Milwaukee Shakespeare
Encyclopedia
Milwaukee Shakespeare was founded in March 2000 by Chris Abele
and founding Artistic Director John Maclay. The inaugural production of Macbeth
was performed in the 99-seat Off-Broadway Theatre in the Third Ward. Milwaukee Shakespeare has produced three Shakespeare productions each season since its inception.
From 2002-2006, Milwaukee Shakespeare performed in the Mainstage Theatre at University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts. This partnership fostered a short-term residency program that provided conservatory students internship opportunities in all aspects of professional theatre production.
Paula Suozzi was appointed as Artistic Director in 2003.
In June 2006 Managing Director Carrie Van Hallgren joined the full time staff. Additional hires include both marketing and development directors.
In 2006, Milwaukee Shakespeare relocated from its original office space in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, to a new rehearsal and office facility in Milwaukee’s Bay View district and expanded to new performance venues with annual performances in both Studio Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center in the Third Ward and the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield.
Milwaukee Shakespeare closed its doors on October 28, 2008 due to lack of available funding.
Chris Abele
Christopher Seton Abele is the current Milwaukee County Executive, an American business owner and philanthropist and president of the Milwaukee based Argosy Foundation. On December 15, 2010, media reports began to emerge of Abele's intentions to run for the County Executive seat in Milwaukee County...
and founding Artistic Director John Maclay. The inaugural production of Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
was performed in the 99-seat Off-Broadway Theatre in the Third Ward. Milwaukee Shakespeare has produced three Shakespeare productions each season since its inception.
From 2002-2006, Milwaukee Shakespeare performed in the Mainstage Theatre at University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts. This partnership fostered a short-term residency program that provided conservatory students internship opportunities in all aspects of professional theatre production.
Paula Suozzi was appointed as Artistic Director in 2003.
In June 2006 Managing Director Carrie Van Hallgren joined the full time staff. Additional hires include both marketing and development directors.
In 2006, Milwaukee Shakespeare relocated from its original office space in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, to a new rehearsal and office facility in Milwaukee’s Bay View district and expanded to new performance venues with annual performances in both Studio Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center in the Third Ward and the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield.
Milwaukee Shakespeare closed its doors on October 28, 2008 due to lack of available funding.