FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Cindy Moran, Public Relations Director, 414-224-1761 January 4, 2006 AN OPERA DIVA RISES ABOVE HER POLKA-FILLED PAST Stackner Cabaret Growing up in Milwaukee, Terry Palasz knew one thing – she needed to get out. How could a diva possibly thrive in a stifling Polish-English-Catholic environment where the greatest entertainment is a polka band? Terry Palasz chronicles her madcap adventures searching for culture and class in THE POLISH DIVA OF MILWAUKEE. Tickets can be purchased in person at The Rep Ticket Office at 108 East Wells Street or by telephone at 414-224-9490. Tickets can also be purchased online 24/7 at milwaukeerep.com. The Rep...See it LIVE! The Polish Diva of Milwaukee is a one-woman musical comedy extravaganza starring Terry Palasz that has evolved from her humorous and touching memories growing up Polish and English in Milwaukee. THE POLISH DIVA FROM MILWAUKEE starts as a nostalgic look at the good old days in Milwaukee when a polka and Jell-O mold were the highlight of any social occasion. Blessed with talent and a beautiful soprano voice, Terry is determined to evade a doomed future married to a nice Polish boy and singing at church socials. Ms. Palasz heads off on a madcap adventure around the world chronicling her run-ins with men in Italy, Japan and France, and receiving rather interesting advice from various eccentric relatives all played by Ms. Palasz. In her search for culture and class, Ms. Palasz learns a lot about herself and her hometown. This evening of hysterical songs will leave audiences gasping for air and begging for more. Original musical numbers include such titles as: Who Stole the Keeshka Polka, Perk-Up Polka, Fugitive from Milwaukee, Everybody Eats When They Come to My House and Be My Little Baby Bumblebee. Terry Palasz is an opera-trained, polka-dancing, mountain-climbing, soprano-comedienne, Milwaukee native with Polish and English heritage. This will be her first full production of THE POLISH DIVA in Milwaukee. Last year she did an abbreviated version of the show at Divine Savior Holy Angels. She has also performed THE POLISH DIVA at Don’t Tell Mama in New York City in 2001 and at Cabaret de Paris in Seattle in 1996. Ms. Palasz is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music. She lived in Seattle, Washington for 18 years and is now based in New York City. While in Seattle, she was noted for her comic portrayals in such shows as: SINGING IN THE RAIN (Dora Bailey); A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC She has performed Russian and European music in an accordion/vocal duo, Accordia Voce, and has sung on cruise ships all around the world. Ms. Palaszmakesher Milwaukee Rep debut in THE POLISH DIVA FROM MILWAUKEE. Sandy Ernst is directing for the second time at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, previously having directing SUBURBAN MOTEL in 2004. She currently holds the position of Associate Artistic Director. She has been on the Artistic staff of Milwaukee Repertory Theater since 1995, serving primarily as assistant to the Artistic Director, casting director, Cabaret Manager and supervisor of The Rep’s Acting and Directing Intern Company and. She spent 18 years as a company member of American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin, where she was director or co-director for over 20 classical productions. In Milwaukee, she directed LAUGHTER ON THE 23 rd FLOOR for Next Act Theatre and JACK AND JILL and STOP KISS for Renaissance Theatreworks. Sandy has taught Shakespeare for over 15 years in high schools and colleges and her classical audition workshops have become yearly events for several schools and theater festivals. Toby Hanson is the music director and accordion player for THE POLISH DIVA FROM MILWAUKEE. This is his fifth production of THE POLISH DIVA FROM MILWAUKEE and his second in Wisconsin. He is an accomplished professional accordionist who graduated from Seattle's Cornish College of the Arts in 1998. Mr. Hanson also leads his polka band, the Smilin’ Scandinavians, in performances all across the Pacific Northwest. He is the music director for Seattle's premiere Viennese dance orchestra, the Valsé Café Orchestra. Mr. Hanson has also performed music for productions of THE THREEPENNY OPERA, CABARET, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, THE HOLIDAY BIG BROADCAST, COMEDY OF ERRORS and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. In 2002 he produced the album Cowboy Snapshots for the band Mended Heart which was nominated for Album of the Year by Academy of Western Artists. Mr. Hanson is also a published author, writing regularly for Victory Review and The Northwest Accordion News. Paul Helm is the pianist for THE POLISH DIVA FROM MILWAUKEE. He was recently seen at The Rep as music director/pianist for THE BLUE ROSE: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY STORY. Helm is an actor, musical director, pianist and vocalist. Some of his recent credits include THE MIKADO (Skylight Opera Theatre); A CUDAHY CAROLER CHRISTMAS (In Tandem Theatre); PUMP BOYS & DINETTES and THE ODD COUPLE (Heartland Arts Festival). Upcoming productions include SEUSSICAL at First Stage Children’s Theater and OLIVER! at the Greenbrier Valley Theatre in West Virginia. (To learn more about our Resident Acting Company, Guest Actors or our Artistic Intern Company, please visit milwaukeerep.com). The production/design team for THE POLISH DIVA FROM MILWAUKEE includes Susan nah Barnes (Scenic Design), Alex Tecoma (Costume Design), Lee Keenan (Lighting Design) and Whitney Frazier (Stage Manager). Tickets to THE POLISH DIVA FROM MILWAUKEE range in price from $23.00 to $36.00. For more info rmation or to charge tickets, call 414-224-9490. Tickets can be purchased online 24/7 at Special Events for THE POLISH DIVA FROM MILWAUKEE
Open to the public before and after all evening performances, Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s Stackner Cabaret, located on the second floor of the Milwaukee Center, is our own full-service bar and restaurant. Featuring delicious dinners, as well as late night cocktails, coffee, and desserts, the Cabaret is the ideal meeting place for patrons attending Rep performances. For dinner reservations, call 414-224-9490. AN OPERA DIVA RISES ABOVE HER POLKA-FILLED PAST
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