2015 Annual Report
Board of Directors OFFICERS Jerome M. Janzer Board Chair Laura Gough Vice Chair & Chair Elect Raymond L. Wilson Secretary/Treasurer Jacqueline Herd-Barber Immediate Past Chair
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Pency P. Byhardt Lori A. Craig Ralph Hollmon Paul Milakovich Andy Nunemaker Lynn Sprangers
BOARD Jason W. Allen Alfreda Bradley-Coar Joel Brennan Tom Cardella Juan M. Carrasquillo Grady L. Crosby Scott Hickey Alex Lasry Gladys Manzanet David Marcus Janan Najeeb Kip Ritchie Jeff Sherman Mark Slesar Michael Stull
Since 1969, the Marcus Center has been enriching the community through the performing arts and this year was certainly no exception. During 2015, the Center turned in another strong, positive financial performance, completed important capital improvements and launched new initiatives that enhanced our leadership role as a diverse, cultural arts center that reflects the rich diversity of our community. Here are just a few highlights of what we experienced during the past year: w Continued to grow as a gathering place for special events. In 2015, we had 321 days of activity in the Center with a total of 2288 events & rehearsals averaging over 7 events per day. w Provided a state-of-the-art facility for our resident groups - Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, First Stage, Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Ballet and Black Arts Think Tank – to stage world-class performances. w Made significant capital improvements to the facility. In 2015, we completed the second phase of lobby renovation and expansion in Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall. This final phase included the construction of ADA accessible restrooms on the lobby level, a new entrance plus box office on the Riverwalk, a new coatroom and a built-in bar. w Continued strong Broadway attendance and sales. Our engagement of The Book of Mormon was seen by over 35,000 people and we sold over $1.1 million in tickets to Motown The Musical. The Groups Sales team continued its record-setting pace with nearly $1.2 million in sales for the season. w Grew our diversity and community engagement portfolio adding a new outreach program - Arts Connect with Milwaukee Public Schools. We launched the program with a week long camp during Motown The Musical where 20 MPS’ Riverside University High School students participated in learning about job opportunities in all areas of the arts, participated in movement classes and acting workshops plus got advice about applying for college. w Joined forces with the Black Arts Think Tank (BATT), a new innovative umbrella organization consolidating the administration and business operations of important Milwaukee arts organizations: Ko-Thi Dance Company and the African American Children’s Theatre. The Center teamed up with BATT to present their first full production of Black Nativity. This production was a major success and brought in a diverse group to the newly renovated Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall. w Strengthened our commitment as a dedicated veterans memorial by hosting the 6th annual Flag Day plus performances by Navy Band Great Lakes and 132nd Army Band at our free live entertainment series, Live at Peck Pavilion.
We are proud stewards of the Community’s performing arts center — and are grateful to County Executive Chris Abele, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors and the citizens of Milwaukee County for the public dollars that help underwrite our operations and contribute to our capital repairs and improvements. The Center’s continued success is due to their support and the support of our many sponsors, partners, donors, patrons, board members, resident groups and dedicated staff and volunteers. Our success is your success.
Jerome M. Janzer, Board Chair
Paul Mathews, President & CEO
2015 Consolidated Income * Audited $12,659,536 1% 11%
12%
3%
8%
4% 14%
35% 2% 8%
2%
2015 Consolidated Expenses * Audited $11,269,016 .4% 5% 7%
3% .6%
2015 Attendance 557, 202 45%
6%
27%
* Pre Depreciation
4%
2%
2015 Organizations & Types of Events The Marcus Center is growing as a community gathering space. Our users and types of use reflects our performing arts spaces, performances and community events held in our various, diverse spaces to serve the Milwaukee community. Uihlein Hall Broadway Series at the Marcus Center: Anything Goes, Mamma Mia!, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Blue Man Group,The Book of Mormon Motown the Musical, Dirty Dancing, Wicked Cantos de las Americas Chamber Theater Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Florentine Opera Company Historic Milwaukee Open Doors Governor Scott Walker Event Marcus Center Presents Series: Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight, The Midtown Men, Darlene Love: Love for the Holidays, Medical College White Coat Event Milwaukee Ballet Company Milwaukee Business Journal Women of Influence Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra MMAC US Bank Shen Yun Rehearsals Event and Rehearsal Total: 695 Todd Wehr Theater First Stage UPAF Kick Off Event Rehearsals Event and Rehearsal Total:
Kidz Stage Under Construction Event and Rehearsal Total:
0
Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall Associated Bank Black Arts Think Tank (BATT) Black Nativity Christopher Titus Florentine Opera Company George Winston Historic Milwaukee Open Doors Mainstreet Song and Dance Marcus Center Presents Series: Red Hot Chilli Pipers Marcus Center Off Broadway Series: The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron, Love, Loss and What I Wore, Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus LIVE!, Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man,The Second City’s Holidazed and Confused Revue MGIC Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) New Glarus Brewing Movie Screening Phil Woods and Brian Lynch in Concert with We Six Wisconsin High School Poetry Competition Rehearsals Event and Rehearsal Total: 85
292
Types of use included but not limited to: Performing Arts, Children’s Programming and Education, Free Community Events, Commercial Presenters & Business Users, Classes, Catered Events, and Rehearsals. Performances are referenced in bold.
