Setting: Here and Now
Run-Time: Approximately 90 minutes (No Intermission)
SYNOPSIS
It is the one-year anniversary of ‘Team J’ and Byron and Claire are throwing their friends a party, but Byron has other plans. When Jack and Jo share a secret of their own, Byron’s plans get derailed. As more people arrive and more drinks are consumed, the madness ensues. Amongst secrets being revealed, envelopes being ripped, beef being burned, samurai swords, and a prostitute, relationships are tested, and people’s true colors are revealed. Will lifelong friendships survive this hilarious romp through one crazy night?
When friends come together, the secrets come out…
THE PLAYWRIGHTS
David Stein
(Tommy/Playwright) Born and raised in Milwaukee, Dave is super excited to bring his and Hannah’s debut Play to stage in his hometown. He got his BFA in Acting from UW-Milwaukee playing the roles of Mr. Harari in Ruined, Magistrate in Lysistrata and Barrel in Urinetown. He has worked at both First Stage in Milwaukee and The Bay Area Children’s Theater in San Francisco as an Actor/Educator. Currently Dave is working in radio, you might recognize his voice as Producer Dave on 99.1 The Mix on your morning drive! Thank you to everyone for your support and encouragement throughout the development of this new play! This is truly a dream come true.
Hannah Mitchell
(playwright) Hi, I'm Hannah! I've been in Milwaukee for 8 years now and am delighted to debut Not Today here. I went to school for acting, and now have a career as a sous chef, but writing has been a constant for me. And writing with my best friend and boo has been better than ever! Thank you for coming and supporting local theatre and enjoy!
Note from the Playwrights
We are so excited to share our show with you! Creating this play has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives. We met in college, in acting class, where it was frowned upon to work with your significant other, which, of course, made us determined to work together on the thing we love dearly. After graduation, we were working opposite schedules, so writing this play was our way of “hanging out” without really hanging out. Dave wrote a few pages, then Hannah wrote a few more, and pretty soon, we had a raucous comedy on our hands! Our dream was to write a show we would love to be in, inspired by our own friends and family. NOT TODAY is ultimately about the power of love and the chaos it can survive. Everyone has something to hide and things aren’t always perfect, but all you can do is laugh through it.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout this process and been our in inspiration. We love to host a good party, and you are all cordially invited to our dinner party, NOT TODAY.
Sincerely,
Hannah & Dave
THE CAST
Seth K Hale
(Byron) is so happy to be in his first Forge show. He moved to Milwaukee over a year ago and has since worked with company’s such as Outskirts Theatre Co, Music Theatre of Madison, and Next Act. This summer he can be found working on “Driving Miss Daisy” and “Anyone Can Whistle” at Third avenue Playhouse. He would like to thank Jake Brockmann for helping him to become the very best like no one ever was.
Stephanie Staszak
(Claire) - is thrilled to be a part of her first production with Forge Theatre alongside this talented and hilarious group of people! Stephanie can be seen on various stages around the Milwaukee area in addition to film and print work. Most recent credits include OKLAHOMA (Slim, Laurey u/s) and NEWSIES (Hannah, Katherine u/s) at Skylight. See her in DOC DANGER with Milwaukee Opera Theatre this June!
Ben Yela
(Jack) is a theatermaker and musician residing in Milwaukee. After founding and cooperatively operating 1419, an interdisciplinary arts collective, in Minneapolis at the beginning of the 2010s, Ben moved to Milwaukee in the fall of 2012 where he became a founding member of Quasimondo Physical Theatre. Since, he has worked with myriad local companies: Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Cooperative Performance, Danceworks, Optimist Theatre, Acacia Theatre, Red Eye Theater (mpls), and Door Shakespeare. Beyond the theatrical stage, Ben forms one half of Milwaukee's Musical Sensation, NUTRITIOUS AND DELICIOUS, as well as lending his cello/guitar/voice to another Milwaukee darling, DEEP FEMME.
April Paul
(Jo) has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and considers every day an opportunity for learning. Some of her recent projects include BLOOMSDAY (Milwaukee Irish Arts), BLOOD AT THE ROOT (Next Act Theatre), DOUBT, A PARABLE (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre), and RUSSIAN TRANSPORT (Renaissance Theaterworks). Love to C&J and P&W.
