ANNUAL REPORT TO BE THE CATALYST FOR LIFELONG DISCOVERY & EXPLORATION OF THE ARTS. 19805 W. Capitol Drive Table of Contents Brookfield, WI 53045 Board President and Executive Director Message ..................3 General: (262) 781-9470 Performing Arts ..................................4 Box Office: (262) 781-9520 In the Community ................................8 Fax: (262) 781-9198 Visual Arts .......................................10 wilson-center.com Classroom Programs .........................12 Events .............................................14 Financial .........................................18 Community Events .............................20 Financial Contributors .......................21 Board and Staff ................................25 Cover: Danceworks, Inc. at the 2011 Style Show. Photo by Beth Spelman. 2 A MESSAGE FROM Sue Bellehumeur, Board President Jonathan Winkle, Executive Director The Wilson Center’s 10th Anniversary season in 2011-12 kicked off with a performance by Country music royalty; Rosanne Cash performed selections from her critically acclaimed album The List, which was inspired by a real life interaction between Rosanne and her father, Johnny Cash. Two weeks later, Ambrose Akinmusire, a young lion in the jazz world, took us back to 1959 with his multi- media interpretation of Miles Davis’ monumentally influential album, Kind of Blue. These were highlights, to be sure, but there were many other exceptional performances including Paula Cole’s blistering and emotionally riveting live performance of her hit songs; Ailey II’s vibrant performance of Alvin Ailey’s landmark dance work Revelations; The King’s Singers intimate and utterly transparent that also included the environment and the arts, was also a success. vocal perfection; Pallavi Mahidhara’s virtuosic display performing But the highlight of the season was the mini-residency by Ailey II; works for piano by Prokofiev and Scriabin; and local trumpeter Eric their dancers and artistic staff worked intensively with dancers from Jacobson with his “Tribute to Clifford Brown,” a definitive display of Milwaukee Ballet II and UWM’s Peck School of the Arts, performing inspired programming and virtuosic playing. for young students who attended the Beyond the Classroom Series. Nearly one-third of the sold-out house remained long after the Visual art programming was at its very best with an opening Ploch performance was concluded to take part in the post-performance Art Gallery exhibition of Katie Musolff’s River Journal, an equally Artist Dialogue with the dancers of Ailey II. witty and insightful observation of nature’s cycle of life and death at river’s edge. Following was the single largest exhibit in the Center’s The Wilson Center also initiated its most collaborative project to history – a selection of works from Jane Doud’s life-long assemblage date: The Starry Nights Orchestra, comprised of members of the of work by Wisconsin artists, which also included some of Jane’s Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, own paintings. Jane Doud was an enormously important figure in Present Music, the Wisconsin Philharmonic, Milwaukee Chamber visual art in southeastern Wisconsin, and it is was an honor for the Orchestra, and other local ensembles. Milwaukee Youth Symphony Wilson Center to pay its respects to her legacy with this exhibition. Orchestra Artistic Director Carter Simmons led this distinguished The season concluded, appropriately, with a 10-year retrospective group, which also featured vocal soloists from the Florentine Opera exhibit of 16 of the 50-plus artists who have had their work in two successful outdoor summertime performances, first at the displayed at the Center. Wilson Center and then in downtown Milwaukee at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. This project would not have been Our Arts Education offerings featured several Beyond the Classroom a success without the collaborative efforts of Paul Mathews of the programs, including We the People; a stunning production of Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, General Director William Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters; and the Florentine Opera’s rendition Florescu of The Florentine Opera, Carter Simmons, and leadership of the Three Little Pigs, among others. Our week-long summer of the Wilson Center. Arts Camp was tremendously successful with 50-plus students in attendance from St. Marcus Lutheran School, 95th Street School All in all, the 10th anniversary season at the Sharon Lynne Wilson (MPS), the Above the Clouds program, and from the Elmbrook Center for the Arts was celebratory, vital, innovative, and kept our School District. In addition, the insertion of the mathematical larger community front and center throughout the performances, Fibonacci Sequence into the program’s core