Collaboration drives production process for yearlong thesis projects screening at Union Cinema

May 14, 2026

Mel Ulate and her lead actress hold the title slate which says the film has wrapped production.

Graduating students from the Department of Film, Video, Animation, and New Genres (FVANG) are preparing to premiere their senior thesis films during Senior Screenings, a showcase of student filmmaking that gives soon-to-be alumni the opportunity to see their work on the big screen.

The filmmaking process is highly collaborative, with directors working alongside fellow student filmmakers, FVANG alumni, and members of the community throughout production. Spanning an entire academic year, the process requires students to balance writing, casting, fundraising, filming and editing as they bring their creative visions to life.

A man pushes black sunglasses over his eyes with his pointer and index finger while punching an enemy. — A still from “The End of the Bug Guy Cinematic Universe” by Cameron Wise

A green goblin and a gorilla look at an armored man. — A still from “The End of the Bug Guy Cinematic Universe” by Cameron Wise

Cameron Wise and a man in a gorilla costume sit in a car. They smile while the man in the costume gives a thumbs up. — Behind the scenes photo from “The End of the Bug Guy Cinematic Universe” by Cameron Wise

A video camera floats in the sky and shoots a red laser into the ground. — A still from “The End of the Bug Guy Cinematic Universe” by Cameron Wise

A greem figure with a red nose and yellow underbelly looks down at his hands. — A still from “The End of the Bug Guy Cinematic Universe” by Cameron Wise

Cameron Wise describes his senior film, “The End of the Bug Guy Cinematic Universe,” as a crossover between all the films he created during his time at UWM. The project ties together loose ends and continuity errors while also serving as a farewell to his undergraduate career.

Wise relied on the support of previous cast and crew members throughout production. Reconnecting with collaborators from earlier projects, he assembled a team of friends and fellow filmmakers to participate both on and off screen.

“When I was preparing, I was reaching out to my old actors and crew, and a lot of them have become my friends,” Wise said. “It was a lot of, ‘Hey, do you remember that movie we did? Now we’re going to combine all of them.’”

Someone films a backlit figure skater. — Behind the scenes photo from “Flawless” by Mel Ulate

Mel Ulate poses with her crew. — Behind the scenes photo from “Flawless” by Mel Ulate

Mel talks to her lead actress over a barrier. — Behind the scenes photo from “Flawless” by Mel Ulate

Ulate and another crew member hunch over the two lead actors. — Behind the scenes photo from “Flawless” by Mel Ulate

Mel Ulate holds a camera on a gimble while speaking to another crew member. — Behind the scenes photo from “Flawless” by Mel Ulate

Mel Ulate is the mind behind “Flawless,” a story about a figure skater losing her love for her sport after being trapped in a toxic dynamic with both skating and her coach. Loosely inspired by her own background in figure skating, Ulate wanted to create something impactful for both the audience and herself.

For Ulate, pre-production became a major part of the filmmaking process. She co-wrote the story with a childhood friend to craft a narrative that is both true to reality, but also emotionally impactful.

She also worked closely with professor Marquise Mays to secure funding for her project. To help cover filming expenses, Ulate launched an Indiegogo crowd funding campaign.

“It helped me to have my co-writer include her experiences and give me some ideas,” Ulate said. “Once the writing was done, I needed to find a location. I needed an ice rink, and the price was really expensive. Once I realized how expensive it was going to be, I set up an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign.”

A man wearing a white button up shirt stands turned towards a building surrounded by flags. — A still from “Thumbs Up” by Mayrin Santos-Aguilar

A woman wearing red sweeps next to the window of a sunlit, empty restaurant. — A still from “Thumbs Up” by Mayrin Santos-Aguilar

Someone pours liquid into chorizo. — A still from “Thumbs Up” by Mayrin Santos-Aguilar

Crew members set up the podium between the actors. — Behind the scenes photo from “Thumbs Up” by Mayrin Santos-Aguilar

A wide shot of the set of "Thumbs Up. A man controls lighting from a table infront of the podium. — Behind the scenes photo from “Thumbs Up” by Mayrin Santos-Aguilar

Mayrin Santos-Aguilar’s “Thumbs Up” follows two presidential candidates on the night of their final debate and the chaotic events that unfold after the winner is announced.