Peck Pavilion City Year Milwaukee Flag Day Event Florentine Opera Company KidZ Days at the Center Live At Peck Series: Navy Band Great Lakes, Danceworks, Broadway Lunch with Niffer Clarke and Paul Helm, Tosa Jazz, Xalaat Africa Drum and Dance, Florentine Opera, 132nd Army Band, Ballet Folklorico Nacional, Concord Chamber Orchestra, Pommersche Tanzdeel Freistadt, Mike Schneider Polka Peck Flicks Movie Series: The Mighty Ducks, Back to the Future, E.T. :The Extra Terrestrial, Field of Dreams MKE Oktoberfest Milwaukee Bucks Dancer Finals Morning Glory Fine Craft Fair MYSO Showcase Patriotic Concert Taste of Islands Trinity Irish Dancers Event and Rehearsal Total: 61 Other Spaces Cultural Alliance BMO Harris Bank Holiday Lighting Fireworks MKE Oktoberfest Milwaukee County Pension Board MilwaukeeJobs.com Morning Glory Fine Craft Fair My Best Friend Is Straight Pajama Jamboree United Performing Arts Fund Various Meetings & Classes Rehearsals & Tours WI Society of Professional Engineers Event and Rehearsal Total: 585
Catered Events Bradley Pavilion, Atrium, Green Room and Magin Lounge Actuant Advicent Holiday Reception African American Chamber of Commerce Alpha Beta Boule ARCW Jolly Holly Folly Arts Midwest Associated Bank Baird Company Bank of America Black Arts Think Tank (BATT) BMO Harris Bank Carthage College CARW CRE Awards Catholic Memorial Children’s Hospital City Lights City of Milwaukee Crimson Summer-Dasha Kelly Cultural Alliance Dancer’s Circle Delta Air Lines Diverse and Resilient Divine Savior Holy Angels Downtown Milwaukee Management Downtown Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival DSHA Easter Brunch EastTown Annual Meeting Family Nights First Bank First Stage Florentine Opera Company Frontiers International Governor Scott Walker Event Green Bay Packers Heartland Funds Holocaust Resource Center International Women’s Day Johnson Financial Group Join Polly’s Jaunts Performances are referenced in bold.
Catered Events Bradley Pavilion, Atrium, Green Room and Magin Lounge Kone Elevators Latin Dance Club Libertyville Bank Marquette University MATC Lamp of Knowledge McClure Financial Group MGIC Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee Arts Board Milwaukee Business Journal Women of Influence Milwaukee County Board Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra MLK Event MMAC MU Alpha Phi Red Dress Gala MU Basketball MU Buffet Lunch MU Coach VIP Reception MU Engineering MU Malpractice Ball New Glarus Brewing NML PAC Usher Reunion Prospect Heights Rexnord Saint A Fundraiser Shen Yun State Bank of the Lakes United Performing Arts Fund US Bank Vici Dohrwardt Waukesha North High School Wedding Receptions WRA Awards Dinner YWCA Rehearsals Event and Rehearsal Total:
388
Performances are referenced in bold. *Number affected by Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall Renovation
2015 Total Events & Rehearsals 2,106*
2015 Highlights... MSO
The Book of Mormon
Ryan Bondy, Cody Jamison Strand The Book of Mormon (c) Joan Marcus 2016
Darlene Love: Love for the Holidays
First Stage
Black Nativity
Florentine Opera Paul Ruffolo Photography
January BMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series presented Anything Goes.
April The Marcus Center Presents series brought Mark Twain’s writings to audiences like never before in Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight!
The Marcus Center’s Opening Our Doors hosted an event for Employee Resource Groups during Anything Goes.
Off Broadway at the Marcus Center series brought the romantic comedy, Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man and the return of Men are from Mars,Women are from Venus LIVE!
