be! Shakespeare Here and Now" was been supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2012, 2013, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The Wisconsin Humanities Council supports and creates programs that use history, culture, and discussion to strengthen community life for everyone in Wisconsin. Please contact us at Shakespeare@OptimistTheatre.org or 262-498-9788 to inquire about bringing William Shakespeare to your school, library or community organization.