Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sarah Hwang Phone: 414-273-0800
Email: [email protected]
Renaissance Theaterworks Cleans-Up with TIDY
The world is ending. Will The Detective solve the environmental mystery in time to save it? Find out when RTW concludes its 30th season with the World Premiere of TIDY.
February 17th, 2023 (MILWAUKEE, Wis.) - Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) concludes their 30th season with TIDY by Kristin Idaszak, March 24 - April 16, 2023 (Opening Night, March 25 8pm), at the Theater at 255 S. Water St. in Milwaukee’s Harbor District. The play will be directed by RTW veteran, Elizabeth Margolius and features audience favorite, Cassandra Bissell in TIDY’s singular role. Tickets are available at R-T-W.com 24 hours a day, or by calling the box office at 414-278-0765 or in person at the box office, 255 S. Water St., from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily and 2 hours before performances. Full list of performance dates, times and special shows below.
Play Synopsis
A woman stands in the middle of a room. She is an island in a sea of stuff - her stuff. It's a disaster. Fortunately, she's a detective and she has just read Marie Kondo's self-help book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.
As she excavates her mountain of possessions, she uncovers a terrifying mystery. Can she follow the series of clues and solve the puzzle in time to save the planet? TIDY examines the holes in our lives we try to fill with consumption, how we decide what to keep and what to leave behind, and who and what will survive mass extinction. And...will it spark joy?
World Premiere Wisconsin
TIDY is part of World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide festival celebrating new plays and musicals running March 1 – June 30, 2023, presented by the Ten Chimneys Foundation. To learn more visit www.worldpremierewisconsin.com.
RTW, already a local leader in presenting new work with the BRINK New Play Festival (in which Idaszak was a Resident Playwright in 2018 with her play, THE SUREST POISON), is excited to be one of the companies involved with World Premiere Wisconsin. “We’re delighted to be part of this festival,” says RTW Artistic Director, Suzan Fete. “Bringing new works to the stage, especially new works written by women, fits in perfectly with RTW’s mission. We’re also thrilled
to be part of a project that showcases all the great theater Wisconsin has to offer.”
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But Does it Spark Joy?
It started as a ripple, but crashed into cultural relevance in the late 2010s/early 2020s. The KonMari Method, a tidying philosophy created by Marie Kondo that is most synonymous with the phrase “Does it spark joy?”.
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up has been released in 44 different languages and has sold over 13 million copies worldwide. Its influence on how we should organize our lives and tidy our homes/workplaces has been so powerful that when Kondo admitted she’s been prioritizing spending time with her family rather than tidying, the backlash was so strong it almost broke the internet.
At the core of the KonMari method is to make sure that a person is only surrounded by essential items and things that bring them long-term joy. This usually ends up being only the bare minimum: socks, books, photos, nothing is safe. It goes against the dominant accumulation philosophy that many subconsciously follow. But Kondo does say that every item has a purpose, to teach the consumer a lesson and then it's time to let that item go. It’s these lessons that Idaszak uses to build the layers of TIDY inspiring audiences to ponder the gratification of consumerism, minimalism vs clutter and the question of what really sparks joy.
Becoming a Green New Theater
One of the most resounding themes in TIDY is the ongoing climate crisis. As the Detective deals with a mass-extinction event on stage, that motif echoes in the real world. Idaszak requests that companies that produce TIDY follow the guiding principles of the Green New Theater, which encourages theater companies to adapt in the face of the climate crisis. “We’re always looking for and open to ways we can improve ourselves.” says RTW Managing Director Lisa Rasmussen. “By taking on more sustainable initiatives, we can do our part in preserving theater and the planet for future generations to enjoy.” Throughout the run of TIDY RTW will be sharing ways they’ve been going green, tips for audiences to be more mindful of the environment and community partnerships to increase awareness of our climate crisis
Resources from the playwright about play/going green
Green New Theater is one of the community projects sponsored by Groundwater Arts. For more information, especially for those interested in exploring options for a more sustainable performing arts scene can check them out here. Patrons are also encouraged to stay tuned to RTW’s social media pages for more green tips.
For those who are interested in a deep dive into the themes TIDY explores, you can check out The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert, “What Really Killed the Dinosaurs” by Bianca Bosker in The Atlantic, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, “The empty promises of Marie Kondo and the craze for minimalism” by Kyle Chayka in The Guardian, and The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler.
