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Arts Beat - In This Issue:
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 United Performing Arts Fund News
As advocates of the performing arts, we are all well aware of the incredible asset we have with the variety of music, dance and theater provided by our 15 UPAF Member Groups. And we all know how important it is to raise the dollars needed to deliver more than 2,000 performances each year. It is for these reasons and more that our incredibly passionate 2013 Campaign Co-Chairs - Chuck Harvey, Gail Lione and Skip Poliner - set a record-breaking goal of $11,000,000 for this year's UPAF Campaign. Thanks to our more than 20,000 generous donors throughout Southeastern Wisconsin, we were able to celebrate in June at the UPAF Ride for the Arts, sponsored by Miller Lite, exceeding that goal by raising $11,005,419!
Yet...the last chapter for 2013 is not quite finished since we are still in pursuit of a second goal: Increase dollars allocated by $1,000,000 over last year. We are quite proud that UPAF was able to raise more than $800,000 more than last year without incurring any additional expenses; subsequently, all additional funding will go straight to UPAF Member Groups.
In order to reach this second goal, we need to raise another $123,992 by July 31. So, we ask that you please consider helping us to reach this important milestone. Every dollar gets us that much closer to another record-setting achievement - one that will ultimately benefit everyone in our region.
While the 2013 Campaign Finale took place more than a month ago, several organizations kept the creative energy alive by hosting Workplace Giving Campaigns in June. Our thanks to those companies and organizations:
- American Society for Quality
- Bostik, Inc.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee
- EnterForce
- Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club
- RBC Wealth Management
- United Community Center
The celebration at UPAF will continue throughout the summer. Our annual UPAF Day at Miller Park - set for Monday, July 8 - allows us to show our appreciation of the hundreds of volunteers who donated their time and talent to this year's Campaign. It will be a special night since baseball fans will have the opportunity to join the Florentine Opera in singing the National Anthem. We give in advance a seventh-inning standing ovation to the Brewers Community Foundation for allowing UPAF to host this special event.
Finally, all $100 plus donors should be receiving their UPAF SMART CARD, sponsored by Associated Bank, in their mailboxes soon if they have not already. Make the most of your UPAF SMART CARD, sponsored by Associated Bank, by using it for buy one, get one free tickets to a performance at each of UPAF's 15 Member Groups next season.
Deanna Tillisch
UPAF President & CEO
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Summer Performing Arts Fun
Although most theater venues are "dark" at this time of year, UPAF Member Groups are busy this summer. "Doing what?" you may ask.
Here are a few highlights:
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Photo: Jenn Mazza
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- Milwaukee Ballet is abuzz with "Summer Intensive," the program in which young dancers from around the world train in an array of challenging classes daily for three to six weeks. Students attend from more than 22 states and four countries.
- The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is spending time this summer developing its first-ever MSO Composer Institute, to be held from November 7-9 in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). Up to six emerging composers will be selected to participate in workshops, professional training sessions and rehearsals of their works, culminating in a public performance by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
- Renaissance Theaterworks' Suzan Fete is in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, participating in their first international theater exchange to promote intercultural awareness and understanding through theater.
- Next Act Theatre's Next Actors: Summer Theatre for Teens, a six-week playwriting and performance program free to Milwaukee area teenagers, is currently underway. A diverse group of 20 talented teens write and produce their very own, original theater piece that they tour throughout metro-Milwaukee and share with family, friends and the community.
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MYSO's Calypso
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- Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) is currently running Calypso (steel pan ensemble) Summer Camp and will also conduct a New Orleans Jazz Stompers Camp and a Summer Wind Ensemble Camp to help area youth fine-tune their musical skills.
- In addition to running their Summer Academy in three locations to teach "life skills through stage skills" to area youth, First Stage is conducting professional development workshops for educators, as well as teaching arts-integrated lessons in area summer school programs.
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Ticket Giveaway!
Danceworks
Ignite: A Hip Hop Dance Experience | |
Danceworks: Gabi Sustache and Jeff Yang.
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Danceworks Studio Theatre ignites with the city's hottest hip hop dancers! Danceworks' DanceLAB honors and nurtures the development of new dance works by emerging and established dance artists by offering year-round opportunities in the form of performances, internships, mentorships, space access and advocacy for artists serving the Milwaukee community.
Danceworks Studio Theatre, 1661 N. Water Street
July 19 at 8:00 p.m. and July 20 at 6:30 and 9:00 p.m.
Free parking available in adjacent lot.
Tickets: $18 Reserved, $15 General Admission, $10 Student and Senior
For more information, please visit Danceworks Inc. or call 414-277-8480 x6025.
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UPAF Sponsor Spotlight: West Bend Mutual
 UPAF would like to recognize West Bend Mutual Insurance Company for their support of the 2013 UPAF Campaign. West Bend Mutual's overall giving increased over 50% from the 2012 Campaign, and the number of employees participating increased by an impressive 90%. Their campaign featured a large number of internal campaign incentives, which included Brewers tickets, downtown Milwaukee dinner and hotel packages, and the chance to win a pair of tickets to the Paul McCartney concert at Miller Park (how cool is that??). UPAF thanks Kevin Steiner, West Bend Mutual's CEO & President, for serving on the UPAF Board of Directors and and for co-chairing the Financial Services and Insurance Division of the 2013 Campaign Cabinet.
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Affiliate Spotlight: Sunset Playhouse How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
July 18- August 11 Book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert; music and lyrics by Frank Loesser; based on How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying by Shepherd Mead.
 Long before Mad Men, there was another story of power, sex, ambition, greed... but this one has a better back-beat. J. Pierrepont Finch climbs the corporate ladder by stepping off the ledge from his window-washing job and into the high-powered offices of a company he plans to run in a matter of days. He'll do it by following the rules of a "how-to" manual, breaking some hearts and stepping on some toes along the way. Showstopping songs and dazzling dance numbers are at the heart of this classic big-time Broadway musical.
July 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31; August 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11
Wed-Fri at 7:30 p.m., Sat at 4:00 and 7:30 p.m., and Sun at 2:00 p.m.
Ticket Prices:
Value Nights (7/18 & 7/31): $12.50
Thursday-Sunday: $25
Students and Seniors: $23
Groups of 15 or more: $18
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UPAF Member Group & Affiliate Performances
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UPAF and UPAF Member Groups in the News
This is but a small sample of the numerous recent reviews and articles about UPAF and UPAF-funded groups.
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UPAF is essential to the vitality of our region.
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United Performing Arts Fund
301 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 600, Milwaukee, WI 53203
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