Arts scholarship honors Summerfest icon and UWM alum Bob Babisch

June 18, 2024

Person standing in front of an outdoor stage with a red drum set and a large electric guitar display.

For nearly 50 years, music fans and spectators from around the world benefited from the work of UWM alum Bob Babisch. As Summerfest’s top talent booker from 1976 to 2022, Babisch brought names such as The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, and Prince to Milwaukee’s—and perhaps the world’s—biggest music festival.

Now in retirement, Babisch (BFA 1974, Theatre) is being honored by his former employer, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., and his alma mater with a named scholarship to support Peck School of the Arts students.

The Bob Babisch Entertainment Legacy Scholarship is awarded to PSOA undergraduate students interested in pursuing the business side of the performing arts. For Babisch, it’s an honor from a university that he praises to this day.

Bob Babisch wears a black fleece jacks and smiles among rows of red seats, his hands folded in front of him. — Bob Babisch | Courtesy of Summerfest

“I love that school,” said Babisch of his time at UWM. “I had the best time of my life there, and it gave me the chance to get where I was and to grow.”

Babisch’s time at UWM’s School of Fine Arts (renamed to Peck School of the Arts in 1999) was instrumental to his future success. He found the school offered a unique approach to art students, helping them become well-versed in many aspects of the business of the arts.

“It was the ability to learn all facets of the theater world for me,” said Babisch. “To learn the acting side of it and learn the production side of it… and even some of the marketing side of it. All those pieces came together to create my career for me.”

Babisch now feels encouraged that other students can receive the same education he did, which he believes is essential to success in a complicated, but exciting, field.

“Every [student] who [graduates] should know how a contract works, they should know how auditions work, they should know how the unions work,” said Babisch. “They should know it inside and out. That’s an important piece for them and their teachings.”

The creators of the scholarship hope that it will aid students in achieving their career aspirations while also honoring Bob Babisch’s incredible contributions to the industry.

“I know there are a lot of kids that come [to UWM], and they need the ability to make the payments, and they don’t have it,” said Babisch. “Having this scholarship and giving it a chance to take all these kids forward into getting possibly what I had. It just brings tears to my eyes.”

Imanol Ruiz | Submitted photo

Imanol Ruiz (BFA 2023, Film) is one of those students.

At the time he applied, Ruiz needed additional funds to continue his studies at UWM. Upon viewing the scholarships he qualified for, he found the Bob Babisch Entertainment Legacy Scholarship to be a perfect fit.

As a result, Ruiz graduated debt free, allowing him to explore opportunities in his field.

“I know a lot of people who graduated college, and they had to get a job that wasn’t part of their major,” said Ruiz. “I didn’t have to do that. I got the chance to wait a bit and view all my options. I didn’t have to worry about the monetary part… I’m very fortunate to get to do what I want to do.”

Since graduating, Ruiz has been maintaining a business and exploring the Milwaukee film scene while he lays the foundation for his own legacy in the entertainment industry.

“It’s been a lot of going on sets, exploring exactly what I want to do with film,” said Ruiz. “The Milwaukee film world is diverse in its voices and the positions it has. I could always be that filmmaker who does everything, but to specialize in something brings so much opportunity.”

When it comes to advice that Babisch offers scholarship recipients, he hopes they do not lose sight of the achievement that receiving a scholarship is. “The money’s one piece of it,” said Babisch. “The other is that they worked their way to get a scholarship, and not that many kids get one of those every year. That’s important to them, and that’s something someone’s going to look at.”

More about scholarships

To learn more about scholarships at UW-Milwaukee, visit the UWM Scholarship page. For an overview of scholarships offered exclusively to students enrolled in a program at the Peck School of the Arts, visit the PSOA Scholarship page.

Story by Jason McCullum ’25

Trailblazing filmmakers amplify diverse narratives at Milwaukee Illuminate Film Festival

June 14, 2024

Four photos arranged in a grid. One featuring a tattooed hand in the water, one of an airplane wing with the caption "to mom", one of a woman in a hair salon, and one of a plate of food.

Following a successful first installment, the biannual Milwaukee Illuminate Film Festival (miff.) returns June 14-15 at The Fitzgerald. Predominantly run and juried by graduates of the film program at the Peck School of the Arts, the festival seeks to illuminate the work of a wide range of marginalized communities.

Alum Amber Rose McNeill (BFA 2023, Film) started miff. with a desire to do something with her studies that would be inclusive for artists and filmmakers whose work is often overlooked.

“I felt very affirmed after the small but mighty success of our first festival,” said McNeill. “The staple feedback we received was how strong and diverse the programming was. We’re over the moon to be bringing even more films for a greater spectrum of artists for our upcoming festival.”

This year, several PSOA alums and at least one current student will have film screenings throughout the two-day festival.

Amber Rose McNeill

BFA 2023, Film; MA Candidate & Graduate Teaching Assistant, Women’s and Gender Studies | miff. Festival Director and Lead Programmer

McNeill, who is an accomplished filmmaker in her own right, will be screening three short films. First is “מײַנע הענט (meyne hent),” which translates to “my hands” in Yiddish. The film examines McNeill’s own intersecting identities of queerness, Jewishness, and transness, explored through the relationship with the femme body, in a loose adaption of the Celia Dropkin poem of the same name.