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Production Team
DIRECTOR...................................................... Elizabeth Margolius^
PRODUCTION MANAGER & STAGE MANAGER.... Bailey Wegner*
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR.................................... Tony Lyons
LIGHTING DESIGN............................................Noele Stollmack**
SCENIC DESIGN...............................................Jeff Kmiec**
SOUND DESIGN...............................................Christopher Kriz**
COSTUME DESIGN.......................................... Anna Wooden
PROP MASTER................................................Olivia Bastien
WARDROBE SUPERVISOR................................Shelby Kashian
PROJECTIONS DESIGN....................................Yeaji Kim
DECK CHIEF................................................... Nat Goeller
*Member of Actors' Equity Association
^Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers ** Member of the United Scenic Artists of America
Playwright/Director/Cast Biographies
Kristin Idaszak (she/they) PLAYWRIGHT
Kristin Idaszak (she/they) is a Chicago-based playwright, dramaturg, producer, and educator whose recent work focuses on the climate crisis, gender, and queerness. She has received two Playwrights’ Center Jerome Fellowships. Kristin was the Shank Playwright in Residence at the Goodman Theatre and was a member of the 2017-2018 Goodman Playwrights Unit. Idaszak has received commissions from EST/the Sloan Foundation, Cleveland Play House, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, and TimeLine Theatre. Her play SECOND SKIN received the Kennedy Center’s Paula Vogel Playwriting Award and the Jean Kennedy Smith Playwriting Award. Her play ANOTHER JUNGLE was a Relentless Award Honorable Mention, and THE SUREST POISON was a Princess Grace finalist. Idaszak was the Kennedy Center Fellow at the Sundance Theatre Lab. Her work has been seen at or developed through the Goodman Theatre, The Playwrights’ Center, La Jolla Playhouse’s WoW Festival, SPACE at Ryder Farm, Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Directing Studio, The Drama League, Pasadena Playhouse, Circle X, Renaissance Theaterworks, and Perishable Theatre. She has also received support from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Idaszak is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and adjunct faculty at The Theatre School at DePaul University and Northwestern University. Previously, Kristin served as Associate Artistic Director/Literary Manager of Caffeine Theatre and Associate Artistic Director of Collaboraction. She is the Artistic Director of Cloudgate Theatre. She earned an MFA from University of California, San Diego. kristinidaszak.com
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Elizabeth Margolius (she/her) DIRECTOR
Four-time Joseph Jefferson Award nominee, stage and movement director Elizabeth Margolius’ selected directorial credits include CRIMES OF THE HEART for American Stage, LE LOUP-GAROU for Opera Southwest, I AND YOU, SILENT SKY, MISS HOLMES, and THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY for Peninsula Players, ROSE for Renaissance Theaterworks, DIE KATHRIN for Folks Operetta/University of Chicago, QUEEN OF THE MIST for Firebrand Theatre, THE SCARLET IBIS for Chicago Opera Theater, MACHINAL FOR GREENHOUSE THEATER (as Movement Director), UNCLE PHILIP’S COAT for Greenhouse Theater, Haymarket: THE ANARCHIST’S SONGBOOK for Underscore Theatre, TWELFTH NIGHT for DePaul Opera Theatre, THE GIRL IN THE TRAIN for Chicago Folks Operetta, GOLDSTAR, OHIO for American Theater Company, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR for Chicago Shakespeare Theater (as Assistant Director), DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY for Circle Theatre, OPUS 1861 for City Lit Theater, VIOLET for Bailiwick Chicago, and BERNARDA ALBA and SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD for Bohemian Theatre Ensemble. Elizabeth has been a guest director, master artist, and adjunct professor at numerous colleges and universities including Longy School of Music (MA), DePaul University, Viterbo University (WI), University of Northern Iowa, Converse School of Music (SC), SUNY Albany, and Skidmore College (NY). Elizabeth is an alumna of the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, a recipient of a full directorial scholarship for the Wesley Balk Opera-Music Theater Institute, and a finalist for the Charles Abbott Fellowship. Elizabeth has a degree in classical flute and has trained in movement techniques from around the world including Qigong, the Frantic Method, and Axis Syllabus. She is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director Emerita of DirectorsLabChicago, and a proud member of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC).