Kyle Conner
(Jimmy/Associate Artistic Director) is delighted to be returning to the stage with Forge after a brief hiatus from theater. The current Associate Artistic Director of Forge Theater, Kyle has worked with many theaters around town including Windfall, First Stage, Off The Wall, and Bunny Gumbo. When not on stage, you can find Kyle training baristas in MKE/MAD/CHI for Colectivo. Thanks to David and Hannah for this wonderful show!
THE CREW
Jake Brockmann
(Artistic Director/Director/Sound Designer) is thrilled to bring this world premiere to Milwaukee. He's a graduate of UW-Eau Claire and his previous directing credits include DOG SEES GOD and A NUMBER at Splinter Group, THE ALIENS for dropoutArts, PRIDE AND PANCAKES for Milwaukee Camber Theater, and SPEECH & DEBATE, ASUNCION, and BECKY'S NEW CAR for Forge Theater. Jake would like to thank his parents for their constant love and support.
Nicole Allee
(Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back with Forge Theater. She has been a Stage Manager for various companies around Milwaukee for the past five years. Recent credits include Cabaret Milwaukee (Cream City Crime Syndicate: Politics & Anarchy, Ransom is Relative) Forge Theater (Becky’s New Car), Cooperative Performance (Machina Persona), Seat of Our Pants Readers Theater (Alabama Story). Next up she will be Stage Managing and performing in Cream City Crime Syndicate: Pick Your Poison with Cabaret MKE in April. She also frequently performs with local Shakespeare Raw with the performance company Boozy Bard Productions!
Dana Leone Strothenke
(Assistant Director/Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working with Forge Theater! She is currently Assistant Directing Seussical Jr with Forte Theatre Company and previously directed Focus with Renaissance Theaterworks’ Br!NK Br!efs. Dana has also worked with Cooperative Performance, Milwaukee Entertainment Group, First Stage, and Sunset Playhouse. Dana is thankful for her friends and family’s constant support.
Amy Sue Hazel
(Costume Designer/Scenic Designer/Technical Director) is thrilled to be a part of Forge Theater for her first Design in Milwaukee. She received her MFA in Scenic Design from The University of Arizona in 2017 and moved to Milwaukee to be the Scenic Charge Artist for First Stage Children's Theatre, where she works full time. She also works at Lakefront Brewery as a tour guide and helps with small renovations during the summer months. She would like to thank Jake Brockmann for including her in this amazing project and expanding her reach into the Milwaukee theatre community.
Ross Zentner
(Lighting Design) is a freelance lighting designer and photographer. Originally from Southern Wisconsin, Ross has made Milwaukee home. Ross holds a BFA from the University of Wisconsin: Milwaukee. He has worked with Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Forward Theater Company, Renaissance Theaterworks, Palace Theater, YoungBlood, Splinter Group, Next Act Theatre, Children's Theatre of Madison, In Tandem Theatre, First Stage, ACME Production Corp, Proline Entertainment, and many others throughout the Midwest. Ross is a proud member of Milwaukee IASTE Local 18. For more information please visit rosszentner.com
SPECIAL THANKS
OUR DONORS
Sam Szymborski, Clark Stamm, Sage Kossman, Aspen Mitchell Mead, Jared Mead, Marcy Conen, Lyn Bensman, Naomi Bloom, Ziggy Stein, Gail Teigeiro, Julee Mitchell, Lucy Chamberlain, James Ozminkowski, Seth K Hale, Max Klave, Enlightened Brewing Company, Urban Harvest Brewing Company, Lakefront Brewery, Float Milwaukee, Georgie Porgie, Colectivo Coffee, The Chef’s Table, Crafty Cow, Milwaukee Chamber Theater
FOREMEN: OVER $1000
SUPERVISORS: $300-$999
Omega Burckhardt and Eric Heilig
Southern Lakes Physical Therapy
WORKERS: $1-$299
Stuart Bloom and Family
Georgie Porgie
Al and Alyssa Nennig
Andy Riggs
Aaron Carreno
Mike Glass
Marcy Kearns
Everyone that attended Arts and Drafts