Off Broadway at the Marcus Center series brought the one of a kind show, The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? First Stage kicked off the New Year with Stargirl. The Marcus Center and Milwaukee Public Schools presented the 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration in Uihlein Hall. February BMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series presented Mamma Mia! The Florentine Opera returned to the newly renovated Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall with From Vienna to the Great White Way. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presented Bernstein & Prokofiev, One Singular Sensation, Fairytale Favorites and de Waart Conducts Strauss. First Stage continued their season with the eccentric show, Big Nate:The Musical. March Off Broadway at the Marcus Center series hosted the Drama Desk Award-winning show, Love, Loss and What I Wore. BMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee continued with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The Marcus Center’s Family Nights hosted an event for families during Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
BMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series presented Blue Man Group. The Marcus Center’s Family Nights hosted an event for families during Blue Man Group. Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presented An Evening with Itzhak Perlman. First Stage continued their season with the world premier of Luchadora. May BMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series presented The Book of Mormon. The Milwaukee Ballet celebrated the rags to riches story of Cinderella. Florentine Opera’s 81st season came to a close with Gaetano Donizetti-The Elixir of Love. The Marcus Center hosted the 26th year of Cantos de las Americas in Uihlein Hall. First Stage presented the humorous, magical and heart filling show, Big Fish. June The Marcus Center presented its 6th annual Flag Day celebration.
The Milwaukee Ballet presented classic story of Giselle.
The Milwaukee Symphony Pops closed its season with the powerful Carmina Burana.
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performed the iconic masterpiece Can You Hear the People Sing?
KidZ Days at the Center returned to KidZ Stage with new FREE family, educational programming.
The Florentine Opera presented the two-time Grammy Award winning opera Elmer Gantry.
Motown The Musical
Arts Connect
Cantos de las Americas
Family Nights
The Temptations MOTOWN THE MUSICAL First National Tour (c) Joan Marcus, 2014
Milwaukee Ballet
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration
Luz San Miguel and Alexandre Ferreira. Photo by Tom Davenport
July BMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series presented Motown the Musical.
October-Continued The Marcus Center and Marquette Park hosted the Authentic Milwaukee MKE Oktoberfest on the Marcus Center grounds.
The Marcus Center’s Opening Our Doors hosted an event for Employee Resource Groups during Motown the Musical.
First Stage continued their 15/16 Season with Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach.
The Marcus Center launched its new outreach program for Milwaukee Public High School students called Arts Connect and provided workshop opportunities during Motown the Musical. The 10th Annual Broadway Bash was presented by the Marcus Center during the run of Motown the Musical.
Milwaukee Ballet returned with the hit production of Dracula. Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presented On Broadway and Hadelich Plays Beethoven. Florentine Opera began their season with Giacomo PucciniMadama Butterfly in Uihlein Hall.
The Marcus Center continued its free movie series called Peck Flicks in Peck Pavilion.
November First Stage brought the holiday classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas, to Todd Wehr Theater.
The Marcus Center provided free entertainment with the Live at Peck Pavilion series and was sponsored by MilwaukeeJobs.com.
Marcus Center Presents returned with the famous bagpipe group, Red Hot Chilli Pipers and the original cast of Jersey Boys in The Midtown Men.
August Morning Glory Gallery celebrated its 10-year anniversary and the Wisconsin Designer Crafts Council held their Annual Morning Glory Fine Craft Fair.
The Associated Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series presented the return of Wicked.
The Marcus Center hosted Milwaukee gem, Dasha Kelly, in the Fitch Gardens for Crimson Summer. The Marcus Center ended its free Live at Peck Pavilion series with a closing celebration called Taste of Islands.
The Marcus Center’s Family Nights hosted an event for families during Wicked. Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra celebrated the holidays with music to Home Alone and presented Schubert & Grieg.
September The Marcus Center participated in Milwaukee’s Historic Opening Our Doors.
December The Marcus Center and Black Arts Think Tank (BATT) presented an outstanding performance of Black Nativity in Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall.
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra continued their new season with An American in Paris and it was lead by Maestro de Waart.
Marcus Center Presents series brought Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Darlene Love, to Uihlein Hall for Love for the Holidays.
October The new Associated Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series opened with Dirty Dancing.
The Milwaukee Ballet continued the Holiday tradition with a presentation of The Nutcracker. Off Broadway at the Marcus Center series returned with Second City’s Holidazed and Confused Revue. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra brought the holiday classics to the stage and included Country Christmas with Sara Evans, Holiday Pops and The Snowman.
