SitP 2020 Production Update

It's a Sad News/Good News Situation

Heartfelt greetings from Optimist Theatre
We have both sad (but probably not surprising) news and an update on our current programming.

We’ve decided to postpone Romeo and Juliet until 2021. This was an incredibly difficult decision to make. We have been dedicated to making Peck Pavilion performances happen. But, we reached a point when we had to decide whether to hang on and roll forward with possible live performance dates for R&J or, instead, to do something we could do well right now (well, soon, anyway). 
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First, Why Postpone?
While it might have been possible to produce at the downtown Peck Pavilion this summer, it’s become a slimmer and slimmer chance. Some of the reasons we chose to delay Romeo and Juliet?

• It’s impossible to forecast with certainty when Milwaukee will reach phase 4 (gatherings of 100 allowed with social distancing),
• Audiences are indicating they will feel uncomfortable gathering in large groups for a while even after phase 4 is achieved,
• The Marcus Performing Arts Center cannot predict when they may re-open their performance spaces, which includes the Peck Pavilion,
• The further forward we push the dates, the less likely the weather would be pleasant outdoors in the evening, and
• Shakespeare in the Park needs a minimum of 10 weeks of lead time for designing, building, rehearsing, etc. prior to opening. It’s doubtful a green light could be given more than 2 weeks ahead.

So, we made the hard choice to postpone.
                                                                                                                       sigh...


But, there is Good News!!!
On the flip-side, this postponement is an invaluable opportunity.
We are embracing today and our current resources to focus on what we CAN do to fulfill our mission and bring some Shakespearean fun to our community. Shakespeare in the Park is our highest profile event every season but Optimist Theatre is very busy year-round.

Optimists are still hot on the heels of fulfilling our mission and goals in 2020.

We have three programs in high gear:

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Zoom To Be!
Our award-winning educational outreach program, To Be! Shakespeare Here and Now! has successfully adapted to a virtual platform.

14 shows for a middle school in Maryland and one in Wisconsin taught us a lot. Thanks to this adaptation, we are no longer limited to the distance our William Shakespeare (live and in person) can drive. Er… ride. On a horse… less carriage...!

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No Holds Bard!
It’s so new, we aren't quite ready to describe it to you and there’s not even a blurb yet on our website! The focus, though, is on fun with Shakespeare.

Stay tuned for all the info about this program!



(graphic credit for Will in sunglasses to the Charleston City Paper, Charleston, South Carolina.)

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​This is a very low-key program that creates a personal, one-on-one connection using Shakespeare’s literature as touch points for youth living in trauma. Want to know more? Email or call (262-498-5777) Susan Fry.

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To All of Us Optimists
Here's to embracing all the possibilities of today, doing work we can be proud of, and looking to the future.

With all our love, gratitude and optimism,

Susan, Ron, Tom, ML, Christie, Karen and Barbara

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A Special Note to Our Supporters: Members, Donors and Financial Supporters – Thank You.
Nearly every arts organization in the country have suffered steadily decreasing financial support and for understandable reasons (https://artsnc.org/covid-19-pandemic-bad-for-arts-nonprofits/). Happily, thanks to you and organizations like the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the Milwaukee Arts Board, we have funding to help keep our doors open.