In anticipation of their last show of the season – a performance by accordionist Guy Klucevsek at Paddy’s Pub on June 20 and 21 – Mark and Isabelle met with Mark Metcalf here at the TCD office to discuss how their partnership developed, Gigante’s performances around the world, and their take on the changes in Milwaukee’s theater scene over the past 25 years.

Listen now:

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Sahan Jayasuriya. The series, focusing on many of Milwaukee’s behind-the-scenes personalities, alternates between short (10-15 min.) and long (25-30 min.) segments. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts page.

Theatre Gigante will host Guy Klucevsek at Paddy’s Pub, 2339 N. Murray, on June 20 and 21. Performances are at 7:30 p.m., and admission is $25. To reserve your seats, call (414) 961-6119.

Among the instructors guiding these young filmmakers is Ryan Sarnowski, co-director of doc|UWM and a filmmaker in his own right, currently working on The Last of the Lawsonomists, a documentary about the final acolyte of philosopher and aviation pioneer Alfred Lawson, who preached a social justice movement long ago swept aside. Mark met with Sarnowski in our office/studio, where the two discussed that film as well as how Sarnowski ended up in Milwaukee, what he loves about documentaries and his other work with doc|UWM.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Sahan Jayasuriya. The series, focusing on many of Milwaukee’s behind-the-scenes personalities, alternates between short (10-15 min.) and long (25-30 min.) segments. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts page.

Cover photo from The Last of the Lawsonomists, currently in-progress by Ryan Sarnowski.

No stranger to cinema in Milwaukee himself, Mark Metcalf sat down with Carlo to talk about his background in the city’s film community, the new challenges and possibilities of modern filmmaking and hitting his stride only now in his “older age.”

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Sahan Jayasuriya. The series, focusing on many of Milwaukee’s behind-the-scenes personalities, alternates between short (10-15 min.) and long (25-30 min.) segments. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts page.

Front page photo from Milwaukee Film Festival 2012 Sponsor Trailer, directed by Carlo Besasie with cinematography by Mike Gillis.

Despite that busy schedule, Matt took a bit of time out of his day to pop upstairs for a visit at the Third Coast Daily offices, where he sat down with Mark. While he was here, he talked to us about the growth of Milwaukee’s comedy scene, the different styles of comedy on the rise in the city and what’s coming up during this hectic weekend at the Collaborative.

The three Milwaukee Comedy shows this weekend, all at the Underground Collaborative: Thursday, The Comedy Arcade Show, a collection of stand-up and improv comedians, beginning at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, the debut of the Tall Boys improv troupe, starting at 8 p.m.; Saturday, the monthly Retro Comedy Night, a giveaway-packed stand-up and improv show featuring special guest Mark Metcalf in the surprise nostalgic reperformance of a classic TV sitcom episode. All shows are $15, $10 if purchased in advance online.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Sahan Jayasuriya. The weekly series, focusing on many of Milwaukee’s behind-the-scenes personalities, alternates between short (10-15 min.) and long (25-30 min.) segments. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts page.

Lee’s currently on his way to Arizona, to reprise his roles as Russ and Dan in Clybourne Park at Arizona Theatre Company, but he stopped in to talk to Mark about getting his start in the industry, the experience of working in regional theater and his role in the Rep’s new Associate Artists program.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Sahan Jayasuriya. The weekly series, focusing on many of Milwaukee’s behind-the-scenes personalities, alternates between short (10-15 min.) and long (25-30 min.) segments. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts page.

Cover image: Lee Ernst as blue-collar construction worker Dan in Clybourne Park. Photo credit Michael Brosilow.

In anticipation of her latest turn upon the stage, Mark sat down with Ilana in our office, to talk about how she came to Milwaukee, and what it’s like to serve as both an orchestra member and a prominent artist in the community. And we even got her to play a little bit of the Prokefiev, to give us a taste of what she has in store for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Sahan Jayasuriya. The weekly series, focusing on many of Milwaukee’s behind-the-scenes personalities, alternates between short (10-15 min.) and long (25-30 min.) segments. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts page.

Levine’s latest project is a film (and companion book) called Sign Painters, documenting the nearly lost art of sign painting and the people continuing to keep it alive. With the film set for release later this year, Levine sat down with Mark Metcalf to discuss the film, DIY and more.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Sahan Jayasuriya. The weekly series, focusing on many of Milwaukee’s behind-the-scenes personalities, alternates between short (10-15 min.) and long (25-30 min.) segments. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts page.

Andy Noble, currently a DJ for The Get Down, has a long history with the Milwaukee music scene, and a record collection to be envied. Photo: Angela Morgan

It’s hard to look back at the development of Milwaukee’s music scene without catching a glimpse of Andy Noble. His most prominent role currently may be serving as a DJ for the monthly soul/funk dance party The Get Down, but he’s also the founder and bassist of Kings Go Forth, the former owner of now-defunct record store Lotus Land and a prominent collector of rare records.

In this podcast, I spoke to Andy about how he got into music, what he looks for when he goes record digging and a bit of the musical history hidden in Milwaukee.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Sahan Jayasuriya. (This week’s installment originally recorded by Dan Shafer.) The weekly series, focusing on many of Milwaukee’s behind-the-scenes personalities, alternates between short (10-15 min.) and long (25-30 min.) segments. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts page.

Paula Suozzi, formerly a prolific opera and theater director in Milwaukee, is now a certified lifeguard/swim teacher and a trainer and weight management coach at Starting Line Athletics. Photo provided by Paula Suozzi.

Paula Suozzi has been many things during her time in Milwaukee. A freelance director of theater and opera. Artistic director of Milwaukee Shakespeare and associate artistic director at the Skylight. And now, an Ironman triathlete, certified lifeguard/swim instructor, and personal trainer and weight management coach at Starting Line Athletics.

Quite the shift.

In this first installment of our new, extended-length podcast series, Paula and I talked about coming to Milwaukee, her experience as a director in the city and her transition to her new career.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Sahan Jayasuriya. (This week’s installment originally recorded by Dan Shafer.) The weekly series, focusing on many of Milwaukee’s behind-the-scenes personalities, alternates between short (10-15 min.) and long (25-30 min.) segments. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts page.

It’s that time of year again; the leaves are gone, the lights are up, and holiday cheer is in the air. For this year’s holidays, I wanted to find out how some of the people here at ThirdCoast Digest celebrate the holiday season. In the coming weeks, you’ll be hearing interviews with all of the wonderful people who work so hard on all of the things you see and hear right here at our online magazine.

