Milwaukee Opera Theatre and MARN present:

A Celebration and Fundraiser

Saturday, May 25th

Doors open at 5:00 PM

Performance at 6:00 PM

Location: MARN ART + CULTURE HUB

191 N. Broadway

Tickets starting at $50, seating is limited

Since 2009, MOT has offered free Voice Labs to more than 1,000 singers in our community.  In honor of Voice Lab #100, we're thrilled to be co-hosting a special fundraising event with MARN.

Learn what a Lab is like, and hear knock-out performances from some of our favorite artists including:

Bob Balderson
Austin Bare
Laura Basse
Cecilia Davis
Brennan Martinez
Shayne Patrick
Jason Powell
Tim Rebers
Lynette Knapp Ryan
Nathan Wesselowski

With Janna Ernst on the keys!

All ticket proceeds will be used to support future programming at MOT. If you cannot attend but would like to contribute, please consider donating!

A Message on Voice Lab from our Artistic Director, Jill Anna Ponasik

In 2009, life dropped me somewhat unexpectedly in Milwaukee, and I began volunteering with a little company called Milwaukee Opera Theatre.  Folks often think I founded MOT, but I didn’t.  The reality is more like MOT adopted me, right when I needed a home.  Anyway…

It was 2009.  MOT was broke and unsure what to do next.  I too was unsure what to do next, but I now had a house, and a piano, so I decided to put those two things to work, hatching a plan called Voice Lab.  The idea was pretty simple: I’d hire a pianist for a couple hours, invite artists to share something they’re working on, facilitate supportive conversations around that work, and see what happens. 

It turns out that A LOT happened!!!

For the next 15 years, Voice Lab would form the quiet backbone of the company.  Through these monthly workshops, offered free of charge to our community, we’ve developed programming, commissioned new work, cast productions, forged friendships, found board members, and assembled a sprawling, beloved, artist-family that lives and makes art in Milwaukee.

To date 99 Voice Labs have taken place, 1,653 singers have attended, and at least 15 original productions have been developed.  

Voice Lab 100 will be a little bit different than the others. This one is a fundraiser (so that Labs 101-199 can again be offered for free). The repertoire is being selected ahead of time, just for this occasion.  And there will be cake.  Lots of cake.

I hope you’ll consider joining us.  We’d love to see you there.

With Gratitude,

Jill Anna