Opening Our Doors
Diversity and Community Engagement in 2015 Throughout the year, the Marcus Center’s diversity initiative offers experiences both at the Center and within the community that embraces diversity and engages audiences through the performing arts. Here are some highlights of those experiences:
Now in its 13th year of providing a free program for children and families, throughout the summer months. This free community service provides interactive programming in the arts, health, literacy, culture and environmental education. Through this program, we are able to serve more than 5,000 children each summer outside at KidZ Stage.
A component of KidZ Days At the Center and was launched in the summer of 2011. Through this program, we are able to provide educational and interactive arts programming at various community-based organizations throughout the city of Milwaukee. This program allows us to reach more children that do not have the means to attend our on-site programming. We served more than 15 different organizations, reaching over 3,000 kids.
An audience development initiative, specifically designed to encourage at-risk families in targeted neighborhoods to attend theatre together at least twice throughout the Broadway Season. These experiences include great seating for the show, a post-performance reception and an opportunity to meet and talk with the cast & crew. This year our host organizations were the Hmong American Friendship Association and The Burmese Immersion Project. Several families were able to see Wicked, Blue Man Group and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. A program that is designed to develop and engage audiences at the Center and is sponsored by Northwestern Mutual. This program reaches employees of local corporations that are a part of Employee Resource Groups, including Hispanic, African American, Middle Eastern, LGBT and Veterans. This year’s shows were Anything Goes and Motown The Musical. Local veterans groups and African American Affinity Networks participated from Northwestern Mutual, Johnson Controls and GE Healthcare.
The newly formed Marcus Center’s Arts Connect program is a collaboration with Milwaukee Public Schools. For the 2015/16 Season, the Marcus Center worked with 20 MPS’ Riverside University High School students that have a strong interest in the performing arts. As part of this program, the students participated in a weeklong summer intensive in conjunction with the Broadway Smash, Motown The Musical in July. Culminating the weeklong intensive, the students had the opportunity to see the live performance of Motown The Musical. In addition, the students had other opportunities to participate in exclusive workshops with select cast of both the Center’s Broadway and Off-Broadway Shows. The Center’s major fundraising event that supports its diversity and community engagement programs. This year’s Bash featured the hit Broadway Show- Motown The Musical. More than 300 guests joined us for a fun evening of gourmet dining, sponsored by our exclusive caterer, Sazama’s Fine Catering, premier seating for the Broadway show, a post show dessert reception and auction opportunities throughout the evening. Another annual free community celebration of culture, traditions, folk dancing, music, and a comprehensive tribute to education. The concert features students performing songs and dances from the Caribbean, Africa, South America, Mexico, in addition to the Hmong, Laotian and Native American cultures. The Marcus Center is proud to have been the host of this event for 26 years.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration
Takes place in January of each year. Our Celebration focuses on keeping the impactful legacy of Dr. King alive. Now in its 31st year, this free community Celebration offers programming that highlights the youth in our community who every year interpret Dr. King’s words through an art, speech and writing contest. In addition, various cultural arts organizations take center stage in Uihlein Hall, truly demonstrating the excellence of our arts community.
Flag Day Celebration
Part of our continued commitment to honor our veterans for their heroic service is by hosting an annual Flag Day Celebration each year in Peck Pavilion. Our program, sponsored by CBRE/ESI, includes a Presentation of Colors, Invocation, Moment of Silence & POW Respect, a keynote speaker and more. Since 1969, when the Marcus Center opened its doors, we have been proud to be a Milwaukee County War Memorial honoring those who bravely served our country. As a result, this is one of the many veteran initiatives that we lead each year. This year we incorporated a Naturalization Ceremony with more than 100 people becoming citizens of the United States, right here on our grounds.
Our Mission As a bridge between cultures, the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts offers facilities and services of the highest quality, makes available a wide range of the performing arts, and acts as an energizing force for effective collaboration and advocacy in the community.
Our Vision The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts serves as a gathering place for diverse cultures, by providing the setting for outstanding cultural experiences and events, where the arts come to life for current and future generations.
Our Statement Of Guiding Values w
Complete Customer Satisfaction w w
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Maintaining a State of the Art Entertainment Facility
Providing Diverse Offerings of Arts and Entertainment w
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Being Smart Stewards of a Public Facility
Teamwork and Respect and in Fostering Diversity in our Workforce and Board of Directors
Sustaining Strong Community Support for the Arts
Ina Onilu Drum and Dance Ensemble at the 2015 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration
