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Milwaukee is a nationally respected theatre community. Lesser well known is its status as an incubator for emerging theatre groups. Not all these newbies make it past season one, gathering respect and ackowledgement. However, over four years Pink Banana Theatre Co. has worked to present itself as a groomed and exploratory company focused on creating superb quality and tending to artists with varying levels of experience.
Pink Banana’s first four seasons have been “ambitious yet grounded,” as explained by producer Juanita Cordova. Concentration is placed on quality instead of how many shows can be packed into a season. This seaon, like those past will center on two themed fundraisers and two productions. The fundraisers of course serve their literal purpose but also celebrate and expose artists. The first is a Halloween Party on October 31 at Darling Hall featuring live entertainment, a jack ‘o lantern garden and bloody drinks. The second, also at Darling Hall on December 6, is known as the Sexy St. Nicks Artist Buffet. Local artists will display and sell their work and you can patch up the moth holes in the sweater your Aunt Nancy gave you four years ago for the sexy Christmas sweater contest. Both ask for only a very modest donation.
With the goal of giving as many people as possible opportunities to grow as artists, Pink Banana always produces an evening of One Act plays, for which they are eagering now accepting submissions. Taking place at the Broadway Theatre Center from March 27 to April 11, 2009’s broad theme of ‘relationships’ will feature original one act plays each with it’s own cast and director. The season’s second show, scheduled for July 9-18, will be Tony nominated Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, by Frank McGuinness. This dichotomy of working new, short plays and a full length, well known play demonstrates Pink Banana’s aim of blending teaching, opportunity and artistic merit.
Along with Cordova, producer Matt Kemple and artistic director Rose Wasielewski all agree that their major priorities are making excellent theatre and giving anyone interested a chance to learn and enhance their skills. Cordova and Wasielewski are both working towards an MA in Liberal Studies at UWM; Wasielewski focusing on literature and poetry and Cordova on non-profit business management. Wasielewski directed last season’s Spinning Into Butter and acts as a resource for all the actors, directors and writers involved with the one acts. One of Wasielewski’s goals is to create an educational division, cultivating a “teaching theatre.” Cordova has already earned a certificate in non-profit business leadership and management and with her expertise Pink Banana has already begun the process of applying for non-profit status, which will eventually allow them to receive grants. In addition to Pink Banana, Kemple is the Marketing and PR Manager for Next Act Theatre and he is the backbone of the Milwaukee Comedy Festival. He admits that many days he has urgent duties for all three and he puts in “that much time, because [he] can’t stop thinking about it.”
All three share a vision for Pink Banana’s future that includes their own theatre space, educational outreach, workshops for all kinds of art, a café and of course quality and integrity of art. The encouragement and collective environment of Pink Banana Theatre Co. is a place where new artists can get their first boost and veterans can polish their skills.
For more information about Pink Banana Theatre Co., visit their website: www.pinkbananatheatre.com
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