What happens next will delight and amaze you.

The Challenge

2009-08-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Readers,

Well, thanks for making that a big success! I put in our $415 this morning. Hope to do it again sometime before the 18th...gotta make that $50,000.00 goal. Feel free to contribute more to the Skylight in weeks to come. We are really going to need it!

Peace and thanks again!

Sincerely,

JJ

PS Barber rehearsals start today. I wonder if we will hear the fateful "What happens next..." words in the coming week!

BLOG CHALLENGE UPDATE

2009-08-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

Alrighty folks, you have, by my watch, exactly 10 hours to get your comments in...please comment to the post containing Norman's letter (oh, and please read the post too!), although comments on this and the posts between this and Norman's letter will count.

We made it to 70...that's $350x3...wanna try for 100?!?

Ready, Se...GO ALREADY! Time's a tickin'!

2009-08-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

Blog Challenge and NEW CHALLENGES

2009-08-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

For every reader that comments on my last blog post (please post your comments to that post), I will donate $5 to the Skylight. Ready, set, GO! Thanks, Micki!

Ray Jivoff has offered to match whatever we raise.

Maggey White has offered to match whatever we raise.

That means every comment is worth $15! Go ye and comment!

Brother, Sister, can you lend a dime?

2009-08-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, the Skylight Opera Theatre has undergone a hell of a summer. But the staff, the interim management, the Board of Directors and the community are all pitching in to help pull this beloved institution back from the brink.

In addition to the super exciting benefit that will happen on Sept 1st in the BTC and in the park just south of the BTC from 5pm to 10pm with over 50 artists donating their talents and filling the night with music,

http://www.skylightopera.com/visitus/openhouse.html

you now have a chance to help the theater directly. Tonight. So please read the following letter. Consider what you can do. Please join us on Sept 1st for what promises to be an incredibly memorable evening! And call now (414.291.7800) for season tickets to what will be a raucous 50th anniversary season. If you can't become a subscriber now, please consider stopping in to see the Barber of Seville. Single tickets are also on sale.

Here's that letter:

Dear Lover of Art,

This is Norman Moses and I’m writing you to ask for money. How’s that for to the point?

If you have not been following the national arts news in the past month or so, you may
have missed the turmoil that has been going on in Milwaukee at the Skylight Opera Theater since June 16th. Dan Wakin of the New York Times came out with this article about it on August 4th.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/arts/music/04skylight.html?_r=1

Then, on August 5th, a day after the Times article came out, this bombshell landed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/arts/music/07arts-MANAGINGDIRE_BRF.html

The following article came out on Sunday, August 9th in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. We are now in amazingly good hands with.

http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/arts/52800097.html

Such is the power of peaceful protest. As a result of this upheaval, the Skylight artists and patrons have come together in an effort support the Skylight as it navigates through this difficult financial time.

The Skylight owns the Broadway Theater Center, which is the building that houses the offices and performing spaces for the Skylight, the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee Children’s Choir, and the Bel Canto Chorus and Present Music. Those arts groups depend upon the Skylight to remain financially stable.

In 1594 there were Queens and Kings who were the corporate sponsors for Shakespeare and his plays. We don’t have Kings and Queens any more. But we do have you. All of the Skylight artists are determined to continue to offer you the high quality music theater we have offered you for the past 50 years. With your help now, we will be able to offer it for another 50 years.

You can start now by helping us raise $50,000. Pledge 50 for 50. $50 for the Skylight’s 50th Anniversary season. Be one of the 1000 people to pledge $50 each by September 18th, the opening of the season. If you only have $10, ask four of your friends to chip in the same. Easy, right? You can spend $50, and then some, going out to dinner these days. So go out one evening less this month, and give that $50 to the Skylight. Pledge of multiples of $50 like $100, $250, $500, $1000…you get the point…are highly encouraged. There must be a few of you Kings and Queens out there yet.

If you are already a donor, thank you for your generous support. More than ever, we need you to continue your regular donations. Would you consider an additional pledge of $50 this year for the Skylight’s 50th anniversary season?

The Skylight artists have wonderful things in store for you this season, starting off with a free concert in Catalano Square (located just south of the Broadway Theater Center, 158 North Broadway) on September 1st, from 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm, during the Skylight Open House, which is 5:00 – 7:00. Many other great events are being planned for the entire season. It’s going to be an amazing anniversary.

Whether you can make a donation or not, please forward this e-mail to siblings, parents or friends who still may have a connection with, and love of Milwaukee, and who believe that the arts must flourish in our city. We are hoping all can chip in at least a little.

You can donate online here.

http://skylightopera.chipin.com/skylight-opera-theatre

Donations can also be sent directly to the Skylight. This link will send you to a donation form. It’s the second link on the Skylight page that says “click here.”

http://www.skylightopera.com/supportus/individual.html

You will receive a letter verifying your donation for tax purposes.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and please give as much as you can. Milwaukee has grown into an amazing city, and arts groups, like the Skylight, have contributed so much towards making it a wonderful place to live.

Yours truly,

Norman Moses

Around the World

2009-08-15T08:42:00.000-07:00

Chamber Theatre's Around the World in 80 Days is not to be missed! Just the kind of zany, pseudo-intellectual fun you need to start off your theater season right!

Thanks, always, to Michael Wright for bringing such fun theater to the community and special shout outs to:

Chris Klopatek - for the outrageous accent of the year. Also, one of the finest physical comedians I have ever seen!

Bobby Spencer - His will be a performance that you'll want to see more than once. Dare I think think that it'll become even more over-the-top in coming weeks? Bombay?

Norman Moses - Milwaukee's own Tim Conway. Versatile, irreverent, and genius.

Matt Daniels - I'd not seen him before. Plays the role perfectly. All of the casting is perfect. And the last few moments with this character make the entire evening worthwhile 10fold!

Marti Gobel - Saw her in Well last year. Fantastic young comedienne. She holds the show together!

As always, Patrick Holland out does himself as the master of directing invention. There is so much eye-candy, fun in this piece, so much clever use of props and set. It's a delight from a purely technical standpoint. Tell that to the actors who endured the tech!

Run, don't walk, to Around the World in 80 Days. You will be sorry if you miss it!

My Skylight Involvement for 09-10

2009-08-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

I've been getting a lot of questions about whether or not I'm going back to Skylight in the fall, etc.

Right now, I don't know much. I'm hoping the company moves to reinstate Diana before anyone else. With Colin holding down the artistic and managerial side of things until Joan gets in town, I think getting Diana back is most important.

As for me, I will be playing and conducting a few shows for Skylight next year: Barber, Marriage of Figaro, Rent, and potentially two cabarets. It does not appear that I will be going back on staff in the near future.

I plan to help out with as many benefits and events as I can through out the season.

I have high hopes for the Skylight, and I want to help every way I can, without getting in the way or costing the company undue expense. I hope others will be encouraged to do the same. Once Skylight is back on sound financial footing (and it will be, thanks to the entire community of arts' lovers in Milwaukee! and Colin, and Joan, and TONY, and so many people), perhaps there will be room for a larger staff that could include a full time music director. On the other hand, perhaps being fired for insubordination twice by one company is enough for anyone. I wouldn't want to risk a third time! And more importantly, perhaps Skylight does need to look at staff structure, in lieu of securing more donations, grants, and support. But they will have to do it intelligently, with the knowledge of the full staff, with the decision making of the entire BoD, and with the ok from the BoA.

Peace and love to all of my Skylight family, and the entire arts community in Milwaukee. Hope to see you at the BTC on Friday at 8:00am! Bring a bagel for Jonathan!

PS Just as a "heads-up" to anyone who signed the petition to help with benefits...3 things:

1) You don't have to be an artist to sign up! We will need help with marketing, tech, and other volunteering opportunities in addition to performing. You can even contribute more than one of your talents!

2) Save the date: Sept 1...rehearsal perhaps Aug 29th?...both events in the early evening.

3) If, as we contact folks, someone gets missed, don't hesitate to drop me an email (jjohns1304@gmail.com) Some of us involved in these "outside" efforts have never tried to organize something like this before, so there's bound to be some oversight. Thanks so much!

What happens next...

2009-08-06T06:34:00.001-07:00

Well, color me delighted and amazed. Still reeling and more than a bit shocked, tho.

Now...Do you want to have some REAL fun?

I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed:

"Skylight Benefit: Artist Sign-up"
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/skylightbenefits?e

I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes less than a minute of your time.

Thanks!

If you have ever worked for the Skylight, please consider taking part and sharing your talents. Here's to another 50 years!

In the Times

2009-08-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

One more time, from the NY Times. It looks like Eric is moving ahead with his solo vision for the company. Good luck, Eric. Skylight, we miss you.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/arts/music/04skylight.html?_r=1

Tuesdays

2009-08-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

If you have enjoyed it...

If it has informed you...

Support it.

http://www.tuesdaysblog.com/

July 31 Catalano Square Breakfast

2009-07-31T10:53:00.000-07:00

A delightful morning, on the cool side by the lake. 30-40 people in attendance...all walks. Administrators, donors, performers, board members, performing artists, visual artists, artists in training, you name it. The topic was respect and responsibility. Just what is the audience's responsibility, or the board's?

I'm more interested in the artists' responsibility. I reckon we think we are responsible to create, recreate, react, entertain and learn. But it looks like, unless you don't mind fasting and an audience of one, we also have to educate and proselytize. And raise money/awareness. And do our own advertising via word of mouth and social media. In other words, you, the artist, are every aspect of the art.

I hope that we "artists" can begin to take on all of this responsibility. If we step up to this challenge, then I believe the donors, the audience, the administrators and the board will step up as well. Perhaps then we can all call ourselves "creators", or at the very least "re-creators". Perhaps the difference between business and art is that in business you can afford to just be a cog...a part of a bigger structure. If the arts are to succeed and find support, perhaps we have to be cogs, but also the whole wheel.

Or, at the very least, we have to understand and support the whole wheel.

What does this mean? On the practical level, I think you start with inviting people you know who are not involved in the arts into your world. We have to treat "art" or "entertainment", if you prefer, as our religion. The theater, the museum, the recital hall, and the gallery are our temples. Go ye, and make disciples of all nations!

Unemployed

2009-07-30T13:26:00.000-07:00

Ah to be unemployed in summer! I am finally starting to enjoy it. Maybe it's because I'm getting back to a more normal lifestyle. That is, normal for me, albeit working about 30-40% less than usual, and making enough money to get by. I love it! More time for bike rides and walks. More time to enjoy nature and read. More time to catch up with friends.

There are those who still think the Skylight thing may turn around. I would think it would have to be sooner than later, but what do I know? I know this: my life seems, initially at least, a lot more relaxed without working for Skylight. Although it was a joy, it was not without its headaches. Maybe that's just doing theater vs. playing for a lot of miscellaneous gigs. Less late nights, and more variety.

