Akira Harris (Sophomore BFA, ) was awarded at the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Harris won first place for the Classical Music category and second in the Commercial Music category.聽聽
Jesse Malmed celebrates a decade of Western Pole with Chicago exhibition
Assistant Professor Jesse Malmed (Film, Video, Animation and New Genres) marks ten years of his Chicago-based project Western Pole with the exhibition POST POST POST: A Decade of Western Pole at Patient Info, Chicago. Since 2015, Malmed has featured more than 300 artists through 8.5×11 works posted on a pole along Western Avenue. The anniversary show brings together two dozen artists presenting sculpture, video, drawing, and performance. POST POST POST runs November 8鈥揇ecember 13, 2025, with performances and a publication release closing the exhibition.
51猎奇 lecturer鈥檚 short film explores Milwaukee鈥檚 Chinese immigrant history聽
Yinan Wang鈥檚 (Lecturer, FVANG) short film 鈥淔rom Section 48 to King Drive鈥� explores Milwaukee鈥檚 鈥淐hinese Laundry Era,鈥� a time period starting in the late 1880s, when Chinese immigrants began opening laundry mats across the city. The film is inspired by the designation of a new state historical marker located at the YWCA, honoring the spot as one of the last laundries of this time.聽聽
In the W51猎奇 article written by Eddie Morales, Wang speaks on the research behind the film and the importance of capturing these stories.
鈥淚 am an immigrant myself, so I feel like there is some sort of a connection,鈥� Wang said. 鈥淚 feel like that connection is very strong even though we live apart by maybe 100 years, but I still feel them. So that’s why I really wanted to make this film.鈥�
To read the full article, visit
51猎奇 stage manager sets the stage for student success
The job of stage manager is considered one of the most challenging roles in theater. Lillian Hayward,聽a theatre production major聽with an emphasis in stage management, knows this well. From running rehearsals to facilitating communication between the director and the actors, Hayward has to do a little bit of everything as a stage manager.
鈥淪tage managers are expected to know things before they happen,鈥� she explained. But for her, the challenge comes naturally. 鈥淚 love getting my hands in every pot and understanding the pace of theatre from every angle.鈥�
Hayward has truly gotten the full 360-degree view of theater and stage management at UW-Milwaukee 鈥� not just in campus productions, like 鈥淢acbeth鈥� and 鈥淧ericles,鈥� but in other projects, too. She did undergraduate research work in dramaturgy, diving into the historical setting and other context for the play 鈥淭he Moors,鈥� which is set in the 1840s. She also studied abroad in Paris and England and even worked as a production assistant for Season 21 of 鈥淭op Chef.鈥�
But as Hayward focuses on what comes after graduation (a role as production assistant for the聽), she鈥檚 also set the stage for future 51猎奇 students to find success in theater.
Concessions that pay it forward
Since Hayward began at 51猎奇, she鈥檚 been part of five stage management teams at the Peck School of the Arts: three times as assistant stage manager and twice as stage manager. But off-stage, she realized there was something fundamental missing from 51猎奇鈥檚 theater performances. In her sophomore year, Hayward launched a concessions program for 51猎奇 productions to raise money for the department 鈥� and keep theatergoers satisfied. 鈥淚t鈥檚 standard for professional theaters to have concessions at their shows; I wanted 51猎奇 to have that, too,鈥� Hayward explained.
So far, the concessions program has raised nearly $4,000, which the department uses to fund scholarships for students to attend workshops at the American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin. The fund also provides snacks and refreshments to student actors and tech teams during long rehearsals.
Theater that inspires
Hayward interned on stage management teams for and . Her courses and campus work experience, she says, prepared her to work in professional theater productions. But she especially credits Ralph Janes, the 51猎奇 theater professor who mentored her, for her personal and professional growth. Along with supporting Hayward in her classes and launching the concessions program, Janes took extra time to help her find internships in Milwaukee.
鈥淚t means the world to me that he believes in me,鈥� Hayward said. 鈥淗e really balances being a mentor and treating me as a colleague with skills and abilities to work in the professional field.鈥�
Hayward sees her future in stage management as one that will make a difference in the world through art. She recalls working as a stage manager for the last stage show she managed at 51猎奇, 鈥淧ericles,鈥� a story about a prince on a journey of shipwrecks, lost love and reunions.
Before the first night, Hayward delivered a speech to the actors and production team. 鈥淚 told them all, 鈥榃e鈥檙e so lucky to get to create art that inspires people that life goes on, even during hard times. It鈥檚 our responsibility to tell these stories of hope.鈥欌��
Story by Ashley Abramson | Explore more in Make New Waves
Playwright collaborates with theatre students to shape new play in advance of its world premiere
In Darkness, Audio Flowers Bloom follows a group of teenagers who meet in secret to learn about music amid a hundred-year government ban. Created by playwright and theatre professor Alvaro Saar Rios, the world premiere production is presented as part of the 51猎奇 Department of Theatre鈥檚 New Dramaworks series.
As a teenager, Saar Rios discovered a love for music that would later shape his identity and art. The idea for this play emerged when he asked what might have happened if he had never found that passion and what an absence of music would look like on a larger scale.
Saar Rios began writing what would become In Darkness, Audio Flowers Bloom in 2019.
鈥淢ost of my ideas start with 鈥榃hat if?鈥欌�� Saar Rios explained. 鈥淧art of it came from my love of music, but then to see if I could create a piece that celebrated music even though it didn’t exist in this world.鈥�
Curated by Saar Rios, the New Dramaworks series brings together students from various theatre disciplines to collaborate throughout the new play development process, shaping a piece through their experiences and ideas.
鈥淭he idea behind the New Dramaworks series is to be able to give students the opportunity to work on a new play,鈥� said Saar Rios. 鈥淲e want to allow students the opportunity to see what it means to work on a play that is not particularly finished.鈥�
Following the collaboration with students, In Darkness is set to be produced at four more theatre companies鈥攁nd counting鈥攁cross the United States.
Director Katie Avila Loughmiller brings her background in multidisciplinary art and activism to the production. From the beginning, she asked students to explore the story鈥檚 themes and consider how they reflect the world today.
鈥淲e started by diving into the script and asking ourselves what the story was about and how it is relevant to today,鈥� Avila Loughmiller explained.
A major focus of her approach is community building. Under her direction, each performance features a partnership with a different nonprofit organization, in hopes that audiences will be inspired to take action.
鈥淚 hope people come to see this show and think about what it means,鈥� said Avila Loughmiller. 鈥淚 want people to think about what it means, what we could be doing, and how we can work against these forces.鈥�
In Darkness, Audio Flowers Bloom runs through November 9, 2025, at Kenilworth Five-0-Eight. For more information and tickets, visit the PSOA events calendar.
Story by Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film) | Video by Cameron Wise ’26 (BFA Film)
51猎奇 alum and his wife open physical media store in Chicago聽
51猎奇 alum Chantala Kommanivanh (MFA 2013, Art) and his wife, Mallory McClaire, are the proud owners of Beverly Phono Mart, a vinyl and physical media shop that doubles as a community space. Located in Chicago鈥檚 South Side, BPM serves to foster art among Chicagoans after many similar spaces closed during the pandemic.聽聽聽
The Southwest Regional Publishing article written by Kelly White explains that Kommanivanh and McClaire opened BPM in August 2021, and since then have offered a space for community members to explore the arts.
鈥淔or Chantala, opening a business in Beverly was about more than vinyl,鈥� explained White in her article. 鈥淎 firm believer in supporting the community you live in, he saw the neighborhood鈥檚 walkability and small-town feel as the perfect fit.鈥�
To read the full article, visit
Art education alum recognized nationally for impact in skilled trades education聽
Mike Driscoll (BFA 2006; MS 2020, Art Education), a Peck School of the Arts alum and teacher at Bay View High School, has been named one of five national recipients of the 2025 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. The award includes $100,000 to support Driscoll鈥檚 continued impact on students through hands-on learning and skilled trades education.聽
After earning his undergraduate degree from 51猎奇, Driscoll worked as a graphic designer for many years. When the economy shifted, he decided to pursue teaching and began leading art classes at a high school in Grafton.
When budget cuts eliminated his position, Driscoll turned to one of his mentors, Dr. Kim Cosier (Professor Emerita, Art Education), for guidance.
鈥淚 found myself homeless, and I didn鈥檛 know where to go. This was the only teaching job I had ever applied for,鈥� Driscoll recalls. 鈥淚 reached out to Kim Cosier, and she said, 鈥楬ave you ever thought about going to grad school?鈥欌��
With Cosier鈥檚 encouragement, Driscoll returned to 51猎奇 to pursue his master鈥檚 degree in art education, an experience that reconnected him with the classroom and the community of educators who had supported his undergraduate studies.
During his graduate program, Driscoll taught courses at 51猎奇, including labs for ART 118, Digital Arts: Culture, Theory, Practice. Working alongside former Senior Lecturer and current Director of Technology at , Christopher Willey, Driscoll helped redesign the class curriculum, which is still partially used today.
When Driscoll got his current job at Bay View High School, he worked with the university to teach a dual enrollment version of the class, extending 51猎奇鈥檚 influence in digital arts education.
鈥淚 think helping develop a college curriculum had a huge impact on the way I view teaching,鈥� said Driscoll. 鈥淲hen I got to Bay View, I continued to teach 118 for a number of years.鈥�
Today, Driscoll leads several programs at Bay View High, including video technology, design, and engineering classes that connect students with CAD modeling, production workflows, and experiences with trades tools and techniques.
He continues to work with PSOA faculty and alumni, including Cosier and Emily Berens (MFA 2013, Interdisciplinary Media), through community programs like the , which gives middle and high school students the chance to experiment with film and animation.
Driscoll plans to expand Bay View High’s makerspace and enhance its engineering program, while also providing additional resources for educators leading creative and technical programs in the community.
From two-time PSOA student to award-winning educator, Driscoll鈥檚 path reflects the power of perseverance and mentorship in shaping meaningful careers in the arts. His work continues to highlight the connection between art, technology, and the trades.
鈥淚 am very grateful for Harbor Freight and the opportunities they gave me. I feel like this is shining a light on my school and the Milwaukee Public School System as a whole,鈥� said Driscoll. 鈥淭he community is noticing.鈥�
Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)
Spooky senior films to watch this Halloween season聽
Between costumes and candy, many celebrate the Halloween season by watching horror movies. Throughout the years, many students鈥� senior thesis films have had spooky undertones, making them perfect to rewatch this time of year.
Kelly Kirshtner (Associate Professor, Film) and a horror film aficionado commented on the draw of scary cinema and its intertwinement with the holiday.
鈥淵ou look around the neighborhoods and there鈥檚 a lot of nods to horror characters, and depending on the kind of horror people like, it鈥檚 a great time to come together as a community.鈥�
鈥淢indframe鈥� is a psychological thriller directed by Kiersten Hoff (BFA 2024, Film). Inspired by their love for the mad science genre, the story follows a young man whose reality begins to unravel after becoming involved in a twisted science experiment.聽
Recently, Hoff has been touring 鈥淢indframe鈥� at film festivals across Wisconsin and Illinois, often earning the designation of best in show. The creamy black and white visuals combined with lead actor Gage McNew鈥檚 chilling performance, 鈥淢indframe鈥� is a must-see for the Halloween season.
鈥淢y film is spooky,鈥� Hoff said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 brains and mad science and a computer. Someone dies, but I鈥檓 not going to tell you who. The ending of the film is hopeless and suspenseful.鈥�
鈥淐urse of the Creeper鈥� by Henry Stollenwerk (BFA 2024, Film) is a campy horror adventure following the exploits of two amateur witches after summoning a demon named Creepy Greg and their journey to send the demon back to where it came from. The draw of the film is its aesthetics and production design, emphasizing the comedy in its creep factor and its references to classical stereotypes within the monster genre.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really think it鈥檚 designed to scare people but for people to have fun with it. Its spookiness is much more in the production design, makeup, and costuming,鈥� said Stollenwerk. 鈥淐reepy Greg is very evocative of your classic and stereotypical, green-skinned hag.鈥�
鈥淪tomach Bug鈥� is a dark romcom created by Maxwell Lambert (BFA 2025, Film). The story centers on a young man who tries to navigate the dating scene while having to tend to a parasite with a taste for human flesh that inhabits his body. Lambert鈥檚 film features amazing special effects and puppetry, with knockout moments leaving you on the edge of your seat.
