Theater
Program Manager:
Maggie Obst
Phone: 414-604-4951
Email: obstm@wawmsd.org
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2024-2025 Season - Upcoming Shows
High School Productions
DAMN YANKEES!
2024 PERFORMANCE INFORMATION:
DIRECTOR: David Valdes
PERFORMANCES: November 14th-17th
LOCATION: Nathan Hale High School - 11601 W. Lincoln Ave.
Based on the novel, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant by Douglass Wallop, Damn Yankees the Broadway mega-hit and winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, hits it out of the park! The winning score by Adler and Ross and a devilish book by George Abbot have made this sporty musical comedy a true American classic. Middle-aged baseball fanatic Joe Boyd, trades his soul to the Devil, also known as Mr. Applegate, for a chance to lead his favorite team to victory in the pennant race against the New York Yankees. As young baseball sensation, Joe Hardy, he transforms the hapless Washington Senators into a winning team, only to realize the true worth of the life that he's left behind. Joe ultimately outsmarts Applegate, returns to his former self and shepherds the Senators to the World Series.
AUDITIONS: September 16th-18th from 4:15-6:45pm at Nathan Hale High School - 11601 W. Lincoln Ave.
FIRST REHEARSAL: September 23rd from 4-7pm at Nathan Hale High School - 11601 W. Lincoln Ave.
For more information, please visit
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
2025 PERFORMANCE INFORMATION:
DIRECTOR: Peggy Link
PERFORMANCES: January 23rd-26th
LOCATION: Nathan Hale High School - 11601 W. Lincoln Ave.
Count Claudio falls in love with Hero, the daughter of his host. Hero's cousin Beatrice (a confirmed spinster) and Benedict (an eternal bachelor) are each duped into believing the other is in love with them. Claudio is deceived by a malicious plot and denounces Hero as unchaste before they marry. She faints and is believed dead, but recovers to be proved innocent by a chance discovery. Benedict wins Beatrice’s love defending her cousin’s honour, and to his surprise, Claudio is reunited with Hero, who he believed dead.
AUDITIONS: November 20th-22nd from 4-7pm at Nathan Hale High School - 11601 W. Lincoln Ave.
FIRST REHEARSAL: November 25th from 4-7pm at Nathan Hale High School - 11601 W. Lincoln Ave.
For more information, please visit
LES MISERABLES
2025 PERFORMANCE INFORMATION:
DIRECTOR: Jordan Pollard
PERFORMANCES: April 24th-27th
LOCATION: West Allis Central High School - 8516 W. Lincoln Ave.
Winner of over 100 international awards and seen by over 65 million people worldwide, Les Misérables is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. In 19th century France, Jean Valjean is released from years of unjust imprisonment, but finds nothing in store for him but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a life-long struggle for redemption as he is relentlessly pursued by police inspector Javert, who refuses to believe Valjean can change his ways. Finally, during the Paris student uprising of 1832, Javert must confront his ideals after Valjean spares his life and saves that of the student revolutionary who has captured the heart of Valjean's adopted daughter.
AUDITIONS: February 4th-6th from 5-8pm at West Allis Central High School - 8516 W. Lincoln Ave.
FIRST REHEARSAL: February 10th from 5-8pm at West Allis Central High School - 8516 W. Lincoln Ave.
For more information, please visit
Intermediate (6th-8th) Productions
MARY POPPINS JR.
2024 PERFORMANCE INFORMATION:
DIRECTOR: Heather Gandre
PERFORMANCES: December 5th-8th
LOCATION: West Allis Central High School - 8516 W. Lincoln Ave.
Based on one of the most popular Disney movies of all time and the Broadway musical that played for over 2,500 performances and received multiple Olivier and Tony Awards nominations, Cameron Mackintosh and Disney's Mary Poppins is capturing hearts in a whole new way: as a practically perfect Broadway Junior musical!The jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that "Anything can happen if you let it."
AUDITIONS: September 23rd-25th from 4-6pm at West Allis Central High School - 8516 W. Lincoln Ave.
FIRST REHEARSAL: September 26th from 4-7pm at West Allis Central High School - 8516 W. Lincoln Ave.
For more information, please visit
PETER PAN JR.
2025 PERFORMANCE INFORMATION:
DIRECTOR: Karl Miller
PERFORMANCES: February 27th-28th & March 1st-2nd
LOCATION: West Milwaukee Intermediate School - 5104 W. Greenfield Ave.
Based on J.M. Barrie's classic tale and featuring an unforgettable score by Morris "Moose" Charlap and Jule Styne with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Peter Pan is one of the most beloved and frequently performed family favorites of all time. This high-flying Tony Award-winning musical has been performed around the world and delighted audiences for 60 years. Peter and his mischievous fairy sidekick, Tinkerbell, visit the nursery of the Darling children late one night and, with a sprinkle of pixie dust, begin a magical journey across the stars that none of them will ever forget. In the adventure of a lifetime, the travelers come face to face with a ticking crocodile, a fierce Indian tribe, a band of bungling pirates and, of course, the villainous Captain Hook.
AUDITIONS: January 2nd-3rd from
4:15-6:15pm at West Milwaukee Intermediate School - 5104 W. Greenfield Ave.
FIRST REHEARSAL: January 7th from 4:15-6:15pm at West Milwaukee Intermediate School - 5104 W. Greenfield Ave.
For more information, please visit
THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE
2025 PERFORMANCE INFORMATION:
DIRECTOR: Peggy Link
PERFORMANCES: May 15th-18th
LOCATION: Frank Lloyd Wright Intermediate School - 9501 W. Cleveland Ave.
This dramatization of C.S. Lewis' classic work faithfully recreates the magic and mystery of Aslan, the great lion, his struggle with the White Witch, and the adventures of four children who inadvertently wander from an old wardrobe into the exciting, never-to-be-forgotten Narnia. The intense action features chases, duels and escapes as the witch is determined to keep Narnia in her possession and to end the reign of Aslan. All the memorable episodes from the story are represented in this exciting dramatization: the temptation of Edmund by the witch, the slaying of the evil wolf by Peter, the witnessing of Aslan's resurrection by Susan and Lucy, the crowing of the four new rulers of Narnia, and more. The supporting characters are also here: the unicorn, the centaur and other forest animals, along with Father Christmas, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver and Tumnus the Faun. This story of love, faith, courage and giving, with its triumph of good over evil, is a true celebration of life. Easily staged, the play may be presented without intermission or in two short acts if desired.
AUDITIONS: March 10th-11th from 4-7pm at Frank Lloyd Wright Intermediate School - 9501 W. Cleveland Ave.
FIRST REHEARSAL: March 17th from 4-6:30pm at Frank Lloyd Wright Intermediate School - 9501 W. Cleveland Ave.
For more information, please visit
Auditions: March 10-11 4-7pm
1st Rehearsal: March 17 4-6:30
Performances: May 15-18
All at Frank Lloyd Wright Intermediate School
Directors
Scott Girmscheid
Managing Director, WAWM Community Youth Theater
Scott first started in theater as an actor, singer, and production designer for many years with several professional, community and high school theater groups in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota before starting as the Resident Director for 25 years at West Allis Central High School. He also was Resident Director at Mukwonago High School for several years. He is thrilled to serve as the Managing Director of the West Allis/West Milwaukee (WAWM) Youth Theater
Program. His passion for teaching theater, by offering an outlet for young people to show off their acting, singing, and dancing skills, has been a dream come true for the past 30 years. Recently retired as the Senior Buyer/Product Specialist for Global Industrial, Scott hopes to continue to develop this new theater program by
offering more opportunities to the kids in the WAWM communities by expanding the number of productions and introducing new theater-based programs to the elementary schools in the district.
