The shows go on — differently The Rep offers a virtual “Christmas Carol” and Milwaukee Ballet offers “The Nutcracker: Short and Sweet.”
Milwaukee has lost so much during this devastating pandemic. But Christmas is not canceled. And in the case of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s “Christmas Carol,” and Milwaukee Ballet’s “Nutcracker,” the shows will go on. That’s not the case for every holiday theater tradition in town. Local actor John McGivern has been doing a one-man holiday show for about 15 years, but a run planned for a limited audience at the Pabst Theater this month was pushed back to February and March because of recent local health regulations. City restrictions limiting gathering sizes also impacted Milwaukee Rep’s “Carol.” Instead of being performed in front of 250 people per show in a 720-seat theater, it’s now a strictly virtual performance, available to stream online from Dec. 10 to 24 for a $20 ticket. Milwaukee Ballet’s “Nutcracker” will also be available to watch online Dec. 12-27 for $25. Following city guidelines, the ballet will allow up to 10 subscribers per show to attend in person, approximately 5 percent of the 190-seat theater inside the Baumgartner Center for Dance.
Nevertheless, in a year where virtually every annual event in Milwaukee was called off, these two traditions will persevere. 2020 marks the 45th year the Rep has staged “Carol,” and the 43rd year for Milwaukee Ballet’s “Nutcracker.”
“It’s like a lifeline,” Rep Artistic Director Mark Clements said about returning to the theater to direct “Carol.” “I think we all feel very fortunate to be able to do what we are doing, albeit in less than ideal circumstances.”
For health reasons, and economic ones, the Rep’s “Carol” will be decidedly different than the annual production at the Pabst that features about 30 performers.
This year Lee E. Ernst, announced in early March to return for Rep’s “Carol” for the first time since 2006, is now the lone actor, performing in a one-actor variation by Tom Mula, “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol.” Aside from Ernst — who plays about 14 characters — the only other person on stage is Foley artist and musical director Dan Kazemi.
Only five people — including Clements and two stage managers — are permitted inside the Rep’s Stiemke Studio for rehearsals at one time, Clements said, in compliance with safety plans reviewed and approved by participating unions. Everyone is wearing masks, even though director Clements isn’t able to see Ernst’s facial expressions during the runthroughs. Everyone involved is getting tested for COVID-19 three times a week, and the venue is being cleaned every night.
“It’s kind of odd,” Clements said of the experience. “But if you’re going to be working with other people, it’s about as safe as anybody is going to get.”
Milwaukee Ballet’s “Nutcracker” has been modified, too, to align with their safety protocols. Dubbed “The Nutcracker: Short and Sweet,” this year’s 40-minute production features about a dozen dancers in each of the two casts, with narration by the toymaker Drosselmeyer moving the production along. Each cast has about six or seven core dancers, with the other dancers performing at a distance, said Milwaukee Ballet Artistic Director Michael Pink. Everyone is wearing masks during rehearsals and maintaining distance as much as possible, he said.
“We are
ecstatic,” Pink said of
See ‘CAROL’, Page 4E