Cassandra Bissell (she/her) THE DETECTIVE
Cassandra is delighted to return to Renaissance Theaterworks where she has appeared previously in PHOTOGRAPH 51, TOP GIRLS, AMELIA, THE UNDERSTUDY and CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY. Wisconsin Credits: Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (THE THANKSGIVING PLAY), Milwaukee Rep (IN THE NEXT ROOM OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY, MY NAME IS ASHER LEV), Next Act Theatre (THERE IS A HAPPINESS THAT MORNING IS, THREE VIEWINGS, THE REVOLUTIONISTS), Forward Theater Co. (THE WANDERERS, RUSSIAN TROLL FARM: A WORKPLACE COMEDY), Third Avenue Playworks (A
CHRISTMAS CAROL: A LIVE RADIO PLAY, THE BOOK CLUB PLAY) and 18 shows over 9 seasons at Peninsula Players. Regional (LORT) credits: Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, Arizona Theatre Co., Cleveland Play House, Court Theatre, Great Lakes Theater, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Indiana Repertory, Northern Stage, Northlight Theatre, People’s Light and Utah Shakespeare Festival. Chicago (CAT) credits: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, First Folio, Next Theatre, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Shakespeare on the Green, Shakespeare Project of Chicago and Steppenwolf. Small Professional Theatre (SPT) credits: CATCO (Columbus, OH), Company of Fools (Sun Valley, ID) and freeFall Theatre (St. Petersburg, FL). Cassandra holds a BA in Gender Studies from the University of Chicago.
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Performance Schedule & Special Events
Friday, March 24 7:30 p.m. Preview
Saturday, March 25 4:00 p.m. Preview
Saturday, March 25 8:00 p.m. Opening Night & Reception
Sunday, March 26 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 29 7:30 p.m. Wine Wednesday
Thursday, March 30 7:30 p.m. Community Networking Night
Friday, March 31 7:30 p.m. Talkback
Saturday, April 1 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 1 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 2 2:00 p.m. Playclub
Monday, April 3 7:30 p.m. Pay-What-You-Choose
Wednesday, April 5 7:30 p.m. Wine Wednesday
Thursday, April 6 7:30 p.m. Women’s Happy Hour
Friday, April 7 7:30 p.m. Pre-show talk
Saturday, April 8 4:00 p.m. PRIDE Show
Sunday, April 9 2:00 p.m. Sensory Friendly Performance & Partner talkback
Wednesday, April 12 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 12 7:30 p.m. Wine Wednesday
Thursday, April 13 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 14 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 15 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 16 2:00p.m. ASL Interpreted & Closing
Season Sponsors: Laura & Mike Arnow, Jan Serr & John Shannon, Herzfeld Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Bert L. & Patricia S. Steigleder Charitable Trust, CAMPAC, City of Milwaukee Arts Board, UPAF, Wisconsin Arts Board, The Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Show Sponsors: Sandy & George Dionisopoulos, J. Michael Reavis About Renaissance Theaterworks
Celebrating their thirtieth anniversary in the 2022-23 season, RTW is Milwaukee’s first professional theater company founded and led by women and the nation’s second-oldest professional theater devoted to gender equality.
RTW is now a resident company at 255 South Water St. in Milwaukee’s Harbor District, with increased capacity and improved accessibility.
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February 23, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sarah Hwang
Phone: 414-273-0800
Email: [email protected]
Renaissance Theaterworks Welcomes New Marketing Manager
Longtime freelance collaborator officially becomes a Renaissance Woman
February 13, 2023- Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) “theater by women, for everyone” is excited to announce that Emmy-nominated producer Maria Pretzl has joined their team as the company’s new Marketing Manager.
Pretzl earned her BFA in Film Production and BA in Theatre Studies from UW-Milwaukee in 2014. She is most well known in the theater community for being half of the video company, Traveling Lemur Productions LLC, that she co-founded with her partner, Nate Schardin, in 2015. As part of the Traveling Lemur Productions team, Pretzl has worked with theater companies and arts organizations all over Milwaukee, including RTW, Skylight Music Theater, Milwaukee Comedy and First Stage. It was their work on First Stage’s 2020 Holiday Show, CHRISTMASTOWN COMES TO FIRST STAGE that garnered Traveling Lemur Production’s first regional-Emmy nomination.
Recently hired Marketing Director, Sarah Hwang commented, “Maria has been a dream to work with in her role with Traveling Lemur productions. When she applied for the job and presented her unique marketing ideas, hiring her to join our team was a no-brainer.”
