SMALL THIGNS

Aug 13, 2018

Directed by: David Ferrie

A well-off, retired educator (“Patricia,” played by Christine Horgen) moves to a grand house in a small town and hires a local widow to serve as her housekeeper/companion (“Birdy,” played by Donna Lobacz). Polar opposites in personality and circumstances, their uneasy relationship becomes strained when Patricia takes an interest in Birdy’s daughter (“Dell,” played by Nicole Gorski), even as her own health declines. Dell is a single mother of two small boys, one of whom wants to be viewed under a female persona (“Alice”). SMALL THINGS is a delicate, delightful exploration of widowhood, parenting, and growing older.

 

MOTHERS AND SONS

Nov 15 – 25, 2018

Directed by: Mark Bucher
 Milwaukee’s premiere alternative theatre, the Boulevard Theatre opens its 33rd season by staging the MILWAUKEE PREMIERE of acclaimed LGBTQ playwright Terrance McNally’s powerful drama MOTHERS AND SONS.  All performances of this enhanced concert reading (90 minutes, no intermission) occur in the Plymouth Church’s intimate  (second floor) Graham Chapel.  Plymouth Church is located at 2717 East Hampshire, one block east of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus, just off of the intersection of Downer and Hampshire.

       At turns funny and yet emotionally moving, MOTHERS AND SONS portrays an older widow (“Katherine,” played by Joan End) who pays an unexpected visit to the New York apartment of her late son’s partner (“Cal,” played by Mark Neufang ), who is now married to another man (“Will,” played by Nathan Marinan).  This very special concert reading is an enriched artistic experience, through a much more expansive rehearsal period typically enjoyed in a standard stage reading.  Also, a significant majority of the script will be memorized by the artists, unlike a true, mere “reading.”  And some physical movement (”blocking“) will be incorporated into the performance.  The necessary stage directions will be narrated by actress Pamela Stace and this dynamic concert reading is directed by Mark Bucher.