Now that the dust seems to be settling, I think I'm grateful for being fired. I think if our jobs weren't tied to our health insurance, there would be a lot more people who would feel this way. GO OBAMA!

Skylight's board

2009-07-28T11:29:00.001-07:00

And the man behind the curtain is...

Bruce Murphy has new information!

Vince Shiely?!?

http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/murphyslaw/

Whoa!

2009-07-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

Hello, new readers!

I understand I may have offended a few folks with my comment on a blog posting from Sunday night:

The season will be filled with artists that are loyal to Dillner and the board will love that they work for nothing. Perhaps they can even pay to do a role, so they can have it on their resume.

I am so sorry I wasn't more clear. Of course, there are still a lot of artists that Bill cast in the season next year. We wish them all the best. I will be there at some Barber performance to cheer my dear friends Katy and Jason on.

Then there's the artists on the staff who need their jobs and may or may not think Dillner is doing a good job. We wish them all the best. The Skylight has been getting quite a bit of negative press lately, and none of these people: Shima, Barry, Lisa, Ray deserve anything but kudos and praise. That applies to everyone on staff, save one. I'll only print his initials: E.D.

Finally there are the new artists. Some will have no idea what is going on, and may not even have heard of the Skylight before. To them I say, good luck! I wish we could offer you a home to display your talents that had not been diminished and was not hostile to local and loyal artists. I hope you are able to do your best work possible. There are so many wonderful people on the staff that will avail themselves to you. Enjoy your stay in Milwaukee.

Some of these new artists may be cronies of Eric, perhaps they are even as nefarious and arrogant as Eric, and are more than happy to be self-serving and trample on a 50 year history. Let's separate them into two groups: A) Friends of Eric who are wonderful people; and B) Friends of Eric who are like Eric.

To the A) group I say, watch your back, but enjoy your stay in Milwaukee.

To the B) group I say, call me! Email me! JJohns1304@gmail.com I'd love to hear what you have to say in Eric's defense.

There, does that clear that up for anyone who fears I may be bad-mouthing artists, or any of my fellow colleagues? Please try to take all comments in context, and I will try to be more careful with my wording.

The Skylight Timeline

2009-07-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

With special thanks to Chris Krasovich and all others who helped to compile and edit this. Should you want a word copy to print or post, please email me at jjohns1304@gmail.com and I will forward one to you. Thanks!

Dear Reader,

The following content is offered as a means of bringing attention to recent events occurring at and around the Skylight Opera Theatre. Included is a brief timeline highlighting the course of events from the firing of Bill Theisen on 6.16.09 to the meeting between Skylight leadership and dissidents of 7.24.09 along with a list of links furnished as sources for additional information. It is our hope that with review of this documentation you will be moved to act as you see fit with regard to your ticket purchases, season subscriptions, volunteer efforts, and/or employment with the Skylight Opera Theatre. Should you feel compelled to contact the Skylight directly on these or any matters, you will find contact information for decision makers there at the end of this document.

6.16.09

Eric Dillner announces to Skylight staff that there will be furloughs and firings, beginning with Bill Theisen, and including Company Manager Diana Alioto, key box office staff, and a janitor.

Dillner announced the restructuring to Tom Strini at the Journal Sentinel via an email sent at 7:07 pm.

Tom Strini posts Dillner’s announcement on his blog and immediate negative response begins. Calls, letters, and e-mails are sent out to Skylight leadership in droves. An online petition is created along with a Facebook page entitled Bring Bill Back to Skylight. Jonathan West, Tony Clements, Jamie Johns, and Tom Strini begin blogging about the events.

6.17.09

The first of six articles is penned by Strini at JSOnline, to accompany his diligent blog coverage.

6.18.09

Jamie Johns is fired for insubordination and public attacks on the Skylight.

Theater critic Damien Jaques weighs in on the controversy.

The Skylight story goes national with a story posted on Playbill.com. NY Times coverage follows on 7.5 and 7.21.09.

6.19.09

A group of 75+ donors, audience members, and artists hold a peaceful protest outside the doors of the Broadway Theatre Center questioning the decisions of Skylight leadership and requesting a forum for discussion of the issues at hand.

As Eric Dillner enters the building he tells protestors to “talk to the board.”

Later in the day, Suzanne Hefty, board president posts a statement on Skylights website. The last sentence of her statement reads:

“If you have any questions regarding this information, the Skylight or the Broadway Theatre Center please contact Eric directly at 414-291-7811 ext. 221.”

6.21.09

Tom Strini of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel calls for Eric Dillner’s resignation.

Skylight Opera Theatre board member, Robert (Bo) Beal, resigns.

6.22.09

An article appears in Stage Directions, a national magazine, that has interviewed Dillner. The quotes in this article are his first public statements since the firings. He has not yet spoken with any local media.

6.23.09

Skylight Opera Theatre board member, Pat Kraft, resigns.

6.24.09

Eric Dillner, past president Howard Miller, marketing director Kristin Godfrey and, via speaker phone, Suzanne Hefty finally talk with local media. They talk for 90 minutes at the Journal Sentinel offices with Tom Strini, theater critic Damien Jaques and assistant features editor Jim Higgins.

6.25.09

Christine Harris of the Cultural Alliance of greater Milwaukee weighs in.

6.26.09

The first Milwaukee Artists and Art Lovers Forum is held in Catalano Square. Those in attendance eat bagels and discuss art in Milwaukee. This gathering is prompted by Skylight events. The group plans to meet every Friday throughout the summer.

6.27.09

Charlie Sykes, radio host on AM 620 WTMJ, bashes the Skylight board and management on the air.

6.30.09

Theisen agrees to direct four 2009/2010 shows on a free-lance basis.

7.5.09

The Skylight situation appears in The New York Times.

7.8.09

The Skylight Opera Theatre Board holds an emergency meeting to discuss next steps. Upon arrival, board members are met by a peaceful protest made up of 50+ donors, audience members, and artists singing and carrying signs protesting the recent firings, mismanagement and lack of communication from the Skylight. Colin Cabot, honorary board member, flies in from New Hampshire to attend the meeting and arrives early to meet with protesters.

7.9-7.10.09

Skylight Opera Theater Board of Directors indicates via press release that they are open to reinstating Theisen as Artistic Director for the 2009-2010 season, though they never directly contact Theisen with any sort of offer. Theisen responds to the press release by declining the “offer” of reinstatement.

7.10.09

An email in defense of Eric Dillner’s actions circulates, written by a former board member is forwarded to the entire Skylight board. Artists are described as employees who “provide a service and nothing more” and who “only exist because we chose to pay.”

7.11.09

First artist resignation sent in. This resignation occurred as a direct reaction to the above mentioned email of 7/10/09:

* BECKY SPICE, singer / actress - contracted to perform a Johnson Bank cabaret series show

7.17.09

Suzanne Hefty terminates contracts for two artists (Bryce Lord and Jon Stewart) in retaliation for their negative Facebook comments regarding the Theisen firing.

7.20.09

As a result of the firing of two Barber of Seville cast members, Bill Theisen resigns from directing duties for four 2009/2010 Skylight shows: "The Barber of Seville", "Plaid Tidings", "The Marriage of Figaro", "The Long & The Short of It, with Colin & Paula." In addition, Skylight receives a slew of resignations from contracted actors, directors, music directors, and set designers:

* RICHARD CARSEY, music director - contracted to music direct "A Day In Hollywood" and "An Evening with G&S"

* ALICIA BERNECHE, singer / actress - contracted to perform the role of Susanna in "The Marriage of Figaro"

* PAM KRIGER, director / choreographer - contracted to direct and choreograph "A Day In Hollywood"

* LESLIE FITZWATER, singer - contracted to perform a Johnson Bank cabaret series show

* JAMES VALCQ, music director - contracted to music direct "Plaid Tidings"

* VAN SANTVOORD, set designer - contracted to design "The Barber of Seville" and "The Marriage of Figaro"

* GARY BRIGGLE, singer / actor - contracted to perform in "An Evening with Gilbert & Sullivan"

* JOHN MURIELLO, singer / actor - contracted to perform in "An Evening with Gilbert & Sullivan"

7.21.09

Additional artists decline or resign from contracts in response to firings:

* MOLLY RHODE, singer/actress - offered contract to perform in “A Day in Hollywood”

* CHASE STOEGER, singer/actor - offered contract to perform in “A Day in Hollywood”

* RAY JIVOFF, singer/actor - contracted to perform the role of Harpo in“A Day in Hollywood”

* JENNIFER CLARK singer/actress - contracted to perform the role of Marcellina in “The Marriage of Figaro”

* DIANE LANE singer/actress - offered contract to play Cherubino in “The Marriage of Figaro”

* CAROL GREIF SCHUELE, singer/actress - under contract to perform in "A Day in Hollywood”

* NATHAN WESSELOWSKI, actor/composer - under contract to perform in "The Barber of Seville" and composer for Skylight Education Programs

Skylight Opera Theatre Education Board member L. Thomas Lueck resigns from his position and indicates that he will not bring student audiences to see the shows mounted under the current administration.Charlie Sykes bashes the Skylight’s decisions and calls for the current leadership to resign during his AM 620 WTMJ radio show.

Playbill.com releases a play-by-play of events following the firings of Bryce Lord and Jon Stewart and Theisen’s resignation from directing duties.

Skylight appears in the New York Times for a second time.

Bruce Murphy of Milwaukee Magazine calls for Dillner and Hefty to resign

7.22.09

Resignations continue:

* PAULA CABOT, actress/singer - under contract to perform in "The Long & The Short of It"

* COLIN CABOT, actor/pianist under contract to perform in "The Long & The Short of It"

* RICK RASMUSSEN, scenic designer - under contract to design the set for "A Day in Hollywood”

* KURT OLLMANN, singer/actor - under verbal contract to perform the role of "The Count" in "The Marriage of Figaro"

7.23.09

The list of artists, donors, and supporters severing ties with the Skylight continues to grow:

* NORMAN MOSES, singer/actor - under contract contract to perform the rold of Groucho in "A Day in Hollywood”

* MARK KAPLAN, singer/actor - under contract contract to perform the rold of Chico in "A Day in Hollywood”

* ERIC NELSON, singer/actor - under contract contract to perform in "The Barber of Seville"* JUSTIN DEEHR, singer/actor/dancer - under contract contract to perform in "The Barber of Seville"

* ANDREW WILKOWSKE, singer/actor - under contract contract to perform the role of Figaro in both "The Barber of Seville" and "The Marriage of Figaro* KURT SCHNABEL, lighting designer – under contract to design both "the barber of seville" and "the marriage of figaro"
*

Supporters, donors, and other friends who have indicated via letter that they will not work with the current leadership of the Skylight Opera Theatre:

* CAROL JENSEN, Skylight "Den Mother" - donor to the Skylight Opera Theatre, and den mom to the Skylight actors, staff, and crew

* AMY JENSEN, Skylight supporter - major donor to the Skylight Opera Theatre

* KONRAD KUCHENBACH, Skylight supporter - major donor and subscriber to the Skylight Opera Theatre

* JOHN E. HOLLAND, Skylight supporter - major donor and subscriber to the Skylight Opera Theatre

* L. THOMAS LUECK, Fine Arts Educator - member of the Skylight Education Advisory Board

The Skylight Board holds an emergency meeting to decide whether Dillner should be fired. In a close vote (16-12) they decide to retain him. Colin Cabot offers to return to the Skylight to act interim managing director in place of Dillner. The board refuses that offer.

