The Skylight Music Theatre cast a current UWM student in their most recent production, “Waitress”, now in its final days of performances.
UWM student Abby McBee is an actor in the ensemble and an associate choreographer on the production.
“’Waitress’ is one of my dream shows and it has been an honor to be part of it,” McBee said.
As a current senior with a major in Musical Theatre at the Peck School of Arts, McBee applied skills learned over the past four years at UWM.
“I have obtained valuable skills such as how to dance and sing simultaneously, work collectively as an ensemble, and connect to storytelling in a show,” said McBee.
“Waitress” is McBee’s first regional production as well as their first Skylight performance.
“It has been such a great opportunity to step into this role and learn how this process works,” McBee said.
According to McBee, “Waitress” is an emotionally touching story that covers heavy topics through the lens of a musical.
“Come to the show ready to laugh, cry, and experience the magic of theatre,” said McBee.
Micheal Unger, the Skylight’s artistic director, scouted McBee at a production at another theatre and called her in for their new season.
“It’s a natural progression for us to employ the great talent coming out of the [UWM] program,” said Unger.
As pointed out by Unger, Skylight Music Theatre is the only professional theatre that does exclusively musical theatre, which has contributed to a history of casting UWM students and alumni. There are plans in the works at the Skylight Music Theatre to collaborate with UWM in the future.
Unger wants UWM students to come see “Waitress” and have a certain takeaway.
“Everyone should always let their gifts shine – and should NOT allow outside forces to define them,” said Unger.
The Skylight team holds open casting calls every year in late spring or early summer, along with opportunities for technical design artists to get involved.
“I think it’s one of the best-written and conceived contemporary musicals,” Unger said about the production. “We also have a phenomenal cast – but more, it is such a powerful, funny, heartfelt, empowering show.”
Sheri Williams Pannell, UWM professor of theatre, has a long directing/performing history with the Skylight Music Theatre and taught McBee.
“I could tell they really took time to analyze their characters in order to portray their stories with an authenticity,” said Pannell, “One of the ways we know this is true is because it moves us.”
Pannell was impressed with the growth and maturation of McBee from their time starting at the Peck School of the Arts student to the present.
According to Pannell, every UWM student can take something from this production which is about challenging life circumstances and the human spirit’s ability to overcome.
“Here we can come, and release, and laugh and be together in the audience,” Pannell said, “We are all in agreement of this one thing: the beauty of what we are seeing on stage: the joy.”
“Waitress” is a musical comedy with music from actress/singer Sara Bareilles that covers serious themes of domestic abuse, along with love and friendship.
The last performance of Waitress will be on Oct. 27 and there will be an ASL interpreted performance on Thursday Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Regular performances are offered at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays with Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and only 2:00 p.m. on Sundays.
The theatre offers a $25 student rate, that is subject to availability, but students must call the box office, 414-291-7800, to get this price.