curriculum, talks, exhibits, and educational experiences. We look forward to many more years of creating with all of you! Sue Bellehumeur, President Jonathan Winkle, Executive Director 3 Roseanne Cash kicked off the season with a sold-out performance PERFORMING on September 24, 2011. Photo by Beth Spelman. ARTS Since its inception, the Wilson Center has achieved widespread recognition as a leader in the presentation of eclectic and culturally diverse programs and exhibitions, featuring local, national, and internationally renowned artists—and no season has illustrated that more than the recently completed 10th Anniversary Season. In celebration of this milestone, the Center’s flagship offerings, the Performing Arts Series and Special Appearances, showcased a star- studded lineup encompassing nearly every artistic genre, featuring exceptional artists from around the world. Award winning, singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash kicked off the season with a sold-out performance featuring songs from her latest album The List—a collection of 100 essential country songs her father Johnny Cash gave her as a teenager. We then moved from American country music royalty to a performance honoring arguably the most iconic innovator of American jazz music—Miles The Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet performed The Miles Davis Davis. The Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet performed The Experience on October 8, 2011. Photo by Pat Robinson. Miles Davis Experience, a new immersive musical production that recaptured the sound and historical and cultural context of this critical period of American history through the lens of jazz music and its most iconic innovator, Miles Davis. 4 Bluegrass was the next musical genre showcased with a Each year, we celebrate the holidays with a series of Special performance by the award-winning duo Dailey and Vincent. Appearances and this season audiences needed their passports! The most heralded new act in bluegrass, Jamie Dailey and Darrin Hailing from historic County Waterford, traditional Irish ensemble Vincent earned seven 2011 Bluegrass Music Awards and a 2011 Danú transported a sold-out audience on a musical journey with GRAMMY® Award nomination. their glorious Christmas in Ireland: An Nollaig in Éirinn Celtic Christmas program—a moving and memorable experience for all. One of pop music’s most compelling vocalists, Paula Cole was Back in America, it simply wouldn’t be the holidays at the Wilson the next artist to grace our stage—the singer-songwriter enthralled Center without perennial favorite the Milwaukee Symphony our audience with her soaring, agile soprano and remarkable Orchestra ringing in the season with yet another sold-out musicianship. presentation of their Holiday Pops program. Bluegrass duo Dailey and Vincent performed on October 29, 2011. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performed on December 11, Photo by Jim Mcguire. 2011. Photo by Todd Daquisto. Pop star Paula Cole performed on November 18, 2011. Photo by Beth Spelman. 5 Suitably recovered from the holidays, we were fortunate to present one Our 10th Anniversary Season concluded with a trip to the “great white of the nation’s most exciting and popular dance companies to a sold-out way.” Broadway Today! featured four Broadway veteran artists audience. Ailey II merges the spirit and energy of the country’s best performing show tunes from some of the most popular shows in history, young dance talent with the passion and creative vision originated by including Wicked, South Pacific, West Side Story, and The Lion King. the iconic Alvin Ailey. It is almost impossible to believe that ten years have already passed One of the world’s most celebrated ensembles also graced our stage since the Wilson Center first opened its doors—but, as we enter the for the first time. The King’s Singers made their Wilson Center debut Center’s second decade, we remain as committed as ever to presenting and dazzled a sold-out audience with their impeccable vocal blend and diverse programs by both little known and internationally renowned delightful British wit which has earned them acclaim as a class act group artists who engage, excite, and leave you on the edge of your seat! of consummate entertainers. The King’s Singers performed on March 16, 2012. Broadway Today! performed on May 19, 2012. Ailey II performed on February 11, 2012. Photo by Beth Spelman. 6 CORE VALUE COLLABORATION. WE VALUE THE POWER OF COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH WHICH ARTS PROGRAMMING IS ENRICHED AND MADE ACCESSIBLE TO THE GREATER COMMUNITY. The Wilson Center’s annual Style Show added an artistic component featuring members from Milwaukee’s Florentine Opera Company. Photo by Beth Spelman. 7 IN THE COMMUNITY With an ongoing commitment to engage audiences in the most