PORTRAITS

a new musical by David Lancelle and Patrick Thompson

Portraits Studio is the place to get headshots, family photos and more. Tony's partner calls in sick and now he's running the studio solo. What could possibly go wrong?

Show Dates

All performances take place at Christ Church Episcopal.

-- 5655 N Lake Drive, Whitefish Bay, WI, 53217

Please click the link associated with the performance you wish to see to purchase tickets.

Performance Dates:

Friday, August 2nd at 6 PM -- SOLD OUT

Saturday, August 3rd at 2 PM -- SOLD OUT

Sunday, August 4th at 2 PM -- SOLD OUT

Friday, August 9th at 6 PM -- SOLD OUT

Saturday, August 10th at 2 PM -- SOLD OUT

Saturday, August 10th at 6 PM -- SOLD OUT

Sunday, August 11th at 2 PM -- SOLD OUT

Meet the Cast

Ellen

Ash Mulholland

she/her

Ash has been with Pink Umbrella since the start of their upraise in their original works in 2021 and she is very excited to fill the role for the summer production. She has been in many works with Pink Umbrella Theater including Kaleidoscope (2023) as Ruthie, BIGGER TOP (2022) as POP, SHINE! and SHINE! Remount (2021-22) as Pickle, and Scavengers (2021) as Scout. Whenever she’s not on-stage singing, acting, and dancing, she also likes to expand her creativity like drawing, painting, baking, and of course as the show itself has fun photoshoots to make the world smile. Check out her actor’s website http://ashmulholland.com/ and hope you enjoy this perfect moment.

Danny

Eugene Strei

he/him

Eugene is excited to be making his Pink Umbrella debut! He is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, receiving a BFA in Musical Theater and a minor in dance. Past credits include Torch Song (David), American Idiot (Theo, associate choreographer), All Night Strut (Alan/company) and Once Upon a Mattress (Wizard). Eugene is also an emerging playwright, having had his work featured at UWM and as part of the IYKYK Playfest presented by La Jolla Playhouse. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Pen

Ali Meisinger

she/her

Ali Meisinger is excited to be playing Pen in her second Pink Umbrella Theater company show! She was last seen in Pink Umbrella’s production of Kaleidoscope last year where she played Yara. Some of her other theater credits include First Stage, high school musicals, middle school shows, and elementary school productions. When she’s not in the theater you can find her being a musical theater enthusiast and a big Fan of Shakespeare. Ali would like to thank her friends, family, and Katie Cummings for always supporting her in her theater career! Hope you enjoy the show!!

Spencer

Jack Allen

he/him

Jack is very grateful to be returning to Pink Umbrella Theater for Portraits. Jack performed in past Pink Umbrella Theater productions as GREYSON in Kaleidoscope, HONK in Bigger Top, and SUNSHINE in SHINE! Jack is a recent graduate of Project Search, an internship at Children's Hospital Wisconsin and a ‘23 graduate of Nicolet High School, where he performed in multiple theater and musical productions. Jack would like to thank Rebekah, Katie, Patrick, David, OJ, and his fellow cast and crew for creating lasting memories with Portraits. Jack says, “Cheese the day!”

Tony

Pip Buffington

they/them

Pip is overjoyed to return to the Pink Umbrella Stage as Tony! Pip made their debut last summer as Ollie in Kaleidoscope (2023). They also had the pleasure of performing in MSO’s Sensory Friendly Concert (2024). Pip has always had a love for art in many forms. This show has expanded that love to include photography, to the delight of their toddler, Beth. Pip would like to thank their spouse, Luke, for his sacrifices that made rehearsals possible. They would also like to extend gratitude to their “stage family” for their support and endless encouragement.