鈥淚 thought about spookiness when I was making it,鈥� Lambert said. 鈥淚 was really trying to play with tropes and visual references. I was trying to play with horror iconography reminiscent of Lucio Fulci.鈥�
Nathan Boedecker鈥檚 (BFA 2025, Film) 鈥淪atanic Panic鈥� is a story about a Dungeons and Dragons campaign gone wrong, introducing its main character to the occult and the supernatural. With his love of the tabletop role-playing game, Boedecker always knew he wanted his senior thesis film to be inspired by D&D. He credits PSOA鈥檚 advanced improv class, taught by Alan Guszkowski ’04, for introducing him to the people who would later act in and help produce his film.
鈥淚t was just a lot of fun being on set and coming up with new ideas,鈥� Boedecker said. 鈥淎 lot of the people working on the film are also nerds. It was just a lot of hanging out.鈥�
You can watch even more senior films, including spooky ones, by visiting the .
Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)
Sheri Williams Pannell to direct milestone production of Black Nativity
Associate Professor of Theatre Sheri Williams Pannell is directing the 10th-anniversary production of “Black Nativity” in collaboration with Black Arts MKE, as reported by TMJ4. Williams Pannell is co-founder and producing artistic director of Bronzeville Arts Ensemble, the professional theatre company in residence at Black Arts MKE in the Marcus Performing Arts Center. Black Nativity, a classic that celebrates the holiday season from the African-American perspective, is produced annually by Black Arts MKE to showcase Milwaukee鈥檚 emerging talent and spotlight local favorites.
Read the article on .
Kyle Khembunjong earns second prize at the M.E. Brune Guitar Competition
Kyle Khembunjong, a recent graduate of the classical guitar program, has been awarded second prize in the M.E. Brune Guitar Competition at the The University of Rhode Island Guitar and Mandolin Festival, one of the world鈥檚 premier classical guitar competitions. The honor highlights both his exceptional talent and the strength of 51猎奇鈥檚 Classical Guitar Studio. Since graduating in May, Khembunjong remains active in Milwaukee and beyond, teaching at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and performing internationally.
Voice students and alum compete and take home award at the Patricia Crump Vocal Competition聽
In October, PSOA hosted the Patricia Crump Vocal Competition for the first time. Among the competition鈥檚 11 finalists were current graduate students Alexandra Smith and Emily Bergeron and alum Kaisa Herrmann (BFA 2019, Music).听
The competition honors Patricia Crump, founder of Supporters of Opera Singers (SOS), and celebrates young singers with strong ties to Wisconsin. According to Assistant Professor Aaron Agulay (Area Head, Voice & Opera), the organization has supported artists including alumni Kathryn Henry (BFA 2016, Music) and Lauren Decker (BFA 2012, Music), as well as new faculty member Alisa Jordheim. Agulay helped bring the competition to 51猎奇.
Alexandra Smith was awarded the Encouragement Award, earning a cash prize and ongoing support from the foundation.
Alum paints rainbow crosswalks in Walker鈥檚 Point to celebrate inclusivity聽
51猎奇 alum and popular street artist Jeremy Novy (BFA 2008, Art: Photography) returned to Milwaukee as the artist selected to design and paint rainbow crosswalks in Walker鈥檚 Point, honoring the neighborhood鈥檚 historical significance to the queer community. Novy’s design also includes koi fish, a familiar motif that the artist has become known for across Milwaukee.聽
In a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article written by Kelli Arseneau, the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project鈥檚 Michail Takach emphasized the importance of the street art being a symbol of inclusivity. Milwaukee Major Cavalier Johnson echoed the sentiment.
