FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cindy Moran,
Public Relations Director, 414-224-1761
November 3, 2009
A MUSICAL COMEDY STARRING
THE WORLD’S MOST
FAMOUS DETECTIVE
HOLMES AND WATSON:
A MUSICAL MYSTERY
Written by Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner
Directed by Jahnna Beecham
| Made possible by the generous
support of: |
 |
Stackner Cabaret
Preview: November 13, 2009 Opens: November
14, 2009 Closes: January
3, 2010
HOLMES AND WATSON: A MUSICAL MYSTERY stars Sherlock Holmes and his faithful
friend, Doctor Watson. When the pair find themselves trapped in their
sitting room they realize that they only have until the stroke of midnight
to solve a fiendish and deadly riddle in this world-premiere musical comedy. 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 hour is getting late and Watson is all alone at 221b Baker Street.
He has not heard from Sherlock Holmes in six days. The two were on a case at
the Gaiety Music Hall when Holmes vanished, leaving Watson confused and concerned.
However, with the night drawing to a close, Holmes reappears through the window
and he has quite a story to tell; actually, he has quite a story to sing.
A lowly entertainer, Freddie Fish, is blackmailing the queen. He is in possession
of an item that could implicate the Queen’s son, Bertie, in some illicit
activities. The new home minister, Major Timsayer, had charged Holmes with returning
the item, a mere cigarette case, but once he has it in his possession, he realizes
that things aren’t as they appear.
How could Freddie Fish, a known illiterate, send a ransom note? A recent photograph
of Bertie with his cigarette case in hand is dropped at Holmes’ door,
so who is the rightful owner of the case at 221b Baker Street? And has anyone
else heard of Major Timsayer? These are mysteries that Holmes and Watson intend
to uncover. If Fish wasn’t the mastermind behind the blackmail, who was?
And to what purpose? The duo is quick to discover that they are not outside
participants in this conspiracy, but actually pawns being arranged and secured
for a particular time and place by a familiar foe for an unspeakable objective.
Abundant references to Conan Doyle’s literature coupled with a style
that will have you rolling in the aisles makes HOLMES AND WATSON: A MUSICAL
MYSTERY a rich and vastly entertaining addition to Holmes lore. The detectives
must sing their way through the clues and hope they come to the conclusion
on time, or their lives and the lives of the royal family could be at stake.
The game is afoot!
Playwrights Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm
Hillgartner have been writing together since 1985. Under the pseudonym
Jahnna N. Malcolm, they have written over 120 books for children and young
adults including Love Letters and Jewel Kingdom. They wrote
the musical CHAPS! (04/05 season), which, in addition to being performed at
The Rep, has played at 25 regional theaters around the U.S. including the Cincinnati
Playhouse, Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland, Lambs Players Theatre in
San Diego, Tacoma Actors Guild in Washington, PCPA in Santa Maria, CA and
the Nashville Dinner Theatre. In collaboration with Michael J. Hume, they wrote
THEY CAME FROM WAY OUT THERE for The Rep’s 06/07 Stackner Cabaret season.
Jahnna, Malcolm and Michael also wrote last year’s Stackner Cabaret hit
DOGPARK: The Musical.
As a director, Jahnna has been a member of the Hope Summer Repertory Theatre
Acting Company for seven seasons. In the first five she served as a director
and playwright, directing THE NERD, EDUCATING RITA, THE RELUCTANT DRAGON and
two productions of CHAPS! In addition to directing at The Rep, Jahnna’s
other regional directing credits include The Cleveland Play House, Repertory
Theatre of St. Louis, Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland and International
Theatre of Vienna. Also a performer, in 2006 she appeared as Maggie in MEMORY
HOUSE, as well as numerous regional theaters including Berkeley
Repertory Theatre, Denver Center Theatre Company, Hartman Theater, Seattle
Repertory Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival and The Rep.
Jahnna recently had this to say about her new show, “Malcolm and I have
been locked in our house reading every word Conan Doyle ever wrote concerning
Sherlock Holmes, as well as The Annotated Holmes, The New Adventures
of Sherlock Holmes and even The Beekeeper’s Daughter, thoughtfully
sent to us by a fan of last year’s show, DOGPARK: The Musical. Our evenings
have been spent watching every Sherlock Holmes movie in the canon, including
the classic Basil Rathbone versions and the newer, but no less classic, Jeremy
Brett episodes, as well as goofy send-ups like Gene Wilder’s Sherlock
Holmes Smarter Brother and John Cleese’s The Strange Case
of the End of Civilization As We Know It.” She also went on to say
that, “HOLMES AND WATSON is going to be a lot of fun for those who are
Sherlock Holmes fans, but you don’t need to know all of the canon to
enjoy the show. We think it’s going to be a lot of fun for everyone.”
The cast of HOLMES AND WATSON: A MUSICAL MYSTERY includes: Richard
Farell (Watson) and Michael Santo (Holmes). Both actors will be making their Milwaukee Repertory
Theater debut. Richard Farell has performed Off-Broadway
and in regional theaters across the country. He’s been a company member
with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Shakespeare
Santa Cruz. Michael Santo also has extensive regional theater credits including
Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Denver Center Theatre
Company and A Contemporary Theatre, among others.
(To learn more about our Resident Acting Company, Guest Actors or our Intern
Company, please visit www.milwaukeerep.com.)
(To read more about HOLMES AND WATSON: A MUSICAL MYSTERY,
please see The Rep’s online publication Prologue.)
(HOLMES AND WATSON: A MUSICAL MYSTERY production photos will
be posted at www.milwaukeerep.com.)