Harley

Amanda Lojeski

she/her

Amanda is excited to be playing Harley in her fourth Pink Umbrella Theater company show! She was last seen in Pink Umbrella’s production of Kaleidoscope last year where she played Bailey. Some of her other theater credits include ACAP Playmakers, high school musicals. When she’s not in the theater you can find her going for bike rides and spending time with her friends and family. Amanda would like to thank her friends, family, and Katie Cummings for always believing in her. She would also like to Thanks Patrick, David and the whole cast/crew of Portraits

Skye

Garrett Scott

he/him

Garrett is thrilled to be a performing in PORTRAITS! He previously played Squash in Pink Umbrella Theater’s production of SHINE! In addition to theater, he loves music and has played piano for over 20 years. He enjoys writing original stories, drawing, and animation. Garrett also loves doing voice-over work. He dreams of someday designing his own set for a movie or play. He hopes his character Skye brings you joy and you enjoy the show!

Understudy

Tayler Erby-Walker

she/her

Talk about excited...Tayler Erby-Walker is absolutely thrilled to serve as an understudy in Pink Umbrella's, PORTRAITS, this summer. Tayler has always loved attending dramatic plays and musicals, but never believed she'd have the opportunity to participate as a performer. Taking classes with Pink Umbrella has been a highlight in Tay's life, and she's eager to experience theater from an actor's perspective. Thank you, Pink Umbrella!

Understudy

Alyson "Aly" Leavitt

she/her

Aly is excited to be serving as an understudy for her first production with Pink Umbrella Theater Co. Aly has always enjoyed acting, some of her early experiences in theater were in church musicals and middle school plays. Aly also is a dancer for Above the Clouds and performs with their Jazz Troupe. Outside of the performing arts, Aly is a typical teenager who enjoys being with her friends and social media. She also loves to travel, go to Broadway musicals, watch movies, swim, and anything to do with fashion. Aly would like to take the opportunity to thank her family and Pink Umbrella for their support in helping make her acting goals a reality!

Frank

Michael Treder

he/him

Michael is very excited to make his debut with Pink Umbrella as Frank in Portraits! He is a performing tenor and choir director with a degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. He has been performing since the age of 10, and has performed in various community, school, and professional productions across the midwest, most recently as a guest artist at the American Gothic Performing Arts Festival in Ottumwa, IA as the title role in the children's opera Pinnocchio, as well as a featured brother in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Michael currently serves as the choir director at East Troy Middle & High School. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Meet the Crew

Playwright

David Lancelle

he/him

David Lancelle is a composer/lyricist and alum of NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. While at NYU, he studied under William Finn, Steven Lutvak, and Mel Marvin. His work has been performed in Chicago, Milwaukee, LA, and New York, and his musical, "The Glass Girl"—with book and lyrics by Marina Toft—was workshopped at NYU Tisch in 2018 and was a finalist in the New Voices Project with New Musicals Inc. & Disney Imagineering. In 2020 he was commissioned by Broward College to compose the music for a musical about America’s opioid crisis, entitled "A Deadly Deception" (Book & Lyrics by Mariah Reed). “Portraits” is his first show with Pink Umbrella and he is so excited to see it come to life! He is also devoted Tolkien fan, and has musicalized all of the lyrics found in “The Lord of the Rings.” The album can be heard at davidlancelle.bandcamp.com

Assistant Director

Katie Cummings

she/her

Katie Cummings has dedicated over twenty years as a theater artist, educator and advocate for inclusion and diversity in theater. A Wisconsin native, Katie graduated from Cardinal Stritch University with a BA in Theater and Business. Her resume includes First Stage, Bunny Gumbo, UW-Milwaukee, Chamber Theater and St. Joseph High School. Katie believes that theater has the power to develop empathy, create meaningful connections and engage communities.

Accessibility Manager

Shaqita Crockett

she/her

Shaqita is excited and honored to be part of Pink Umbrella’s Production Team for the second time! While you can always find Shaqita serving as the Headmistress for Pink's in-person classes, she was last seen on the Production side as the Accessibility Manager for Pink's Spring Production of Bizarre Intrusive Thoughts. Shaqita is so grateful to Katie for creating space for her to be a part of such a beautiful community in multiple capacities.