Cabot convinces Dillner and the board to answer their critics in Catalano Square on 7/24/09.

Suzanne Hefty resigns from her position as board president.

Skylight’s third appearance in the New York Times.

7.24.09

The fourth Milwaukee Artists and Art Lovers Forum is held in Catalano Square. Temporary board president Terry Kutenbach and managing director Eric Dillner attend the forum and offer an apology to the 100+ in attendance for the timing of their communication regarding changes made at Skylight. Kutenbach calls on the artists present to support Skylight by rallying behind the artists called who have been hired to replace those who recently resigned their roles or positions. Many questions are put forth by critics of Skylight leadership, and Dillner is asked to consider resigning. Answers are not forthcoming. Dillner refuses to resign. Jonathan West acts as mediator and representative of the dissidents. Among notable occurrences is West’s announcement that he has contacted the Kennedy Center to ask for assistance through their Arts in Crisis program.

Board member Elizabeth Friedman resigns over board actions she sees as endangering Skylight’s survival.

Former Skylight Opera Theatre managing directors Joan Lounsbery and Christopher Libby add their insights and express grave concern over the path the Skylight has been put on.

For additional reading, including full letters of resignation, e-mail communications, and other pertinent documentation, please see full blog coverage by:Tom Strini (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/oldsonganddance.html

Tony Clements (http://www.tuesdaysblog.com/)

Pertinent Links:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/skylight/signatures.html - Petition signed by nearly 600 individuals concerned about recent events at Skylight

NYtimes.com

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/turmoil-continues-at-milwaukee-opera-theater/ - Turmoil Continues at Milwaukee Opera Theater

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/arts/music/06arts-FORMERARTIST_BRF.html - Former Artistic Director is Now a Music Director

Playbill

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/131419-PLAYBILL.COM%27S_THEATRE_WEEK_IN_REVIEW_July_18-24_Midwest_Crisis - Theatre Week In Review – Midwest Crisis

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/131333-Eight_Artists_Withdraw_From_Milwaukee_Skylight_Season_in_Protest_of_New_Management - Eight Artists Withdraw From Milwaukee Skylight Season in Protest of New Management

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/130377-In_Hard_Times_Milwaukee%27s_Skylight_Fires_Artistic_Director - In Hard Times Milwaukee’s Skylight Fires Artistic Director

JSOnline

http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/arts/51263577.html - Skylight’s Theisen Won’t Freelance

http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/arts/49601772.html - Theisen Will Direct for Skylight

http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/arts/49430392.html - Skylight’s Future Might Depend on the Guy it Dumped

http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/arts/49184662.html - Skylight Officials Share Grim Numbers to Try to Quell Firing Furor

http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/arts/48773097.html - Skylight Could Have Avoided Firing Debacle

http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/arts/48296592.html - Skylight Sparks Controversy With Artistic Director's Dismissal

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/48545882.html - Remember When the Drama Was Onstage

Milwaukeemagazine.com

http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/murphyslaw/ - Meltdown at the Skylight

http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/murphyslaw/?NewMessageID=24863 - The Skylight Controversy

Third Coast Digest

http://thirdcoastdigest.com/2009/06/all-about-the-benjamins-skylight-cuts-thiesen-key-staff/ - Skylight cuts Artistic Director Theisen, key staff roles: Beal resigns from board in protest

Stage-directions.com

http://stage-directions.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1692&Itemid=1&pop=1&page=0 - Community Uproar Greets A.D.’s Elimination at Skylight Opera Theatre

Sagerock.com

http://www.sagerock.com/blog/social-media-snafu-another-cautionary-tale/ - Social Media Snafu – Another Cautionary Tale

Business Journal

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/06/22/daily79.html - Mixed Messages Led to Skylight Controversy

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/06/29/story8.html - Budget Shortfall Led Skylight Opera to Take Drastic Measures

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/06/29/daily33.html - Theisen to Direct Four Skylight Shows

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/07/06/daily70.html - Skylight Board Offers to Rehire Theisen, but He Refuses

Artsjournal.com

http://www.artsjournal.com/music.shtml - Artist Withdrawals Cascade at Skylight Opera Theatre

Parterre.com

http://parterre.com/2009/07/22/scream-city/ - Scream City

Backstagejobs.com
http://backstageat.backstagejobs.com/?p=456 - The Skylight May Soon Be Lighting an Empty Building

Skylight Contacts:

Eric Dillner – Managing Director

ericd@skylightopera.com

414.291.7811 x211

Terry Kurtenbach – Interim Board President

Sunday July 26, 2009

2009-07-26T20:31:00.000-07:00

A Meeting was called today, a forum if you will. Certain vocal artists in the community got a call from Tessa Bartels inviting them to join her and Eric Dillner to a question and answer session at the Skylight. Tess called me and apologized that she couldn't invite me to the meeting for legal reasons. I don't get that at all, but that's okay because I had other plans.

I know Jonathan West was there, and Becky Spice, Alissa Rhode, Norman Moses, Leslie Fitzwater, I think, and several others. I understand that Richard Carsey was reduced to yelling at some point, and that there was some sobbing from some of the other participants. I haven't gotten a full update on that, or on what has happened with the Board of Advocates. More and more, this has become less my battle to fight, as the greater arts community takes over the reigns.

I'm hoping that we will hear some news tomorrow about the shape of things after the weekend. My prognastication: Nothing will change now, and everything will. The season will be filled with artists that are loyal to Dillner and the board will love that they work for nothing. Perhaps they can even pay to do a role, so they can have it on their resume. Skylight has been known to do that with interns...

Anyway, keep looking at Tuesdays and Artsy Schmartsy. Let's hope for an update soon!

First the actors, now the musicians...

2009-07-24T17:32:00.001-07:00

The Skylight can get no relief. Now the union takes management to task for actions that have taken place since Dillner's been in charge.

To the Skylight Opera Theatre Board of Directors and community at large:

Skylight has been in the news of late, and for all the wrong reasons. Unfortunately, we are not entirely surprised by the current administration's actions, because we have experienced a similar struggle in our efforts to reach a contract agreement with them since June of 2008.

Beginning during our first meeting with management and continuing since then, it seems to us that Skylight has sought to avoid rather than reach an agreement. The company's initial offers were unwritten and quickly withdrawn. Then, in August of 2008 the company made a written wage offer that we thought contained an element we could recommend for ratification by our colleagues. However, Skylight subsequently informed us (in the presence of a federal mediator) that they didn't really mean what they had written. The company's current wage proposal is that we work the 2009/2010 season in exchange for rates in effect during 2006.

On the subject of money, we note that the company is planning to greatly reduce orchestra payroll by taking full advantage of the flexibility it has in deciding the number of musicians to hire for a given production and season. As things currently stand, Skylight plans to employ approximately half as many musicians next season as they have employed on average during each of the previous four seasons, and even fewer musicians will work next year if the company carries out its threat to withdraw offers already made and accepted for "The Barber of Seville." To be clear, it appears Skylight will save a lot of money next season as they move toward karaoke style productions.

The company also proposes what they describe as "very modest changes to old contract language." We do not agree that the proposed changes are modest, as they would require certain members of the orchestra to give up job security and our ability to resolve disputes through the usual, voluntary process. Recent events clearly demonstrate that agreeing to any of Skylight's proposals is not in our best interest.

In spite of all the current and growing acrimony, we believe the best route to reaching an agreement is through good faith bargaining. Therefore, we recently proposed a four-year agreement retroactive to July 1, 2008. If ratified, wages would remain unchanged from 2008 rates until the 2011/2012 season, when an across the board increase of 2.5% would take effect. We also proposed to fill orchestra roster vacancies with musicians Skylight has consistently hired to do the work and that the company conform to industry standards by providing sound shields to musicians upon request.

We are currently awaiting a substantive reply to our very generous proposal. At Catalano Square this morning, interim Board President Kurtenbach expressed the Board's desire to attempt to begin healing the rift between Skylight and its artists. We do not know if this is possible with the current management in place, but we do know that continuing or escalating a dispute with us would not be a logical first step in any such process.

In our view, the company's interests are not served by slashing away at the revenue generating artistry that is supposed to comprise Skylight's very core. The worst show in town, getting the most attention, is the collapse of Skylight Opera Theatre. This is no way to commemorate a 50th anniversary season.

Sincerely,

Skylight Opera Theatre Orchestra Committee

Joseph Ketchum
Pamela Simmons
Richard Tremarello

Some day this kid'll be famous:

2009-07-24T16:30:00.001-07:00

Oh, wait. He already is. Josh Schmidt, composer of Adding Machine and A Minister's Wife, speaks.

To Mr. Kurtenbach, Mr. Dillner, and Mr. Cabot...

My name is Josh Schmidt. I am a composer/sound designer/musician who hails from Milwaukee. Today, I have watched events unfold via the blogosphere from my small makeshift studio at American Players Theatre in Spring Green WI. I was not there, so I do not know exactly the tone of the events except via video... I want to relate my personal feelings and insight on this matter to all of you as I also care deeply about this institution, how important it is in my career

The dream of what became my professional career begins at the Skylight. It starts with the first theatrical event I ever attended - CANDIDE (1989) at the Jefferson Street space. I was 14, and I was totally blown away. It continued with my patronage throughout my high school years (and this includes all the opera programming). As I was attending college at UWM, the dream turned into my first two professional paying gigs - THE RAY AND TONY DOG AND PONY SHOW written by Ray Jivoff and Tony Clements (1995) in the Skylight Cabaret, and WINGS under the musical direction of Richard Carsey (1997). At the age of 21, I was working with those who inspired me to do so. In many ways, it was not only the beginning of a career, but the beginning of a true education in working in the arts, not to mention survival as an artist. Through this gig, I started forming the initial connections and collaborative network that would become my freelance career as a composer/sound designer in the theatre - first in the Milwaukee area (with every theatre and dance company in the city, college, amateur, professional), then throughout the state, then into Chicago, then into NYC and beyond. I can wholeheartedly tell you that if it were not for these professional relationships my career would not exist.