Jordan Pollard
WAWM Program Book Manager
Director: Les Miserables, School edition/The Wizard of OZ, Youth edition
Jordan’s love of theater began when he was in the fifth grade and
his participation with theater in the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District began his freshman year of high school when he performed in Cinderella under the direction of Scott Girmscheid. Through college, Pollard served as the assistant director for several Central High School plays. After graduating from Carroll University with a degree in elementary education, he accepted a teaching position in the WA-WM School District as a fourth- and fifth-grade educator, and also began assistant directing the musicals at Central High School. During the 2016-2017 school year, he began directing the Central musicals, West Milwaukee Intermediate musicals, and started the summer Youth Theater
program through the WAWM RCS Department. Over the years, Pollard has continued performing with various community theater organizations in southeastern Wisconsin. One of the biggest rewards of being a part of the WAWM theater team is getting to see his elementary students develop their love for the stage and having the opportunity to watch them grow as people and performers as they pursue their theater passions throughout intermediate and
high school.
David Valdes
Director: Damn Yankees!
A native of Milwaukee, David chaired the theater program at the Milwaukee High School of the Arts for 15 years before moving to Minnesota to pursue his MFA in Directing. After 29 years of teaching and directing at many theater companies throughout the United States, he returned to Milwaukee to serve as Director of Theater at University Lake School for two years. Milwaukee Magazine also
awarded him “Arts Educator of the Year” in 1998. David is currently working for Milwaukee Public Schools as the facilitator for the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. He is thrilled to be part of the directing team again this year for the WAWM Youth Theater Program.
Peggy Link
Director: Much Ado About Nothing, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Peggy has been working with the WAWM schools for 28 years. Before that, she worked as Production Stage Manager at First Stage Milwaukee and stage managed at a number of theaters in her hometown of Chicago. Her favorite part of the job is watching the kids learn, grow, and mature from first rehearsal to strike, from show to show, and year to year. Along with life lessons, Peggy hopes that some of her passion for theater has rubbed off on the kids.
Heather Gandre
Director: Mary Poppins, Jr.
Heather is the Director of Bands at West Allis Central High School. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Lawrence University, where she studied in the studio of David Bell. She has been in music theater for the past 16 years, performing in over 50 pit orchestras as a woodwind specialist. Some of her favorite performances include The Wild Party (All-In Productions) and The Drowsy Chaperone (Box Theatre). She has also performed as a clarinetist as a member of the Knightwind Ensemble and Vento Winds, and appeared as a featured vocal soloist with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Figeac, France. Ms. Gandre has served on the leadership team as a director and music director in numerous musicals in the WAWM School District. She is thrilled to share her love of theater with all her students!
Karl Miller
Director: Peter Pan, Jr.
Karl is thrilled to be joining the WAWM Theater team again this year. He has been working in elementary, middle, high schools and colleges for over 33 years as a choreographer, director, consultant and teacher. Having spent 16 years at Homestead High School, 15 years at Greendale High School, 10 years at both Whitnall and Oconomowoc High Schools, 8 years at St Roberts Middle School
and 2 years with Disney Musicals in Schools in Madison to name a few. Karl is a 16 time Jerry Award winning choreographer and was inducted into the Jerry Award Hall of Fame in 2014. Karl looks forward to many adventures here at WAWM!
Ashley Patin
Director: Willy Wonka, Kids Edition
Ashley, a freelance choreographer, singer, and theater educator in southeastern Wisconsin - holds a B.A. in Theater Arts-Acting with a minor in Dance from the University of Northern Colorado and a M.A.T. in Secondary English Education from Western Governors University. While also teaching full-time, she is the Artistic Director
and Associate Choreographer for Main Street Song and Dance Troupe, teaches with First Stage, and served as the Community Enrichment Director and Tour Director for Kids From Wisconsin for nearly 10 years. Recent choreography credits include GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (Bombshell Theater Co.), MAMMA MIA! and MARY POPPINS (Sunset Playhouse), MATILDA (Waukesha Civic Theater), GREASE and THE ADDAMS FAMILY and GREASE (Marquette University High School), INTO THE WOODS and JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (Nathan
Hale High School), MOANA JR. and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF JR. (Pilgrim Park Middle School), and ALADDIN JR. and WIZARD OF OZ (Lake Denoon Middle School). And if all that wasn't enough, she is also the lead vocalist for the local cover band Smart Mouth, and frequently performs with Sunset Playhouse in their Musical MainStage and SideNotes Cabaret series. She hopes you have a fabulous time, and thanks her mom, family and friends for their continued support of her wild endeavors!