2015 Annual Report

Board of Directors

OFFICERSJerome M. Janzer

Board Chair

Laura GoughVice Chair & Chair Elect

Raymond L. Wilson Secretary/Treasurer

Jacqueline Herd-Barber Immediate Past Chair

BOARD

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Pency P. ByhardtLori A. Craig

Ralph HollmonPaul Milakovich

Andy NunemakerLynn Sprangers

Jason W. AllenAlfreda Bradley-Coar

Joel BrennanTom Cardella

Juan M. CarrasquilloGrady L. Crosby

Scott HickeyAlex Lasry

Gladys ManzanetDavid MarcusJanan NajeebKip Ritchie

Jeff ShermanMark SlesarMichael Stull

Jerome M. Janzer, Board Chair Paul Mathews, President & CEO

Since 1969, the Marcus Center has been enriching the community through the performing arts and this year was certainly no exception. During 2015, the Center turned in another strong, positive financial performance, completed important capitalimprovements and launched new initiatives that enhanced our leadership role as a diverse, cultural arts center that reflects the rich diversity of our community.

Here are just a few highlights of what we experienced during the past year: w Continued to grow as a gathering place for special events. In 2015, we had 321 days of activity in the Center with a total of 2288 events & rehearsals averaging over 7 events per day.

w Provided a state-of-the-art facility for our resident groups - Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, First Stage, Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Ballet and Black Arts Think Tank – to stage world-class performances.

w Made significant capital improvements to the facility. In 2015, we completed the second phase of lobby renovation and expansion in Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall. This final phase included the construction of ADA accessible restrooms on the lobby level, a new entrance plus box office on the Riverwalk, a new coatroom and a built-in bar.

w Continued strong Broadway attendance and sales. Our engagement of The Book of Mormon was seen by over 35,000 people and we sold over $1.1 million in tickets to Motown The Musical. The Groups Sales team continued its record-setting pace with nearly $1.2 million in sales for the season.

w Grew our diversity and community engagement portfolio adding a new outreach program - Arts Connect with Milwaukee Public Schools. We launched the program with a week long camp during Motown The Musical where 20 MPS’ Riverside University High School students participated in learning about job opportunities in all areas of the arts, participated in movement classes and acting workshops plus got advice about applying for college.

w Joined forces with the Black Arts Think Tank (BATT), a new innovative umbrella organization consolidating the administration and business operations of important Milwaukee arts organizations: Ko-Thi Dance Company and the African American Children’s Theatre. The Center teamed up with BATT to present their first full production of Black Nativity. This production was a major success and brought in a diverse group to the newly renovated Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall.

w Strengthened our commitment as a dedicated veterans memorial by hosting the 6th annual Flag Day plus performances by Navy Band Great Lakes and 132nd Army Band at our free live entertainment series, Live at Peck Pavilion.

We are proud stewards of the Community’s performing arts center — and are grateful to County Executive Chris Abele, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors and the citizens of Milwaukee County for the public dollars that help underwrite our operations and contribute to our capital repairs and improvements. The Center’s continued success is due to their support and the support of our many sponsors, partners, donors, patrons, board members, resident groups and dedicated staff and volunteers.

Our success is your success.

2015 Consolidated Income *Audited $12,659,536

2015 Consolidated Expenses *Audited $11,269,016

* Pre Depreciation

2015 Attendance557, 202

1%

12%3%

4%

14%

2%

8% 2%

35%

8%

11%

.4%

.6%6%

4%5%

7%3%

27%

45%

2%

2015 Organizations & Types of EventsThe Marcus Center is growing as a community gathering space. Our users and types of use reflects our performing arts spaces, performances and community events held in our various, diverse spaces to serve the Milwaukee community.

Uihlein Hall

Broadway Series at the Marcus Center: Anything Goes, Mamma Mia!, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Blue Man Group, The Book of Mormon Motown the Musical, Dirty Dancing, Wicked Cantos de las AmericasChamber TheaterDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. CelebrationFlorentine Opera CompanyHistoric Milwaukee Open DoorsGovernor Scott Walker EventMarcus Center Presents Series: Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight, The Midtown Men, Darlene Love: Love for the Holidays,Medical College White Coat EventMilwaukee Ballet CompanyMilwaukee Business Journal Women of InfluenceMilwaukee Symphony OrchestraMilwaukee Youth Symphony OrchestraMMACUS BankShen YunRehearsalsEvent and Rehearsal Total: 695

Todd Wehr Theater

First StageUPAF Kick Off EventRehearsalsEvent and Rehearsal Total: 292

Kidz Stage Under ConstructionEvent and Rehearsal Total: 0

Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall

Associated BankBlack Arts Think Tank (BATT) Black NativityChristopher TitusFlorentine Opera CompanyGeorge WinstonHistoric Milwaukee Open DoorsMainstreet Song and DanceMarcus Center Presents Series: Red Hot Chilli PipersMarcus Center Off Broadway Series: The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron, Love, Loss and What I Wore, Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus LIVE!, Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man, The Second City’s Holidazed and Confused RevueMGICMilwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO)New Glarus Brewing Movie ScreeningPhil Woods and Brian Lynch in Concert with We SixWisconsin High School Poetry CompetitionRehearsalsEvent and Rehearsal Total: 85

Types of use included but not limited to: Performing Arts, Children’s Programming and Education, Free Community Events, Commercial Presenters & Business Users, Classes, Catered Events, and Rehearsals.

Performances are referenced in bold.

Peck Pavilion

City Year MilwaukeeFlag Day EventFlorentine Opera Company KidZ Days at the CenterLive At Peck Series: Navy Band Great Lakes, Danceworks, Broadway Lunch with Niffer Clarke and Paul Helm, Tosa Jazz, Xalaat Africa Drum and Dance, Florentine Opera, 132nd Army Band, Ballet Folklorico Nacional, Concord Chamber Orchestra, Pommersche Tanzdeel Freistadt, Mike Schneider PolkaPeck Flicks Movie Series: The Mighty Ducks, Back to the Future, E.T. : The Extra Terrestrial, Field of DreamsMKE OktoberfestMilwaukee Bucks Dancer FinalsMorning Glory Fine Craft FairMYSO ShowcasePatriotic ConcertTaste of IslandsTrinity Irish DancersEvent and Rehearsal Total: 61

Other Spaces

Cultural AllianceBMO Harris BankHoliday Lighting FireworksMKE OktoberfestMilwaukee County Pension BoardMilwaukeeJobs.comMorning Glory Fine Craft FairMy Best Friend Is StraightPajama JamboreeUnited Performing Arts FundVarious Meetings & ClassesRehearsals & ToursWI Society of Professional EngineersEvent and Rehearsal Total: 585

Catered Events Bradley Pavilion, Atrium, Green Room and Magin Lounge

ActuantAdvicent Holiday Reception African American Chamber of CommerceAlpha Beta BouleARCW Jolly Holly FollyArts MidwestAssociated BankBaird CompanyBank of AmericaBlack Arts Think Tank (BATT)BMO Harris BankCarthage CollegeCARW CRE AwardsCatholic MemorialChildren’s HospitalCity LightsCity of Milwaukee Crimson Summer-Dasha KellyCultural AllianceDancer’s CircleDelta Air LinesDiverse and Resilient Divine Savior Holy AngelsDowntown Milwaukee ManagementDowntown Milwaukee Holiday Lights FestivalDSHA Easter BrunchEastTown Annual MeetingFamily NightsFirst BankFirst StageFlorentine Opera CompanyFrontiers InternationalGovernor Scott Walker EventGreen Bay PackersHeartland FundsHolocaust Resource CenterInternational Women’s DayJohnson Financial GroupJoin Polly’s Jaunts

Performances are referenced in bold.

Catered Events Bradley Pavilion, Atrium, Green Room and Magin Lounge

Kone ElevatorsLatin Dance ClubLibertyville BankMarquette UniversityMATC Lamp of KnowledgeMcClure Financial GroupMGICMilwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee Arts BoardMilwaukee Business Journal Women of InfluenceMilwaukee County BoardMilwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition Milwaukee Symphony OrchestraMLK EventMMACMU Alpha Phi Red Dress GalaMU BasketballMU Buffet LunchMU Coach VIP ReceptionMU EngineeringMU Malpractice BallNew Glarus Brewing NMLPAC Usher ReunionProspect HeightsRexnordSaint A FundraiserShen YunState Bank of the LakesUnited Performing Arts Fund US BankVici DohrwardtWaukesha North High SchoolWedding ReceptionsWRA Awards DinnerYWCARehearsals

Event and Rehearsal Total: 388

2015 Total Events & Rehearsals

2,106*

Performances are referenced in bold.*Number affected by Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall Renovation

JanuaryBMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series presented Anything Goes.

The Marcus Center’s Opening Our Doors hosted an event for Employee Resource Groups during Anything Goes.

Off Broadway at the Marcus Center series brought the one of a kind show, The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron?

First Stage kicked off the New Year with Stargirl.

The Marcus Center and Milwaukee Public Schools presented the 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration in Uihlein Hall. FebruaryBMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series presentedMamma Mia!

The Florentine Opera returned to the newly renovated Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall with From Vienna to the Great White Way.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presented Bernstein & Prokofiev, One Singular Sensation, Fairytale Favorites and de Waart Conducts Strauss.

First Stage continued their season with the eccentric show, Big Nate: The Musical.

MarchOff Broadway at the Marcus Center series hosted the Drama Desk Award-winning show, Love, Loss and What I Wore.

BMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee continued with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

The Marcus Center’s Family Nights hosted an event for families during Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

The Milwaukee Ballet presented classic story of Giselle.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performed the iconic masterpiece Can You Hear the People Sing?

The Florentine Opera presented the two-time Grammy Award winning opera Elmer Gantry.

AprilThe Marcus Center Presents series brought Mark Twain’s writings to audiences like never before in Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight!

Off Broadway at the Marcus Center series brought the romantic comedy, Sex Tips for Straight Women from aGay Man and the return of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus LIVE!

BMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series presented Blue Man Group.

The Marcus Center’s Family Nights hosted an event for families during Blue Man Group.

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presented An Evening with Itzhak Perlman.

First Stage continued their season with the world premier of Luchadora.

MayBMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series presented The Book of Mormon.

The Milwaukee Ballet celebrated the rags to riches story of Cinderella.

Florentine Opera’s 81st season came to a close with Gaetano Donizetti-The Elixir of Love.

The Marcus Center hosted the 26th year of Cantos de las Americas in Uihlein Hall.

First Stage presented the humorous, magical and heart filling show, Big Fish.

JuneThe Marcus Center presented its 6th annual Flag Day celebration.

The Milwaukee Symphony Pops closed its season with the powerful Carmina Burana.

KidZ Days at the Center returned to KidZ Stage with new FREE family, educational programming.

2015 Highlights...

Darlene Love: Love for the Holidays Black Nativity

MSO

Florentine Opera

First StageThe Book of Mormon

Ryan B

ondy, Cody Jam

ison Strand - T

he Book of M

ormon (c) Joan M

arcus 2016 Paul Ruffolo Photography

Milwaukee Ballet

JulyBMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series presented Motown the Musical.

The Marcus Center’s Opening Our Doors hosted an event for Employee Resource Groups during Motown the Musical.

The Marcus Center launched its new outreach program for Milwaukee Public High School students calledArts Connect and provided workshop opportunities during Motown the Musical.

The 10th Annual Broadway Bash was presented by the Marcus Center during the run of Motown the Musical.

The Marcus Center continued its free movie series called Peck Flicks in Peck Pavilion.

The Marcus Center provided free entertainment with the Live at Peck Pavilion series and was sponsored by MilwaukeeJobs.com.

AugustMorning Glory Gallery celebrated its 10-year anniversary and the Wisconsin Designer Crafts Council held their Annual Morning Glory Fine Craft Fair.

The Marcus Center hosted Milwaukee gem, Dasha Kelly, in the Fitch Gardens for Crimson Summer.

The Marcus Center ended its free Live at Peck Pavilion series with a closing celebration called Taste of Islands.

SeptemberThe Marcus Center participated in Milwaukee’s Historic Opening Our Doors.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra continued their new season with An American in Paris and it was lead byMaestro de Waart.

OctoberThe new Associated Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series opened with Dirty Dancing.

October-ContinuedThe Marcus Center and Marquette Park hosted the Authentic Milwaukee MKE Oktoberfest on the Marcus Center grounds.

First Stage continued their 15/16 Season with Roald Dahl’sJames and the Giant Peach.

Milwaukee Ballet returned with the hit production of Dracula.

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presented On Broadway and Hadelich Plays Beethoven.

Florentine Opera began their season with Giacomo Puccini-Madama Butterfly in Uihlein Hall.

NovemberFirst Stage brought the holiday classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas, to Todd Wehr Theater.

Marcus Center Presents returned with the famous bagpipe group, Red Hot Chilli Pipers and the original cast of Jersey Boys in The Midtown Men.

The Associated Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series presented the return of Wicked.

The Marcus Center’s Family Nights hosted an event for families during Wicked.

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra celebrated the holidays withmusic to Home Alone and presented Schubert & Grieg.

DecemberThe Marcus Center and Black Arts Think Tank (BATT) presented an outstanding performance of Black Nativity in Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall.

Marcus Center Presents series brought Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Darlene Love, to Uihlein Hall for Love for the Holidays.

The Milwaukee Ballet continued the Holiday tradition with a presentation of The Nutcracker.

Off Broadway at the Marcus Center series returned with Second City’s Holidazed and Confused Revue.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra brought the holiday classics to the stage and included Country Christmas with Sara Evans, Holiday Pops and The Snowman.