Stage Manager

Olivia Jardas (OJ)

she/her

OJ is a thespian, scientist, and life-long learner. She has her B.A. in Theater Arts, B.S. in Biological Sciences, and M.A. in Teaching. OJ has directed and designed productions all around the Milwaukee suburbs. When OJ isn't teaching, she is at home playing the Sims, reading, or playing with her two cats: Luci and Ham.

Costume Designer

Kristina Van Slyke

she/her

Kristina L. Van Slyke (she/her) is delighted to design costumes for her second Pink summer musical. Other designs with Pink Umbrella have been seen in Scavengers, Shine!, Bigger Top, Kaleidoscope, and Bizarre Intrusive Thoughts. She has designed for Cardinal Stritch University, First Stage Children's Theater, Chamber Theater, Boulevard, Bialystock & Bloom and Cornerstone Theater and 17 Lennox Heights neighborhood Halloweens. Thank you Katie and Pink for allowing her to create for artists that fill her soul. Thank you to John, Josie, and Marko for love and support.

Playwright

Patrick Thompson

he/him

Patrick Thompson is a musical theatre writer based in NYC. He regularly works with New York City Center to bring musical theatre to the public schools of the city. He is also a staff songwriter and performer at Carnegie Hall for The Lullaby Project, Big Note, Little Note and Camille’s Rainbow (an opera for babies). He is honored to return to Pink Umbrella again this summer after an exciting run of KALEIDOSCOPE last year. Other works of his include SUNFLOWER DAYS, I’M FINE (AND OTHER LIES), POSTCARDS FROM CONEY ISLAND and PASSING BY. Patrick is a proud alumni of the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at NYU Tisch.

Director

Rebekah Farr

she/her

Rebekah Farr has been working in Milwaukee as an actor, educator, and director since 2018. Her main values are accessibility and community. She is grateful to have worked with local companies such as Skylight, First Stage, Optimist, Mad Rogues, Sunstone, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, and Next Act. Rebekah is also a proud Associate Artist with The Constructivists. A great big thank you to Katie Cummings for that first cup of coffee and for welcoming her under the umbrella immediately. Rebekah hopes you enjoy her debut as a director on Pink Umbrella’s mainstage.

Lighting Designer

Marion Frank

she/her

Marion Frank is so excited to be working with Pink Umbrella for the first time as the Lighting Designer for PORTRAITS. Previous lighting credits include Henry IV Pt 1, The Gracious Sisters (First Stage), Machinal, The Mill on the Floss, The Thanksgiving Play (Knox College), and Angel Street (Illinois Central College). Marion is very passionate about theatre education, and teaches at First Stage and at Skylight’s Enlighten program; she also recently began working as an Artistic Ally for Pink Umbrella. Thank you for supporting live theatre, and enjoy the show!

Set Designer

Katie Lindgren

she/her

Katie has her degree in Technical Theater from Cardinal Stritch University and her Master’s Degree in Special Education with certifications as an Autism and Transition Specialist from UW-Whitewater. She has experience in various areas of theater from set design & construction to stage management and everything in between. Katie is the Program Coordinator of an Adult Day Program serving adults with disabilities. She is passionate about creating accessible opportunities for all and an avid believer in the positive impact arts and theater have on our lives and in the community.

Stage Crew

Adam Hurvitz

he/him

Adam is a junior at UW Milwaukee, majoring in communications and minoring in film. He is a classic rock fan who enjoys creative writing and making small beginner films. Adam aspires to work in the entertainment industry and is happy to start his journey with Pink Umbrella.

Stage Manager

Nick Flanary

he/him

Nick is incredibly excited to be joining the Pink Umbrella crew again this season. Helping with the productions and in the classes when able, he is happy to be a part of making theater more enjoyable for everyone, and hopes you enjoy our shows or classes!