News
by ourlivesmadison.com, September 2010.
"It chose me, I didn’t choose it. That’s a pretty accurate description of how I came to acting. I think it was born from my innate desire to be loved and to please. Watching home videos of my early childhood in the Midwest, one sees an incredible amount of energy pouring forth from this spastic toothpick of a kid. Energy emanating in all directions at once, often without focus."
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Playwrights Are Asked to Write of “The Love That Changed My Life”
Madison, WI - Forward Theater Company is asking authors to wax poetic about love – first love, lost love, or anything in between. Playwrights from across the country are invited to contribute to the company’s first monologue festival, which will be presented on February 11 & 12, 2011 at Overture Center. With original work by both established and up-and-coming playwrights, Forward will be assembling an engaging evening of comedy and drama that examines the relationships that affect us most profoundly, whether life-altering love comes in the form of a best friend, a Labrador retriever, a great slice of pizza, or a matinee-movie idol.
“When Forward was established, one of the things we wanted to do was promote the development of new plays,” said Artistic Director Jennifer Uphoff Gray. “This is a great way to work one-on-one with a wide variety of playwrights and get to know their writing styles. We’re very excited to read the submissions.”
Playwrights are asked to send their previously unproduced, original monologues on the theme, “The Love that Changed My Life.” to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . (There is no entry fee for the first two submissions from each author.) Scripts should be ten minutes long or less, and require minimal sets, props, and costumes. Submissions will be accepted until October 1 and the winners will be announced on or before November 30. Each winning playwright will receive two complimentary tickets to the opening night performance.
The monologue festival is dedicated to the memory of David Schanker, a Madison playwright who worked with Forward earlier this year on a staged reading of his award-winning play, “Kiritsis.”
For more information, please visit forwardtheater.com, or email Gwendolyn Rice at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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About the Forward Theater Company
Founded in March 2009, the mission of FTC is to create a home base for Wisconsin theater professionals that will expand the economic and cultural life of the greater Madison area.
Madison WI -Forward Theater Company is pleased to announce that the organization has added three paid staff positions as of July 1, 2010. The part-time jobs of artistic director, general manager, and communications director will be filled by area arts advocates who each worked with the theater on a volunteer basis during its inaugural year.
Jennifer Uphoff Gray, Artistic Director, is charged with the creative leadership of the company, including engaging actors, designers, and directors, and assembling a season, with the input of the advisory company. She most recently directed Forward Theater’s debut productions, All About Eve and Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them. Before helping to found Forward Theater, Jen directed a staged reading of A Thousand Words for Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Love’s Labour’s Lost for Milwaukee Shakespeare (“Best of 2008”) and The Diary of Anne Frank for Madison Repertory Theatre (“Best of 2008”). She also produced (and directed for) the Madison Rep’s 2007 New Play Festival. Other credits include; the national tour of Copenhagen, associate director of Copenhagen, Cabaret, The Blue Room (starring Nicole Kidman) and The Life on Broadway. Off-Broadway, she directed the world premiere of the musical Suburb.
Sarah Marty, General Manager, will oversee the business and outreach functions of the company. She is the 2008 recipient of the Bartell Award for Excellence in the Arts. She has a Master’s degree in Business from the Bolz Center for Arts Administration, an MS in Curriculum & Instruction, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from UW-Madison. Sarah is a Program Coordinator UW-Madison Continuing Studies (Wisconsin Wrights New Play Development Project, School of the Arts at Rhinelander, Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival, Wisconsin Theatre Auditions & Technical Interviews). In addition she works with several of arts organizations in the Madison area including Four Seasons Theatre, UW Varsity Band Spring Concert, Madison Early Music Festival, and Madison Opera.
Gwendolyn Rice, Director of Communications, will manage marketing, public relations, and development for the company. She holds a Master’s degree in Theater Literature, History, and Criticism from UW Madison. Gwen has worked in marketing, communications, and fundraising for a variety of non-profit arts organizations including First Stage Milwaukee, the Friends of the Coronado, and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra.
Celia Klehr, who served as volunteer managing director for the organization’s first year is stepping down to become a member of the advisory company. “I am very happy to pass the torch on to others,” she said. “Working with this group of local theater professionals, founding a new arts organization has been an incredible experience. I’m pleased I could contribute. Now I’m looking forward to taking on an advisory role.”
The staff will take up residence in their new offices, at 8401 Excelsior Drive in the AAA Building, space generously donated by the Gialamas Company. “This is a real step forward for the organization,” said Board President Jane Elder. “Everyone has put forth extraordinary efforts over our first year to launch this company. The number of volunteer hours that have brought us to this point is staggering. Now that we’ve found our footing as a fledgling organization, we’re able to employ arts professionals to oversee the day-to-day operations.”
“It’s exciting to see how much we’ve accomplished in our first year” said Gray. “Sixteen months ago we were sitting around a kitchen table talking about founding a new theater company. Now our staff is moving into an office. We’re very grateful for the support we’ve received from the community – that’s what has allowed us to grow so strong so fast.
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About the Forward Theater Company
Founded in March 2009, the mission of FTC is to create a home base for Wisconsin theater professionals that will expand the economic and cultural life of the greater Madison area.
For more information about this release, please contact Jennifer Uphoff Gray, Artistic Director, (608) 332-7737, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Gwen Rice, Communications Director (608) 240-3526 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
by Jane Elder, Jennifer Uphoff Gray and Celia Klehr, Wisconsin State Journal - Mailbag, 4 July 2010.
"We wish to express our heartfelt congratulations to all the elected officials, Overture Center board and staff, generous donors and corporate representatives who worked tirelessly over the past year to reach the historic agreement that frees the Overture Center from its multi-million dollar debt."
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by Jennifer A. Smith, Isthmus - The Daily Page, 10 June 2010.
"One of the beauties of a repertory company like Spring Green's American Players Theatre is learning to identify your favorite cast members and seeing them year after year, in varied roles large and small.
This year, APT's Sarah Day marks 25 seasons with the acclaimed company. She has played everything from the devastated, morphine-addicted mother in Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night to countless Shakespearean roles."
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by Jay Rath, Isthmus - The Daily Page, 10 June 2010.
"Madison Repertory Theatre may have died in 2009, but a great part of it lives on as the Madison Arts Production Cooperative.
The Rep's collection of costumes, props and set pieces form the core of the cooperative program, a subsidiary of Children's Theater of Madison. The project recently won a grant of $35,000, spread over two years, from the Madison Community Foundation."
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Did you hear the news? "In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play" received a Tony nomination for best play! See it here in Madison this November. Buy your subscriptions today!
Click here to see the full list of nominees!
by Jason Albert, A.V. Club Madison, 29 April 2010.
"The centerpiece of Forward Theater Company’s second, expanded season is the regional premiere of In The Next Room Or The Vibrator Play, Sarah Ruhl’s Pulitzer Prize finalist exploring love, tenderness, and clitoral stimulation set during the twilight of the Victorian era. Also on the slate are three other plays including Lee Blessing’s contemporary political-themed work, Going To St. Ives; Ron Hutchinson’s Gone With The Wind-inspired comedy, Moonlight And Magnolias; and a pre-Valentine’s Day monologue festival, The Love That Changed My Life."
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