For Part One, I talked with TCD’s Senior Editor and Managing Partner, Tom Strini, and he shared a musical story from Christmas past and offered a few tips on Christmas tree decorating. For Part Two, I talked with Dan Shafer, TCD’s Managing Editor, Arts & Culture Intern Danielle McClune, and I then shared a few of my own holiday traditions, with Dan Shafer turning the tables and asking me some questions. For Part Three, I talked with Assistant Culture Editor Matthew Reddin, Music Writer and Social Media Specialist Sahan Jayasuriya and TCDIY Columnist and Social Media Specialist Carly Rubach, and for Part Four, I talked with TCD’s Photo Team: Photo Editor/Staff Photographers Angela Morgan and Lacy Landre, and Photo Intern Howard Leu.

For Part Five, I talked with three of TCD’s interns: Callie Koller (editorial), Kristen Poehlmann (social media) and Breanne Brennan (video).

Listen now:

Subscribe to these podcasts on iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts Page.

It’s that time of year again; the leaves are gone, the lights are up, and holiday cheer is in the air. For this year’s holidays, I wanted to find out how some of the people here at ThirdCoast Digest celebrate the holiday season. In the coming weeks, you’ll be hearing interviews with all of the wonderful people who work so hard on all of the things you see and hear right here at our online magazine.

For Part One, I talked with TCD’s Senior Editor and Managing Partner, Tom Strini, and he shared a musical story from Christmas past and offered a few tips on Christmas tree decorating. For Part Two, I talked with Dan Shafer, TCD’s Managing Editor, Arts & Culture Intern Danielle McClune, and I then shared a few of my own holiday traditions, with Dan Shafer turning the tables and asking me some questions. For Part Three, I talked with Assistant Culture Editor Matthew Reddin, Music Writer and Social Media Specialist Sahan Jayasuriya and TCDIY Columnist and Social Media Specialist Carly Rubach about their holiday traditions.

This week, I talked with TCD’s Photo Team: Photo Editor/Staff Photographers Angela Morgan and Lacy Landre, and Photo Intern Howard Leu.

Listen now:

Subscribe to these podcasts on iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts Page.

It’s that time of year again; the leaves are gone, the lights are up, and holiday cheer is in the air. For this year’s holidays, I wanted to find out how some of the people here at ThirdCoast Digest celebrate the holiday season. In the coming weeks, you’ll be hearing interviews with all of the wonderful people who work so hard on all of the things you see and hear right here at our online magazine.

This week, I talked with Assistant Culture Editor Matthew Reddin, Music Writer and Social Media Specialist Sahan Jayasuriya and TCDIY Columnist and Social Media Specialist Carly Rubach about their holiday traditions.

Listen now:

Subscribe to these podcasts on iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts Page.

It’s that time of year again; the leaves are gone, the lights are up, and holiday cheer is in the air. For this year’s holidays, I wanted to find out how some of the people here at ThirdCoast Digest celebrate the holiday season. In the coming weeks, you’ll be hearing interviews with all of the wonderful people who work so hard on all of the things you see and hear right here at our online magazine.

Listen now:

Subscribe to these podcasts on iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts Page.

It’s that time of year again; the leaves are gone, the lights are up, and holiday cheer is in the air. For this year’s holidays, I wanted to find out how some of the people here at ThirdCoast Digest celebrate the holiday season. In the coming weeks, you’ll be hearing interviews with all of the wonderful people who work so hard on all of the things you see and hear right here at our online magazine.

Tom Strini, TCD’s Senior Editor and the “world’s greatest living authority on Christmas tree decorating.”

Listen now:

Subscribe to these podcasts on iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts Page.

Benjamin Lawton, founder of “Technology Through The Ages”

Benjamin Lawton, a junior at Nicolet High School, has started a volunteer group called “Technology Through The Ages.” Ben, along with his brother Max and others from Nicolet have started working with elderly people in homes for the elderly to teach them about modern technology and Internet basics like email. They’re even showing people how to use tablets.

“The idea is,” said Lawton, “We realized that there’s a lot of technology that elderly people at these homes for the elderly have access to that could really better their lives in a lot of ways, but they really don’t know how to use it.”

For more information on the group, email Benjamin at techthroughtheages@gmail.com.

Subscribe to these podcasts on iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts Page.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or are criminally apathetic, you’re aware that election day is right around the corner. Early voting and in-person absentee ballot voting has already begun.

For Part Four of our New Voters Series, I went to Wauwatosa East High School, where I talked to three students—Jordan Schmidt, Peter Garafolo and Rachael Deshotels—who will cast their first votes in a presidential election on Nov. 6.

Listen Now:

Subscribe to these podcasts on iTunes here.

Students at Wauwatosa East also discussed voting on the school’s video announcements. You can see that video below (the segment on voting begins around the 1:00 mark).

Click here for Part One in the New Voters Series with first time voter Alyssa Swan, who is casting her vote from 10,000 miles away while studying abroad in Tasmania, here for Part Two, with new voters at Milwaukee High School of the Arts, and here for Part Three, with eight students from Rufus King High School.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts Page.

In case you’ve been living under a rock or are criminally apathetic, you’re aware that election day is right around the corner. Early voting and in-person absentee ballot voting has already begun.

For Part Three of the series, I went to Rufus King High School and the students there were very enthused about voting. I talked with eight students—Christina Broughton, Kia Xiong, Tantyana Peer, Mary Berkhalter, Marty Sullivan, Amber Hayashi, Pakau Vang and Sean Salters—who will vote in their first presidential election this year.

Listen now:

Subscribe to these podcasts on iTunes here.

Check back for more in this series in the coming days for the final installment of this series, featuring interviews with students from Wauwatosa East High School. Click here for Part One with first time voter Alyssa Swan, who is casting her vote from 10,000 miles away while studying abroad in Tasmania, and here for Part Two, with new voters at Milwaukee High School of the Arts.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts Page.

Milwaukee High School of the Arts. (Photo: Mark Metcalf)

In case you’ve been living under a rock or are criminally apathetic, you’re aware that election day is right around the corner. Early voting and in-person absentee ballot voting has already begun.

For Part Two of the series, I went to Milwaukee High School of the Arts. Ralph Janes, head of the theater department, is a friend of mine, and he made it possible for me to come in and interview four high school students—Ryan Davis, Promise Marie Triplett, Ricardo Campbell and Jalynn Eaton—who will be eligible to vote on Election Day, Nov. 6.

Listen now:

Subscribe to these podcasts on iTunes here.

Check back for more in this series in the coming days and weeks for podcasts featuring interviews with students from Wauwatosa East High School and Rufus King High School, and click here for Part One with first time voter Alyssa Swan, who is casting her vote from 10,000 miles away while studying abroad in Tasmania.

To register to vote and for more information on voting in Wisconsin, visit myvote.wi.gov.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts Page.

In case you’ve been living under a rock or are criminally apathetic, you’re aware that election day is right around the corner. Early voting and in-person absentee ballot voting has already begun.