“We are so excited to work with Maria in a deeper capacity. Welcome to the Renaissance family, Maria!” said Lisa Rasmussen, Managing Director.
RTW audiences may be familiar with Pretzl’s work beyond Traveling Lemur Productions. Pretzl’s short play Juniper Flies, was part of Renaissance Theaterworks’ 2018 Brink Briefs program and the Best of Brink Briefs mainstage performance, kicking off RTW’s new residency at 255 South Water Street in 2021. She also directed Holiday Cards for RTW’s Brink Briefs in 2019.
Other credits include writing and directing the award winning short film SUPER DAD! (available to watch on Vimeo), Coriolana (Director, Cooperative Performance), Roommates (Playwright, Cooperative Performance) and She Kills Monsters (Director, Village Playhouse). She also published Fancy People like Fondue as part of Rogue’s Gallery with Stage Partners in 2022.
Before coming to RTW, Pretzl served as Interim Network Director and First Draft Coordinator at Chicago Dramatists. She also spent almost 8 years wowing audiences with the night sky at the Milwaukee Public Museum as a Planetarium Educator.
“I’ve been a fan of RTW for years, even before I’ve had the privilege to work with them.” says Pretzl, “I’m super excited to join the team and continue making great theater!”
Pretzl lives with Schardin and their very opinionated cat, T’Challa. And for those of you who have made it to the end of this press release and are still wondering, yes, Pretzl is pronounced like the food.
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February 13, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Hwang
Phone: 414-273-0800
Email: [email protected]
RENAISSANCE THEATERWORKS WELCOMES BACK MARKETING DIRECTOR
Sarah Kriger Hwang returns “home” after a decade
[November 28, 2022 - MILWAUKEE] Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW), “theater by women, for everyone,” is thrilled to welcome back Sarah Kriger Hwang as the company’s Marketing Director.
Sarah came to RTW in 2003 as their first “official” Marketing Director (part-time). During her nine-year tenure, Sarah developed RTW’s first subscription renewal program, retooled ticket pricing, helped move the company to the Broadway Theater Center, increased revenue by 100%, developed a new logo and branding campaign, created Play Club, and originated RTW’s signature “taste counts” tradition of giving each patron a chocolate as they exit the theater. Most of these efforts are still in place and have contributed to Renaissance Theaterworks’ reputation for excellence and uninterrupted history of debt-free operation.
The company continued to grow and by 2012, the need for a full time Marketing Director became increasingly apparent. Sarah and her husband, Milt, were raising their child and Sarah was living with Multiple Sclerosis, so she made the bittersweet decision to depart the staff but continue to volunteer and support.
Since 2012, Sarah has pursued greater involvement with the National MS Society. Her Walk MS Team, “Hwang’s Wok-ers” topped the fundraising charts in Wisconsin. Additionally, Sarah and her husband created “Wok Hard to Fight MS,” a Chinese pop-up restaurant that started as a small gathering of 60 in their home but grew to a fundraising event for over 350 people held at their synagogue. All of the contributions went to the National MS Society, funding MS research, advocacy and programming. “Wok Hard” ended with the pandemic.
Sarah’s talents can also be seen as the lead vocalist in local band “Squirrel!”
Sarah was pondering her next moves when she attended RTW’s fundraiser, “Raise a Glass to Renaissance” in September 2022. “Being there and experiencing the art, love and community, suddenly the words “I want back in!” were escaping my mouth. I didn’t know what I meant exactly, but I meant it.” “Too late for take-backs!” said Lisa Rasmussen, RTW’s Managing Director. And voila, two months later, Sarah became RTW’s Marketing Director!
Currently, because of her progressive MS, Sarah travels by scooter and is always accompanied by Goblin the wonder service dog. So how can she take on this role? Easy, team work! Sarah proposed a structural change. She will work part-time at the strategic level and RTW will hire a full-time Marketing Manager to work in tandem with her and run RTW’s day-to-day marketing operations.
“Sarah has been an influential mentor to me since I started at Renaissance Theaterworks as the company’s first Development Director, 15 years ago. Moreover, she has been a stalwart friend and standard bearer for the company and our unique mission. We could not be more honored that she wants to contribute to the next stage of Renaissance Theaterworks’ bright future.” - Lisa Rasmussen, Managing Director.