More importantly, without the mentorship and influence of such artists like Richard Carsey, Paula Suozzi, Joan Lounsberry, James Valcq, Bill Thiesen, Ray Jivoff, Tony Clements, Leslie Fitzwater, Jamie Johns, Mike Lorenz (this is only a partial list, believe me) - EACH of whom not only had the patience to deal with my youth and inexperience, but train me to be a better musician, a better collaborator, a better professional - all because they believed in my potential abilities as an artist. In addition, the working atmosphere at Skylight was one of high standard and true delight. There were seasoned veterans, there were new faces - everyone would eventually be schooled in the Skylight "method" of putting on a show. And if you were to ask the Skylight veterans , they would tell you they probably learned this method from those who graced the Skylight stage before them. This is not a non-profit mission statement. This is a culture of working purposefully cultivated over 50 years of grinding it out against all odds, from Clair Richardson on down. I'd like to hope I made good on my mentors' investments as I have built all of my technique and all of my "know-how" out of these formative experiences at Skylight.

The results - In addition to a sustainable national career in sound design (40 shows a year across the country - I have seen just about all that one can see in this business), I have had the honor of having my first two musical theatre works produced professionally, ADDING MACHINE and A MINISTER'S WIFE (currently running in Chicago with Richard Carsey as music director and Skylight artist Liz Baltes in the cast). Both have received national attention and acclaim. You may count now (at least) two composers (Mr. Valcq and myself) who have built what many in this day in age may be considered impossible - a successful career as a composer in the theatre - out of their initial "training" at the Skylight. I will be forever in debt to this institution for this... And everyone knows it. If they don't, I tell it to them. It is in print many times over. There are many such successes that come out of Skylight - I am just one...

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Dillner in his office along with Bill as we discussed not only potential Milwaukee productions of both these shows but also a possible commission. In that meeting I emphasized how important (at least to me) it was that these productions reflect all the wonderful artists in our community - both those established (either still here or known to Skylight audiences) and those yet to be discovered. It was a great meeting - even if nothing immediately materialized out of it, I felt uplifted and optimistic.

Then... well, the wheels have come off.

This is not simply a discussion about those who initially lost their jobs - this is a discussion about the managerial and artistic vision of an organization. First, to treat Bill, a member of this community who had garnered such respect and admiration - and who I must add produced very successful shows all year - was heartless. I also felt it dangerous in that Bill's reputation and his artistic output is undoubtably a large part of why people donate to the organization - and now he has been shown the door. The fact that he had no inkling of this signals either complete lack of two-way communication between the board and the organization or an underhanded attempt to grab power. Secondly, to switch organizational models so rashly and quickly regardless of who runs the company is simply untenable - opera organizations run by general managers seldom produce more than 3 shows, 12 - 16 performances a year. Skylight produces 5 shows, maybe 80-90 performances a year. I have experienced situations where such a restructuring happened (one of them being Madison Repertory Theatre) and have witnessed these companies fold. In arts organizations these days, such a move usually signals a death knell, a desperate act to save money.

I started to panic. In Madison, I saw just how difficult it was to combine the roles of artistic and managing director without administrative oversight and still produce quality productions. I wrote this in an email to Eric out of concern when the positions were eliminated. I heard no response. Then more firings. Silence. Then people fired for their comments on Facebook. Then mass exodus - including donors, staples of the community, close associates of the "Skylight" family, designers, marketable talent... While the positions maybe filled by others, however talented, the nature of their commitment to the Skylight and the community of Milwaukee is not, at least not immediately... You cannot replace 20-30 years of goodwill, sacrifice, hard work, and the risk that is the act of performance overnight. If that were so, then those that walked away would not have walked away - it is too important to them that the Skylight survive. It feels as if though the origins of who I am as a professional have been eradicated in a week's time.

Then today - more than a month after the initial eliminations - you walk in front of the disenfranchised - the artists, the community, your bread and butter - and openly say that it is their responsibility to save the institution after actions taken have turned them away is insulting. Yes - we all have a stake in what will be the future is of this company and when dust settles, whatever is left of this company will be the legacy of all of us who either actively took part in these events, raised their voices, or stood on the sidelines hoping for the best.

You know, no one gets points for stubbornness. To dig one's heels into the dirt and stand your ground in the face of such heated disapproval, especially when a completely viable solution has presented itself at your doorstep, is foolhardy, damaging, and ignorant. It seems abundantly clear that those in attendance were swayed by your arguments. I hope you saw that when evaluating your next moves.

It is OK to admit a mistake (or several) - to admit that you need help in rectifying the damage. And sometimes it is just flat out necessary. And that's tough. I feel sorry for Eric, especially in light of our great initial meetings, that things have turned so sour. I feel sorry for all the members of the board who I am sure this has been torture - especially if you do not agree with all that has transpired. I feel especially sorry for all those performers, donors, artists who have walked away in anger, sadness and disgust at what has happened. But something has got to give if there is even a chance of salvaging this... and in my opinion Mr. Cabot's offer must be reconsidered as the correct way to go...

Milwaukee sits at the edge of a great chasm... If there were no legitimate home-grown arts institutions, or cultural scene, or sports franchises - why would any professional or company locate themselves here? Why would any performing artist want to stay here? All these things are interconnected in the fabric of the city's commercial health and viability. The Skylight is as important in keeping this city's economy alive as anything else... Please don't destroy that. Reverse course. Admit error, undo the damage and watch as the same passion that stands in your way help to save an institution very dear to us all.

Respectfully,

Josh Schmidt

My letter to Mr. Kutenbach, the Skylight's interim board president

2009-07-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

Mr. Kurtenbach,

I am not at all satisfied with the way the event went this morning. You have asked the artists to pitch in and help while at the same time Eric says that we have all been replaced. An actor tearing up his contract is about the only vote of no confidence said actor can give a theater. It's obvious that management does not care about artists' opinions, therefore the artists have tried to tell you something by throwing away their contracts. It is clear that you did not get the message. The Skylight will continue to suffer, and indeed may close by the end of this season if the board's decision is not reversed and reversed soon. Today, another step was taken to further embarrass, anger and disenfranchise the very people who could help you turn this around. And within that embarrassment, anger, and disenfranchisement we were told two scripted things: the company cannot support a full time AD (which is nonsense, we all know there are other cuts that could have been looked at), and you, the artists, are now responsible for fixing what the board and Eric have so messed up. Do you at all see why this would keep people from trusting you? The firmer you stand your ground, the more it sinks beneath you. Keep informing me as to how I can help the Skylight. If you are able to mention an idea that has an ounce of legitimacy or makes even a hint of sense, I will be the first to pursue it. Thus far, the idea of asking artists to sell tickets for shows that they have either been dismissed from or have resigned from is ludicrous. I hope you realize that on some level. I was so shocked at your level of arrogance this morning, that I can only assume you do not see how ridiculous the meeting and your suggestions were.

That all said, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to you, to the board, to the arts community of Milwaukee, and especially to the Skylight staff. I know I have been a bull in a china shop, and dissent in the arts community can give the entire community a bad name. I wish I knew a way I could have made this issue public without lowering myself to anger and accusations. Unfortunately, lacking the access to power, the only power I have had is my resistance and my persistence. Please understand I have not been selfishly motivated. If the Skylight offered my job back to me today, I would not take it. I was motivated because when I moved in to the arts community here 11 years ago, I was welcomed with open arms, and accepted for all of my short comings and talents. The same could have applied to Eric. Instead of making friends and reaching out to the community, he chose to alienate it. He has chosen that route with me since at least January of this year, questioning my value to the company. There is no need to question Eric's value to the company. Obviously, the board is willing to sacrifice the community's most talented artists to be able to keep Eric on board. His value must be priceless.

Sincerely,

jamie johns
former music director (1998-2009)
Skylight Opera Theatre
http://delightamaze.blogspot.com/

Don't Forget Tomorrow Breakfast!

2009-07-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

I'll be there! Finally! Hope to see you! Here's Alyssa's invite:

Dear Artists and Art Lovers,

This summer, artists and art lovers are meeting once a week to talk about art in Milwaukee. We'll be brainstorming how we can all do more to support each other and support our art in these difficult times. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to take part: all artists of any discipline, also patrons, donors, board members and even critics. Anyone who cares about art in Milwaukee. Please come.

Breakfast #4

Friday, July 24th

8:00 am

Catalano Park, just south of the Broadway Theatre Center

Rain location: Milwaukee Public Market

BYOB: Bring your own breakfast

Hope to see you Friday morning!

The Fall of Eric Dillner

2009-07-22T19:04:00.000-07:00

If there were to be a news flash on, say, Friday, it would be important for you to get any information you want the inside players (i.e., the board) to know about to them by 9am tomorrow morning. Anyone else, resigning? To be heard, is to be heard now!

If you are prepared to cry...

2009-07-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

...then make sure you watch all the way to the end. Especially the last minute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEuEUQIP3Q

NEW MONEY?!?

2009-07-22T10:45:00.001-07:00

This is interesting...might there be new money available for the Skylight? Will some Skylight endowment money be available? Interesting timing.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/51361532.html

Rated R - what is a dillner?

2009-07-22T07:38:00.001-07:00

If you are sensitive, you may want to avoid this link, but I couldn't resist:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dillner

June 8, 2008

2009-07-22T07:36:00.000-07:00

From an interview with Tom Strini in the Journal Sentinel, a little over a year ago:

Dillner sometimes directed at Shreveport, but he has no plans to do so at The Skylight, at least soon.

"I'd never say 'never,' but the focus will be on running" the business side, he said. "Bill Theisen is spectacular; the artistic side is under control."

Hmmm.....

And in Playbill, today...

2009-07-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Already hours behind the times. (and the Times!) The number is now up to at least 14, with over 22 positions to fill. Tune in for more soon!

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=125204947645&h=O1jaQ&u=UfgOr&ref=nf

Dillner's quotes of the day

2009-07-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

"We are negotiating to replace those who need to be replaced and anyone who might need to be replaced."

Almost makes you miss Don Rumsfeld

-and-

"We're moving absolutely in the right direction. We're getting positive response."

In the context of Strini's article (
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/51342892.html
)
it sounds like Eric is referring to two donor meetings he had today. Somebody out there approves specifically of what he is doing. "Who are these donors?", one might ask.

"We", the friends of Skylight...

2009-07-21T14:48:00.000-07:00

Tommy Lueck just received a response to an email that caused me to write the following email. To "friendsofskylight". They claim to be unidentified board members as you will see. Here's the email I sent them:

To whom it may concern:

According to a letter sent to Tommy Lueck, this email address is the place from whence he received his response. To quote the email he was sent:

We are using our new friendsofskylight@skylightopera.com email to reply to you. A consistent theme in the messages sent to the Board of Directors after our recent restructuring was that people, like you, who took the time to write and express their thoughts wanted acknowledgment and response back from the Board itself. At the time there was no organized way to respond to individuals nor easily track the feedback received, so we created this new email box for that purpose. The box is monitored and responses sent by members of the Board, not by a paid staff member or administrator.

In the interest of transparency, I believe the specific board member(s) who returns the email ought to sign the email. Not simply "we". It sounds like Fascist Italy in there.

Please respond too this email, too. I will be posting it on my blog and waiting for a response.

SOO that's what I wrote to them. Now that they've made it so easy to communicate, I think we ought to more frequently!