Many young people will be voting in their first presidential election this year. 11,500 Americans turn 18 every day. It’s a big voting block and an important one, and I wanted to find out what some of these brand new voters thought about being able to participate in the democratic process for the first time.

Tasmania is located off the southeast coast of Australia. The island has been an Australian state since 1901.

To begin this series, I talked with Alyssa Swan, a Nicolet High School graduate who goes to college at Iowa State University. This semester, Alyssa is studying abroad in the city of Hobart in Tasmania, Australia, and I was able to talk to her through the magic of Skype. She will cast her first vote in a U.S. presidential election from 10,000 miles away.

Like many students studying abroad or members of the armed forces who are serving overseas, her vote will be cast by absentee ballot. Information on absentee voting for U.S. residents who currently reside outside the country can be found at Travel.State.Gov, or at the Federal Voting Assistance Program, at fvap.gov.

Introduction: [audio:https://urbanmilwaukeedial.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/NEWVOTERSINTRO.mp3|titles=Backstage with Mark Metcalf: Introducting the New Voters Series]

Interview: [audio:https://urbanmilwaukeedial.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/alyssaswan.mp3|titles=Backstage with Mark Metcalf – Alyssa Swan]

Subscribe to these podcasts on iTunes here.

Check back for more in this series in the coming days and weeks for podcasts featuring interviews with students from Milwaukee High School of the Arts, Wauwatosa East High School and Rufus King High School.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts Page.

Sammy Rangel (bottom right), works with many groups promoting peace, including Against Violent Extremism.

Sammy Rangel overcame an abusive upbringing, years of violent behavior and more than 15 years in juvenile and adult correctional facilities, and is now working against against violence in many different ways.

Rangel, a former gang member, has been the program coordinator for the SAFE Streets Outreach Program in Racine for a decade, wrote a book called Fourbears: The Myths of Forgiveness, and started the self-help group Formers Anonymous, which uses a modified version of the 12-Step Program to apply to former gang members and criminals looking for an opportunity for change and recovery.

Rangel is also involved with the group, Life After Hate, who’s founder Arno Michaelis has been on this podcast twice before. Like Michaelis, Rangel’s work takes courage and strength, and on this week’s podcast, we talked about his personal story, the good work he’s doing with the groups like the ones listed above along with Against Violent Extremism and The Forgiveness Project, and about how change comes not all at once, but in a “collection of moments.”

Subscribe to these podcasts on iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts page.

Director Nate Schardin takes a break while shooting “The Vampire Formerly Known as Dracula.” Photo: Bob Gregory

Milwaukee Film’s Collaborative Cinema is a great program that gives young people a chance to get directly involved in the filmmaking process. One of these young people is Nathaniel Schardin, who has been a part of the Collaborative Cinema program since 2007.

The full Collaborative Cinema crew from “The Vampire Formerly Known as Dracula.” Photo: Bob Gregory

This year, Schardin directed his first narrative short, a comedy called The Vampire Formerly Known as Dracula, where a classic Dracula has trouble fitting into the modern-day Twilight/True Blood vampire world. The film will premiere at The Milwaukee Show, tonight at the Milwaukee Film Festival.

In this week’s podcast, Nate and I talked about what went into making the film, directing his first narrative and the great network of people involved in The Vampire Formerly Known as Dracula and the Collaborative Cinema program.

More information and tickets for The Milwaukee Show can be found here, more information on The Vampire Formerly Known as Dracula can be found here, and more information on the Collaborative Cinema program can be found here.

TCD was also there for part of the Collaborative Cinema film shoot, and that video is embedded below, and you can see the full story here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts page.

Mark Metcalf as the Big Bad Wolf in “Little Red.” The film makes its world premiere at the Milwaukee Film Festival on Sunday, Sept. 30, at the Oriental Theatre.

The Milwaukee Film Festival begins tonight. This year’s festival includes some great films from local filmmakers in the festival’s Cream City Cinema category. One of these films is Little Red. The film, a modern-day telling of the Little Red Riding Hood story, was directed by a great local filmmaker, Tate Bunker. The film stars Hannah Obst as Red and yours truly as the Big Bad Wolf.

To preview the film’s premiere at the festival, I sat down with Tate and Hannah to talk about how the film came to fruition, shooting in both Florida and Milwaukee, Hannah’s wonderful acting, and plans for what’s next.

The sold out world premiere of Little Red is at the Oriental Theatre on Sunday night at 7:15 p.m. If you weren’t lucky enough to get tickets to the premiere, the film will also show again at the Oriental on Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 4:30 p.m., and at the Fox-Bay Cinema Grill on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 7:15 p.m. Tate Bunker will be at all three screenings of the film, and if you’ll be at the premiere, there is a reception at Paddy’s Pub where you can meet the filmmakers and exchange your ticket stub for free beer.

For more updates on the film, check out the Little Red official website, or Like the film on Facebook. For more information on the Milwaukee Film Festival, check out TCD’s Flick by Flick guide (Part 1, Part 2).

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts page.

Lewis Black at the Riverside Theater. Photos: Erik Ljung.

I’ve watched both Lewis Black and John Bowman perform comedy since they were about four feet tall in a basement that was about five feet high at the West Bank Cafe on 42nd Street just west of 9th Avenue in New York City. To watch them both develop the craft of doing comedy over the years has been amazing to me.

John Bowman at the Riverside Theater.

Before Lewis and John took the stage at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee last Friday, I had the chance to sit down with them to talk about the pre-show process and how that’s changed (mainly, not as much booze), and with this being an election year, and with Lewis Black being Lewis Black, we talked about this year’s presidential election campaign.

We discussed Paul Ryan, the absurdity of the Democratic and Republican national conventions, the ever-shrinking amount of independent voters, the city that is home to the famed Starbucks across from another Starbucks and much, much more.

[audio:https://urbanmilwaukeedial.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/lewisblackjohnbowmanmark1.mp3|titles=Backstage with Mark Metcalf – Lewis Black and John Bowman]

Lewis Black is touring in support if his newly-released special, In God We Rust, available on CD, DVD and Blu-ray.

The tour heads to Texas on Thursday, where he’ll perform at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Tex., followed by more than 25 dates across the country.

To keep up to date with all things Lewis Black, head to lewisblack.com, Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter at @TheLewisBlack.

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” a 2011 Milwaukee Press Club award-winner, is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer. For the full archive of these podcasts, check out TCD’s Podcasts page.

Photo from the vigil at Cathedral Square Park, August 5. (Photo: Lacy Landre)

In the wake the Aug. 5 tragedy at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, the people of the Sikh community reacted not with contempt, or revenge, or anger, but remarkably, with grace and understanding. It’s something to be proud of, and it inspired me to learn more about the Sikh religion and its people.

