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Presented by Jay Franke & David Herro
World Premiere Event

Run Bambi Run

September 13 – October 22, 2023

Book by Eric Simonson
Music & Lyrics by Gordon Gano
Directed by Mark Clements

Quadracci Powerhouse

Approximate Running Time: 2 hours and 50 minutes including one intermission
Recommended Age: 16 and up

This production contains gunshots, fog/smoke, strobe lights as well as other loud sounds including live music. Production also includes profanity, suggested drug usage, limited nudity and adult themes.


A New Musical about Milwaukee's Infamous Femme Fatale

The truth is indeed stranger than fiction in this new musical ripped from the headlines! An outrageous ‘true crime’ saga that took the nation by storm, Lawrencia “Bambi” Bembenek's fall from Milwaukee Police Department cop to Playboy Bunny lands her in the slammer, convicted of a murder that she didn’t commit. Or did she? Fueled with rock songs and lyrics from Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes, a captivating book by Academy Award-winner Eric Simonson (Lombardi), and Artistic Director Mark Clements’ directorial showmanship, this rollicking hometown story about the search for truth and justice is a wild ride that you have to see to believe.

"The most glamorous murder case of the 1980s.” – Diane Sawyer


Corporate Sponsor

A John (Jack) D. Lewis New Play Development Program Production

Executive Producers
Melanie & Steve Booth • Judy Hansen • Cheryl & David Walker

Video Gallery

Photo Gallery

Reviews

“A blast of a musical… [with] a killer score.” “A terrific lead performance from Erika Olson.” “The kind of song suite that will appeal to multiple generations.” “Could be a refreshing, populist entry in a coming Broadway season.”
Chicago Tribune
“Lively new musical…fascinating true-crime story… An energetic and versatile cast.” “An impressive variety of arrangements”
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“Sprint to Milwaukee Rep for Run Bambi Run… It’s a wild ride. It ranges from funny to heart wrenching to clever to crass and back again.“
OnMilwaukee
“A wonderfully creative and highly entertaining stage musical…. employs so many musical genres to such great effect that the music effortlessly tells much of this story. What a multitalented cast this is!”
Shepherd Express
“A spectacular production.” A “theatrical achievement with a powerful assemblage of talents… It is a dervish of high-grade singers who… really play instruments.” “You couldn’t bring this off without a cast of tireless energy and ability.”
Urban Milwaukee
“Electrifying talent and exhilarating story…the voices in this phenomenal cast are huge.” “They bring intense energy and incredible theatricality to Gano’s music and lyrics.”
BroadwayWorld

Cast

Headshot photo of John Carlin*
John Carlin*
Joe/Lawyer
Headshot photo of Ben Carroll
Ben Carroll
Swing
Headshot photo of Matt Daniels*
Matt Daniels*
Breier
Headshot photo of Sarah Gliko*
Sarah Gliko*
Christine/Gale
Headshot photo of Douglas Goodhart*
Douglas Goodhart*
Ira/Eisenberg
Headshot photo of Armando Gutierrez*
Armando Gutierrez*
Fred
Headshot photo of Tommy Hahn*
Tommy Hahn*
Kraemer/Tom
Headshot photo of Jessica Kantorowitz*
Jessica Kantorowitz*
Judy
Headshot photo of Ian Littleworth*
Ian Littleworth*
Nick/Stu
Headshot photo of Megan Loomis*
Megan Loomis*
Sean/Virginia
Headshot photo of Gabriella Marzetta
Gabriella Marzetta
Swing
Headshot photo of Drew Mitchell
Drew Mitchell
Swing
Headshot photo of Ken Allen Neely*
Ken Allen Neely*
Petersen
Headshot photo of Erika Olson*
Erika Olson*
Laurie
Headshot photo of Lucas Papaelias*
Lucas Papaelias*
Horenberger
Headshot photo of Katrien Van Riel
Katrien Van Riel
Swing
×
Headshot photo of
John Carlin*
Joe/Lawyer
Headshot photo of
Ben Carroll
Swing
Headshot photo of
Matt Daniels*
Breier
Headshot photo of
Sarah Gliko*
Christine/Gale
Headshot photo of
Douglas Goodhart*
Ira/Eisenberg
Headshot photo of
Armando Gutierrez*
Fred
Headshot photo of
Tommy Hahn*
Kraemer/Tom
Headshot photo of
Jessica Kantorowitz*
Judy
Headshot photo of
Ian Littleworth*
Nick/Stu
Headshot photo of
Megan Loomis*
Sean/Virginia
Headshot photo of
Gabriella Marzetta
Swing
Headshot photo of
Drew Mitchell
Swing
Headshot photo of
Ken Allen Neely*
Petersen
Headshot photo of
Erika Olson*
Laurie
Headshot photo of
Lucas Papaelias*
Horenberger
Headshot photo of
Katrien Van Riel
Swing

Creative Team

Headshot photo of Eric Simonson
Eric Simonson
Book
Headshot photo of Gordon Gano
Gordon Gano
Music & Lyrics
Headshot photo of Mark Clements
Mark Clements
Director
Headshot photo of Dan Kazemi
Dan Kazemi
Music Director / Orchestrations
×
Headshot photo of
Eric Simonson
Book
Headshot photo of
Gordon Gano
Music & Lyrics
Headshot photo of
Mark Clements
Director
Headshot photo of
Dan Kazemi
Music Director / Orchestrations
Jenn Rose
Choreographer
Scott Davis
Scenic Designer
Mieka van der Ploeg
Costume Designer
Jason Fassl
Lighting Designer
Cricket S Myers
Sound Designer
Mike Tutaj
Video & Projection Designer
Jill Walmsley Zager
Voice & Dialect Coach
Deanie Vallone
Dramaturg
Dale Brown Casting
Casting
Jonathan Hetler
Casting
Christopher Elst
Fight & Intimacy Coordinator
Kimberly Carolus*
Stage Manager
Kai Liebenstein*
Assistant Stage Manager
Ellie Kahn
Associate Music Director
Jeffrey Mosser
Assistant Director
Star Howard
Stage Management Resident
Jessica Wexler
Stage Management Resident
Laura Braza
Line Producer
María Amenábar Farias
Line Producer
Eric Simonson
Additional Lyrics
Dan Kazemi
Keyboard
Patrick Morrow
Drums/Percussion
×
Jenn Rose
Choreographer
Scott Davis
Scenic Designer
Mieka van der Ploeg
Costume Designer
Jason Fassl
Lighting Designer
Cricket S Myers
Sound Designer
Mike Tutaj
Video & Projection Designer
Jill Walmsley Zager
Voice & Dialect Coach
Deanie Vallone
Dramaturg
Dale Brown Casting
Casting
Jonathan Hetler
Casting
Christopher Elst
Fight & Intimacy Coordinator
Kimberly Carolus*
Stage Manager
Kai Liebenstein*
Assistant Stage Manager
Ellie Kahn
Associate Music Director
Jeffrey Mosser
Assistant Director
Star Howard
Stage Management Resident
Jessica Wexler
Stage Management Resident
Laura Braza
Line Producer
María Amenábar Farias
Line Producer
Eric Simonson
Additional Lyrics
Dan Kazemi
Keyboard
Patrick Morrow
Drums/Percussion

* Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

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