Sarah is a Milwaukee native and a Graduate of Nicolet High School. She then went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications from Indiana University-Bloomington and a Master of Arts - Business from the Bolz Center for Arts Administration at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Sarah has spent her career in theater marketing and marketing research having worked at Skylight Opera Theatre (now Skylight Music Theatre), Court Theatre at the University of Chicago, C&R Research (Chicago) and, of course, Renaissance Theaterworks. She is a board trustee of the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and also serves on the Society’s CEO Advisory Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She has been living with MS since her diagnosis in 1999.
Renaissance Theaterworks
Celebrating their thirtieth anniversary in the 2022-23 season, RTW is Milwaukee’s first professional theater company founded and led by women and the nation’s second-oldest professional theater devoted to gender equality.
RTW is now a resident company at 255 S. Water St. in Milwaukee’s Harbor District, with increased capacity and improved accessibility.
The company’s season continues with its season theme “Resilient” centering on women’s stories of perseverance. Up next is Martyna Majok’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Cost of Living” (Jan. 20-Feb. 12, 2023), in collaborations with Pink Umbrella Theater Company and Phamaly Theatre Company, and the world premiere of “Tidy” by Kristin Idaszak (March 24-April 6, 2023), as part of the World Premiere Wisconsin Festival.
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November 28, 2022
November 9, 2022
For Immediate Release: July 20, 2022
Contact: Sarah Kriger Hwang, Marketing Director (she / her / hers)
Phone: 414-273-0800
Email: [email protected]
Renaissance Theaterworks - Theater By Women For Everyone.
Box Office: 414-278-0765 R-T-W.com
Artistic Home: 255 S Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Renaissance Theaterworks Welcomes Jayne Regan Pink As Artistic Associate
July 20, 2022 (MILWAUKEE) - Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW), “theater by women, for everyone,” recently welcomed Jayne Regan Pink to their staff as an artistic associate. Celebrating their thirtieth anniversary in the 2022-23 season, RTW is Milwaukee’s first professional theater company founded and led by women and the nation’s second-oldest professional theater devoted to gender equality.
Known for her great creative sense, sparkling humor and intuitive skills, Regan Pink will work closely with Artistic Director Suzan Fete. Fete says "Jayne will be a tremendous asset for RTW. Her world has been mostly nonverbal theatre, which has really honed her focus on the physical space that the artist creates in the bigger picture. When we see better we hear better (think about how we all appreciate that now that we’ve been masked), and how we fill those not so empty silent moments, in the same way that punctuation informs the voice. RTW was not looking for an artistic associate, but Jayne was such a perfect fit, we invited her to join the team."
Born in London, Regan Pink began dancing at the age of six and trained with Madame Sulamif Messerer, and Francesca Highfield. She became a Cecchetti Scholar and was awarded the Cyril Beaumont scholarship to the Royal Ballet School. Hailed as one of the finest dramatic dancers of her generation, she created many leading roles in full-length narrative works. Her career as a principal dancer included working in close collaboration with Christopher Gable and Michael Pink. Pink is her partner and the artistic director of the Milwaukee Ballet where she also serves on the faculty.
Regan Pink traveled internationally as a ballet coach before moving to Milwaukee. Here she has worked as a dialect coach, choreographer, and movement director for a broad spectrum of arts organizations. Her local credits include First Stage Children’s Theater productions of “Matilda,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” “Elephant and Piggie,” “Urinetown,” along with Milwaukee Rep’s “Happy Now,” ”The Norman Conquests,” and “A Christmas Carol.”
Her son, Max Pink, was cast in RTW’s 2018 production of “Russian Transport,” leading her to become more involved with the theater and serving on the board of directors. She contributed to RTW’s productions of “Happy Days” and “Neat” as the movement director.
Celebrating thirty years of vibrant, visceral storytelling and debt-free operations, RTW is now a resident company at 255 S. Water St., with increased capacity and improved accessibility.
The company’s season kicks off with a celebration and fundraiser, "Raise a Glass" (September 8), followed by the “9th Annual BRINK New Play Festival” (September 10-11).
The season’s theme “Resilient” centers women’s stories of perseverance, and includes “The How and the Why” by Sarah Treem (Oct. 21-Nov. 13), Martyna Majok’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Cost of Living” (Jan. 20-Feb. 12, 2023), in collaborations with Pink Umbrella Theater Company and Phamaly Theatre Company, and the world premiere of “Tidy” by Kristin Idaszak (March 24-April 6, 2023), as part of the World Premiere Wisconsin Festival.
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July 20, 2022