Jesse Dhaliwal works at the petrochemical company that owns most of the Citgo service stations in southeastern Wisconsin and is a part of the local Sikh community. He was not at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek on the day of the shooting, but he has close ties with people who were. He saw first hand how this tragedy has effected the community, and he’s incredibly proud of how the community reacted.

“It’s easy to feel like a victim and be scared that your life is in danger and turn around and react the same way that you’ve been treated,” Jesse said. “But in the Sikh community—and the Oak Creek, southeastern Wisconsin and the American community altogether, really—there was a lot of solidarity that came through and it really impressed me. I was very proud of the community that I come from both as a Sikh as a Wisconsinite.”

In our conversation, Jesse and I talked about the origins of the Sikh religion, the story of his family’s journey to the United States, and about the enormously admirable response from both the Sikh community and the people of Wisconsin in the face of such a terrible tragedy.

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue, and is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer.

Vigil at Cathedral Square Park August 5, 2012 | Photo: Lacy Landre

One month ago today, an armed gunman went into the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin and killed six people. It was soon made known that this mass murderer was a white supremist.

“Things fell into place for me, and if they didn’t, I could have been Wade Page,” says Arno Michaelis, founder of the organization Life After Hate.

Arno Michaelis, executive director of Life After Hate

Even before the description of the shooter was made public, Arno posted a video response to the shooting (embedded below), where he says, “This atrocity that happened today hits home for me because I live in Milwaukee—this is in my backyard—but also because there was a time in my life where I practiced the hate and violence that was the raw material behind this shooting.”

Arno was a guest on this podcast once before, talking about his story of transforming his life to be an advocate for peace and acceptance after living a life of hatred and violence as a self-described “white power skinhead.” Considering his background, Arno has particularly unique insight into the life the Sikh Temple gunman led.

Arno and I reflected on the tragedy that occurred, discussed the remarkable courage and perseverance of the Sikh people, and I asked him about what it is about the “white power” ideology that would lead a person to pick up a weapon, point it at someone, and pull the trigger.

Click here to listen to Mark Metcalf’s first podcast with Arno Michaelis. To find out more about Michaelis’ organization, visit lifeafterhate.org, Like their Facebook page, and follow them on Twitter at @lifeafterhate.

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

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue, and is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer.

Mark Metcalf as Claudius in the Houston Shakespeare Festival production of “Hamlet.”

I left Milwaukee for a few weeks this summer and went to Houston to do some acting in the Houston Shakespeare Festival. I played Claudius in Hamlet and Egeon in The Comedy Of Errors.

So for this week’s podcast, I turned the tables a little bit and handed the podcast hosting mic over to Tom Strini and had him interview me.

Listen now:

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue, and is engineered and produced by Dan Shafer.

Photos by Mark Metcalf.

I took a trip with my son earlier this summer to visit many of this country’s great National Parks. We went to Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in Montana, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the American Prairie Reserve in North Dakota. And of course, a trip West wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Serengeti of the north, Yellowstone National Park.

I wanted to share some of this experience with you, the listener, so while I was at Yellowstone, I called the ThirdCoast Digest office and our producer, Dan Shafer, was there to press record.

Listen now:

Below is a photo gallery that includes many of the sights I talked about on the podcast. View the set on flickr here.

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

Michaelis’ story is a reminder that people have the capacity to change from a life of violent racism and hatred to a life dedicated to promoting peace, respect and acceptance. The words and audio below have not been modified from the original publication. You can also find Michaelis’ response to the shooting on the Life After Hate YouTube Channel, linked here. 

These days, Arno Michaelis is actively working against forces of racism and violence to promote peace, respect, and acceptance. Years ago, Michaelis was, as he put it, a “white power skinhead.”

In 2010, he started an organization called Life After Hate, and wrote a book called My Life After Hate. The book, he says, “scrubs scabs off the festering wound of racism, then soothes with the essential wisdom of forgiveness and compassion.”

Arno and I talked about his violent, racist past, how becoming a parent helped turn his life around, and about his work today with Life After Hate and Kindness Not Weakness.

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

Patrick Schmitz (left) and Matt Kemple, co-producers of the Milwaukee Comedy Festival.

Among this year’s performers is Milwaukee native Will Durst, who’s column, “Durst Case Scenario” is posted each Wednesday on ThirdCoast Digest along with many publications nationwide, including the Huffington Post. (Click here to listen to my conversation with Will Durst after the New Hampshire primary earlier this year.)

To preview this year’s Comedy Festival, I sat down with festival co-producers Matt Kemple and Patrick Schmitz along with Melissa Kingston of Broadminded Comedy.

Listen now:

For videos from past Comedy Festivals and more, visit Milwaukee Comedy’s YouTube Channel. For ticket information, click here.

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

Milwaukee’s lakefront is one of the great assets the city has, and many of us don’t get the chance to see it every day. Just to drive by it is almost a miracle for your soul.

The great lakefront is just one of the reasons I always enjoy Point Fish Fry and a Flick. The other of course is that I love movies, but with the way the folks at the Pabst Theater, Riverside Theater and Turner Hall Ballroom have helped put this event together, there’s even more to love than enjoying a great movie outside with your friends.

I recently sat down with Andy Nelson and Tiffany Coris from the Pabst Theater to talk about this year’s Fish Fry and a Flick festivities, which begins August 10 with Zoolander and runs through September 7, ending with hometown favorite Major League. We also talked about another recent movie-related event that the Pabst helped put on, Lebowski Fest, which brought more than 5,000 people to watch The Dude in Cathedral Square Park.

For more information on this year’s Fish Fry and a Flick, including the full lineup of films, food and more, visit their website at pointfishfryandaflick.com, or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

I said yes, but under the condition that he come in to record a podcast so we could talk about the film and what he had planned for the DVDs.

So Will Amacher, bar manager at the Calhoun Beach Club (CBC’s) in Oshkosh, Wis., came to the TCD office to talk about the Animal House night he was planning at his bar, and along the way, I divulged a few insider secrets about the AFI Top 100 comedy.

Copies of Animal House signed by yours truly will be given away as the grand prize for the toga party costume contest at CBC’s on Friday, June 29, and per my request, part of the proceeds will go to benefit the Alzheimers Association and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. If you’re in the Oshkosh area next Friday night, be sure to stop on by.

Listen now:

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

"Punky" hanging out with Lewis Black at the now-defunct Summerfest Comedy Stage.

Dave “Punky” Wastak spent many years behind the scenes at the Big Gig. He started as a driver in the ’70s and eventually managed Summerfest’s Comedy Pavilion (which we discussed on this podcast last year). Having spent so much time with the World’s Largest Music Festival, Punky has more than a few stories to share, like the time he gave The Ramones a wild ride back to their hotel, the days when they used to keep beer in the drivers room, or what Willie Nelson keeps in a flower box while on the road (Hint: Not flowers).