To cast her film, Santos-Aguilar turned to the broader acting community. By posting casting calls through organizations like Backstage and Actors Access, she connected with performers capable of balancing the film’s comedic and dramatic elements.

“When I got responses to the casting calls, I watched the reels I was sent to make sure I could spot the range between comedic and serious, because that’s essential for my film,” Santos-Aguilar said. “When I saw a glimpse of that, I didn’t wait. I reached out right away.”

Wise, Ulate, Santos-Aguilar and all the other seniors’ work will soon culminate at the Union Cinema. The soon-to-be graduated filmmakers are excited to present films that matter to them.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing my film on the big screen,” Santos-Aguliar said. “Whatever impact it makes is okay, just as long as I show what is important and what matters to me.”

Senior Screenings run May 14 – 16 at the Union Cinema and are free to attend. To learn more about the event, visit the PSOA Event Calendar.

Story by Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)

UWM students and alumni bring original work to New Dramaworks Short Play Festival

May 8, 2026

Theater rehearsal with people wearing headsets, arranging chairs and script on stage.

When playwright and theatre professor Alvaro Saar Rios created the New Dramaworks Short Play Festival, he set out to accomplish two goals: showcase new work by UWM students and alumni and provide theatre students with an opportunity to work on something new.

“This is student-directed, student-acted, and student-produced, so it’s an opportunity to work on something that didn’t exist until recently,” Rios said. “That gives them an experience of what it means to work on something where the playwright is still living.”

Many theatre programs produce shows by playwrights who are no longer living, Rios noted. That eliminates the opportunity to connect directly with the playwright.

“There’s something different when a playwright can attend one of the readings—when you can have a conversation with them about the genesis of the play,” Rios added.

That’s exactly the kind of experience the New Dramaworks Short Play Festival makes possible.

From submission to production

A campus-wide call for submissions goes out about a year before the festival. New plays come from students majoring in a variety of disciplines.

This year’s festival includes works by students in creative writing, music, and architecture, alongside a range of theatre majors.

As curator of the festival, Rios leads a committee that ultimately selects the works that best serve its purpose.

“One of the things we look for are short plays that utilize between three and five actors—more, if possible,” Rios said. “This gives students more performance opportunities.”

Once the lineup is finalized, a reading in December gives playwrights the opportunity and encouragement to continue developing their work as it moves toward rehearsals. That’s also when student directors are paired with both a play and the person who wrote it.

“I always encourage them to get coffee or at least set up a Zoom meeting so they can talk about why they wrote the play,” he added.

From there, directors are mentored by theatre educator Ralph Janes, who ensures that students are prepared and empowered to turn what’s on the page into a fully realized theatrical work on stage.

Performer on stage, framed by a mirror, adjusting suspenders under spotlight. — Sofia Randall rehearses a scene from “How to Tie a Tie” written by Max Stern | Photo by Sara Stathas

A sampling of what’s on stage

Jackson Vinning, a senior acting major, is the writer behind Dreamland 2: Rise of Evil Beep Boop. His play is a continuation of Dreamland by alum Jerome Klockenkemper (BA 2025, Theatre Education), which debuted at the festival’s 2024 installment.

Vinning acted in Klockenkemper’s play and found himself deeply moved by the piece.

“I played Beep Boop in the first play and playing him was an entirely different experience than I have had as an actor,” Vinning said. “Because of how unique the story was, I wanted to see what I could do with the original universe and carry on its legacy.”

Senior theatre practices major Ambrose Schulte is excited to see his play, Proper Protocol, on the stage. Inspired by political discourse, Schulte’s play follows the struggle of two people fighting to take back their careers and lives after their employer is bought out by a corporate raider.

For Schulte, writing this play was a positive outlet for his frustrations.

“This play was created to explore and exaggerate political outrage in a corporate setting,” Schulte explained. “I wanted to show how far you could push someone before they stop playing by the rules and stand up for themselves.”

Junior acting and ASL student Joy Heatherly explores how art can heal in her play Now: Still, which follows three teens in a psychiatric facility as they prepare to perform Hamlet.

Heatherly incorporates her experience with mental health, sharing how live performance helped her in her healing journey.

“Now: Still comes from my own experience with mental health and my love for performing,” Heatherly said. “It’s going to show how acting and performance art can help in recovery, and I hope that gives someone hope.”

In all, there are ten new plays in this year’s festival, each as unique and meaningful as the students and alumni who wrote them.

“The plays represent what is important to the current student body of UWM, new works about what they want to talk about,” Rios said. “And that’s an important thing.”

The New Dramaworks Short Play Festival opens on May 6 and runs through May 10. For tickets and more information, visit the PSOA Event Calendar.

Story by Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)

An earlier version of this story credited Ambrose Schulte as the writer of “How to Tie a Tie,” but the writer should have been credited as Max Stern. Ambrose Schulte directed “How to Tie a Tie.” We apologize for the error.

UWM playwright inspires the next generation of storytellers

May 5, 2026

Alvaro Saar Rios smiling and standing in front of a stage.

Growing up Latino in Texas during the 1970s and ’80s, Alvaro Saar Rios, now an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, didn’t experience many stories with characters who looked like him.

“It wasn’t until college that I became aware of writers who were telling stories of what it means to be Latino in the United States,” he said.

Today, Rios shares elements of the Latino experience as a playwright and head of the Theatre Practices program at UWM’s Peck School of the Arts. Rios is one of the most produced Latino playwrights for young audiences, and his works — 33 plays, three musicals and an opera — have been performed in theaters across the country.

Path to the stage

Rios never imagined working in the arts — he always wanted to be a doctor. After serving three years in the U.S. Army, he took his first theater class at Houston Community College, where he wrote his first play about a kid with a magical talking dog. There, he fell in love with the medium.

“I want to tell stories that reflect my experience in hopes it might inspire other kids, no matter their background, that their story is important,” he said. He adds that theater can be a powerful tool for building empathy by helping people understand others’ experiences.

Rios went on to earn a degree in English-creative writing from the University of Houston, but his heart remained on the stage. He received a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Stage & Screen from Northwestern University and has been teaching at UWM since 2010.

Impact at UWM and beyond

Today, Rios passes the storytelling torch through the Theatre Department’s New Dramaworks series. Founded by Rios, New Dramaworks invites students to participate in the development and production of a new full-length play. In 2023, New Dramaworks produced its first play, “Piggsville,” Rios’ retelling of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” set in old Milwaukee.

“I felt it was important for students to be exposed to working on a new play that evolves all the way until production,” he said. “Developing new full-length plays isn’t something that’s done at every university.”

Rios also founded the New Dramaworks Short Play Festival, which allows any undergraduate student — including non-theater majors — to submit plays to be considered for full production by the Theatre Department.

Although UWM doesn’t offer a playwriting major, Rios offers independent study for students who have demonstrated strong writing skills, preparing them to write for the stage post-graduation. One former student, Maria Pretzl, wrote a play in Rios’ class that was recently produced for Milwaukee’s Renaissance Theaterworks New Play Festival.

Rios’ work extends outside of UWM, too. His new stage adaptation of the children’s novel “Esperanza Rising” premiered at the Marcus Performing Arts Center in May 2025, and he’s currently working on a novel based on his award-winning play, “Luchadora!” which has been produced more than 80 times across the U.S.

Whether Rios is writing, teaching or mentoring students, his goal is the same: to equip the next generation to share their stories. “You can apply these skills no matter what you pursue,” he said. “We all have a story to tell.”

Story by Ashley Abramson | Explore more in Make New Waves

Theatre faculty members recognized for their dedication to teaching during teacher appreciation week

May 4, 2026

Orlenko and Rochester smile and pose in the costume shop. They stand in front of a mirror surrounded by wings and costumes.

Theatre faculty members Dana Rochester (BFA 2008, Theatre) and Jason Orlenko (BA 2008, Theatre Studies) were spotlighted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel during teacher appreciation week for their commitment to their craft and dedication to their students.

In the article by Kelly Meyerhofer, Orlenko and Rochester reflect on their lives as educators, industry professionals, and as the faces of the UWM costume shop, an integral part of the state’s largest college theatre production program.

“Rochester said the program teaches valuable skills. Students learn to work collaboratively, creatively, and on a deadline. They also gain an appreciation for the arts they carry throughout their lives,” Meyerhofer wrote. “She also enjoys teaching students sewing, seeing their ‘a-ha!’ moments when the construction finally comes together in their minds.”

To read the full article, visit Milwaukee Journal Sentin el.

Guest artist and alum Karlies Kelley reflects on growth and return in Springdances

April 30, 2026

Karlies Kelley in black outfit reaching forward in a dynamic pose against textured studio backdrop.

Springdances: We Also Bloom features new works by faculty choreographers Daniel Burkholder, Tiffany Kadani, Dan Schuchart, and Christal Wanger, alongside guest artist Karlies Kelley. Notably, all of this year’s choreographers—faculty and guest alike—are alumni of UWM, bringing a shared lineage of training to the stage.

Exploring themes of growth, resilience, and transformation, the concert reflects on what it means to keep evolving, even in the face of adversity. Ahead of performances, Kelley reflects on returning to her alma mater, collaborating with students, and shaping new work within a community that continues to influence her practice.

You graduated from UWM with a BFA and MFA in dance. What was it like to come back to collaborate with PSOA dance students?

Karlies Kelley

Beyond your studies at UWM, African Diaspora Dance continues to be a focus of your creative practice. How did you bring this into your piece for Springdances?

The dance department has brilliantly shifted the way students learn performance repertoire. Students are required to learn a “Physical Practice” class that is separate from, yet complementary to, the performance class, taught directly by the choreographer.

In Physical Practice, we explore foundational elements of African Diaspora forms such as rumba, orishas, congo, salsa, and cumbia, and how these practices live within parades, house parties, ritual spaces, and staged performance contexts.

These teachings center on individuality within community, musicality and rhythm, cultural history, and play and improvisation. Material from Physical Practice is then woven into the creation of our Springdances work, as students become increasingly able to gather and generate phrases that respond to the music, the space, themselves, the theme, and one another.

Picture of the Springdances cast. They're wearing outfits in different shades of green. They smile towards the camera, with the first most person holding a sunflower in their mouth. — Students during a rehearsal of “Gira + Sol =” by Karlies Kelley. In addition to choreographing, Kelley also designed and fabricated all the costumes in her piece. | Photo courtesy of Karlies Kelley

As you’ve been working with students, they have clearly learned a lot from you. What did you gain from them?

There were many nights I lay awake, awed by the dancers’ complexity and brilliance. I had never worked with a dancer with arthrogryposis, a condition that limits joint mobility from birth, and this experience profoundly expanded my understanding of movement, presence, and possibility. I set out to create a work in which each dancer could be seen in their individual greatness—through their histories, their training, and their ways of moving and being. To do so, I had to release my preconceptions, remain fully present, and commit to creating with them, and for them.

As a choreographer, I often find myself shaping narratives of grief or feeling responsible for the joy an audience receives. In this process, I chose to move away from that reliance. If I were asking my dancers to trust their internal impulses, I had to ask the same of myself. This meant practicing movement from the inside out—choosing what feels good, what brings joy, what exists without the need to be explained. Allowing things to live without justification became the core of the work. That was the paradigm of the piece, and it is what my students—directly and indirectly—continued to teach me.

Springdances also features new works by Dance faculty. What can you tell us about your experience working alongside them?

It’s really meaningful to be creating alongside my former teachers, who are now friends and colleagues. Our conversations always feel like a “yes, and” exchange. Even though we’re each working simultaneously in different spaces, the moments we come together are always refreshing and uplifting. Each choreographer brings such a distinct approach to creating and facilitating movement. It’s deeply inspiring to be in their presence and to witness their individual magic unfolding across different corners of the dance department.

What do you hope audiences will take away from Sprindances 2026: We Also Bloom?

There is so much to be sad and mad about, but there is also so much more to be hopeful and joyful for. This concert is proof of that—transforming the mundane into the extraordinary. It reflects on what it means to be truly inclusive, and on what it takes to nurture seeds of goodness for a better now and a more possible tomorrow.

Springdances: We Also Bloom will run April 30 – May 3 in the Jan Serr Studio at Kenilworth Square East. For tickets and more information, visit the PSOA Events Calendar.

Story by Payton Murphy ’27 (Film)

Madison Classical Guitar Society brings alum and GFA Champion Leonela Alejandro to the Overture

April 27, 2026

The Madison Classical Guitar Society selected Guitar Foundation of America winner and UWM alum Leonela Alejandro (BFA 2020, Music) to perform at Madison’s Overture Center on April 28. Madison Classical Guitar Society president Christopher Allen spoke about the selection on WORT 89.9.

“She’s [Alejandro] currently on a fifty-city tour and we’re very lucky to be one of the cities to host this competition winner,” Allen said. “We’re honored. It’s been 10 years now that we’ve been able to put on a concert with a great young artist.”

Listen to the segment on WORT 89.9.

Film alum to deliver commencement speech at 2026 spring graduation ceremony and receive honorary degree

April 24, 2026

Clayborn Benson smiles against a black background

Historian Clayborn Benson (BFA 1987, Film) returns to his alma mater to deliver the commencement speech at UWM’s 2026 spring graduation ceremony on May 17. Because of his work’s impact on the community, Benson will receive an honorary degree during the ceremony. Beyond his 39-year career as a award-winning broadcast journalist, he continues to serve Milwaukee as the founder and director of the Wisconsin Black Historical Society.

The Madison365 article recounts Benson’s great achievements and contributions.

“Clayborn Benson is a distinguished storyteller, historian, and community leader whose life’s work reflects the values of service, curiosity, and perseverance we strive to instill in our students,” UWM Chancellor Thomas Gibson said in a statement. “As an alumnus who has dedicated decades to documenting and sharing Black history in Wisconsin, he will bring a powerful and deeply personal perspective to our graduates as they begin the next chapter of their lives.”

To read the full article, visit Madison365.

Dance student and Music alum team up to celebrate history of jazz through musical performance

April 24, 2026

Pharria Jones and Corynn Latta pose in front of a WUWM backdrop.

BFA Dance student Pharria Jones and alum Corynn Latta (BA 2025, Music) take part in “Satin Jazz,” an event honoring the rarely talked about origins of the jazz genre. Hosted by the Milwaukee County Historical Society, the performance serves to honor the history of Milwaukee’s Bronzeville community.

In the WUWM 89.7 segment by Teran Powell, Jones and Latta share how they plan to prepare for their adaptation of Duke Ellington’s Satin Doll, written about Milwaukee musical legend Minette Wilson.

“This is a celebration of the truly illustrious but rarely told history of jazz in music,” said Benevolent Creative, the minds behind the event’s marketing. “We actually have a profound connection to jazz in our city. And the more we dug into it, the more we found.”

To read and listen to the story, visit WUWM 89.7.

Students take center stage in professional collaboration with Skylight Music Theatre

April 22, 2026

Actors on stage in costumes raising their hands in the air and singing.

Skylight Music Theatre collaborates with the UWM Department of Theatre to present A ROCKIN’ Midsummer Night’s Dream, a brand-new perspective on one of Shakespeare’s most beloved works. The side-splitting love story is packed full of PSOA talent, with students building up the show’s cast.

Adapted by Michael Unger, this new take on one of the world’s oldest stories comes from his love for young artists. Working with aspiring actors and performers throughout his career, Unger finds that up-and-coming artists provide new and unique perspectives.

“I have spent more than half my career working in professional theatre with young artists, and there’s always some sort of educating going on in a theatre environment,” Unger said. “I’m not just talking about old people educating young people, I’m saying it’s an even exchange. We’re learning from them as they learn from us.”

Lucas Drube, who plays Lysander in the production, has been impacted by the opportunities provided by this collaboration. Originally from Canada, Drube continues to build his professional portfolio using the lessons he learned from the experience.

“I’m used to doing professional shows back home, and it’s so nice to be back in a professional setting while getting all of the support we get from UWM,” Drube said. “They have so much knowledge to share, be open-minded, and listen, but you can also ask so many questions because they have answers.”

Musical theatre student Logan Grace makes her Skylight debut playing the character Helena, one of the story’s young romantics. Taking part in the show, Grace dips her toe into industry work, giving her the building block to move forward in her career.

“It’s been lots of fun getting a taste of the professional world and what it will be like,” Grace said. “I think it helps me relax a little bit going into the real world of theatre because they really just want to see you succeed and do well.”

A ROCKIN’ Midsummer Night’s Dream runs from April 10 – 26 at Skylight Music Theatre. For tickets and more information, visit the PSOA event page and Skylight Music Theatre’s website.

Story by Payton Murphy ’27 (Film)

Jesse McLean takes first place for experimental short at Athens International Film and Video Festival

April 20, 2026

Jesse McLean (Associate Professor & Chair, FVANG) earned first prize in the Experimental Short category at the Athens International Film and Video Festival for her film Placeholder. The 12-minute work was recognized by the festival jury during its 53rd annual program, which highlights innovative moving-image practices from around the world. McLean’s award-winning film screened as part of the festival’s experimental shorts lineup.

Also at the festival, Yinan Wang (Lecturer, Film & BFA 2017, Film) earned juror’s recognition for his experimental short film 甜腻腻 Thick & Sweet.

UWM students earn praise in Skylight collaboration with ‘Rockin’ Midsummer Night’s Dream’

April 20, 2026

Shades of purple wash the stage during a performance of Rockin' Midsummer Night's Dream.

A review from BroadwayWorld highlights the success of the first-time collaboration between Skylight Music Theatre and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts in A Rockin’ Midsummer Night’s Dream, with particular praise directed at the UWM student performers.

The review calls out the young cast’s strong presence, noting that “the lovers are well cast,” with Serena Vasquez (Hermia), Lucas Drube (Lysander), Logan Grace (Helena), and Nathaniel Contreras (Demetrius) bringing clarity and energy to the central relationships. The mechanicals also stand out, with Mitchell Blohm (Francis Flute), Larissa Beckman (Robin Starveling), and Sanaa Harper (Tom Snout) contributing to what the reviewer describes as a “delightfully comic” ensemble.

Importantly, the review underscores the depth of talent among the students, emphasizing that they “hold their own” within the professional production. Ensemble members Olivia Coleman, Gwendolyn Grace, Samantha Knapp, Alannah Parlich, and Robert Stewart further support the show’s dynamic stage presence, reinforcing the strength of the collaboration and the students’ readiness for professional performance environments.

Read the review on Broadwayworld.com

Alum presents experimental film at European Media Arts Festival

April 20, 2026

Magdalena Bermudez (MFA 2023, Cinematic Arts) is set to screen her 16mm film Hiding Places at the European Media Arts Festival in Osnabrück, Germany, on April 25. In her experimental narrative, female artists from New York and Philadelphia recount their experiences creating the patterns used in military camouflage suits.

Several feature films and shorts by Peck School alumni and faculty will screen at 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival

April 16, 2026

A closeup of Bob Uecker as he leans back and smiles.

As one of the nation’s largest film festivals, cinephiles from all over are flocking to the 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival screenings, panels, and community events. With a long history of talent emerging from the Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres, filmmakers with strong ties to the Peck School of the Arts are well represented in this year’s festival lineup.

The connections to the Peck School start on opening night with “Ueck,” a documentary about the late MLB Hall of Famer and sportscaster Bob Uecker, who passed away in January 2025.

Co-directed by alum Michael T. Vollmann, the film is described as a testament to Uecker’s legacy, giving audiences an intimate look at the star as a person. Festival goers, Milwaukeeans, and baseball fans alike are excited to see this likely sold-out tribute to the sports legend.

Paulina Lule Bugembe-Kuwahara will present “Sherman Park,” a horror thriller that follows a group of Black teenagers trying to survive a zombie outbreak in the Milwaukee neighborhood that shares the film’s name.

In a recent interview with CBS 58, Milwaukee-native Bugembe-Kuwahara said it was important to have their film based in the city they call home. At its core, the ten-minute action-packed short is a story about recidivism and its impact.

Alum Sky Hopinka’s feature-length film “Powwow People” is a verité-style documentary about contemporary Native living. The film focuses on the cultural aspects of powwows and the traditions packed within them.

In addition to directing and producing, Hopinka also organized the powwow featured in the film, inviting Indigenous performers, vendors, and community members to participate in the creation of the documentary and giving them a space to share their own stories.

And the connections to Peck School alumni and faculty don’t stop there. We’ve pulled together a list of films with PSOA-affiliated directors and producers at the helm.

