Tribal Tales: Milwaukee Public Theatre’s presentation of Stories from the Medicine Wheel, seasonal tales from Wisconsin’s five Native nations, attracted a large crowd for a dramatic staging at the Cousins Center Auditorium.
Numerous members of the Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida, Ojibwa and Potawatomi were on hand to hear MPT Associate Artistic Director Ron Scot Fry describe the presentation as having the city’s most multicultural audience. The auditorium was filled with families enjoying the music, acting and puppeteering of Charlene Smith, Julio Bravo, Jasmin Bravo and Jahmes Finlayson.
National notables involved with the production were guest artist/musician Ty Defoe and Heather Henson, daughter of the late Jim Henson, and Mark Ruffin. The dozen-plus puppet team included Michael Pettit, Larry LaFontsee and Carolyn Mello. Stage manager Susan Scot Fry and Estephanie Mendoza also played instrumental roles in the production.
Sponsors included the Native American Awareness Project, represented by Executive Director John Cook, assisted by Denese M. Johannsen and the Congregation of the Great Spirit, with Garrett Boyd and Dee Loomis. From the MPT board were founder Barbara Leigh, President Theresa Kenney, costume designer Debra Fabian and Treasurer Katy Sommer. In the audience were Barbara Chudnow, Keith Knox and Jan Singer.
People Talk: Host Kavon (“KJ Prodigy”) Jones’ rapid rendition of his “Fried Chicken” rap was a hit at the People’s Books Cooperative Open Mic Night in Riverwest. The talented performers included musician Naomi Marie, hip-hopper Slang the Troubadour, Zombie Gawd, poet Freesia McKee, Joseph Martinez and Simon Warren. Katie Jesse oversaw the event.
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Jumping Joint: At Art*Bar, artists Pat Hidson and Mike Judy exhibited their latest works, as a packed house took in the music of the chamber punk band Nineteen Thirteen. The group consists of the energetic Scott Johnson and Victor DeLorenzo on drums and Janet Schiff showcasing her vintage Romanian cello. To much applause, blues harpist Steve Cohen took the stage later.
Fellow artist Mark Mulhern and his wife, Jill, stopped by, along with Jules Laabs from Studio D’Angeli, now in a new location on Maryland Avenue. Attorney Ann Bowe was there with her daughter, Lauran Bowe Slagle. Yoga instructor and Jewel of India/Fine Imports owner Sylvie Horvath, chiropractor Anne Maedke, Mike Sieger, who has a studio at The Pitch Project, Eileen Early, Lori Creed and Nancy and Joe Alvarado were also spotted. Judy’s wife, April, was on hand, along with Polly Cronin, Tom Thorson and Shari Tuska. Hidson’s husband, photographer Jim Brozek, roamed around, documenting the scene.
Flower Power: One of the highlights of the Milwaukee Art Museum’s four-day “Beauty in Bloom” was the over-the-top fashion show, with a sold-out crowd of 350. Due to the museum’s ongoing reconstruction project, its garage transmogrified into a stunning showroom, complete with a runway and Beauty Bazaar for makeup/hair and flower-inspired boutiques. For diehard Badger basketball fans, a large-screen TV showcased another happy win ending just in time for the runway action.
Stunning in one of her self-made wraps, mistress of ceremonies Cassandra McShepard, host of “Real Milwaukee,” introduced Katherine Feiner’s delightful spring collection. Following was a breathtaking procession of 30-some models donning local designers’ creations, each resplendent with fresh flowers. The show was sponsored by PNC Bank, represented by Lori Craig.
“Project Runway” alum Timothy Westbrook’s flowing red rose gown launched the apparel extravaganza, followed by a pink carnation skirt designed by Sendik’s Mequon’s Bjorn Chinander. He also won first place in the contest for floral arrangements based on MAM’s current exhibition, “Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair.”
Another beautiful floral ensemble was designed by the Belle Fiori team consisting of owner Emily Neubauer and designers Erika Herman and Alex Covert, along with a flowery lid by MAM Garden Club members Cindy Mestan and Mary Retzke.
The bazaar offered everything from Susan Peterson’s beautiful Dermond Peterson linens to Christopher McIntyre Perceptions’ photographs, as well as Swoon Swimwear, a new line designed by Kristy Kleist. Beauty options included hair tweaks by Beauty Masters Salon and Spa’s owner Simmone Stovall and designers Jaquieta Brown and LaToya Heard.
Attending were fashion/lifestyle bloggers Livia Boerger and Fanny Muller, Bart Smith, Mary Jo Sargent and Katie Zignego from Sendik’s, Heidi and Chris Stutzki, Bon-Ton style guru Jordan Dechambre and hairstylist Tony Davis, Melanie Fortune, Vicki Kunz, designer Patty Tagliapietra, skating coach/portrait artist Deb Marett and Joe Divine with Flowers by Walter.
Making it all happen were “Beauty in Bloom” co-chair Susan Miller and MAM’s event A-team, Krista Renfrew, Molly Canan, Jenny Kobe and Jess Goehner. The following day, MAM’s Executive Chef Micah Kaufman presented an enlightening how-to presentation.
B&D then headed to Bacchus for a late-night sip and gourmet snack and had a grand time meeting other MAM after-partiers: Stacy Knetter, an MPS teacher on a Ph.D. track, Steve Glaeser from ThinkCERCA and his wife, Millicent, owner of the Etsy store FindingFlora, her sisters Mallory Granrath with Studio 890 Salons & Spa and Madalyn Granrath, a Whole Foods florist, filmmaker Alexander Headley and his sister, Danielle Headley, from Blush.
If you have any tips for Boris and Doris, contact them at borisanddorisott@aol.com. Their next column will appear in the April 16 issue of the Shepherd.