Skylight in the Times again

2009-07-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

in the paper of record, once more.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/turmoil-continues-at-milwaukee-opera-theater/

Skylight/Optimism

2009-07-20T19:39:00.000-07:00

Truly, the Skylight has always been about optimism. When asked about today's turn of events, this was Skylight's response for the day (cut and pasted from Strini's on line article):

Godfrey, when asked if Dillner had a plan to replace the missing elements on short notice ("Barber of Seville" is scheduled to open Sept. 18), said: "It's rough, but there are always people ready to pick it up and run with it. I guess the answer is, 'The show must go on.' "

Let's see if Eric has as much unbridled enthusiasm tomorrow when/if he talks to Tom Strini.

Donia's idea

2009-07-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

To anyone who has a contract with the Skylight:

Is it time to pull out of said contract? Have the board and Eric finally gone too far? Is it really still Skylight over there? You have to decide individually, but the decision carries more weight with each and every passing day. Working for Skylight is, sadly, a tacit endorsement of what is going on there. Now more than ever. I'm sorry to say that. I know there are plenty of people who still NEED to keep their employment there, and I respect that. I'm not addressing this to you. I'm addressing it to those of us who can make do without the Skylight for a season or two. How else can we proceed now? If you have a better idea, please let me know!

Donia's (our former events manager/bar keep) recent note is quite eloquent:

"In all of the time I've known Richard Carsey, I have never, ever heard him utter a negative comment about anyone, period. For recent events to push him to the point of the things he's said is something I thought would never happen. Very unfortunate.

The Skylight that was is dead, and this is in no way a 'cave-in' or lack of support. It is me being realistic. The true spirit in which Skylight began is still alive; in the very words spoken by the 'dissidents', and in the passion we feel. We need to take a step back because the building that houses the Skylight will soon implode, and we must take care not to become victims. Let them see how far they get without locally known and loved actors, directors, musicians, stage crews, and others. We hold the most power when we say "no, we will not allow you to use us against ourselves". We must not let Skylight think they are the only game in town. Because they aren't. They, too, are 'dispensable'."

Now, I've been known to hear Richard utter a disparaging word here and there, but never in public. Richard, we need your voice, louder and clearer than before. Colin, we need your voice, more than ever. Bill, we need your voice. Norman, we need your dissent. Ray, we need you to pull out of Day/Night. Let's not play politics anymore. Let's call a spade a spade, and end the fear of "hurting the Skylight". I believe the damage is done.

Can this be real?!?

2009-07-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

If this is truly the letter that Eric sent out on Friday, I am sickened beyond belief. So much accomplished?!? That really suggests there is a master plan. Why can no one in the community know of this master plan? Here's the letter that Eric sent the board while Suzanne was sending out dismissal letters:

Dear Skylight Board of Directors and Board of Advocates,

Looking back at the week, so much has been accomplished. Still much to do!

A few things of note:

• I have had the pleasure of meeting or talking on the phone with many of our artists for Barber, Plaid, Figaro and Rent. Having the artists’ energy exploding through the building was a great boost for us all! I look forward to chatting with the rest of the artists next week.

• Suzanne, Christine and I visited with The Bradley Foundation folks and have other wonderful supporters of the Skylight lined up to see soon.

• An ad hoc committee of the Board of Directors has begun meeting to manage the timeline and communication with the press.

• We are also working with some community partners to enrich our social media and online presence.

• Our audience development team will finalize decisions with our staff on our Open House to launch the season.

I thank you all for your continued leadership and support.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Eric

CHATTING with the rest of the artists? He's chatting while Rome is burning? How can he be so cavalier, so self-assured? Blocking out dissent and a sense of infallibility is a really scary combo. That's Eric in a nut shell. Perhaps he should be in a nut house.

Please comment and send this letter around.

The Skylight Saga Continues

2009-07-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

My unemployment rep called me to inform me that Skylight was trying to deny me unemployment benefits, based on my public attacks of the company. They even sent my rep copies of emails I sent the board as well as facebook postings that I had made prior to my firing. They (Suzanne? Eric? Someone) are actually taking time to try to vengefully deny me a couple hundred bucks a week while I search for new employment, while their house burns down. I cannot believe it. In addition, the new Artistic Director apparent, Suzanne Hefty, is now firing chorus members for insubordination. Maybe that's why Eric is calling all the artists! Searching for insubordination so all dissent can be squelched. Strange, he hasn't been able to deal with Alicia's contract problems nor has he called my wife, who will be in Skylight's third show of the season. What is their method? What is actually being done to deal with Skylight's finances?

We continue further down the rabbit hole that is this absurdity. It's been just over a month. Amazing how much damage a few members of the board and Eric Dillner could do to a 50 year old company. I guess everything must have a beginning and an end.

Another Playbill article on Skylight

2009-07-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest from Playbill re: the Skylight debacle. I'm glad they chose to print Bill's entire statement.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/131061-Skylight_Theatre_Invites_Axed_Artistic_Director_Back_Into_Fold_But_He_Says_No

What happened?

2009-07-16T22:13:00.000-07:00

We are waiting for an announcement of a public forum. Bill turned the board down on Sunday or Monday, and since then we have heard nothing. Boards really are an inept way to run a business. They can't proceed with any kind of expediency, and unfortunately their representative on the staff is too weak-kneed to make decisions himself. Eric may have to play the role of the villain in all this, but I believe it was probably more Suzanne Hefty's, or even more likely, Howard Miller's doing. This was somebody's big plan, I guarantee it, and that will be revealed some day. In the mean time, we have to watch as the Skylight self destructs, refusing to truly reach out to the community for help. What we get is a subscription email with grammatical errors that is trying too hard to blow it's own horn. And these are people taking credit for Skylight accomplishments that they largely had nothing to do with. Skylight didn't win an Eddy because of Herman the Horse, but because of Ray Jivoff and his programs.

So there's my Skylight rant/muse of the day. Consider the following paragraph that was in the aforementioned email, and then I'll call it a day:

The Skylight's mission is to deliver high-quality music theatre to a wide and diverse audience. Our audiences reaches beyond patrons who attend productions in the Cabot Theatre and Studio Theatre and includes students and children enriched by our arts education programs through Enlighten and community members and guests through a series of community outreach programs. Our efforts were recently recognized by:

Breakfast #3

2009-07-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

Sad to say, or glad to say (financially), DD and I have a gig this weekend in Normal Illinois (with none other than Gary Briggle!) so we won't be able to attend the breakfast, but I sure hope a lot of people can and do. I will be there on the 24th.

Here's the invite:

Dear Artists and Art Lovers,

Breakfast #3

Friday, July 17th

8:00 am

Catalano Park, the fountain just south of the Broadway Theatre Center

Rain location: Milwaukee Public Market

BYOB: Bring your own breakfast

Hope to see you Friday morning!

Milwaukee Magazine weighs in

2009-07-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

The final conclusion may be off in my opinion, but this article sums up a little of what happened these last few weeks. May the public forums begin as soon as possible, that the Skylight might have a prayer of moving forward.

http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/murphyslaw/default.asp

Skylight Artists Resign?!?

2009-07-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

A call from Tony Clements' anonymous commentator to join Becky Spice in the rank of performers who will not work at Skylight under the current regime. Spread the word. It is a risky move. You might lose a job, or you might help us get a theater company back.

Mnemosyne said...: Becky Spice has announced her 'resignation' from SOT. Others might consider similar action.

Unless and until the cost of these recent decisions are greater than the cost of "staying the course", the Board will not change its mind.

One could suggest that artistic talent should not be made available to an administration that treats its artists with the disregard and disdain that has been shown recently by SOT.

It could be suggested that such a move might clarify the choices available to the Board.

Start with shows NOT being directed by Bill Theisen, just to further strengthen your point.

And make sure everybody knows. I'm sure Becky would like the company, and would welcome everyone from chorus to leads who will join her in "taking a bow" out of the 50th Anniv season.

Email Dillner

2009-07-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

DO THIS RIGHT NOW!

Please email Eric Dillner and ask him when we can start the public forums. I believe there are many unanswered questions. How much of the board was informed of this decision? Were there truly no other viable options? Why wasn't Bill at least allowed an opportunity to speak on behalf of his position. Is there going to be a summer cabaret series?

See if you can get an answer. I understand he has begun to answer email. Though, of course, Suzanne, Howard, and Eric have not bothered to contact me. Bo Beal and Jude Werra did, though. That was nice.

So that email is ericd@skylightopera.com

THEN WAIT A FEW HOURS

then try to give him a call. 414.291.7811x221. Let's keep him and his personal assistant (the only managing director in Skylight history to have a personal assistant) nice and busy.

Becky Spice

2009-07-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick tribute to one of the many spirits of the Skylight, but, for me, the one I became quickly attached to in my early days at Skylight. We did so many UPAF gigs and house parties...and countless shows on stage. The woman who has defined a good 50% of my performing career in Milwaukee. I love her, and miss her right now.

Be at peace Becky. It always feels better to speak you mind and get it out of your system.

Questions::bill or eric; eric or bill, bill and eric?

2009-07-09T23:06:00.001-07:00

What will Bill's job be like if he reports back as AD for a year?

Will he have similar benefits?

Is Dillner going to stay out of casting decisions, such as pressuring to having Susan sing Bertha in the upcoming Barber?

Will Bill do all the work and let Dillner take the credit?

BILL: This is the moment. The choice is yours; refuse to direct and watch them coming begging on their hands and knees. I think they are already there.

And now the New York Times

2009-07-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

So, it's a small blurb, but we made the paper of record:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/arts/music/06arts-FORMERARTIST_BRF.html?_r=1

EVERYBODY UP! Weekend's over...it's Skylight time!

2009-07-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

Hey, the Holiday weekend is almost over...time to start thinking about Skylight again! Don't forget to come to Catalano Square Friday at 8:00am...

...and maybe it's time to start calling Eric, Howard, and Suzanne. Ask them when we get to have our first public forum. We are all very excited and eager. Please, put in a word for me too! Ask them why I still haven't been contacted by one of these fine people, even though I have made plenty of requests and was a performer, patron, and donor to the Skylight as well. I still feel like I deserve at least one phone call from one of these folks.

Thanks y'all. We need a little agitating!

WTF?!?

2009-07-03T22:06:00.001-07:00

Well, this is VERY interesting...

http://www.tuesdaysblog.com/2009/07/integral-to-company-in-may-gone-in-june.html

Thanks for the great reporting, Tony!

What does it all mean?

Colin's qoute

2009-07-03T16:55:00.001-07:00

Thanks for the quote, Colin!

"Agitators are a set of interfering, meddling people who come down to some perfectly contented class of the community and sow the seeds of discontent among them. That is the reason why agitators are so absolutely necessary." Oscar Wilde

PUNS

2009-07-03T05:22:00.001-07:00

Okay, so, puns are practically my life. How can it be that I never heard of this?!?

zeugma

\ZOOG-muh\

noun

Meaning

: the use of a word to modify two or more words in such a way that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one

Example Sentence

"Torpedoes hit their mark! Ship and many hopes sink!" said the headline, employing vivid zeugma.


	See a map of "zeugma" in the Visual Thesaurus.

Did you know?

"Zeugma, like the pun, is economical: it contracts two sentences into one . . . it links unrelated terms — mental with moral, abstract with physical, high with low — and thus generates surprise." (Walter Redfern, Puns) "Zeugma," which has been a part of the English language since the 15th century, comes from Greek, where it literally means "joining." The Greek word has another connection to English as well. In the early 1970s, a chemistry professor named Paul Lauterbur developed a technique for producing images of internal organs. He called it "zeugmatography," because it involved the joining of magnetic fields. Lauterbur was awarded a Nobel Prize, but the name he chose didn’t stick. The technique is known today as magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI.

Suzanne Hefty's letter!

2009-07-02T17:56:00.000-07:00

Alrighty! Read it, comment, then I'll share my thoughts. OK. I'll share some thoughts now. Hefty, Dillner, and a little bit Miller=totally screwed.

Tell me what you think, and I'll comment!

Date: July 2, 2009
From: Suzanne Hefty, President, Board of Directors
Howard Miller, Immediate Past President, Board of Directors
To: Skylight Opera Theatre Guest Artists
Jordan Ahnquist, actor
Johnna Allen, actor
Liz Baltes, actor
Peter Dean Beck, scenic and lighting designer
Alicia Berneche, actor
Lisa Brescia, actor
Gary Briggle, actor
Peter Clark, actor
Niffer Clarke, actor
Tony Clements, actor
Cynthia Cobb, actor
James Coleman, actor
Parrish Collier, actor
Lisa Dames, actor
Ilana Davidson, actor
Donna Drake, director
Annmarie Duggan, lighting designer
Colm Fitzmaurice, actor
Michelle (Smith) Gisondi, actor
Ken Goldstein, scenic designer
Rob Hancock, actor
Benjamin Howes, actor
Takeshi Kata, scenic designer
Tari Kelly, actor
Joanne Lessner, actor
John Muriello, actor
Rick Rasmussen, scenic and costume designer
Van Santvoord, scenic designer
Josh Schmidt, sound designer
Donald St. Pierre, music director
Jennifer Swiderski, actor
Rita Thomas, actor
James Valcq, actor
Andrew Wilkowske, actor
Branch Woodman, actor
July 2, 2009
Dear Skylight Opera Theatre Guest Artists:
Thank you for writing your letter to Skylight Opera Theatre’s Board of Directors,
received by email on June 25, 2009, in response to the theatre company’s recent
structural reorganization. We take your concern for the Skylight very seriously and
have attempted to address your key questions here.
We acknowledge that the handling of the restructuring, position eliminations and the
subsequent public response should have been handled differently and that the
underlying reasons were not spelled out in sufficient detail in advance of the
announcement. As the economy and our budget allow, we will continuously review
the Skylight’s business model. However, please know that this heartbreaking and
difficult decision will not be reversed.
The restructuring was a proactive decision which, had we not undertaken would have
brought us to an untenable financial situation. Cash flow has been a constant struggle
at the Skylight for four years as the company has gone from having a $200,000 cash
surplus to a debt of $414,000 (as of June 30, 2009). In 2005-2006, we were forced to
open a line of credit, using the Broadway Theatre Center building as collateral, to
cover payroll, vendor expenses, production costs and general operating needs. In the
past year, Skylight’s restricted endowment has declined by 25%
In January 2009, the first attempt was made to establish a projected balanced budget
for the 2009-2010 season. We subsequently learned of a 15% reduction in UPAF’s
fundraising goal and declining grants from foundations and corporations. The
Skylight’s overdependence on contributed revenue required an immediate analysis of
the theatre’s cost structure in producing shows. Without a critical review of our
personnel structure, we risked severely impacting the performance quality Skylight
audiences have come to expect. Economists are projecting no significant change in
contributed income patterns through 2010, adding additional pressure to our future
needs.
The Broadway Theatre Center (BTC) is owned and operated by the Skylight. Built in
1993, this theatre and office complex has been home or provided performance space
to numerous non-profit, for-profit and theatre companies. Though the BTC was
originally a source of revenue, the 16-year-old buildings are now a major expense.
Everything from the roof, heating and cooling system, sidewalks, bathrooms, office
space and theatres themselves are in need of attention.
The production and administrative staff, with input and direction from the Board, has
implemented significant cuts in the last three seasons. Everything from paper usage
to lumber and climate control has been analyzed from a cost-savings perspective. As
some staff positions became vacant, they were not filled; their duties were absorbed
by other staff members. Examples include our production manager taking on the
facility director’s responsibilities, our development director assuming management of
the bar, and our development coordinator administering special events and rentals.
We have also brought previously outsourced duties in-house, including the design of
most of our marketing materials and website. We have also worked to find new
sources of revenue. For instance, the Skylight’s administrative offices were moved to
previously vacant BTC office space in order to provide tenant space for two non-profit
theatre companies. Through this series of expense reductions, the utmost attention
was paid to avoid affecting the daily operations of our artistic department. The artistic
department remained the last significant pool of resources to be evaluated; we could
not insulate this department from the financial realities any longer.
The artistic director and company manager were involved in budgeting discussions as
members of the senior staff. We acknowledge your wish to have been included in
these discussions. While attempts at better communication will be made in future
seasons, certain aspects of the theatre company governance must be handled by
Skylight staff and Board only.
Because we acknowledge the important responsibilities of the artistic director and
company manager, we knew that these tasks had to be formally combined with other
job titles. The Executive Committee approached Managing Director Eric Dillner and,
with knowledge of his past artistic leadership, asked him to assume the artistic
management of the organization. The duties of the company manager, box office
manager, box office assistant manager and custodian will be spread throughout the
company ensuring timely and effective attention to each task and responsibility. We
have great confidence in Eric’s general and artistic management abilities.
The next few seasons will present new challenges and opportunities as the Skylight
continues to adapt its business model to the changing economy. We firmly state that
the Skylight’s artistic vision has not changed. The Skylight’s mission as a non-profit,
professional performing organization is to bring the full spectrum of music theatre
works to a wide and diverse audience.
We respect Bill Theisen greatly and appreciate your loyalty to him. We learned
yesterday that he has accepted our offer to contractually stage direct The Barber of
Seville, Plaid Tidings and The Marriage of Figaro and to write and stage direct The
Long and Short of It. Though we offered Bill a contract for a fifth production, he has
chosen to accept work elsewhere during that timeframe.
We are passionate about the Skylight and have personally invested significant time,
energy and financial resources to the success of the company. We invite each of you
to help the Skylight succeed in any way you can.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Hefty Howard Miller
President, Board of Directors Immediate Past President, Board of Directors

Bill is back!

2009-07-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

First, the good news...Bill has agreed to do four shows for Skylight next year, with the stipulation that absolutely no press comes out of the Skylight that suggests Bill endorses this restructuring. That is totally cool.

Now, the really good news. This gives us and the community at large an opportunity to really shift the conversation from bringing back Bill to the Skylight at large. Let's face it. This has always been about the Skylight. We all want to make sure the institution is around as long as possible, because it has brought so much to the community.

So, now is the time to turn up the heat. Look up Suzanne Hefty's home number. I know Becky Spice has it. Call Suzanne and tell her this is far from over. We will not shut-up until Eric is out. Call Eric and beg him to resign. He has to resign now, so that we can begin to salvage that which we love, the Skylight.

Talking to the Board

2009-07-01T06:08:00.000-07:00

Jude Werra came into town yesterday and gave me a call. I am very grateful for him taking time to talk to me.

He assured me that these kinds of decisions are complicated and require a lot of discussion.

He wasn't able to answer all of my questions. I asked what other options were looked into. He told me that he couldn't possibly catalog all the other solutions that were discussed. He "counseled" me that more opportunities for discussion would be forthcoming. I guess he was referring to the upcoming forums.

If anyone knows Jude, he's now back in town and available for comment. He was easy to talk to, even if he was just now beginning to learn about this situation. Call him! I don't have his number, but I have his personal email. If you would like it, just email me!

Quit smoking

2009-06-30T05:51:00.000-07:00

I'm on day 14 with no tobacco. I recommend that anyone who has even a passing desire to quit smoking cigarettes, check out quitsmokingonline.com. Worked for me. That and hypnotherapy.

If someone had told me 3 months ago that quitting smoking was easy and enjoyable, I would have laughed in their face. But it really can be. As I type this, I still wouldn't mind stepping out for a cigarette, but I don't think it's who I am anymore. The subconscious is a powerful thing. If you are a smoker, right now it is confirming your smoker status. It is telling you that you are a smoker and you cannot quit. It's just who you are.

And that's 100% true. But that script is as changeable as your underwear. Well, it requires a little more effort than changing your underwear, but not much. So, teach your subconscious a new lesson, and it will wake up with you in the morning and tell you that you are 100% a non-smoker. It really will. All you have to do is change the script.

Life is a play. A comedy or a drama, or a drama giocoso. And you get to "right" the script. Entirely. That's the lesson to be learned from quitting smoking. Almost makes you wish you had started smoking so you could quit, eh?

Off to "write my play"! Hope you all have a lovely day!

These fine folks

2009-06-28T14:58:00.001-07:00

If you happen to talk to any of these fine folks this week, please let them know the following:

Suzanne Hefty, Howard Miller, Eric Dillner: I am not at all satisfied with your response so far. I will be writing a letter to the Journal Sentinel, to the editor, and to you. If you prefer to call me and answer my questions before I continue to dig deeper, that would be appreciated. 414.573.4666

The Skylight's financial insolvency

2009-06-28T04:52:00.001-07:00

Well, Tom Strini has given us another beautiful article.

http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/

It's hard not to just sigh really loudly when reading this. When will these forums for discussions begin? I don't understand the whole notion of Skylight having a $700,000 credit line, $400,000 outstanding, and they are looking at a $200,000 deficit next year making them insolvent? Granted, no one wants to carry around that much debt, but if you still have $100,000 in credit available to you, how does that make you insolvent?

I think Miller and Hefty are trying to snow us with numbers. We have been assured that combining the MD and AD job was never in the works, but then how does the idea to do that appear out of no where? Please call Eric Dillner, Suzanne Hefty, and Howard Miller. Ask them who's idea this was in the first place. I think it's important to know.

The Cultural Alliance weighs in

2009-06-25T18:33:00.000-07:00

The Gift of The Skylight

By Christine Harris - Posted on 25 June 2009

Hi -

I love how social media combined with amazing passion can spark a conversation that has meaning well beyond the borders of the issue that started the flame! It has been both inspirational and sad to read all of the Twitter, Facebook, press, and other communication around the recent Skylight situation. Inspirational because a community dialogue about the health and wellbeing of our future as an arts and culture sector is welcome at any time. Sad because so much blame, hurt, and deep concern for the health of a beloved organization has been going around and around and around.