The Production/Design Team for HOLMES AND WATSON: A MUSICAL MYSTERY includes: Susannah
M. Barnes (Scenic Designer); Holly Payne (Costume
Designer); Stephen T. Sorenson (Lighting Designer); Malcolm
Hillgartner (Music Director); Suzanne Seiber (Choreographer); Lee
E. Ernst (Fight Director); Mark S. Sahba (Stage Manager)
and Christine Czerwinski (Stage Management Intern).
Tickets to HOLMES AND WATSON: A MUSICAL MYSTERY range in price
from $30.00 – $45.00. For more information or to charge tickets, call 414-224-9490. Tickets
can be purchased online 24/7 at milwaukeerep.com. For group
sales of 10 or more, call The Rep Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.
Special Events for HOLMES
AND WATSON: A MUSICAL MYSTERY:
•On Sunday, November 22 at 7:00 p.m. there will be an
Audio-Described Performance for patrons who are blind or have low vision.
A MUSICAL COMEDY STARRING THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS
DETECTIVE
HOLMES AND WATSON:
A MUSICAL MYSTERY
Written by Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner
Directed by Jahnna Beecham
| Made possible by the generous support
of: |
|
FACT SHEET
THEATER: Stackner Cabaret
DATES: November 13, 2009 – January 3, 2010
DESCRIPTION: HOLMES AND WATSON: A MUSICAL MYSTERY
stars Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend, Doctor Watson. When the pair
find themselves trapped in their sitting room they realize that they only have
until the stroke of midnight to solve a fiendish and deadly riddle in this
world-premiere musical comedy.
Performances
Friday, 11/13/09 – 8:00 p.m. – Preview
Saturday, 11/14/09 – 8:00 p.m. – Opening
Sunday, 11/15/09 – 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 11/18/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, 11/19/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 11/20/09 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 11/21/09 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11/22/09 – 2:007:00 p.m. – Audio Description
Tuesday, 11/24/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 11/25/09 - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 11/27/09 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 11/28/09 – 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11/29/09 – 2:00/7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 12/01/09 – 6:30 p.m. – Early Bird
Wednesday, 12/02/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, 12/03/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 12/04/09 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 12/05/09 -4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 12/06/09 – 2:007:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 12/08/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 12/09/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, 12/10/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 12/11/09 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 12/12/09 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 12/13/09 – 2:00/7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 12/16/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, 12/17/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 12/18/09 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 12/19/09 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 12/20/09 – 2:00/7:00 p.m.
Monday, 12/21/09 - 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, 12/22/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 12/23/09 – 2:00/7:30 p.m.
Saturday, 12/26/09 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 12/27/09 – 2:00/7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 12/29/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 12/30/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, 12/31/09 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, 01/02/10 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 01/03/10 – 2:00/7:00 p.m. - close
TICKET PRICES:
PREVIEWS: $30.00 - $35.00
WEEKDAY/SUNDAY: $30.00 - $35.00
FRIDAY/SATURDAY: $40.00 - $45.00
TICKETS/INFORMATION: 414-224-9490 or buy tickets online
at milwaukeerep.com
TICKET OFFICE LOCATION: 108 East Wells Street in Milwaukee’s
Downtown Theater District
TICKET OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Fri,
12 pm - 6 pm on phones, 12 pm - curtain for window
Sat/Sun 12 pm - 6 pm on phones, 12 pm - curtain for window
###
Milwaukee Repertory Theater is a nationally recognized
theater company that presents a critically-acclaimed selection
of compelling dramas, powerful classics, award-winning contemporary
works and lively Cabaret shows on three stages from September through
May. The Rep also produces an annual production of A CHRISTMAS
CAROL. The Rep's home, the Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex,
accommodates the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, the Stiemke Theater
and the Stackner Cabaret. The Rep is also home to a Resident Acting
Company of 10 actors who perform with The Rep throughout the season.
The
Rep is proud to be a member of the United
Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), which provides major annual
financial support. Through
community support of the United Performing Arts Fund, UPAF
Member and Affiliate Groups are able to provide education
and outreach to over 400,000 children, provide over 2,000
live performances and reach over 1,000,000 people every year.
When everyone supports the arts through UPAF, they help our
local economy, improving education and strengthening outreach
programs to the disabled and elderly – all while adding
culture to their own life. Support of UPAF is critical to
UPAF Member Groups’ ability
to continue to offer exceptional live performances, award-winning
education and outreach programming and substantial economic
impact to our region. To learn more about UPAF or to donate,
go to www.upaf.org.
The Rep is supported in part by a grant
from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the state of
Wisconsin. The Rep is a member of the League
of Resident Theatres (LORT), a management association
of some of the nation's largest non-profit professional
theaters that collectively bargains with the unions that
represent the actors, directors and designers that work
at The Rep; a constituent of Theatre
Communications Group (TCG), the national organization
for the nonprofit professional theater; and a member of Theatre
Wisconsin, the statewide association of non-profit
professional theaters. This theater operates under an
agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors'
Equity Association, the union of professional actors
and stage managers in the United States. The set, costume
and lighting designers are members of United
Scenic Artists,
a national labor union. This theater is an equal opportunity employer.
Except in plays where race itself is an issue, casting
is decided based on ability, not race.
Milwaukee
Repertory Theater
Patty & Jay Baker Theatre Complex
108 E Wells St Milwaukee, WI 53202
Ticket Office: 414-224-9490 Ticket Office Fax: 225-5490
Administrative: 414-224-1761 Fax: 414-224-9097
milwaukeerep.com |