“Two Minutes on High” is McNeill’s second film screening, which seeks to challenge traditional and normative gender roles, examining power dynamics and social conditioning that have been made worse by frequent media consumption. Finally, “[I Love You Very Much]” will close out Saturday’s short film block. This short examines a fantasy cycle of heteronormative romance, described through a ruthless looping mosaic.

Close-up of a hand with black-painted nails and a ‘24’ tattoo touching partially submerged skin in rippling water. — Still from מײַנע הענט (meyne hent)

Abstract image of two repeated torsos with stylized hand outlines, set against bold red and purple geometric shapes. — Still from Two Minutes on High

A man sits on a simple bed in a dim room. Yellow subtitles at the bottom of the image read, “I love you very much.” — Still from [I Love You Very Much]

Zoe Lufman

BFA 2023, Film | miff. Director of Operations & Senior Programmer

Lufman is screening two short films this weekend. First is her silent film “Three of Swords,” which chronicles a young woman exploring her sexuality and spirituality until two love interests betray her trust. Second is “A Feast,” which displays the destruction of meals, contrasting how we connect with food.

Hand holding a small burning piece of paper with the handwritten words "love you" and a heart. — Still from Three of Swords

Plate holding a whole fish surrounded by strawberries, a papaya, and two plantains on a dark surface. — Still from A Feast

Elizabeth McKenzie Gorney

BFA Film, current student

Gorney explores multifaceted relationships and explores nostalgia, joy, discord, and isolation in her film “Family Portrait.” Shot on 16mm film and using archival audio from her youth, a lesbian artist reflects on her identity, searching for an understanding of how that impacts her relationship with her family.

A black and white photo of a woman with light hair and in a dark shirt holding a large, vintage camera over her left eye. — Still from Family Portrait

Kiarra Jernagin

BFA 2023, Film | miff. Festival Judge

The significance of the Black Hair Culture will be illuminated in Jernagin’s short film “Hair Care.” The short follows three African American women with unique backgrounds joining together to explore the intersections of race, beauty, and individual empowerment.

A woman relaxes in a salon chair. She is wearing a black apron and has a purple towel held together with a white claw clip over her shoulders. She leans back into a sink as someone washes her hair. — Still from Hair Care

Dontay Konkel

BFA 2023, Film | miff. Festival Judge

Konkel will be screening three short films during Saturday’s short film showcase: First is his film “Ambrosia,” which is described as a “love letter against the backdrop of loss.” This will be followed by “First Date,” a uniquely animated work depicting a cat and a skeleton going on a date. Konkel’s final short of the weekend is “Strange Sorrowful Pleasure,” a collage that explores the work and legacy of late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith.

Road curving under a railroad bridge on a sunny day. Faint text over the image reads "the cloudz cant keep up with us". — Still from Ambrosia

Pixel art of a pink cat and a white skeleton-like character inside a vehicle. — Still from First Date

Two people seated in a studio set with autumn scenery, partially obscured by large overlaid text fragments on the screen. — Still from Strange Sorrowful Pleasure

Thaya Manitkul

BFA 2023, Film | miff. Junior Programmer

“เป็นคนไทย (To Be Thai)” will be Manitkul’s first short to screen this weekend, in which a filmmaker confronts their mother, who is dying of cancer. The film embarks on a journey of reconciliation to better embrace family heritage before it’s too late. Manitkul’s second short is “Elizabeth Eau Claire: A College Drag Queen’s Journey” which explores Milwaukee’s titular drag queen as she struggles to balance her nightlife persona with her college life.

A plane wing sits slanted in front of a pink, purple, and blue sunset. Yellow subtitles feature the Thai term for "to mom". — Still from เป็นคนไทย (To Be Thai)

Natalie Rzepinska

BFA 2022, Film | miff. Operations Manager & Social Media Specialist

Rzepinska will screen two shorts this weekend beginning with “Never Fall in Love.” Inspired by “This Person,” a short story by Miranda July, this film uses clips from music videos, films, and YouTube videos to express a melancholic calling for loneliness and a nihilistic tale of love.

Her second film is entitled “NOSEDIVE,” which sees a group of friends hosting a backyard summer party, with infatuation sparking between two individuals.

A person in an ornate, off‑the‑shoulder costume sits indoors against a richly decorated background with the subtitle "No, never." — Still from Never Fall in Love

Five people sitting and standing on on a wooden porch in front of a house, holding bottles and talking. — Still from NOSEDIVE

Story by Jason McCullum ’25

EDITOR’S NOTE: This list is as accurate and comprehensive as possible at the time of publication. If we missed a PSOA alum, current student, or faculty member, please accept our sincere apologies. Contact us and we’ll gladly update this article.

PSOA Alum Fred Kaems’ vibrant murals featured on CBS 58

June 4, 2024

Colorful spray painted mural on a building wall with yellow text reading, "We are in this together" against a blue polka‑dot background.

