Download First Stage partners with Emerald City Theatre to bring RUDOLPH

Office address: 325 W. Walnut Street  Milwaukee, WI 53212
Tickets: (414) 273-7206  Fax: (414) 267-2930  www.FirstStage.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Erica Davis (414) 267-2931 or [email protected]
First Stage partners with Emerald City Theatre to bring
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER® to Chicago’s
Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place
Jeff Frank directs the holiday classic bringing First Stage’s unique brand of
theater for young audiences to Chicago area families.
Chicago – First Stage announces partnership with Emerald City Theatre and Broadway In
Chicago to bring the holiday classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer® to Chicago audiences.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer®, adapted from the Animated Television Special by Bob
Penola with Orchestrations and Arrangements by Timothy Splain, plays from November 14 –
December 29, 2013 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, located at 175 East
Chestnut Street, Chicago IL.
After unprecedented success and record-breaking ticket sales during First Stage’s 2012 holiday
season, First Stage recognized the potential to bring the production to a larger market. Emerald
City Theatre’s relationship with Broadway In Chicago, one of the leading theatrical presenters in
the nation, as well as their working history with First Stage, made the partnership a natural fit.
This ground-breaking collaboration marks the first time that First Stage will bring a full-scale
production to a larger market. “This is a great opportunity to introduce First Stage’s ageappropriate casting and professional-level theater to an entirely new audience,” said First Stage
Managing Director Betsy Corry. “First Stage artists will be involved in every step of the process,
from casting to directing. We want to ensure that the magic of First Stage’s production is
successfully re-envisioned this year in collaboration with Emerald City,” continued Corry.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with First Stage Artistic Director Jeff Frank and his artists from
First Stage,” said Emerald City Producing Artistic Director Ernie Nolan. “Jeff Frank’s enchanting,
original adaptation is a feast for the eyes with heartwarming holiday cheer. I can't wait to add a
little Emerald City magic to the recipe. Together we promise Chicago audiences a great BIG toe-more-
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tapping musical that the whole family can savor.”
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer® creative team includes: First Stage Artistic Director Jeff
Frank (Director), Emerald City Producing Artistic Director Ernie Nolan (Choreographer and
Associate Director); Timothy Splain (Music Director); First Stage artists Brandon Kirkham
(Production Designer); Jason Fassl (Lighting Designer); and Matt Whitmore (Sound Designer)
will comprise the rest of the creative team, each having worked on the First Stage’s production
of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer® last season.
Jeff Frank (Director) has been First Stage’s artistic director since February 2003. Previously he had
served as education director/associate artistic director. Jeff is a native Wisconsinite who earned a B.F.A.
in theater from UW–Whitewater and went on to the University of Utah, earning an M.F.A. in child
drama. Over the past 17 seasons Jeff has directed nearly 50 First Stage productions. Among his
favorites are: BIG, THE MUSICAL, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, PETER PAN AND WENDY, U:
BUG: ME, THE NEVERENDING STORY, SLEEPING BEAUTY, TOM SAWYER, SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON,
LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE, A LITTLE HOUSE CHRISTMAS, THE HOBBIT, A MIDNIGHT CRY, PERSEUS
BAYOU, A CHRISTMAS STORY and THE GIVER. Jeff is a member of the Board of Directors for Theatre for
Young Audiences USA (TYA/USA), a national association for theatre for children and young people.
Ernie Nolan (Choreographer and Associate Director) is the Producing Artistic Director of Emerald City
Theatre in Chicago, where he has directed and choreographed over 20 productions including
PINKALICIOUS: THE MUSICAL. A resident artist of The Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, MO, he made his
Off-Broadway debut as a choreographer last spring with LUCKY DUCK at the New Victory Theatre. His
work as a Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) playwright has been featured both nationally and
internationally.
