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Work is finishing up just days before the opening of UWM’s Peck School of the Arts’
performance of “Arcadia.”
[ACTORS] "I would be at liberty at quarter to twelve, if that is convenient..."
That after the students were handed a real life plot twist.
Weeks before the show was to open, fire broke out in the scene shop behind the
school’s main theater. The theater is a loss, as is a full semester's worth of work.
“It’s pretty devastating. Pieces of that shop that I had built that were part of it
and seeing the pictures of it, and it’s just kind of gone. It’s definitely hard to wrap my head around
that.”
“My heart instantly sank. I was terrified. I felt a little lost, definitely. The theater
building is somewhere where I would hang out.”
“All of our 1,700 students in the Peck School of the Arts were impacted in some way.”
UWM's theater, music and art buildings were closed after the fire.
The music and art buildings had smoke and water damage and have since reopened. But the
theater was hit the hardest. Damage is estimated at $4 million.
“Our theater building will be offline until about next fall, around the start of the academic
year.”
An outpouring of support came quickly from around the world. Nearby Shorewood High
School opened its shop doors to give theater students a place to rebuild. And the largest
theater company in the state is letting the students take center stage.
[ACTORS] "Ah, Mr. Chater"
“I never thought I'd be doing a show at The Rep this early in my life.
"It’s an honor to have them allow us on their stage.”
“I never in my wildest dreams would have expected my last college show to be at
The Rep. It is a very unique high note."
With late hours, determination and an overwhelming attitude of "the show must go on," “Arcadia”
is opening on time in an unforgettable fashion.
[ACTORS] "There you are, sir. Something to show your grandchildren."
[ACTORS] "This is more than I deserve. This is handsome!"