Milwaukee artist and PSOA alum Fred Kaems (BFA 2016, Art) was recently featured in CBS 58’s ongoing “Art in MKE” series that highlights the work of local artists.

Kaems has become a recognizable name in the Milwaukee art scene with murals of his being commissioned throughout the city. He describes his pieces as bringing color to what he feels was previously a “pretty gray” place to be.

Learn more about Kaems and his work in his feature on CBS 58.

Reporting by Jason McCullum ’25

How alum Sarah McGinnis uses art to promote mental health awareness across the country

May 30, 2024

The next time you reach for a tissue, you might see an uplifting message and cheery artwork on the box thanks to PSOA alum Sarah McGinnis (BFA 2013, Art: Design & Visual Communication).

Work by McGinnis is showcased in Target stores nationwide as a featured artist in an ongoing collaboration between Kleenex and Self Care is for Everyone, a collective working to raise mental health awareness.

For McGinnis, it’s a project that not only touches the lives of others but also reflects her own journey with mental health.

A Creative Collaboration

The project began when McGinnis pitched a collaboration between Kleenex and Self Care is for Everyone at Kay James Design where she served as Art Director. McGinnis went into the pitch as a fan of Self Care is for Everyone and their approach to mental health awareness.

While McGinnis did not create art the first year, she served as art director on the project, a role she found to be deeply meaningful.

“It was such a fulfilling project,” said McGinnis. “I was giving these artists an outlet and exposure on a big brand, in a big store, getting these messages out to the public. It just felt like a win-win.”

Following a successful year, McGinnis’s Creative Director approached her about being a featured artist. Despite some initial self-doubts, McGinnis recognized she had a story to tell.

Some on McGinnis' work. A purple and blue ceramic chicken stands next to a blue, orange, and yellow tissue box that says, "Vulnerability isn't weakness, it is courageous," over a rainbow and clouds. On top of that is an orange box with a blue and purple patchwork design and geometric shapes that says, "Everyone is a work in progress." A box with McGinnis' biography leans up against the stack boxes (which sit behind a yellow flower), propped up with a banana and an apple. — As a featured artist, work by McGinnis is showcased on Kleenex boxes available at Target stores nationwide | Submitted photo

Meaning behind the designs

Using her history of mental health challenges as inspiration, McGinnis created two designs to be featured on Kleenex boxes.

The first design includes the quote “Vulnerability isn’t weakness, it is courageous,” accompanied by an illustration of a rainbow with clouds. The second, which is McGinnis’s personal favorite, is an abstract checkerboard featuring the quote “Everyone is a work in progress.”

“I’m a work in progress, you’re a work in progress,” said McGinnis. “Somebody that is maybe having a bad day and taking it out on me; they’re a work in progress too. I think that one’s a really good reminder to slow down and not take things too seriously sometimes.”

While creating her designs, McGinnis thought back to her time living in Milwaukee, expressing appreciation for the city’s emphasis on embracing unique viewpoints.

“The Milwaukee community is just so accepting of different points of view and different levels of experience,” said McGinnis, adding that people in the city are “always striving to make things better and to meet people where they’re at when needed.”

Connecting with others

McGinnis hopes those who see her messages get extra courage to ask for help when needed.

Recently, she interacted with somebody who got one of her designs. The individual described how their recent battles with obsessive compulsive disorder made the box deeply meaningful to her.

“Somebody saw it, they felt seen, and they took away from it that they should feel proud of their achievements,” said McGinnis. “Honestly, even that one positive interaction with that person is all I can really ask for.”

Learn more about Sarah McGinnis on her website.

Story by Jason McCullum ’25

Feature film by PSOA alum gets major streaming release

May 23, 2024

Seven Days, by filmmaker Corey Kupfer (BFA 2008, Film), has received a major streaming release. A fully self-funded and produced seven-part anthology, Seven Days is Kupfer’s first feature film.

While discussing the film with The Cap Times, Kupfer explained the seven different shorts and characters – a homeless teacher, a wealthy housewife, a social media influencer, a single mother, a polyamorous, sex worker, and a same-sex girlfriend – all depicted by Ellyn Jameson.

The poster for Seven Days. A woman stands in front of a pink backdrop with a black streak running down the right side of her face. Besides her, her dopplegangers look at eachother.

“The first woman’s alienated by this feeling of shame about the fact that she is living out of a car, to the point where she won’t even tell her friends,” Kupfer said. “But then the second woman clearly lives with a lot of wealth, and she’s actually alienated by feeling prisoner to that wealth, right? So there were like these relationships, definitely, that we wanted to draw.”

Seven Days was a success on the film festival circuit, including a screening at the New York Independent Cinema Awards where it won Best Actress and Best U.S. Feature Film. Additional screenings occurred at festivals such as Wisconsin Film Festival and Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival.

A Wisconsin native, Kupfer grew up in Ozaukee County before studying film and creative writing at UWM. He pursued experimental film and mixed-media installations during his time in Milwaukee.

“I don’t think there’s a better program in the world for cultivating a young artist’s creative voice than the Peck School of the Arts film program,” said Kupfer.

