Sheri Williams Pannell

Education

• MFA, Theatre/Directing, UW-Madison
• BS, Natural Science/Health Science, Spelman College

Biography

Sheri Williams Pannell is a proud Milwaukee native. She has performed, directed, and written for many local theater and arts organizations. Some of these are: Bronzeville Arts Ensemble, First Stage, Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee Fringe Festival, Milwaukee Rep, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Skylight Music Theatre. Beyond Milwaukee, Pannell has worked at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Utah’s Old Lyric Theatre, Children’s Theater of Madison, University Opera, and University Theater at UW-Madison. While in graduate study at UW-Madison, the university appointed Pannell to direct a production for the United Nations Conference on Genocide. In 2017, the City of Milwaukee honored Pannell as an Artist of the Year. Pannell's research dives into untold stories from Milwaukee's past. These stories have the potential to resonate on a national level. In 2020, BroadwayWorld Milwaukee recognized her play WELCOME TO BRONZEVILLE, which First Stage commissioned, as the Original Script of the Decade. Pannell is a founder of the Black Theatre Festival MKE. She is a founding member and artistic director of Bronzeville Arts Ensemble. Pannell also serves as an artistic associate at Black Arts MKE and First Stage. Additionally, she is co-director of the Fine Arts Ministry at Calvary Baptist Church. Pannell graduated from Spelman College. She also earned an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Links

• Curriculum Vitae, CV (PDF)
• florentineopera.org/operaforstudents/bronzeville-boheme-for-schools

Recent Work

Awards

• 2025 Honoree, Black Excellence Award, 40th Anniversary Black Excellence Awards, Milwaukee, WI
• 2022   Honoree, Hall of History Makers, Saint Ann Center for Intergenerational Care, Milwaukee, WI
• 2020 Welcome to Bronzeville, Script of the Decade Award, Broadway Theatre World, (Wisconsin Edition)
• 2018  Outstanding Arts Educator of the Year, Arts Institute of Wisconsin
• 2017 Artist of the Year, City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI

Plays & Musicals

• Pannell, S.W. (Playwright), First Stage, Metcalfe Neighborhood Association, & Milwaukee Repertory Theatre (Producers). (Fall 2024). Ralph Metcalfe World’s Fastest Human! First Stage, Milwaukee, WI.
• Pannell, S.W. (Composer, Lyricist, & Co-Playwright), Cobb, C. &, Collier, P. (Co-Playwrights), BAE for World Premier Wisconsin (Producer). (2023). Zuri’s Crown. Debut performance, April 27- 29, 2023, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, Milwaukee, WI.
• Pannell, S.W. (Playwright), Mothers Against Gun Violence (Producer). (2022). Resilient. Resolute.Revolutionary: Voices of gun violence. Debut performance, August 10-14, 2022, Milwaukee,  WI.
• Pannell, S.W, (Librettist/Dramaturge), Florentine Opera (Producer). (2022). Bronzeville Boheme.   Virtual Spring State-wide Educational Tour, Milwaukee, WI.
• Pannell, S.W., L. Caldwell, & C. Cobb (Co-Playwrights), Milwaukee Black Theatre Festival  (Producer). (2021). Black Butterflies. Debut performance, August 14-22, 2021, Marcus  Center for the Performing Arts, Milwaukee, WI.
• Pannell, S.W. & Twillie, C.C. (Playwrights), Skylight Music Theatre (Producer). (2021). Forgotten Voices. Debut performance, May 19 – July 18, 2021, Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee,  WI.
• Pannell, S.W. (Playwright), Black Arts MKE (Producer). (2021). Spiritual Celebration. Debut performance, February 1- 28, 2021, Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee, WI.