February 04, 2022

Skylight Announces Black History Month Events

Soul Review Saturday, Feb. 19 Pay-What-You-Wish Cabaret

 Forgotten Voices Free On-Demand During February

In-Person Monday Night Dance Break Classes Feb. 21 & 28

Milwaukee, Wis. (February 4, 2022) — Skylight Music Theatre announced special events taking place in February in celebration of Black History Month. Skylight is Milwaukee’s professional Equity music theatre company. Safety requirements are in effect, including masks while indoors and proof of vaccination or negative Covid test before entering the building.

 

One-Night-Only “Soul Review” Cabaret

Soul Review, a one-night-only cabaret, will be presented on Saturday, February 19 at 7 p.m. The show stars three of Skylight’s favorite performers, Raven Dockery, Shawn Holmes, and Kevin James Sievert singing with an on-stage band, live in the Studio Theater at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward.

Soul Review features songs by Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire and Stevie Wonder, among others. The three performers are longtime friends who have often worked together on the Skylight stage.

“In addition to great tunes and witty banter, your soul is guaranteed to be moved,” said Dockery. The trio will be accompanied by a three-piece band of piano, guitar and percussion led by Paul Sucherman.

Soul Review is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested amount of $20. The Skylight Bar & Bistro, located on the second floor of the Broadway Theatre Center, will be open one hour before and one hour after the Soul Review cabaret. Skylight Bar & Bistro is operated by Sabrosa Cafe & Gallery. More information about Skylight Bar & Bistro is here.

 

“Forgotten Voices” Filmed Presentation Free in February

Skylight Music Theatre will offer free access during the month of February to the virtual production Forgotten Voices – Unearthing the Roots of American Music. In celebration of the contribution of Black artists, Forgotten Voices was directed and written by Sheri Williams Pannell and music directed and curated by Christie Chiles Twillie in honor of Juneteenth in 2021.

“Forgotten Voices came from our passion, knowledge, and desire to correct misinformation, especially when it comes to the African American experience and music,” said Pannell. In a musical and theatrical journey, Forgotten Voices highlights how musical roots encompass harmonies and rhythms of West Africa, which then became Freedom Songs, Spirituals and Blues, on through Ragtime, Dixieland, Country, Swing, BeBop, Jazz, Gospel, Rock n’ Roll and beyond.

Access to Forgotten Voices is free, but donations are encouraged. Visit www.skylightmusictheatre.org/forgottenvoices to stream on demand.

 

“Monday Night Dance Break” Classes

Music theatre dance classes celebrating Black History Month will be held on Monday, February 21 and Monday, February 28 at 7 p.m. in the Broadway Theatre Center 4^th floor rehearsal studio. The classes will be taught by two local choreographers, Wanyah Frazier and Christopher Gilbert. Monday Night Dance Break classes are one hour 15 minutes and cost $15, payable at the door.

Frazier is a Milwaukee native and founder of Wolf Studios. Outside of leading his successful studio, he is a producer and photographer focusing on increasing opportunities within the Milwaukee area arts community. Gilbert is a professional dancer, choreographer, and motivational speaker, who aims to promote joy and help people celebrate their unique qualities and best selves through dance. To register or for more information contact Amanda Rosmann at AmandaR@skylightmusictheatre.org. Safety requirements are in effect, including masks while indoors and proof of vaccination or negative Covid test.

 

Soul Review Box Office Information

Soul Review Cabaret

Saturday, February 19, doors open 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m.

Length: 75 minutes

General admission seating. Studio Theater in the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI. 53202.

Pay-what-you-wish. Suggested ticket price of $20.

Tickets available in advance or prior to showtime at the Broadway Theatre Center Box Office. Call (414) 291-7800, visit 158 N. Broadway, Monday – Saturday, from noon - 6 p.m. or email tickets@skylightmusictheatre.org.

Safety requirements are in effect, including masks while indoors and proof of vaccination or negative Covid test.

 

Soul Review Cast Biographies

Raven Dockery was last seen at Skylight Music Theatre in Little Shop of Horrors as Ronette. Other Skylight roles include Ismene in The Gospel at Colonus, Lula Buffington in Violet, Velma in Crowns, Asaka in Once on this Island and Dionne in Hair. Dockery appeared in the KidsWrites: Me, Myself and I tour and Raven and Ryan on Shuffle, a part of the Cabaret Series. She is a teaching and performing artist. Dockery performed with Paramount Theatre, Barn Theatre, First Stage and Milwaukee Rep. She received her Bachelors in Fine Arts from UW-Milwaukee and her Masters in Music from Carthage College. Raven currently teaches at Carthage College and is also a licensed cosmetologist.

Shawn Holmes was last seen at Skylight Music Theatre in The Full Monty. In addition to Skylight, Holmes has performed throughout Wisconsin at Florentine Opera, First Stage, Middleton Players Theatre, Black Arts MKE, and Four Seasons Theatre. Favorite roles include: Coalhouse Walker Jr. from Ragtime (winner of best actor in a musical - Broadway World), Sebastian the Crab in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and Jacob in La Cage aux Folles at Skylight (winner of Best Supporting Actor in a musical - Footlight Awards). 

Kevin James Sievert is an actor, singer, choreographer and musician based in Wisconsin. Sievert has been seen previously in Skylight Music Theatre’s productions of Little Shop of Horrors, Hot Mikado, Urinetown, Disney’s Newsies, The Gospel at Colonus and Five Guys Named Moe as Little Moe. Other Milwaukee credits include Carrie: The Musical with Outskirts Theatre and has served as choreographer for Waukesha South’s 2020 production of Pippin.

Parking

Purchase $5 parking vouchers from the Broadway Theatre Center Box office for use in the Historic Third Ward

parking garage at 212 N. Milwaukee Street (one block east and one block north). Vouchers are valid between 5 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. for the evening performance. Voucher sales stop 30 minutes before showtime. Meter parking is available on the street (free after 6 p.m. and on Sundays).

 

Health & Safety Protocols

Skylight Music Theatre has joined other Milwaukee performing arts organizations in requiring proof of vaccination or negative Covid test within 72 hours of performance along with valid photo ID for all audience members ages 12 and up. In addition, Skylight requires audiences to be masked at all times while indoors, regardless of vaccination status. For up-to-date information, please visit www.skylightmusictheatre.org/health.

About Skylight Music Theatre

Skylight Music Theatre is a proud Cornerstone Member of the United Performing Arts Fund.

Founded in 1959, Skylight is Milwaukee’s professional Equity music theatre company and the largest employer of Wisconsin actors in the state. Skylight produces the full spectrum of music theatre ranging from blockbuster Broadway musicals to reimagined operas, and from exciting world premieres to contemporary off-Broadway hits. Skylight’s mainstage home is the Cabot Theatre in the Broadway Theatre Center, which was built by Skylight in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward in 1992. Skylight Music Theatre marks its 62nd season in 2021-2022.

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• BHM2022