He has stayed heavily involved in Wisconsin film since graduating, with his short film Nindy, made while pursuing his MFA at NYU’s Tisch School, winning Best Short at the Wisconsin Film Festival. In 2022, Seven Days was selected for the 24^th annual Wisconsin Film Festival.

Additionally, Kupfer continues to work with other filmmakers in Milwaukee, with fellow PSOA alum Mitchell Arens (MFA 2009, Film) serving as cinematographer on Seven Days.

Seven Days is available now. You can purchase the film on platforms such as Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and YouTube TV.

Story by Jason McCullum ’25

Film alums behind one of 2024’s biggest indie films

May 22, 2024

A still from Hundreds of Beavers depicting three actors in beaver costumes.

PSOA alums Quinn Hester (BFA 2021, Film), Kurt Ravenwood (BFA 2011, Film), and Ryland Tews (BFA 2014, Film) are the creative forces behind Hundreds of Beavers. The black-and-white slapstick comedy has become one of 2024’s most successful independent films.

The film was shot under a modest budget of $150,000 across 12 weeks, nine of which were in sub-zero temperatures in northern Wisconsin. Tews, who wrote and starred in the film, discussed this in his recent interview with Variety Magazine.

“A lot of the green screen shooting was just outside…on a green tarp,” Tews says. “We did some green screen days, like in an actual studio. But a lot of the green screen stuff was still in the frigid cold.”

The self-distributed independent film has doubled its budget at the box office, making it one of the most successful indies of 2024 according to Variety.

Hester, director of photography on the film, and Ravenwood, one of the film’s producers, discussed the film further in a recent interview with Awards Radar.

Reporting by Jason McCullum ’25

Musical theatre student branches out as dialect assistant

May 21, 2024

Mason Shefchik (BFA Theatre Performance, Musical Theatre)

When an actor immerses themselves into a character, they sometimes need to develop an accent or dialect. Anyone who has heard a poorly executed accent knows it can be difficult to ignore. Luckily for most actors, they do not have to figure this out on their own, instead seeking help from those who specialize in this work.

Recent grad Mason Shefchik (BFA 2024, Theatre Performance: Musical Theatre) is one of those individuals. He recently served as a dialect assistant for Renaissance Theaterworks while still a student.

Shefchik aided in actors’ better understanding of the French language and behavior in their production of L’Appartement. This was Shefchik’s first experience in a professional theater company.

“It’s a little weird; I’m 22 and haven’t graduated yet and this is my first actual gig in a professional theater,” said Shefchik, “But [everyone] really made me feel like I had something to show and like they gained something from what I had to provide. That was a wonderful feeling.”

A typical day as a dialect assistant for Shefchik was incredibly hands-on. His time consisted of working directly with the production’s director to determine how consistent the actor’s accent work was. From there, they would watch scenes and record notes throughout to help performers improve their craft.

Jonathan Bangs and Cara Johnston in Renaissance Theaterworks’ production of L”APPARTEMENT. — Jonathan Bangs and Cara Johnston, who played French characters, in Renaissance Theaterworks’ production of L’APPARTEMENT by Joanna Murray-Smith. | Photo by Nathaniel Schardin (BFA 2021, Art), Traveling Lemur Productions.

Shefchik credited the cast of L’Appartement as a standout in the production, taking great value in the feedback that he gave.

“They were amazing, and they really took all of our notes,” said Shefchik. “By the time tech came around it was just minuscule things.”

What resulted was an immersive experience with actors fully committing to their “uppity French attitude,” according to Shefchik.

“The consistency the actors provide is something I had a hand in,” said Shefchik. “The actors who played French characters took it very seriously, and they were so hungry to make sure they were getting all the sound changes right.”

Shefchik worked alongside Raeleen McMillion (Co-head of BFA Acting: Voice, Speech, and Dialects), who helped him secure the opportunity.

While Shefchik does have prior dialect experience, McMillion offered the position to Shefchik in large part because of his admirable work ethic and strong sensitivity to the craft. “Mason not only understands the process of being a performer but is very sensitive to the overall artistic process,” said McMillion, speaking of Shefchik’s care for refined details. “Because of that, I have no doubt that Mason will be successful.”

With graduation on the horizon for Shefchik, he viewed his time at Renaissance as a memorable and highly beneficial first experience in the professional world.

“Seeing how well-oiled that machine works was a reminder of why we do what we do,” said Shefchik. “It was a reminder that collegiate theater is preparing us and giving us the skills to operate under [professional] expectations.”

Story by Jason McCullum ’25

Dance students reflect on their experience presenting original work at ACDA Conference

May 17, 2024

Headshots of Zoe Garnett, Rae Zimmerli, Libby Steckmesser

Three Peck School of the Arts students had the opportunity to showcase their senior projects at the North-Central American College Dance Association Conference in Minnesota this spring. Dance BFA students Zoe Garnett, Rae Zimmerli, Libby Steckmesser all presented original work.

The ACDA Conference is a multi-day event that visits various regions of the United States, inviting students to present original choreography in adjudicated and informal presentations. Throughout the event, students can also partake in a wide variety of classes and lectures that help them expand their knowledge of dance.

Rae Zimmerli

Senior dance student Rae Zimmerli was selected for the adjudicated section of the conference.

Zimmerli presented her work “She Who Knows the Way,” a contemporary piece about misogyny and Christianity, drawing from symbolism in Catholic art. This piece was also her senior project at PSOA.

Zimmerli was appreciative of the feedback the judges gave her and her dances, saying it helped reaffirm her confidence that the themes were clear to audiences.

“I really appreciated just being seen,” said Zimmerli. “I felt like by [the judges] saying back to me exactly what my piece was, [they] confirmed to me that I was doing a good job in the first place. That I was making legible art.”

In addition to showing her work, Zimmerli got to watch original choreography from many other students.

“I am only usually working with the tools that are in front of me, the stuff that I see,” she said. “Seeing people work outside of the box is really enlightening.”

Students utilize the event as an opportunity to further refine their choreography, getting feedback that will prove useful as they continue to improve their pieces.

Zoe Garnett

Such was the case for PSOA senior Zoe Garnett, who hopes to utilize judges’ comments to expand her work “Rat in a Maze.”

“Maze,” shown during the adjudication portion of the ACDA conference, is a visual representation of the different phases one goes through when struggling with addiction, including the impact it has on other’s relationships.

For Garnett, presenting her senior project and receiving insightful feedback from the judges was the highlight of her time at ACDA.

“The feedback from the judges was really beneficial to me,” said Garnett. “It was encouraging, motivating, and validating for all the work that I put in. They definitely saw certain things that I was trying to work towards.”

In addition to presenting her choreography, Garnett treated the conference as an opportunity to network with fellow students and industry professionals.

“It was helpful when I went up and talked to teachers after classes,” said Garnett. “They were really quite responsive which was exciting because it can be so nerve-racking to do that.”

Libby Steckmesser

PSOA dance student Libby Steckmesser also presented her senior project during ACDA. Her piece “Volition” explores how our thoughts impact us by shaping our perceptions of reality.

She also took classes in styles such as traditional Indian and German-Czech-Folk dance, which were not only educational but also introduced her to a variety of dance artists.

“You’re taking class with so many different kinds of people but you all have the same interest:; dance at a collegiate level,” said Steckmesser.

“It was really inspiring working with all these different people. These are people who are going to be your colleagues for the rest of your life. So, it was really cool to make these connections.”

Story by Jason McCullum ’26

Scam Likely, a band with strong PSOA connections, plays new Milwaukee venue

May 15, 2024

Scam Likely is seen on stage at a concert

Peck School of the Arts students, alumni and faculty foster a strong community for artists throughout Milwaukee to converge and offer support for one another. A notable collective that embodies that creative spirit is Milwaukee’s local sensation Scam Likely, a band that took shape at UW-Milwaukee.

Made up of PSOA students Charlee Grider and Thierry Diatta, alum Cary Dean Elger, and guitarist Denzel “Ducky” Dondiego, Scam Likely traces its roots to when Diatta and Grider met in a Film class. Grider was impressed by Diatta, who wrote and recorded an original score for his film. They decided to start a band.

After filling out their lineup with Dondiego and Elger, Scam Likely was born and has been a proud Milwaukee band ever since, garnering an especially devoted following among UWM students. As a result, they have stayed heavily involved in the community of PSOA.

“There are so many artists in this city, and it’s really beautiful to see Peck as a central place of solace for students to express themselves how they want,” said Grider.

Throughout their young career, the band reports feeling constant support from PSOA faculty who recognize that students’ involvement in the arts naturally branch beyond their majors.

“I love that professors are okay with me doing band stuff when I need to,” said Grider. “They don’t fault me; they encourage it. [Peck] is just an all-around creative place and we’re all in this together for the same thing. The school’s lovely for that and always understanding.”

It is support like this that has encouraged Scam to stay involved in the happenings of UWM, including last Fall when they headlined the student-run Prowl Radio’s Battle of the Bands event.

Thierry Diatta plays guitar on stage. He is backlit with pink, purple, orange, and blue lighting. — PSOA student and bassist Thierry Diatta | Photo by Cameron Wise (BFA, Film)

Taking place at UWM’s Spaights Plaza, the event reflected how strong Scam Likely’s reach is among students, drawing a massive crowd of passionate music fans.

“I’d always wanted to see music at Spaights Plaza,” said drummer Cary Dean Elger. “That’s such a natural place and Battle of the Bands was a really good use of that part of campus.”

More recently, the band set major milestones off campus, releasing their second studio album, Yolk, and performing a massive release show. More than 300+ people packed into the newly opened Pabst Theater Group venue, Vivarium.

For the occasion, they brought longtime friend and fellow musician Caden Quinn to play rhythm guitar for a song.

“It was like, especially special for me to have Caden playing this set with us, because I truthfully believe that the relationship I fostered with Caden, meeting him at UWM, is a large part of the reason that I’m playing music,” said Diatta.

Playing Vivarium was a poetic moment for the band as they start to wind down their time in Milwaukee, with plans to relocate to Chicago this summer. As they prep for the upcoming move and reflect on their first two years, they remain appreciative of the influence Milwaukee and PSOA have had on them.