Listen now:

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

Milwaukee is a great city for new ideas. Through Milwaukee Innovation Week, organizations like MiKE (Innovation in Milwaukee) are working to build Milwaukee’s reputation as a center of innovation.

The full schedule of the week’s events can be found here.

Listen now:

[audio:https://urbanmilwaukeedial.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/TCDPodcastMarkMetcalfLaurelOsmanAngelaDamiani.mp3|titles=Backstage with Mark Metcalf – Laurel Osman (MiKE), Angela Damiani (ART Milwaukee)]

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

To this end, I spoke with six high school students in the Milwaukee area—Max Lawton (Nicolet High School), Jordan Gaines (Milwaukee High School of the Arts), Ellen Sellers (Pewaukee High School), Eric Schabla (Rufus King International Baccalaureate High School), Laura Troshynski (Divine Savior Holy Angels High School), and Tommy Shafer (Pewaukee High School).

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

Arno Michaelis, author of "My Life After Hate"

These days, Arno Michaelis is actively working against forces of racism and violence to promote peace, respect, and acceptance. Years ago, Michaelis was, as he put it, a “white power skinhead.”

Michaelis was a teenage alcoholic who became involved in white power groups at the age of 16 and became a founding member of the world’s largest white power group.

In 2010, he started an organization called Life After Hate, and wrote a book called My Life After Hate. The book, he says, “scrubs scabs off the festering wound of racism, then soothes with the essential wisdom of forgiveness and compassion.”

Arno and I talked about his violent, racist past, how becoming a parent helped turn his life around, and about his work today with Life After Hate and Kindness Not Weakness.

Driver Michael Bilderback (right) and David (Punky) Wastak.

The American Speed Association Midwest Tour comes to the Milwaukee Mile this year; the first time stock cars will race at the Mile in two years. The Swiss Colony Howie Lettow Memorial 150 takes place on June 12, and $20 gets you a general admission ticket to the event, and proceeds will go to benefit the MACC Fund. NASCAR drivers Rusty Wallace and Matt Kenseth will compete at the event.

Listen now:

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

The Plankinton Building at the Shops of Grand Avenue. (Photo courtesy Shops of Grand Avenue)

“I’m kind of in love with this place,” says Tracy Korpela, Marketing and Specialty Leasing Director at The Shops of Grand Avenue.

Because of the efforts of Korpela, MiKE Program Manager Laurel Osman, Leah Fiasca of the Greater Milwaukee Committee and many others, the mall is now a much different place. The mall continues to evolve, and the newest effort, Pop-Up, is an innovative new way to reinvent retail space in the New Arcade on the mall’s west end. The first Pop-Up client, Flagship, a Chicago boutique, has already been signed.

I sat down to talk with Korpela, Osman and Fiasca about the Pop-Up program and the new direction the mall has taken over the past year.

Listen now:

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

Robert Ricigliano, Director of the Institute of World Affairs at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and author of “Making Peace Last”

Robert Ricigliano is the Director of the Institute of World Affairs and Center for International Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Not only does he teach a course on peacebuilding (one word — the details matter), but he has written a book called Making Peace Last: A Toolbox for Sustainable Peacebuilding.

Ricigliano’s work in Peacebuilding has taken him all over the world, from Afghanistan and Iraq to Cambodia and The Philippines. He has worked with USAID and the U.S. Department of Defense on the planning and analysis of maintaining peace.

In our conversation, we discussed the United States’ approach to peacebuilding, Ricigliano’s work overseas, the Arab Spring, and the last decade of armed conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq and how the role of the military is changing.

“People ask me am I optimistic about peace and peacebuilding in the future,” said Ricigliano. “And I say, I’m probably more optimistic now than I’ve ever been. One of the main reasons is that the main advocates for the kind of peacebuilding work that I talk about in the book is the U.S. military.”

Like Making Peace Last on Facebook.

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

Actor, columnist, man-about-town David Begel. Photo courtesy the podcast guest’s Facebook page.

With the serious nature of many of our recent conversations on race and education, I thought it best to take a short break from these weighty topics and talk about somewhat lighter fare, so I called up my friend Dave Begel to talk about the weather. As is often the case with Mr. Begel, our conversation went in a variety of different directions, from Milwaukee’s (occasionally) friendly skies, a look a head at what’s next for the podcast, even a bit on a speech by President Dwight Eisenhower and, of course, much more.

Dave even had some kind words for the podcast, calling it “one of the few places in Milwaukee where you hear relatively erudite discussions.” Hey, thanks Mr. Begel!

Dave Begel has been on the podcast several times before, and you can revisit those conversations here.

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

[audio:https://urbanmilwaukeedial.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/TCDPodcastMarkMetcalfJennyMcKillen.mp3|titles=Backstage with Mark Metcalf: Jenny McKillen, Elm Creative Arts School]

Jenny McKillen is a third grade teacher at Elm Creative Arts School in Milwaukee. This is Jenny’s seventh year at Elm and 26th year in Milwaukee Public Schools. Cuts to education have greatly affected schools across the state, but this is especially the case at Elm, as cuts to arts education have had a significant impact on the way the school operates.

Jenny and I discussed the changes at Elm, the challenges of larger class sizes, changes to collective bargaining and what’s in store on the road ahead.

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” has received an Excellence in Journalism award for “Best Blog” from the Milwaukee Press Club! We will find out whether we won gold, silver or bronze at the Gridiron Awards Dinner on May 18.

Many thanks to all of our guests, listeners and to WMSE for making this possible. We couldn’t have done it without you!

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

For the latest installment of my ongoing conversation on race in Milwaukee, I talked with comedian, actor and writer Joel Boyd, who is currently studying at Columbia College Chicago, majoring in TV writing and producing. His main focus at the moment is stand-up comedy and he is performing around Chicago. And through the magic of the Internet, you can find more on his comedy on his Facebook page, facebook.com/BlackNerdFunnies.

Joel grew up in Milwaukee and we talked about what it’s like growing up in the most segregated city in America, going to some of the city’s most diverse schools, and how his race affects his comedy.

Listen now:

This conversation is part of Backstage with Mark Metcalf‘s ongoing conversation, “We don’t go past the bridge”: A Discussion on Race in Milwaukee. Visit past conversations through the links below.

• Part one with poet Dasha Kelly
• Part two with Marquette student Tommy Walls, Jr.
• Part three with Tony Baez of the Council for the Spanish Speaking
• Part four with Dewayne Boothe, Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year
• Part five with Margaret (Peggy) Rozga and Javaris Bradford of Arts@Large and Milwaukee Public Schools
• Part six with actor and comedian Allen Edge
• Click here for Mark Metcalf’s conversation with Virgil Cameron and Fran Kaplan on the revival of America’s Black Holocaust Museum.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

Dr. James Cameron weeping at his pardon ceremony in Marion IN, 1993. (Photos courtesy America’s Black Holocaust Museum)

Virgil Cameron

Dr. James Cameron, the inspiration, founder and guiding light of America’s Black Holocaust Museum, was lynched at the age of 16 in Marion, Indiana. Cameron survived and devoted his life to raising Americans’ consciousness and conscience about the atrocity of lynching. The museum was open on 4th Street in Milwaukee from 1988 until 2008, when budgetary constraints forced the museum to close, but by no means did that mean it was gone for good.

Fran Kaplan

Earlier this year, Fran Kaplan, along with James’ son Virgil, led a group to revive the museum online, and the site went live on February 25.

I had the chance to talk with Fran and Virgil about the museum’s new website  (abhmuseum.org), Dr. Cameron’s astounding journey, and the struggle for justice that endures to this day.

Listen now:

America’s Black Holocaust Museum now posts daily news stories, such as the Trayvon Martin case, about how the struggle for freedom and equality still continues on the site’s “Breaking News” page, which can be seen here.

For more on the story of Dr. James Cameron, click here. The video below is the introduction to America’s Black Holocaust Musuem, which can also be seen on the museum’s home page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UmPwWkwYl28

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

Christina Ratatori and Chicago Public Schools students during a “wiggle break.” (Photos: Susan Carle, South Shore Fine Arts Academy)

It was just over one year ago when Gov. Walker’s proposal to cut funding for public education and eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employees was met with staunch opposition at the Capitol square in Madison inciting a fiery debate, one that remains at the forefront of political discourse here in the great state of Wisconsin.

Studies have shown time and time again that having the arts as an element of a child’s education does wonders for their ability to learn. Christina Ratatori, founder and director of ta.da (teaching. arts. dance. academics), knows this, and is working to bring dance into schools in a new and innovative way.

Christina’s vision with ta.da is based on research that movement is brain food, and that children learn better when they get up and move around during the course of the day. The wonderful thing about dance is that it incorporates both arts education and physical education and it gives kids a chance not only to move around and express themselves, but learn new things by connecting information with movement, and having the occasional “wiggle break.” Couldn’t we all use a wiggle break once in a while?

Click here to listen and download for free: “Backstage with Mark Metcalf” – Christina Ratatori, ta.da – LLC teaching. arts. dance. academics

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

For more information on ta.da, visit tada-llc.com, and follow ta.da on Facebook and Twitter.

Click here for Part One of the series, with Tom Beebe of Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools, and here for Part Two with Fox Point-Bayside teacher and chief negotiator Mark Conforti, and here for Part Three, with Jasmine Alinder of I Love My Public School.

This is Christina Ratatori’s second time on “Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” click here to listen to her conversation from March 2011.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

Jasmine Alinder at the Joint Finance Committee hearing on the budget, along with fellow MPS parent, Angela McManaman.

It was just over one year ago when Gov. Walker’s proposal to cut funding for public education and eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employees was met with staunch opposition at the Capitol square in Madison inciting a fiery debate, one that remains at the forefront of political discourse here in the great state of Wisconsin.

For part three of our series on education in the Walker Era, I spoke with UW-Milwaukee history professor Jasmine Alinder, who also runs the web site, ilovemypublicschool.com. I Love My Public School is a parent-led advocacy organization to support public education that started in response to the massive cuts to public education in 2011. Parents from Milwaukee are also working together to launch Milwaukee Parents for Public Schools, the first Wisconsin chapter of the national organization Parents for Public Schools. The organization has now been approved, and is in its incorporation process.

[audio:https://urbanmilwaukeedial.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/TCDPODCASTMarkMetcalfJasmineAlinder.mp3|titles=”Backstage with Mark Metcalf” – Jasmine Alinder, I Love My Public School]

Click here to listen to the MP3 and download for free:

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” – Jasmine Alinder, I Love My Public School

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

Click here for Part One of the series, with Tom Beebe of Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools, and here for Part Two with Fox Point-Bayside teacher and chief negotiator Mark Conforti.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

Mark Conforti

For part two of our series on education in the Walker Era, I spoke with Fox Point-Bayside teacher Mark Conforti, who is also the chief negotiator for the district. The removal of collective bargaining rights have drastically changed his role as negotiator, and we discussed the challenges he faces in adjusting to the new landscape.

Conforti said his political leanings have usually been more conservative, but that things have changed in recent years, not only due to the changes that were passed a year ago, but the looming fear of further cuts to public education.

“I don’t like the platform and what (Republicans) are standing for,” he said. “They seem to be extremely mean-spirited individuals collectively as a party. They have no regard for what’s right, I think, in terms of education. Quite frankly, I think this whole movement is a way for them to try to privatize education.”

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” – Mark Conforti 

Click here for part one of the series, with Tom Beebe of Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.

Tom Beebe, Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools

Today, “Backstage with Mark Metcalf” begins a podcast series on the state of education in Wisconsin.

We begin our conversation with Tom Beebe, executive director for the Wisconsin Alliance of Excellent Schools, to take a bigger picture look at school funding in the state of Wisconsin.

Listen now:

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” – Tom Beebe, Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue. 

For this week’s podcast, I talked with Nick Witte, who grew up in Bayside and went to Nicolet High School, and came out to his parents in 8th grade. Nick has now graduated high school and is going to college in Switzerland. We discussed some of the challenges he faced in high school and whether or not we, as a society, are moving in the right direction when it comes to acceptance.

Student Nick Witte, in Paris

Listen now:

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” – Nick Witte

This past fall, “Backstage with Mark Metcalf” hosted a series on LGBT issues. To revisit this three-part series, click here for Part One with former soldier and LGBT activist, Miriam Ben-Shalom, here for Part Two on same sex adoption and parenting with Kevin McElroy, and here for Part Three on the history of LGBT rights with Lucky Tomaszek.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office at the Grand Avenue Mall.

Allen Edge.

Allen Edge is an actor and comedian here in Milwaukee. Currently, he is working with First Stage Children’s Theater for their upcoming production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Allen has lived and worked in Milwaukee and Chicago as a stand-up comedian, actor, director and producer for more than forty years.

You can follow Allen Edge on Facebook here, and to listen to his stand up comedy, visit his Shoutlife page, or you can see his live show, “The Edge of Sanity” at Broadway Baby Dinner Theatre in Milwaukee on Friday, Feb. 17.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” – Allen Edge

Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office at the Grand Avenue Mall.

Get more out of TCD. Check out our User Guide.

