More Online In January

January continues unabated. Distance theater continues to be presented online from locally-sourced talent. There are a few really promising shows coming-up in the weeks to come:

Playwright Josiah Thomas Turner

Director Malaina Moore

In only a couple of days, ​The Constructivists will stage the next in their Under Construction play development series. They're presenting a reading of a completely new show live on their YouTube channel.

From the website: "Eliza on the Ice is a psychological thriller set in Slinger, Wisconsin. It's been forty days since Eliza went under. Forty nights since she's seen family, freedom, the light of day. Now today, with a storm on the horizon and time running out, Eliza is determined to make her escape."

Eliza on the Ice takes the screen January 14th at 7:30 pm. For more information, visit The Constructivists online.

Optimist Theatre has been busy bringing Shakespeare to the small screen in an upcoming free video serial on YouTube. Starting on Jan. 13, OT will be presenting a No Holds Bard adaptation of the lesser-known Shakespearian drama Pericles, Prince of Tyre. It’s an ambitious 16-episode serial with new chapters going live every Wednesday. The cast includes Andrew Varela, John Kishline, Deborah Clifton, Libby Amato, David Flores, Kelly Doherty, Rebekah Farr and more. For more information, visit No Holds Bard online.

Voices Found Repertory is going to be staging a Sunday afternoon “theatre and chill” reading of Reginald Rose’s 12 Angry Jurors. Better known as 12 Angry Men, the title of this reading leaves the company open to have a jury of men AND women, which should be really, really cool considering how very, very good the talent pool is with VFR. The staged reading takes place Sunday, January 17th at 2pm. For more information, visit the show’s Facebook events page.

The interesting thing here is that Reginald Rose originally wrote the play for TV on CBS’ Studio One back in 1964. Over half a century later, VFR brings the show to the streaming service Twitch for a staged reading that could be viewed...on TV. (I watch their shows on the Twitch Apple TV app when I have the chance to do so.)

Matt Zembrowski

​Milwaukee Opera Theatre’s first Distance Commission arrives on the 22nd. With music, book and lyrics by Matt Zembrowski (who is also the mind behind the popular Wisconsin musical Dad’s Season Tickets,) In The Cloud is billed as “a story in three songs.” Catie O’Donnell directs a three-person cast including Milwaukee theatre veterans Norman Moses and Marilyn White. They’re playing the mother and father of a daughter played by the magnetically appealing Rae Pare. The performance is the first in the company’s “Zoirèes.” It’s an intimate Zoom-based experience limited to no more than 18 devices per performance. It’s online. It’s intimate. It’s MOT. It’s going to be fun. In The Cloud runs Jan. 22 - 31. For more information, visit the show’s Eventrbrite  page.