“We are collectively going to miss the scene that raised us in these early years of Scam,” said Grider on behalf of all band members. “It’s bittersweet to be leaving the nest, but we hope to spread the word about how sacred Milwaukee is. We will always be from Milwaukee, and always be proud of it.”

Story by Jason McCullum ’25

Faculty and alums involved with highly anticipated Danceworks showcase

May 15, 2024

Person in flowing white fabric leaps near a stone tunnel while a group dressed in black stands together under the archways.

PSOA faculty Maria Gillespie (Associate Professor, Dance) and Christal Wagner (Lecturer, Dance) recently showcased their collaborative work “Dixit Dominus and Cantos” at Calvary Presbyterian Church. The piece was presented with 13 members of Danceworks Performance MKE, for which Wagner is the artistic director.

The work was described by Shepherd Express as one of “the most exciting collaborations in the Milwaukee dance world this season.”

Part of the piece was further conceived by Aperi Animam Production Designer Jaclyn Willis (BA 2016, Music).

Reporting by Jason McCullum ’25

Art & Design faculty Jessica Meuninck Ganger recognized by Milwaukee Arts Board

May 3, 2024

The Milwaukee Arts Board has named its 2024 Artists of the Year and Friends of the Arts, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Among the Friends of the Arts is Jessica Meuninck Ganger (Associate Professor, Printmaking & Book Arts; Area Head, Printmaking & Book Arts). The awards recognize individuals who give exceptional service to the local arts community. The award recipients will be honored at City Hall in June.

Lecturer and alum Rich Ashworth reflects on choreographing piece for Springdances

May 2, 2024

Rich Ashworth leads a room of dancers during a summer intensive for young artists.

The PSOA Department of Dance is set to present Springdances: Surfacing, an evening of original choreography by Dance faculty members and guest artist Vershawn Sanders-Ward. Among the choreographers is Dance MFA alum Rich Ashworth ’21 (Lecturer, Dance).

Ashworth will present a piece that incorporates tap and body percussion to celebrate the working class, conveying themes of craftsmanship and connection. Ashworth recently took the time to reflect on Surfacing and his time as a PSOA graduate student.

Tell us about the piece you choreographed for Springdances 2024.

My piece is entitled Form and FUNKtion. It uses tap dance and body percussion to highlight and celebrate the working-class upbringing I had in rural New England. I grew up with a lot of folks who worked with their hands and took a great deal of pride in the craftsmanship of what they produced. This piece celebrates the rhythm of the workday, shifting from the getting ready routine, to the hum and pulse of production, and the celebration after a hard day’s work. It’s a multi-sensory piece that requires dancers to listen and lock into each other’s groove.

Did any memorable moments surface while working with PSOA students? 

This is one of the largest and most ambitious works I’ve done in years, given the use of risers and floors. There are a lot of moving parts compared to what I am used to. One of the most memorable moments for me was seeing and hearing how the different surfaces added to the industrial, factory aesthetic. The back ledge of the theatre, the risers we are using, and the dance floor itself all react to the impact of the dancer’s body percussion differently. The ledge has a rattle due to the heating duct underneath. The risers squeak and rumble given the feet stomping on them. When the dancers move from one surface to the other, the sounds of the surfaces create depth and authenticity. I was hopeful this would happen but it’s even better than I anticipated.

You graduated from the MFA Dance program. What sticks out about your time at the Peck School?

I hadn’t experienced higher education for about a decade. It was jarring to get back into the swing of academic reading, writing, and the physical demands of the classes. Ultimately, it allowed me to develop a language that was not only informed by the technical side of my practice but the historical and cultural side as well. I’m humbled to be a part of this department after having gone through the MFA program. It has allowed me to connect with the students on a level beyond what I expected by making connections as peers, not simply teacher-student.

What highlights of your education at PSOA came to mind when working with PSOA students? 

I enjoyed the process of pulling people out of their comfort zone. With this piece, we’re not only dancing the choreography, but we’re dancing the musical composition of the work. This can be overwhelming for folks who have not experienced that type of coordination before. It’s like learning a new language or memorizing an area in a language that’s not originally yours. It was the Peck School of the Arts that allowed me to create a safe space for people to work past their comfort zone in a way that was challenging but constructive.

**Have you seen all the pieces in Springdances? If so, what can audiences expect?**

I think the show really highlights the diversity of our program and the well-roundedness of each performer. There is something for everyone in the show, but more importantly, each piece allows the audience to deepen their perspective beyond their idea of what a dance concert can be. Some pieces have built-in excitement through feats that defy gravity. Other pieces give into the gravity of movement that is deeply human and connected to the ground. There are multi-sensory experiences where the music IS movement and vice versa. It’s a deeply moving and enlightening experience for everyone to enjoy.

Springdances: Surfacing runs through May 5 in Jan Serr Studio at Kenilworth Square East. It features original works inspired by Lake Superior, the ways we connect with one another, craftmanship, and how one might be their own superhero. Additional choreographers include faculty members Daniel Burkholder and Mair Culbreth.

More info and tickets are available on the PSOA events calendar.