Historical images courtesy of the March on Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project and the Wisconsin Historical Society

Arts@Large is collaborating with Milwaukee Public Schools to lead a community arts engagement around the civil rights in Milwaukee. This program, designed to develop an understanding of the city’s civil rights history, will give students the opportunity to be active researchers in the often over-looked history of Milwaukee’s African American Civil Rights Movement. By partnering with UW-Milwaukee’s History and Archives Department, the program gives students and artists access to a wealth of resources in the Department’s “March on Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project.”

The culmination of the project will be a student-led Civil Rights walking tour of the city, a digital map tour (including examples of their artistic creations,) as well as a gallery exhibit open to the public at Gallery @ Large, 908 S. 5th St., during Gallery Night on April 20.

I had the chance to talk with activist and author Margaret (Peggy) Rozga, who was married to Father James Groppi, and Northwest Opportunities Vocational Academy senior Javaris Bradford to talk about this project and how it relates to many of the larger problems seen in Milwaukee today.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” – Margaret (Peggy) Rozga and Javaris Bradford

Subscribe to this podcast through iTunes here.

Click here to read Mark Metcalf’s story on Gallery at Large from Apr. 11, 2011. 

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office at the Grand Avenue Mall.

Mallorey Wallace, Deborah Staples and cast in Milwaukee Rep’s production of Harper Lee’s and Christopher Sergel’s "To Kill a Mockingbird." Photo by Michael Brosilow.

At age 11, Mallorey Wallace is already a veteran in Milwaukee theatre. This weekend she’s making her debut at Milwaukee Rep in the role of Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird.

Mallorey has acted at The Fireside Dinner Theatre and First Stage Children’s Theater, recently as Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells. First Stage, where I just directed A Wrinkle in Time, is one of the great assets of the city of Milwaukee. It teaches young people about performing and is very kid-oriented, and it’s clear that Mallorey has learned a lot from her time there.

I talked with Mallorey about acting at First Stage, her busy acting schedule, and her role as Scout in Milwaukee Rep’s To Kill A Mockingbird. Tickets for the show are on sale now, and are available through The Rep’s online ticket office.

Listen now:

Backstage with Mark Metcalf: Mallorey Wallace, Scout in Milwaukee Rep’s “To Kill A Mockingbird”

Lee E. Ernst and Mallorey Wallace in Milwaukee Rep’s production of Harper Lee’s and Christopher Sergel’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Photo by Michael Brosilow.

The Rep’s performance is also a part of The Big Read, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens. The Big Read in Milwaukee will focus on Harper Lee’s American classic To Kill a Mockingbird.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a great organization that does a lot of good for many people all over the country. And it’s an organization that is of particular importance right here in Milwaukee.

“They really, really help the community a lot,” he said. “I feel like if I never went to the Boys & Girls Clubs, I wouldn’t be the Youth of the Year; I know that.”

Youth of the Year Dewayne Booth. Photos courtesy the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.

One of the problems involving race that we’ve been discussing in this series is the issue of segregation in Milwaukee, as studies have indicated that Milwaukee is the most segregated city in the country. Dewayne and I discussed this problem, along with last year’s incident at Mayfair and he shared his perspective on some of the things he’s seen.

Listen Now:

Backstage with Mark Metcalf: Dewayne Boothe, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee Youth of the Year

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office at the Grand Avenue Mall.

Scene from the Milwaukee May Day protest march in 2010. Photo by Jacob Anikulapo via Flickr (CC)

This is part three of TCD’s podcast series “We don’t go past the bridge”: A Discussion on Race in Milwaukee. Click here for part one with Dasha Kelly and here for part two with Tommy Walls, Jr. 

Tony Baez

Tony Baez is the president and CEO of the Council for the Spanish Speaking, located at 614 W. National Avenue on the city’s south side. Baez has been involved in efforts seeking equality and justice for Milwaukee’s Latino community for decades.

Even though positive strides have been made along the way, there is still a long way to go. Tony and I discussed the challenges of dealing with misguided perceptions of the Latino community, and how those perceptions have changed over the years as Milwaukee’s Latino population has grown.

“It behooves everybody to be able to recognize that the differences that we bring to the society enrich the society,” Baez said. “The diversity is good for all of us, and as we grow as an American community, as an American democracy, we need to do the best to make that happen.”

Backstage with Mark Metcalf: Tony Baez, Council for the Spanish Speaking 

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office at the Grand Avenue Mall. You can find all of Mark’s podcasts through the podcast button on TCD’s home page, or by clicking Mark’s byline.

Satirist Will Durst, photo by Jason Quinn from the comedian’s website.

Will Durst writes a column every week right here on ThirdCoast Digest. This week, I talked with Will in the wake of the New Hampshire primary. With Mitt Romney breaking through as the night’s big winner, we discuss the road ahead and the increasingly likely campaign between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama.

Not by a long shot. Listen in as Will Durst shares his comedic and insightful take on the presidential campaign, Wisconsin politics, and much more. Don’t miss his live performance January 20 at the Next Act Theatre, “Elect to Laugh with Will Durst.”

TCD Podcast host Mark Metcalf.

Listen now:

Backstage with Mark Metcalf: Will Durst

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office at the Grand Avenue Mall.

The New York Times says Emmy-nominated comedian and writer Will Durst “is quite possibly the best political satirist working in the country today.” Check out the website: Redroom.com to buy his book or find out more about upcoming stand-up performances. For more on his Jan. 20 performance at the Next Act Theatre, click here.

Billy Cicerelli

Ryan Schleicher

Like many Kickstarter projects, WMSE’s had a specific target, which was to raise funds for new equipment to broadcast and record live music at their downtown studio. I sat down with Ryan Schleicher and Billy Cicerelli of WMSE to talk about the successful campaign and to find out what’s in store for the radio station in 2012 now that the goal has been met.

Backstage with Mark Metcalf: Ryan Schleicher and Billy Cicerelli, WMSE 91.7 FM

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office at the Grand Avenue Mall.

Mark Metcalf in the WMSE studio

From our podcast series on veterans, the LGBT community, coping with Alzheimer’s, the “right to die,” to our latest series, “We don’t go past the bridge”: A discussion on race in Milwaukee, and so many things in between, many compelling discussions have taken place on our podcast this past year.

Jan. 13 – PODCAST: Alzheimer’s: Research and preventative intervention: This week, Dr. Piero Antuono discusses risk factors for the disease and the curative measures being taken to improve quality of life for Alzheimer’s patients.

Feb. 3 – PODCAST: “A deliberate and courageous choice”: In August, a Milwaukee couple made the choice to end their lives. Today, Mary Gute-Witte shares her parents’ story and discusses this taboo and difficult topic.

Feb. 10 – PODCAST: The right to die is “a difficult subject”: It’s a complex issue, but undeniably important to talk about. This week, I’ve invited Dr. Bruce Wilson to join me in starting the conversation.