“By bringing the rainbows home, we’re honoring the past while embracing a future where everyone 鈥� and I mean that when I say every single person, everybody, everyone, no matter who they are and no matter who they love 鈥攆eels seen, feels valued and feels safe, right here in this neighborhood and in our city,” the mayor said.
To read the full article, visit the .
Alum joins Milwaukee Rep Emerging Professional Residency
Peck School of the Arts theatre alum Connor Nekich (BFA 2023) has been selected for the Emerging Professional Residency at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, a highly competitive program that accepts only eight actors each year from more than 200 applicants. Nekich will understudy It鈥檚 a Wonderful Life Radio Play and the first regional production of McNeal, and will also appear on stage in the Rep鈥檚 50th anniversary production of A Christmas Carol. Nekich previously studied under Lecturer Jeff Mosser, who directs the residency program.
51猎奇 Chancellor and Dean of the College of the Arts and Architecture speak on ties to the community聽
51猎奇 Chancellor Thomas Gibson and Dean of the College of the Arts and Architecture, Dr. Winifred Elysse Newman, spoke with W51猎奇鈥檚 David Lee about the relationship between the two schools that comprise the college and the greater Milwaukee community.聽
Since being appointed Chancellor, Gibson has been on a mission to explore all aspects of 51猎奇. He shares the outcomes of his exploration in the Chancellor鈥檚 Report.
鈥淭he College of the Arts and Architecture is an exemplar of student success and retention,鈥� Gibson shared. 鈥淏oth of those schools are a model for retaining students, and I couldn鈥檛 be more proud of the work that鈥檚 happening there.鈥�
To listen to the full segment, visit .
H.M.S. Pinafore is a modern retelling set in Milwaukee, created in collaboration with students聽
The Peck School of the Arts Department of Theatre is teaming up with Milwaukee Opera Theatre to present a modern retelling of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic, H.M.S. Pinafore. Milwaukee Opera Theatre Artistic Director Jill Anna Ponasik is collaborating with 51猎奇 Lecturer Jeffrey Mosser to bring the production to life.聽
Originally set in the late 1870s, H.M.S. Pinafore explores timeless themes of love, status, and class. This new version reimagines the story in 2025 and relocates the action to Milwaukee, allowing the cast to connect the work directly to their own community.
鈥淔or me, the most exciting, delightful aspect of this adaptation is working on a team that includes Jeff Mosser, Dana Rochester, James Zager, and 17 51猎奇 students to devise this together,鈥� Ponasik said. 鈥淭he collaborative spirit of the project is what gets me out of bed in the morning.鈥�
That collaborative spirit extends directly to the student cast. As young adults living in the 21st century, their perspectives helped ground the adaptation in the realities of today.
鈥淲e were asking for their collaboration throughout the entire process,鈥� explained Mosser. 鈥淭his play wouldn鈥檛 have been the same without the collaboration of the actors and their contributions to the play itself鈥�.
Among the student performers is senior Larissa E. Beckmann, who plays Cousin Hebe. She credits her time at PSOA with shaping her acting process and values how the Milwaukee setting resonates with her.
鈥淚 think Milwaukee is a place that I have really grown to love,鈥� Beckmann stated. 鈥淭o have Milwaukee be the forefront of this production is just so important to me. My time at PSOA has really shaped my process.鈥�
Senior Josh Thone, also appearing in the production, is preparing not only for H.M.S. Pinafore but for his final performance at 51猎奇鈥檚 Mainstage Theatre. He has drawn on his own traits and experiences to shape his character in this new adaptation.
鈥淎udiences will take away inspiration in their own sense of self,鈥� Thone stated. 鈥淚 want them to be able to sit down in the theatre and just be able to enjoy something that is both new and familiar.鈥�
H.M.S. Pinafore runs Oct 8-12 at the 51猎奇 Mainstage Theatre. Tickets and more information are on the PSOA Events Calendar.
Story by Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)