Timothy Splain (Music Director) is a New York-based Music Director and pianist. Credits include: OffBroadway/New York: A MINISTER’S WIFE (Lincoln Center), ADDING MACHINE (Minetta Lane), DEATH
TAKES A HOLIDAY (Roundabout), Jane Austen’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (NYMF), THE HUNDRED DRESSES
(Atlantic for Kids), THE HOLIDAY GUYS. National Tour: LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE. Regional: NEXT TO
NORMAL (Milwaukee Rep); RENT (dir. David Cromer, ATC/About Face); A MINISTER’S WIFE, SHE LOVES
ME, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Writers’ Theatre); THREEPENNY OPERA (Hypocrites); WINGS (Apple Tree)
THE HUNDRED DRESSES (Chicago Children’s Theatre).
Brandon Kirkham (Production Designer) is a scenic, costume and puppet designer in Milwaukee, WI.
Brandon’s designs with First Stage include costumes, sets, and puppets for RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED
REINDEER® (2012), SEUSSICAL (2011), U: BUG: ME (2011), and PETER PAN AND WENDY(2010). In
addition to designing, Brandon is also First Stage's resident costume crafts artisan. He has worked as a
freelance designer and craftsperson for theaters across the country, including Milwaukee Repertory
Theater, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Santa Fe Opera, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and Hope
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Summer Repertory Theater. Brandon received his M.F.A. in Theater Design from Ohio University and his
Bachelor’s degree in Theater Design & Technology from the University of Evansville.
Jason Fassl (Lighting Designer) has designed lighting for over 20 productions at First Stage, including
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER® (2012), THE WIZ (2010), WITNESS (2009) and A YEAR WITH FROG
AND TOAD (2009). Jason has designed lighting for over 300 theatrical productions across the upper
Midwest. He serves as an associate artist for First Stage and the resident designer for The Fireside
Theatre. Jason’s designs have spanned the stages of the Milwaukee Ballet, the Milwaukee Repertory
Theater, Peninsula Players, American Players Theatre, Forward Theatre Company, Door Shakespeare,
Renaissance Theaterworks, Next Act Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, and many others. Jason is a
proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829 and IATSE Local #18.
Matt Whitmore (Sound Designer) is a sound designer from Milwaukee, WI. He has designed
productions for First Stage, including RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER® (2012), DON’T LET THE
PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS (2012), MISS NELSON IS MISSING (2011) and AESOP’S FABLES (2010). In
addition to designing and engineering throughout southeastern Wisconsin, he is the operations assistant
at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. Matt holds a B.A. in audio arts and acoustics from Columbia
College, Chicago.
TICKET INFORMATION
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer® is part of the Broadway In Chicago 2013 off season specials.
Group tickets for 10 or more are now on sale by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 9771710. Individual tickets for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer® will go on sale at a later date. For
more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com .
About First Stage
Since 1987, First Stage has grown to become one of the nation’s most acclaimed children’s theaters and the
second largest theater company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. First Stage touches hearts and transforms lives through
professional theater productions that engage, enlighten and entertain more than 115,000 audience members
annually. Committed to new play development, First Stage has presented nearly 50 world premieres in its history
and has collaborated with renowned artists including Harry Connick Jr. and Stephen Schwartz, and award-winning
authors Lois Lowry and Cornelia Funke. Its Theater Academy, teaching life skills through stage skills, is the largest
theater training program of its kind in the nation. As Wisconsin’s leader in arts-in-education programming, First
Stage’s dynamic Theater in Education programs promote active learning in our schools and our community, serving
over 20,000 children each year.
About Emerald City Theatre
Founded in 1996, Emerald City Theatre creates theatre experiences that inspire early learners through play.
Emerald City is one of Chicago's most attended non-profit theatres, with an annual programming reach of 80,000.
Through a rigorous collaboration between innovating artists and leading educators, Emerald City develops new
work for young audiences, with over 29 world premieres; produces professional productions at the Apollo Theater
in Lincoln Park, The Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, and the Little Theatre; and provides acclaimed
educational programming throughout Chicago through Emerald City Theatre School.
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