March 3 – PODCAST: “Teaching life skills through stage skills”: As schools are forced to cut back, First Stage Children’s Theater and Academy offers a creative outlet for students, fostering empowerment through the arts.

March 24 – PODCAST: Helping students reach their true potential: Mark talks with MPS teacher Ralph Janes about how theater and the arts are powerful tools for creating autonomous, high-achieving students.

April 14 – PODCAST: The psychology of domestic abuse: How much does environment inform behavior? Social worker Cathy Arney explains how gender roles, societal messages and abuse at home affect the cycle of violence.

May 5 – PODCAST: A hen named Milwaukee: A silkie chicken, to be exact. Today, Mark chats with “Milwaukee” and Jessica Lane of Cream City Hens about the benefits of backyard henkeeping.

May 12 – PODCAST: The buzz on urban beekeeping: Honeybees play a vital role in the food system, but they are in peril. Today, Beepods co-founder Charlie Koenen talks about how saving the bees can potentially save the world.

June 9 – PODCAST: Ladies who ride: The Bella Donnas: The founders of Milwaukee’s latest all-female cycling club chat about how The Bella Donnas use biking to challenge themselves — and the status quo.

July 7 – PODCAST: Whatever happened to the Comedy Stage?: In its heyday, Summerfest’s now-defunct Comedy Pavilion hosted some of the country’s best comedians. Former stage manager David ‘Punky’ Wastak reminisces on the good old days.

July 14 – PODCAST: At the movies with Gino Salomone: Movie critic Gino Salomone makes a living traveling the world, seeing films and interviewing the stars. Today, he shares some of his best (and worst) interviews and talks about his faux engagement to Sandra Bullock.

Aug. 18 – PODCAST: He said, She said – A (non-traditional)  Wedding Story: Kathy and Justin never planned on getting married — in fact, both are anti-marriage. But this fall, they’ll say “I do.” The question is: what the hell happened?

Sept. 15 – PODCAST: The F-word: After decades of struggle and success in women’s rights, has “feminism” become a dirty word? Prof. Merry Weisner-Hanks takes a historical view of the movement.

Oct. 13 – PODCAST: Life after “Don’t ask, don’t tell”: In the wake of the repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” Mark asks and LGBT rights activist Miriam Ben-Shalom tells her story of being a lesbian in the military.

Nov. 17 – PODCAST: Music heals at Guitars for Vets: Guitars for Vets provides veterans an opportunity to heal through music. Mark Metcalf talks with Guitars for Vets president Dan Van Buskirk, a true guitar hero.

Dec. 8 – PODCAST: “We don’t go past the bridge”: Part 1: “Backstage with Mark Metcalf” presents “We don’t go past the bridge”: A discussion on race in Milwaukee. The series begins with poet Dasha Kelly.

Thanks for listening, and have a happy new year!

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is published every Thursday on ThirdCoastDigest.com.

Photo by Erika Kent

The holidays in Milwaukee seems to me to be a time when theatre really thrives. It’s a time for tradition, and for many people, seeing a play around Christmas time with family is part of that tradition.

And it’s not just the one’s that everybody knows like “Christmas Carol” or “Nutcracker,” many of Milwaukee’s theatre companies have holiday performances in a less traditional sense.

Matt Daniels is an actor at In Tandem Theatre, where they always look to do “alternative” Christmas fare, which for the last three years has been the play “Scrooge in Rouge,” the story of a company of 23 actors, 20 of whom fall sick the night of performing “A Christmas Carol.” Many costume changes are made by Daniels and the other two cast members in this fresh, funny holiday performance.

“Scrooge in Rouge” is playing at  In Tandem Theatre until Dec. 31.

Photo by Mark Frohna

Listen now:

Backstage with Mark Metcalf: Matt Daniels, In Tandem Theatre

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office at the Grand Avenue mall. 

Tommy Walls, Jr.

The fact that there are differences in Milwaukee is not a bad thing, it’s a positive thing. But the fact that there’s not that much communication between races in this city, I think is a bad thing.

For part two of our series, I talked with Tommy Walls Jr., who went to high school at Montessori High School in Milwaukee, and is now pursuing a career in social welfare and social justice at Marquette University.

Tommy is working hard to prove wrong some of the perceptions about young black men in Milwaukee, and we discussed his path to Marquette and his motivation to succeed.

We also discussed different preconceptions and assumptions about different neighborhoods, talked about certain realities of Milwaukee being America’s most segregated city and looked at possible resolutions to these problems that must be addressed.

Backstage with Mark Metcalf: “We don’t go past the bridge”: Pt. 2 – Tommy Walls Jr., Marquette University

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office at the Grand Avenue mall.

Dasha Kelly. Photo by Peter Woloszyn.

With all of the stories in the news this year that deal with the issue of race in Milwaukee, it occurred to me that white folks in this town don’t have the faintest idea what it’s like to be a black person in this town. And it’s not a conversation that anyone seems to be very interested in having.

A number one ranking on Salon magazine’s list of America’s most segregated urban areas, higher levels of unemployment and a variety of other indicators suggest that a very different experience exists for people of different races within our city.

To begin our series on race in Milwaukee, I talked with Dasha Kelly, poet, writer and founder of Still Waters Collective.

Backstage with Mark Metcalf: Dasha Kelly, Still Waters Collective

Dasha Kelly has been on “Backstage” twice before. Click here for Dasha part in TCD’s Holiday Tales series, and here for her discussion with Mark and Dan Vaughn for Backstage’s series on poets.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office at the Grand Avenue mall.

Sam Stein was a broadcast journalist with the Armed Forces radio and television services in the Army Reserve during the Gulf War. When we sat down to discuss his current work at VETransfer, it was clear he was no stranger to a microphone.

Sam is starting a company called Creative Talent Productions and his business is based in the VETransfer office. He is developing a cooking show called “Yum Yum in your Tum.” The focus of his show will to showcase new ways to enjoy healthy, natural, fresh foods in ways that anyone can prepare and cook on their own.

Sam enjoys having the support of his fellow veterans at the VETransfer office in the development of his business in the company of individuals with whom he has a common bond.

Backstage with Mark Metcalf: Sam Stein, VETransfer

This is the fourth and final installment in our series on veterans who live and work in the Milwaukee area, and we would like to thank all of our veterans for their service to this great country, and a special thanks to our guests, Ted Lasser, David Pelis, Dan Van Buskirk and Sam Stein. To revisit those podcasts, click the links above, or visit TCD’s podcast page here.

As is often the case in conversations with Mr. Begel, our conversation went in a few interesting and unanticipated directions. We try to determine whether or not Milwaukee is an unhappy city, and discuss civil disobedience, revolution and the Occupy Wall Street movement. But as it so often does, it all comes back to theater.

Listen now:

Backstage with Mark Metcalf: Dave Begel