Arts Connect

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration

Cantos de las Americas Family Nights

Motown The Musical

The TemptationsMOTOWN THE MUSICAL First National Tour(c) Joan Marcus, 2014

Luz San Miguel and Alexandre Ferreira. Photo by Tom Davenport

Opening Our DoorsDiversity and Community Engagement in 2015

Throughout the year, the Marcus Center’s diversity initiative offers experiences both at the Center and within the community that embraces diversity and engages audiences through the performing arts. Here are some highlights of those experiences:

Now in its 13th year of providing a free program for children and families, throughout the summer months. This free community service provides interactive programming in the arts, health, literacy, culture and environmental education. Through this program, we are able to serve more than 5,000 children each summer outside at KidZ Stage.

A component of KidZ Days At the Center and was launched in the summer of 2011. Through this program, we are able to provide educational and interactive arts programming at various community-based organizations throughout the city of Milwaukee. This program allows us to reach more children that do not have the means to attend our on-site programming. We served more than 15 different organizations, reaching over 3,000 kids.

An audience development initiative, specifically designed to encourage at-risk families in targeted neighborhoods to attend theatre together at least twice throughout the Broadway Season. These experiences include great seating for the show, a post-performance reception and an opportunity to meet and talk with the cast & crew. This year our host organizations were the Hmong American Friendship Association and The Burmese Immersion Project. Several families were able to see Wicked, Blue Man Group and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

A program that is designed to develop and engage audiences at the Center and is sponsored by Northwestern Mutual. This program reaches employees of local corporations that are a part of Employee Resource Groups, including Hispanic, African American, MiddleEastern, LGBT and Veterans. This year’s shows were Anything Goes and Motown The Musical. Local veterans groups and African American Affinity Networks participated from Northwestern Mutual, Johnson Controls and GE Healthcare.

The newly formed Marcus Center’s Arts Connect program is a collaboration with Milwaukee Public Schools. For the 2015/16 Season, the Marcus Center worked with 20 MPS’ Riverside University High School students that have a strong interest in the performing arts. As part of this program, the students participated in a weeklong summer intensive in conjunction with the Broadway Smash, Motown The Musical in July. Culminating the weeklong intensive, the students had the opportunity to see the live performance of Motown The Musical. In addition, the students had other opportunities to participate in exclusive workshops with select cast of both the Center’s Broadway and Off-Broadway Shows.

The Center’s major fundraising event that supports its diversity and community engagement programs. This year’s Bash featured the hit Broadway Show- Motown The Musical. More than 300 guests joined us for a fun evening of gourmet dining, sponsored by our exclusive caterer, Sazama’s Fine Catering, premier seating for the Broadway show, a post show dessert reception and auction opportunities throughout the evening.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration

Takes place in January of each year. Our Celebration focuses on keeping the impactful legacy of Dr. King alive. Now in its 31st year, this free community Celebration offers programming that highlights the youth in our community who every year interpret Dr. King’s words through an art, speech and writing contest. In addition, various cultural arts organizations take center stage in Uihlein Hall, truly demonstrating the excellence of our arts community.

Another annual free community celebration of culture, traditions, folk dancing, music, and a comprehensive tribute to education. The concert features students performing songs and dances from the Caribbean, Africa, South America, Mexico, in addition to the Hmong, Laotian and Native American cultures. The Marcus Center is proud to have been the host of this event for 26 years.

Flag DayCelebration

Part of our continued commitment to honor our veterans for their heroic service is by hosting an annual Flag Day Celebration each year in Peck Pavilion. Our program, sponsored by CBRE/ESI, includes a Presentation of Colors, Invocation, Moment of Silence & POW Respect, a keynote speaker and more. Since 1969, when the Marcus Center opened its doors, we have been proud to be a Milwaukee County War Memorial honoring those who bravely served our country. As a result, this is one of the many veteran initiatives that we lead each year. This year we incorporated a Naturalization Ceremony with more than 100 people becoming citizens of the United States, right here on our grounds.

Our MissionAs a bridge between cultures, the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts offers facilities and services of the highest quality, makes available a wide range of the performing arts, and acts as an energizing force for effective collaboration and advocacy in the community.

The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts serves as a gathering place for diverse cultures, by providing the setting for outstanding cultural experiences and events, where the arts come to life for current and future generations.

Our Vision

Our Statement Of Guiding Values

w Complete Customer Satisfactionw Being Smart Stewards of a Public Facility

w Maintaining a State of the Art Entertainment Facility

w Providing Diverse Offerings of Arts and Entertainment

w Teamwork and Respect and in Fostering Diversity in our Workforce and Board of Directors

w Sustaining Strong Community Support for the Arts

Ina Onilu Drum and Dance Ensemble at the2015 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration