Macy Franti, a senior in PSOA’s Design & Visual Communication BFA program, is the artist behind the design of this year’s Panther Pale Ale can. Created by Pilot Project Brewing and Craft Beverage Warehouse, Panther Pale Ale is an annual collaboration with Milwaukee Athletics and the Peck School of the Arts. This year marks the third consecutive year of the real-world design partnership.
New Dancemakers is a senior capstone project in which eleven graduating students research and choreograph a dance performance representative of what they have learned during their time at the Peck School of the Arts. Students spend months focusing on a research topic of their choosing, often utilizing historical documentation and connecting with community members. We talked with three senior choreographers to learn more about their process.
With bold characters, physical comedy, and a vibrant 1980s setting, the Peck School’s production of “Scapino!” offers a lively reimagining of the classic French farce “Scapin the Schemer” by Molière. The new staging honors commedia dell’arte while exploring what makes its humor resonate today.
In Darkness, Audio Flowers Bloom follows a group of teenagers who meet in secret to learn about music amid a hundred-year government ban. Created by playwright and theatre professor Alvaro Saar Rios, the world premiere production is presented as part of the UWM Department of Theatre’s New Dramaworks series.
Between costumes and candy, many celebrate the Halloween season by watching horror movies. Throughout the years, many students’ senior thesis films have had spooky undertones, making them perfect to rewatch this time of year. Kelly Kirshtner (Associate Professor, Film) and …
The Peck School of the Arts Department of Theatre is teaming up with Milwaukee Opera Theatre to present a modern retelling of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic, H.M.S. Pinafore. Milwaukee Opera Theatre Artistic Director Jill Anna Ponasik is collaborating with …
PSOA welcomed incoming and returning students by hosting their annual fall student welcome event, offering a fun afternoon filled with activities like live student performances, photo ops, a networking fair, and free pizza. The fall welcome event gives incoming students the opportunity to see all that PSOA has to offer and helps them …
Several Peck School of the Arts theatre students spent their summer gaining hands-on professional experience in woodsy Door County, a striking contrast to UWM’s urban campus in Wisconsin’s biggest city. Senior Gabriel Rodriguez interned at Door Shakespeare, a professional theatre …
The Peck School of the Arts guitar program is recognized for its distinguished faculty and the achievements of its students and alumni. Led by internationally renowned artist René Izquierdo, the program continues to produce musicians who thrive on competitive stages around the world. We recap several summer successes from students and alumni.
Art MFA candidate Jack Lehtinen is the artist behind In the Lab: Poking Fun, a solo exhibition that recently closed its successful run at the Krasl Art Center in Michigan. The interactive installation explored how artificial intelligence has shifted physical …
UpStart is an experimental project choreographed, researched, and performed by Dance MFA students at the Peck School of the Arts. Each performance reflects deeply personal themes and self-exploration by the individual artists. Led by dance professor and graduate program director Maria Gillespie, the project features eight first- and second-year MFA students, each taking a unique approach to their work. The performances also include dancers from both UWM and the Milwaukee dance community.
This summer, the Peck School of the Arts is hosting the Kids From Wisconsin, a popular performing arts troupe, for their pre-season production camp. The group kicks off their 57th tour with a premiere performance of “The Heat is On” …
PSOA ended its 2025 school year by hosting Convocation, a ceremony held to celebrate Peck School of the Arts graduates receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The ceremony featured live performances and showcases from each department, spotlighting what students have accomplished …
Senior dance student Megan Holzhauer visited Washington, DC, to present her original choreographic work, “BEHIND THAT GLEAM,” at the 2025 National College Dance Festival hosted by the American College Dance Association (ACDA). Held every two years, the festival showcases the nation’s …
After a year of work, graduating students in the Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres will screen their senior thesis films on the big screen to crowds of family, friends, faculty, and fellow students. The annual event is …