Story by Jason McCullum ’25

UWM Symphony Orchestra concludes season with Beethoven Triple Concerto

May 1, 2024

The UWM Symphony Orchestra will conclude its 2023-24 season with a finale concert at Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts.

The performance is centered on Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, a musical work that combines solo instruments with a full orchestra. The piece will feature solos from pianist Jean-Louis Haguenauer (Professor, Indiana University), cellist Adrien Zitoun (Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra), and violinist Bernard Zinck (Associate Professor, UW-Milwaukee). The orchestra is conducted by Dr. Jun Kim (Associate Professor, Instrumental Conducting, and Director, Orchestral Activities).

“Composers often face issues of sonic balance and ambiguity of musical roles when working with the piano trio,” said Dr. Kim. “However, Beethoven avoids complicating the matter further by allowing his trio ample breathing room, often playing alone or with only minimal accompaniment from the orchestra.”

The concert will also feature Symphony No. 5 by Ralph Vaughn Williams.

UWM’s orchestra is comprised of graduate and undergraduate music majors and brings in professors and outside professionals to perform alongside students.

“It is a pleasure to play with our students and share this musical experience,” said Professor Bernard Zinck. “Some of them are graduating, so it is a little bit like a musical farewell from us to them, and also from them to their peers and friends.”

In 2024, the UWM Symphony delivered seven performances, many of which featured highly esteemed guests.

“The orchestra also featured a guest violin soloist, Julian Rhee, the Silver Medalist of the 2022 Indianapolis International Violin Competition,” said Dr. Kim. “Additionally, the orchestra had a concert titled ‘An Evening of Opera Arias’ with the new voice faculty member, Aaron Agulay.”

Through the years, the UWM Symphony has collaborated with UWM Choirs and hosted an annual Concerto Competition Concert. They have performed nationally, including at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Chicago Symphony Center. They have also been selected to perform at the National Conference by the College Orchestra Directors Association in Los Angeles.

More information and tickets are available on the PSOA Calendar.

PSOA students earn three competitive Distinguished Graduate School Fellowships

April 24, 2024

Three people photographed from the shoulders up, each wearing different clothing and earrings, shown side‑by‑side against various backgrounds.

Three Peck School of the Arts students were selected for Distinguished Graduate School Fellowships for the 2024-25 academic year. The fellowships are awarded through one of the most competitive selection processes at the graduate level.

The PSOA Department of Dance, Department of Music, and Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres each had one student selected to receive the support, which covers graduate tuition and provides an academic year stipend. Recipients are also eligible for health insurance through the Universities of Wisconsin and a travel award.

Ari Christopher

Ari Christopher is the founding Director of Tulsa Modern Movement. She makes dances for the stage, film, and public spaces and teaches Contemporary dance at the Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education and K-12 art infusion teacher workshops. 

Ari was engaged in all arts disciplines from theatre to jazz violin until she found her place in the Modern Dance studio. She attended the BFA program in Modern Dance and Choreography at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. Her favorite dance practices are Humphrey/Limón technique, CounterTechnique and Contact Improvisation. 

Ari’s work generally centers around questions of identity and belonging – asking questions about race, gender, and privilege in the United State – and themes related to our humanness and connection to one another and the earth. Her choreography has been commissioned by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, Tulsa Ballet CDE, ahha Tulsa, the Greenwood Art Project, among others; and has been honored by regional and international festival awards.  

Her film “This Car UP” (2021), a commission for the Greenwood Art Project with funding from the Bloomberg Foundation, has been screened at film festivals around the country. The dance film explores the alleged interaction between a white woman and a Black man which became the catalyzing event of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Reflecting on the power of perception in constructing beliefs, “This Car Up” calls attention to the political meanings entangled in our perceptions. “This Car Up” was shown at American Dance Festival in 2022, won a Screen Dance International award and was featured by Dance Magazine.  

Ari’s creative research investigates the body’s significance in personal identity and its complex interplay with societal narratives. She is currently pursuing an MFA in dance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under the advisement of Daniel Burkholder and Maria Gillespie.

Tristen Ives

Tristen Ives (they/them) is a filmmaker from Iowa who works in diaristic and experimental modes. Their 16mm films are dedicated to camera-less techniques and the handmade form. They are an MFA student in the Film, Video, Animation & New Genres Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. They received their BA in Cinema from the University of Iowa in 2019.

Their films have screened globally at Exploding Cinema at the Cineam Museum in London, the Saigon Experimental Film Festival, Winnipeg Underground Film Festival, CURRENTS New Media, Montreal Underground Film Festival, Light Matter Film Festival, ICDOCS, Film Diary NYC, and more. Alongside their screening history, an article documenting their work and artistic practice was published in Analog Cookbook in 2022.

Tristen has worked as the Head Projectionist at Block Cinema in Evanston, Illinois, as an Assistant Head Projectionist at FilmScene Cinema, and as a projectionist at SIFF and Northwest Film Forum in Seattle, Washington. They are currently the Head Projectionist at the Union Cinema in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

Their graduate advisor is Mike Gibisser.