Roundup of Films

This list is as comprehensive as possible at the time of publication. If we missed a director or producer, please accept our sincere apologies! Contact us and we’ll gladly update the article.

An Indigenous man wearing regalia dances. — Sky Hopinka’s *Powwow People* will screen on April 25 and April 28, 2026.

Feature Length Films

Now! More! Yes! | Producer Christopher Thompson (BFA 2006, Film) and Producer Andrew Swant (BFA 1999, Film)
Intoxicated Rain | Producer Tate Bunker (Teaching Faculty I, FVANG)
The Fisherman | Producer Korey Jackson (BFA 2004, Dance)
Flytrapper | Director, Producer, Screenwriter Drew Britton (MFA 2017, Performing Arts)
Ueck | Director Michael T. Vollmann (BFA 2006, Film)
Powwow People | Sky Hopinka (MFA 2016, Performing Arts)

A brown sign with dark yellow letters: "Sherman Park; Milwaukee County Park System." — Paulina Lule Bugembe-Kuwahara’s *Sherman Park* will screen during Milwaukee Show I on April 21, 2026.

Milwaukee Show I

Learning from Learning from Las Vegas | Directors Gillian Waldo (MFA 2024, Cinematic Arts) and Samuel Taffel (MFA 2023, Cinematic Arts)
Las Animas | Director Matthew Feldman (Current MFA candidate)
Sherman Park | Director Paulina Lule Bugembe-Kuwahara (Lecturer, FVANG)
Fred’s Basement Bijou | Director Michael T. Vollman (BFA 2006, Film)

A pale woman eats a chicken dish, sloppily. — Yinan Wang’s *甜腻腻 Thick & Sweet* will screen during Milwaukee Show II on April 27, 2026.

Milwaukee Show II

Placeholder | Director Jesse McLean (Associate Professor & Chair, FVANG)
甜腻腻 Thick & Sweet | Director Yinan Wang (Lecturer, Film & BFA 2017, Film)

Cream City Cinema Juror Award Winners!

Both Jesse McLean and Yinan Wang earned Cream City Cinema Juror Awards for their films. Congratulations!

Four men in golden submarine suits walk past corals towards a whale's open mouth. — Thomas Simms’ *Don’t Go Overboard* by Fuzzysurf during the Milwaukee Music Video Show on April 28, 2026.

Milwaukee Music Video Show

pangea pt. 3 (hibernation) by oak you | Director Cole Quamme (BFA 2010, Film)
Singing Never by Caley Conway | Director Joshua Evert (BFA 2011, Art)
I Don’t Mind by Hughes Family Band | Director Ryan Thomas Reeve (BFA 2011, Film)
Africa Enough is Enough by Traore | Director Tate Bunker (Teaching Faculty I, FVANG)
Don’t Go Overboard by Fuzzysurf | Director Thomas Simms (BFA 2011, Art)
Banjo Song by Health Club | Director Ryan Nels Pontillo (BFA 2021, Film)
Little Heart Warrior by Autumn Maria Reed | Producers Wes Tank (BFA 2006, Film) and Jill Anna Ponasik (Adjunct Professor, Music & Theatre)

In addition to directing and producing films, countless artists from UWM are represented behind the scenes and on screen this year. Plus, about two dozen alumni and current students work for Milwaukee Film, the nonprofit organization that runs the two-week festival and operates two historic arthouse cinemas year-round in Milwaukee.

The 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival opens April 16 and runs through April 30. Screening times and complete details can be found on the Milwaukee Film website.

Story by Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)

Student designers and technicians help shape Songs for a New World

April 10, 2026

Group of performers standing on a stage under lights, singing as an ensemble.

The Peck School of the Arts Theatre Department presents Songs for a New World, a musical about life, love, and defining moments. What makes this production stand out is the team behind it: the show is largely designed and executed by students, who are leading work across set design, technical production, and stage management.

Directed by Steve Decker, the production offers students the opportunity to take on professional-level responsibilities and shape the show from the ground up.

“The best part of the show is that it’s completely designed by the students,” Decker said. “I can’t wait to see the show. I think what the students are doing is amazing.”

Beck Mesich, a senior in the Theatre Production program, serves as stage manager, coordinating communication between cast and crew to keep the production running smoothly.

“You’re there so the director doesn’t need to worry about missing any notes, so they can just focus on directing and what their vision is,” Mesich said. “I’m there to make sure that everyone communicates, so that vision [comes together].”

The experience has been both professional and personal. Managing the show, Mesich has watched “Songs for a New World” reach its full potential while building friendships and relationships along the way.

“It’s been really fun getting to collaborate with other students and not just my teachers,” Mesich said. “My peers have become my friends, so in the end, I’m designing the show with my friends.”

Franklin Wahlstrom, also a senior theatre production major, serves as technical director, translating design concepts into physical structures for the stage.

“I’m on the technical side of things, so my classmates and I create a model of what we want and figure out how we’re actually going to rig this,” Wahlstrom said. “It’s the designer’s job to come up with the idea, and it’s my job to figure out how to engineer it.”

Wahlstrom said the role has pushed him to think more broadly about the production process as he works with faculty mentor Christopher Guse.

“When I read the blueprints that came from Chris Guse, I really got a whole new outlook on this whole process,” Wahlstrom said. “Now I’m the one engineering the set pieces and making the big decisions. It feels great.”

“Songs for a New World” runs April 8–12 at Kenilworth Five-0-Eight. Tickets and more information are available on the PSOA Events calendar.

Story by Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)

Two artists with ties to PSOA named 2026 Fellows by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters

April 2, 2026

Bright flowers in the foreground are in full bloom on campus with Mitchell Hall in the background.

Two artists with ties to UW-Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts are among those named 2026 Fellows by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters.

Simone Ferro, professor emerita of dance at UWM, and James DeVita, an alum of UWM’s Peck School of the Arts, are among 16 individuals honored this year. Rebecca Klaper, dean of UWM’s School of Freshwater Sciences, was also recognized.

The biennial award honors educators, researchers, artists and leaders across Wisconsin for significant accomplishments in their fields and contributions to the cultural life of the state.

The 2026 class will join more than 100 fellows statewide.

Simone Ferro

Simon Ferro

Choreographer and dance educator Simone Ferro is a vital voice in the performing arts whose work blends traditional Brazilian influences with contemporary social issues to create deeply moving movement. Ferro is a professor emerita at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she served as chair of the Department of Dance and director of its nationally recognized MFA program. Throughout her distinguished career, she has been a tireless advocate for the field, serving as president of the Wisconsin Dance Council and championing dance education and access across the state. Her leadership was instrumental in creating the Emerging Artist Program, a statewide initiative providing funding and mentorship to the next generation of Wisconsin choreographers.

Ferro’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in social justice and “embodied research.” Her projects, such as Milwaukee Through Embodied Research, combine dance with oral history to explore resilience in local neighborhoods, resulting in site-specific performances in public spaces and homes. She has also used her choreography to investigate complex social realities like housing insecurity, inspired by works such as Matthew Desmond’s Evicted. Internationally, Ferro is a Fulbright Fellow whose ethnographic research into traditional folk cultures in rural Brazil has led to extensive documentation and a podcast series amplifying the voices of women artists. Her legacy is one of unwavering service to both the academic and artistic communities of the Midwest.

James DeVita

James DeVita is an author, actor and theater director. He is a core company member and literary manager at American Players Theatre, a classical repertory theater in Wisconsin. He has worked as an actor in Japan, Germany, Australia, Ireland and throughout the United States. His novel Sanctuary, written under the pen name James Cleary, is being published this year by Penguin Random House in the U.S. and Canada, and also by HarperCollins in the UK. It will be released internationally in Italy, France and Germany as well. His previous novels include A Winsome Murder (WI-University Press), The Silenced (Milkweed Editions), and Blue (HarperCollins).

DeVita has also worked extensively as a playwright for adult and young audiences. A resident playwright at Milwaukee’s First Stage Children’s Theater, his work in the field has been acknowledged twice with the Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance of Theater and Education; the Intellectual Freedom Award by the Kentucky Council of Teachers of English/Language Arts; and the Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwrighting Contest. The American Alliance of Theater and Education honored his body of work with the Charlotte B. Chorpenning Award. DeVita is also a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship for Fiction.

Read more about the award and other 2026 honorees on UWM Report.