I agree with Jonathan West's comments about examining the role of community leadership when 'one of us' hits a rough patch. Do we comment; support; ignore; ridicule; criticize? Do we turn inward or do we turn outward? None of us on the outside (and many on the inside) do not know the facts and issues facing an organization's leadership. Those that have a vested fiduciary and policy oversight interest - board members and donors - should be expressing their thoughts directly to the organization and assisting in whatever manner possible in making sure that their organization is serving its stakeholders and the general public well. And then, setting the stage for appropriate stewardship going forward. Many of these comments do not need to be, nor should they be, public. The policy and fiscal oversight of any non-profit rests fully with its Board of Directors - period. And, it lives with the consequences of any of its actions.

That said, these days our personal and organization lives are increasingly public and available for scruitny. Frankly, we shoulnd't bemoan this situation because we collectively have created what we now have. And, the world is only going to move faster in this direction so we had better be prepared for the ride. This transparency can be very healthy if we learn and improve or it can be destructive if we complain and blame. The Skylight's gift to our sector in all of this is the opportunity to self-examine how each of us is handling our stewardship; how genuinely open and communicative we are; how well we are serving our stakeholders; how trustworthy we are to our public. This is the bigger picture dialogue that is worth having now.

The Alliance did privately communicate very early on to the Skylight what it thought was a helpful observation. Whether or not it was meaningful to them was their decision. I say this because there may have been many other such private communications from within and without and they have made their own choices accordingly - and rightly so. And clearly the public media communication has been very available to them.

Now that they have gone public with their process - see Tom Strini's recent blog and story on Sunday - good stewardship would argue for their letting us know what they are going to be doing to ensure that the Skylight remains a beloved, well-respected and supported large performing arts institution. Clearly, a lot of people care deeply and what a true treasure that is. There's an old saying - something like; it's not that you fell down or made a mistake but it's how you get up that tells you the character of a person. The same is true for nonprofit organizations.

Blood-letting

2009-06-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

Even though I feel like I've been giving blood for over a week now, I decided to actually give blood today. It's been, like, a decade since I last gave blood. I don't know why. Always too busy, or something. Anyway, I hope I'm never too busy to give blood again.

HOWEVER: I might not bike to and from the donation center in 90 degree heat ever again. I thought I was seeing little dots of light everywhere. It was beautiful, but trippy.

NEWS FLASH

2009-06-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

Alright, her picture isn't up there, but my MOM is following me. Did I not say in a previous posting that she was hip?

Thanks Mom. Please know that all is well here. Can't wait to see you in 5 days!

After Strini's blog - the $64,000 question.

2009-06-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

I would like to remind everyone to keep the focus on the numbers. It is easy to argue that the move to fire Bill has nothing to do with 400,000 dollars, or the 200k the company now says it needs. Firing Bill, after changing the budget to allow for the hiring of other directors, or giving Bill his director fees, saves the company no more than 60k. I'd really like to ask the company about THAT 60k.

Strini's latest blog posting

2009-06-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

Here it is...after his meeting with Eric

Officials of the Skylight Opera Theatre came to the Journal Sentinel Wednesday, to comment on the company's financial condition and the hotly controversial firing of artistic director Bill Theisen and other last week.

Much more to come on this, notably in a column coming in print on Sunday, but here are some basics from what managing director Eric Dillner (the special object of scorn of bloggers and social networkers), board president Suzanne Hefty and immediate past president Howard Miller had to say:

No one dreamed, when Dillner was hired a little over a year ago, that he would take on the duties of artistic director. This move was an unanticipated response to unanticipated financial pressure.
This financial pressures include racking up $460,000 on a bank line of credit with a $700,000 ceiling. Also, the Skylight's building complex, a money-maker for its first 10 years, has become a financial liability as maintenance needs have grown and commercial rents have evaporated.
Theisen and Dillner had already worked out a $400,000 cut in the production budget for the coming season when more bad economic new further depressed contributed income. Dillner felt he had no place left to cut but where he did.
The board and Dillner continue to hold Theisen in the highest personal and professional esteem and dearly hope that he will return to direct three main stage and two studio theater productions next season.
They feel that they did err in executing and announcing the firings the way they did, and and they acknowledge the resulting public relations disaster as damaging to the company.
They feel they have no choice but to stay the course and hope that the rancor passes, the economy improves and the Skylight returns to the happy place we know and love.
The company has not hired a PR firm and Dillner has not issued a list of talking points to employees.

The end.

I wonder what questions were asked. Clearly, the question asked re: the last comment was a given. No PR firm would handle this this way. Good luck, Eric. It's all yours now. Last time I felt like someone stole something this big from me was Gore v. Bush.

Skylight staff meeting announcement

2009-06-24T11:21:00.001-07:00

Just digging thru some old emails and found this one, from Eric Dillner, announcing a mandatory staff meeting.

Hello Skylight Staff:

The next Skylight Full Staff meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 16 at 9:30am in the Skylight Bar.

All staff members are required to attend this meeting. Among the topics will be safety in the Third Ward and how we as a staff and a business can best prevent vandalism, theft, and other destructive occurrences.

Thank you!

Eric

So the theft he must have been referring to was his stealing of the company. The vandalism is what he was planning to do to the company's reputation, and the destructive occurrences are all the things he has done so far to mismanage the company. Now that I read the email again, I see that he was very specific, just a bit poetic.

I'm mad as hell...

Blogging

2009-06-23T18:59:00.000-07:00

A sport I engage in to either provide my 17 followers (I love that this blog sight calls my peeps that..."followers". Mustn't let it go to my head) with much needed updates on my activities (such as my bike ride this morning), or to let out an avalanche of anger.

I didn't blog much today. Wasn't too angry, and didn't do to much. And now I'm blogging about not blogging and telling my followers that I have nothing interesting to report. I call that meta-blogging.

Helium!

2009-06-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Do you know about strindberg + helium?

I had to watch the cartoons a few times before getting hooked!

http://www.strindbergandhelium.com/iron.html

Moving On

2009-06-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

I intend to keep abreast of the situation, of course. I will not change my facebook profile pic until some time after the summer. But it's time for me to move on, for my mental health. I have begun to feel such loathing for a situation brought about by someone who doesn't care about Milwaukee's arts community, that I am no longer a balanced human being. That sorta implies I was one once. Probably not. I intend to use the heartbreak of this situation to make myself a more balanced human being. I'm gonna start working on what I want to do next with my life. Just as soon as I get back from vacation! I leave Milwaukee from June 27-July 8.

Keep up the fight, those that believe.

Pat Kraft's letter of resignation

2009-06-23T07:45:00.001-07:00

The events of the last week are disappointing, unexpected, improperly handled and leave me with no other option but to resign my position as a member of the Board of Directors of the Skylight Theatre. I was honored to have participated at the Board level this past eleven months. However, I totally disagree with the new direction chosen for the future of The Skylight, of which I had no opportunity for input. Having participated on other Boards, I have always experienced group consensus and open communication; especially when there is a major decision that will have a significant impact on so many different stakeholders.

This has been a very troubling turn of events and in all good conscience, I can no longer continue on the Board.

Pat Kraft

Milwaukee

2009-06-23T05:53:00.000-07:00

It's supposed to be like 100 degrees here today. I'm gonna go for a bike ride now before that isn't an option!

for starters

2009-06-23T04:47:00.000-07:00

Spread this around: I did not start this as a hate campaign. I started this looking for answers. Haven't got any. Got attacked. Got fired. And I got a little angry.

somebody explain this

2009-06-23T04:45:00.000-07:00

I was informed this morning by Susan Yankee that Eric is a wonderful person and that my hate campaign has only the representation of a handful of people. So why haven't I heard a single person take a public stand in support of Eric?!? And if this is such a great plan, why won't the board/eric explain it?

dear eric

2009-06-22T22:54:00.000-07:00

I hope you know that, unlike you, i don't need to pander to the community for a job. I have, and will always have, plenty of work. I hope you find yourself in a similar circumstance some day. Then you won't feel the need to belittle those around you to make sure you are the grand pooh bad. oops. Freudian slip. I hate that shit. I meant grand pooh bah.

thanks for the near miss!

2009-06-22T22:40:00.000-07:00

apparently I scared alot of people with my last posting. Do not worry, Eric. I come tomorrow only to seek answers. By myself. No physical threat. You can have as many witnesses there as you like.

tomorrow am

2009-06-22T20:34:00.001-07:00

Hello fellow bloggers!

Tomorrow morning, June 23, 2009, at around 8:45am, I will ask Eric for his "talking points" that supposedly will validate the restructuring of the company. I am not doing this to be malicious. I am doing this because the only way forward for Skylight is the company without Eric. And I do, and have, care for the Skylight deeply. It has been my friggin' home for like 10 years now. Eric must go. Skylight must conquer. Eric, if you are reading this, this is the worst day of your idiot life. Please copy this note and send it to Eric. Sage, please copy this note and send it to Eric. ericd@skylightopera.com

Call Eric right now

2009-06-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

To my absolute astonishment, Eric has decided to dig in. You must call him tomorrow at 291.7811 x221 (and I hope to re-post his cell phone here, if I can find it...anyone have it?) and demand either his resignation or his so called "talking points" (a document he is handing out to the staff, letting them know what to say to the public), i.e., the answers.

(this is a copy of my facebook status. eric has forced me back into all out warfare approach again. The community has spoken overwhelmingly against him. And still he, his wife, and Suzanne Hefty believe they can pull this off. Unbelievable hubris, but moreover, idiocy. Please forward this content to everyone you know. Have them call me if they have questions. (414.573.4666) Tomorrow, I go TOTALLY viral on his ass. He will not know what hit him.

Hypnotherapy is very cool

2009-06-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

It's not what you think. More like deep relaxation with guided meditation. Originally, I thought I'd try it to quit smoking. I also enlisted the aid of quitsmokingonline.com (the best site for this, in my opinion). I'm five full days quit already!

But I find that hypnotherapy, and particularly my lovely hypnotherapist, Denise Keenan, to be so much more useful than just quitting smoking. I feel more connected to joy, awareness, strength, and tranquility than I ever have.

She offers a five session package that she says will guide you through any obstructions that are keeping you from reaching your full potential. I feel like she touched on a lot of that today. It was amazing. I found answers to some questions that I had, and they came from me, not her. And I'm pretty sure they are the right answers.

I'm sold. It's really more of a de-hypnotizing of false beliefs and thoughts that you might have that you don't even know you have. Starts with, why do I__________? (i.e., smoke). If you live in Milkwaukee and are looking for help with a problem, try Denise!

heros

2009-06-22T06:01:00.000-07:00

Here's the beautiful Michaela Ristaino's letter to the Board. Love the last line. This is an opportunity for everyone in the community to be a hero in some fashion or another. Thanks Bo! I hope the rest of the Skylight Board decides to be heroic by ousting Suzanne and Eric, and getting Bill back in the door. That'll be the first step. A big hug to Michaela, and here's that letter!

