UW-Milwaukee graduate Patrick Schmitz is a wealth of comedic knowledge and shares his talents with youth and adults as an improv coach at First Stage, a teacher at ComedySportz and a theater educator at Brown Deer High School. The Milwaukee performer, writer, producer and director has produced four plays, including the three-year sold-out run of Rudolf the Pissed-Off Reindeer at Alchemist Theatre (2008-2010) and last year’s highly commended weekend run of The Comedy of Romeo and Juliet…kinda sorta at Next Act Theatre. This year, Schmitz presents another parody of Shakespeare, The Comedy of Hamlet…kinda sorta.
“The inspiration came to me when I was writing a condensed and mostly contemporary version of Hamlet for my students at Brown Deer High School. I kept wanting to write in comedic moments but couldn’t. So in addition to the version for my students, I began writing a separate comedic version on the side with the intention of putting it up at some time,” Schmitz says. “For me, the best introduction to any of Shakespeare’s work is knowing the story first, so breaking it down into contemporary language allows anyone and everyone to become invested in both what’s going on and what the characters are saying. As a teacher, I’ve also realized an audience pays attention more when you add humor. I used to be extremely intimidated by Shakespeare’s work, but doing my homework with these parodies has really forced me to dissect the text and explore deeper meanings within his plays. I’ve spoken with Shakespeare experts in town and I’m able to see why so many people love his work, and now I’m one of those people.”
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The comedy is packed with seasoned talents, including Rich Laguna, Lee Rowley, Cheryl Roloff, Mara and Robby McGhee, Erik Koconis, Vince Figueroa and many more. “What makes this cast unique is the fact that all of them have a strong background in comedy improv,” Schmitz says. “Several of the adult performers in the show are not only good friends of mine, but were also in my first show, Rudolf the Pissed-Off Reindeer, and the younger cast as well as my assistant directors are former students of mine from both Brown Deer High School and First Stage.” He adds, “It’s a running joke that only 30% of what I write is used and the other 70% is stuff the cast came up with in rehearsals. But they’re just kidding...no really, they are...really.”
Don’t miss The Comedy of Hamlet…kinda sorta, Aug. 20-22 at Next Act Theatre, 255 S. Water St. Tickets can be purchased at nextact.org/rental-events/hamlet or by calling 414-278-0765.
Upcoming Theatre Happenings
SummerStage of Delafield (Lapham Peak Unit-Kettle Moraine State Forest, W329 N846 County Highway C, Delafield) presents William Inge’s Aug. 20-29 and Sept. 3-5. For more information and tickets, call 262-337-1560 or visit summerstageofdelafield.org.
Sylvia by A.R. Gurney takes the stage at Third Avenue Playhouse (234 N. Third Ave., Sturgeon Bay) Aug. 20-Sept. 12, with a portion of the opening night ticket sales benefitting the Door County Humane Society. Sylvia, a street-smart Labrador and Poodle mix, steals the heart of Kate’s husband, Greg, and their marriage is tested to amusing and moving effect. For tickets, call 920-743-1760 or visit thirdavenueplayhouse.com.
