Milwaukee theater veterans Jonathan Gillard Daly, Linda Stephens and Bri Sudia star in Renaissance Theaterworks' final show of the season. Suzan Fete directs the cast in a production of Athol Fugard's The Road to Mecca . The life and work of South African outsider artist Helen Martins is brought to the intimate stage of the Broadway Theatre Center's Studio Theatre at the beginning of next month.
Linda Stephens plays Martins who, at the time of the play, has been crafting a sculpture garden in apartheid-era South Africa for 20 years. Boredom with a life she considered dull inspired her using cement, glass and wire to decorate her home and the area just outside it. Daly plays a conservative pastor who wants to move the venerable artist to an old age home. Sudia plays her dearest friend—one who wishes to keep her free. Martins must work out whether she wants to continue feverishly transforming her space to the end of her life or heed her deteriorating health and let it go. It's a script that delves into the core of human endeavor.
It takes many hands to set the mood for the story of the acclaimed Martins. Local artist Kathryne Martin has created sculptures for the production. Non-profit leadership development organization, PEARLS for Teen Girls, contributed a couple thousand owl figurines to be used in the show.
Renaissance Theaterworks production of The Road to Mecca runs April 5-28 at the Broadway Theatre Center's Studio Theatre. For ticket reservations, call 414-291-7800 or visit broadwaytheatrecenter.com.
Stay on top of the news of the day
Subscribe to our free, daily e-newsletter to get Milwaukee's latest local news, restaurants, music, arts and entertainment and events delivered right to your inbox every weekday, plus a bonus Week in Review email on Saturdays.
Theatre Happenings
- Babbling Bohemian Productions presents Jeff Ircink's “Hashtag Mayhem,” a program of dark theatrical shorts directed by Ircink and other talents—including Bo Johnson, Jason Waszak and Gretchen Mahkorn—through April 6 at the Alchemist Theatre. For ticket reservations, visit alchemisttheatre.com.
- Next month, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre closes its season with Matt Daniels’ return as that unflappable British butler in Jeeves In Bloom , April 11-28 at Broadway Theatre Center’s Cabot Theatre. For ticket reservations, call 414-291-7800 or visit broadwaytheatrecenter.com.