Skylight Board ~

Your Milwaukee Theatre community implores you to, at the very least, offer some sort of explanation for the events of the past week. As more and more information is uncovered surrounding the Skylight axing (and yes, by now it is quite viewed as a witch hunt) the silence of the board is deafening. With the unfounded firing of Jamie Johns and the resignation of one of your own board members, the waters just get murkier and murkier. I can only hope that many of you are as shocked by these events as we all are (including Bo Beal) and that you are just trying to figure out how to best clean up this awful mess.

Clearly, by now you must be aware that this is not just a bunch of kids who are mouthing off because their friend(s) got fired. I must assume you are aware of the national press this debacle is garnering. Including (but not limited to): Playbill, The Arts Journal, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, The Clyde Fitch Report, among others.

You are also, by now, well aware that this outpouring *protest* from the community is not born from maliciousness, but rather born of passion for a Skylight that we all desperately love.

I have faith that you all, as members of the Skylight Board, also have great love for the Skylight...which is why we implore you to not sit idly by while our beloved Skylight is destroyed. There are other options here. Options that simply MUST be explored and acted upon. You all have the opportunity to be the heroes here. Please, please embrace that opportunity.

Sincerely;
Michaela Ristaino
- Skylight Patron & Artist

Good Morning, Milkwaukee

2009-06-22T05:54:00.001-07:00

I hope today is an exciting day. After I jot this note, I'm on my way to hypnotherapy to continue my "I am not a smoker" training. After that, another long day of slogging through bureaucracy, but this time with unemployment and COBRA. Wish me luck.

Hoping to maybe go out and have a drink someplace tonight. Anyone wanna meet up? Maybe at Charlie's, the new establishment down by Skylight?

Love to Milwaukee! Viva Milwaukee Arts!

One last thought

2009-06-21T17:23:00.000-07:00

I'm hoping this is the last blog of the night, and that I'll now go enjoy some dinner with my lovely D. So, one last thought: Every morning I have awoken these last 6 days, it was with an energy of needing to know what was going on, and what I could do to help whatever was good about it. I hope I never get out of bed any other way again.

I think there are many things, many many things that we can do to make this all work out just right. Look forward next fall to the Grand Re-Opening of The Skylight Musical Theater (my suggestion for a title, I'll tell you why another time).

Cutestory

2009-06-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

So, DD says I should reveal the facts behind the name of my blog. While the events of the last week have definitely amazed, they have not delighted. So what gives? I asked Sage if my blog name should be something specific, like PLEASE RESIGN ERIC DILLNER, and he, in his infinite wisdom, said, "No, you may want to blog about other things when this is over." I never question Sage's advice, especially in the world of computers and the internet, and so without even thinking, my blog name just popped into my head. It's something Bill says at least once during the rehearsal process, sometimes more than once, while blocking. Sorry, Bill, it's probably a paraphrase. I do that all the time. Even though I've heard Bill say it easily no less than 50 times, it always makes me laugh and a bit giddy.

And that's why you never name your blog after a specific crisis you are in.

Eric Dillner 414.291.7811 x221

2009-06-21T13:25:00.000-07:00

Have you called Eric yet today to remind him to call Joel Kopischke tomorrow? He told Joel he would, so I don't doubt it in the least. Really, I don't. But just call and remind him in case he forgot.

Thanks!

Copy of Robert's resignation

2009-06-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Suzanne,

I am writing with sadness to tender my resignation from the board of the Skylight effective immediately. Admittedly my resignation is symbolic because I had announced several months ago that I had decided to resign at the time of this year's Annual Meeting after two terms on the board, but I wanted to send a message at this juncture that I cannot and do not agree with the recent decision to terminate Bill Theisen. Incidentally, my wife Polly who served for 16 years on the board is 100% supportive of my decision.

I am well aware of a board member's fiduciary and social responsibility and I am saddened that the decision to fire Bill was made in the manner in which it was done...solely by the Executive Committee. Last month at a full board meeting it was announced that because of the economic downturn some cuts would probably have to be made. It was not even hinted that Bill might be one of the people affected. If that had been the case I'm sure it would have prompted a great deal of discussion. I'm not sure that I would have had the wisdom or foresight to predict the amazing reaction from patrons and artists alike, but I certainly would have been one of the ones too stand up and ask if this would be the best route to take. Hindsight is always easy, but to incur the wrath of the community to such a degree does not bode well for the Skylight for I fear that we will be losing subscribers and donors to the extent that budget impacts could be disastrous.

One of the unique characteristics of the Skylight is that it has always been "family" and, as in all families, there always disagreements; however, in solid families these disagreements are worked out and the family moves forward. My fervent wish is that you are able to steer the Skylight boat through these troubled waters and I do hope that you will reach out to Jamie and others who have been so vocal to at least open up the lines of communication. All of the actors, musicians, artists, patrons etc who have been bombarding the board with their emails are the life blood of the Skylight and without them we would be would be in very tough shape. Please take heed!

Sincerely,

Robert L. Beal

Milwaukee

Board resignation

2009-06-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

Robert Beal, whose wife, Polly, was on the Skylight board for 16 years, just resigned from the Skylight board. Soon I, or someone, will be posting her letter to read. Goodbye, Eric.

the last word (from me) til tomorrow at 3:00

2009-06-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

Ask me to stop, and I will think about it and try. I don't want the skylab to fail. But, when you know, you know. I guess this is what it must be like to be a Christian. I know, on faith alone (though there are proofs a plenty), that Eric is bad for the Skylight.

Good night, and good luck.

Sad but true

2009-06-20T20:42:00.000-07:00

Okay.

I will admit that I only see 4-5 other productions a year than the Skylight's . Maybe you don't even think I care about theater. I am making this about me, so it doesn't have to be about me. Milwaukee theater, grow a pair. Skylight opera, I shed many tears every time I type the word Sky.

Why won't anyone join in on this dialogue? What are you hiding from us, Eric Dillner?

All it would take

2009-06-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

A 30 minute phone call from Eric and and 45 minute phone call from Suzanne Hefty and I will shut up. Otherwise, I will proceed. Eric, please apologize to the community and make this stop!

Angela rocks

2009-06-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

Eric throws Bill under the bus.

2009-06-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable Angela.

Thanks.

ENJOY!

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=9545b96973&view=att&th=12200b91e35aa7f8&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_fw75tujy0&zw

2009-06-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=9545b96973&view=att&th=12200b91e35aa7f8&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_fw75tujy0&zw

Does this come out. Thank you ANGELA!!!

Herman the Horse, a healthy tail

2009-06-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

I hope you clicked on this hoping for a funny comment. But I just like the title. Herman (not Harry!) the Horse.

Herman will rescue the Skylight.

What should I do next?

2009-06-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

People keep saying that I have no proposal for what happens when Eric leaves.

There's a lot of opportunity there, and it takes very little imagination to figure it out.

Even if Bill won't come back, we find an interim managing director (Christine would be perfect), beg Bill to direct the entire season, including Paula's show and An Evening with Gilbert and Sullivan (both of which I assume are being chopped from next season's 50th anniversary), and we hold a summit with the board. Truth and reconciliation. No one who is working at Skylight now would lose their job, and all cuts would be reinstated. If we truly need to find $200,000, I'm quite convinced that the community is ready to put that (and so much more) up. Instead the Skylight continues to bleed money as donors pull out and outrage sponsors and patrons cut off their support.

Please remember, many important people have already pledged to pull their support from the Skylight. And they have lost Bill. The place is going to totally suck when Eric is out front shaking hands, every third show or so. Hello? The rest of you honestly believe Skylight is going to be worth supporting after this. HA!

language

2009-06-20T18:19:00.000-07:00

From the get-go, I have had people advising me about my language. My mom said,"I saw you on the tube (she's hipper than us, I kid you not) and you seemed very angry. That's okay, but don't swear. You said "g.d. questions". You know, kids are in that building."

Love my mom.

I was told by someone I adore that the very first letter I wrote to the Board needed to be re-framed to help speak their language. Sadly, I had already sent it, when I asked her to proof it. But you know what? If I rewrote the letter and sent it 12 hours later, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. I would have received no response or a polite response, or possibly, radically, a "let's talk about that"...a meeting Norman Moses assures me would end in bewilderment, hypnotized bybusiness-ease.

Some people are beginning to hate me. But, all I did was use my first amendment rights. Not only can you get fired for that in this country, it'll cost you friends and respect.

C'est la vie, c'est la guerre, c'est la pomme de terre.

Any visual artists out there?

2009-06-20T18:07:00.000-07:00

An image of Eric Dillner throwing Bill Theisen under a bus whose sign reads "Skylight." The rest of us are waving at the station. Please draw that picture.

The sign might also say: Stopping at: The spirit of Colin Cabot, The spirit of Claire Richardson, The Spirit of Richard Carsey. The spirit of Francesca Zambello.

That is exactly what has happened this week. Farewell, Skylight. I will miss you.

The end is near

2009-06-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

The tide, if it ever was going out, is now heading back in. This was a campaign about faith. Faith that our persistence could cause people that don't speak our language to listen and react. Every actor knows that good acting is reacting. And the board doesn't even know how to act like it cares.

I know a couple 100 people and a few $100,000. doesn't mean much to these people, which is what it appears they have lost in this PR debacle so far, but the cause of this debacle was based on only one person, Eric, and his huge ego, and $200,000. So WTF.

I think I learned today that it's rare to beat city hall.

Words from Norman

2009-06-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

All I want from the board at this point is some conversation about why this was handled in the shoddy way it was. We all want heads to roll because we all feel insulted that this could be handled in the way it was. Shameful. We deserve better. But I feel I don't know enough about what has transpired over there since Eric's arrival and why the board decided this was the best way to handle the projected budget shortfall. It clearly has backfired on them.

The Restructuring

2009-06-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

I know a lot has been said about this, but consider:

Some people actually believe Eric can do both of those mammoth jobs.

No one I talk to believes that a company can have a marketing director who is also the box office manager. One person of authority on these issues said that the box office manager is the most important employee. The face of the company for 80% of the audience.

So, bottom line, this restructuring is untenable.

Sadly, I doubt the Board will read my blogs. But you can send them to Eric!

Ericd@skylightopera.com

2009-06-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

Well, that's the cart before the horse. So, I have a blog. The world is ending. I created this blog because I still have a lot to say about the Skylight situation, but it has become clear that I should say it someplace where people who want to read about it can read about it. After this is all over, and Eric is gone :), I'll probably stop blogging. But Sage said I won't. So we'll see.

intentions?

2009-06-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

Are you aware that in Mr. Dillner's previous position with the Shreveport Opera, he hired his wife to be the company's new artistic director? Do these actions seem suspect to you in the context of this week's events?