Colton Townsend

Colton Townsend is a composer, performer, and educator based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Colton’s compositions and arrangements have been premiered by the UW-Milwaukee Percussion Ensemble, UW-Milwaukee New Music Ensemble, University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble, University of Arkansas Percussion Ensemble, Bentonville High School Jazz Ensemble, and Fayetteville High School Percussion Ensemble.  

Colton’s performing experience includes multiple years of Winter Guard International and Drum Corps International experience at both the Open and World Class levels, over a dozen premiers of new percussion compositions, and a guest solo appearance with the University of Arkansas Latin American Ensemble. His teaching experience includes a Teaching Assistantship at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Bentonville High School, Fayetteville High School, and Cooper Elementary School. This past summer, he participated and had works performed and premiered in festivals and conferences such as New Music on the Point and Vu Symposium. This upcoming summer, he will be participating in the Du Vert À l’Infini PluComp Summer Festival and the SPLICE Summer Institute. He enjoys exploring all the different facets of music and strives to create fun and entertaining experiences for the artists, audiences, and students he interacts with.

Colton is pursuing a Master’s in Music with a dual concentration in Composition and Theory and Percussion Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he studies with Dr. Phillip Sink, Nathaniel Haering, and Dr. Alex Wier. He received a Bachelor’s in Music in Music Education from the University of Arkansas, located in his hometown of Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he studied with Chalon Ragsdale and Fernando Valencia.

Research and collaboration set the stage for Once Upon A Mattress

April 24, 2024

Performers in colorful period-style costumes act on a stage with a castle‑like backdrop and patterned floor

The Peck School of the Arts Department of Theatre is putting the finishing touches on their next production Once Upon A Mattress, a comedic and musical retelling of “The Princess and the Pea.” Through creative collaboration and dramaturgical research, students are achieving great heights as they fully immerse themselves in their roles. Here’s what several actors shared about their process.

A Tale of Two Princesses

Once Upon A Mattress follows Princess Winnifred as she fights for the hand of Prince Dauntless, who must marry a princess per the rules of his mother, Queen Aggravain.

For UWM’s production, the role has been double-cast by students Jacqueline Siedenburg and Grace Ritcher. The process of double-casting can be challenging for actors, but it can also be incredibly rewarding.

“The most complicated parts have been technical, such as making sure our blocking is similar enough to give our lighting designers clear cues,” said Siedenburg, when asked about the process of working alongside Ritcher. “Even with similar blocking, however, we’ve managed to create two unique Winnifreds.”

Both Siedenburg and Ritcher have taken their own life experiences to flourish as Princess Winnifred, harnessing unique and individual interpretations of the character.

“I found that I felt best about my performances when I stopped trying to act and was most true to myself, which I think is exactly the premise of Fred’s character: being unapologetically yourself,” said Siedenburg.

The Community of Wizarding

Eugene Strei plays the Wizard, the Queen’s assistant who serves to help her maintain her power. Strei has also fostered his character based on personal experience, as Strei has been heavily involved in the community of wizarding, running his own wizard blog

To Strei, wizard blogs act as “an online renaissance festival,” a place to gather and roleplay as wizards, taking mundane activities and making them feel more mystical.

As dramaturgy was underway for Once Upon A Mattress, Strei used this part of his personal life to fill the void of available information regarding wizarding habits and behaviors.

“One of the benefits of being in the wizard blog community is that I got a lot of examples of what different wizards looked like, either people posting about wizard characters in media or characters they made themselves,” said Strei. “[The blog] helped me understand more of the physicality I wanted my character to have. I found pictures of wizards to observe how they carried themselves and how dynamic their movement can be.”

A Silent King

The dynamism of movement on stage is especially important when a character has minimal, or no dialogue. Such is the case for Mason Shefchik, who portrays King Sextimus the Silent.

King Sextimus was cursed with silence by the Queen, leaving him unable to verbally assert his authority. He has had to find new ways of exhibiting emotions and feelings to others.

For Shefchik, this limitation did not drastically change his preparations as he still had to complete his research and do a rich analysis of the objectives of his character. Shefchik’s time as a theatre student provided him with useful courses and topics that made this an easier fit.

“I’m fortunate to have taken the full BFA Acting track at UWM in addition to my declared Musical Theatre degree,” said Shefchik. “Through this, I was able to take courses that specialized in clowning and contemporary comedy. I’m able to draw upon what I learned in those classes to create moments of extended character.”

Shefchik, like the rest of his castmates, understands that this is by no means a solo effort: collaboration among the cast and director Sheri Williams Pannell (Assistant Professor, Theatre; Area Head, Musical Theatre) is what makes King Sextimus a vibrant character and Once Upon A Mattress an enjoyable show.

“Creating a dialogue between Sextimus and the other characters also comes down to the incredible work of my cast mates and our director, Sheri Williams Pannell,” said Shefchik. “Throughout the rehearsal process, all of us have committed to making sure that the characters feel and react to Sextimus’ presence. It’s the reaction of other characters that gives meaning to Sextimus’ actions after all.”

Once Upon A Mattress opens Wednesday, April 24 at the Theatre Building’s Mainstage Theatre and will run through Sunday, April 28. More information and tickets are available on the PSOA Events Calendar.

Story by Jason McCullum ’25