Sparrows Fall

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In this time of war, Sparrows Fall is a message of hope. We hope this evening will promote laughter, thought and reflection and that conversations continue to the parking lot and living rooms. We have gathered a diverse group of actors from across Milwaukee to give voice to the voiceless. History is recorded by those in power and often much of our shared history is lost or forgotten. Sparrows Fall is our offering to help mend that breach. 

Richard Gustin 

Playwright Director 

Production History

Sparrows Fall received a workshop production at the University of Wisconsin - Fond du Lac and a Zoom reading by Ubiquitous Players Chicago as the premiere fundraiser for the Lydia R. Diamond New Play Award at Chicago Dramatists.

Song List

Song of Forgetting

Blood Like a River

If You Find a Star 

Cast

Creative Team

Meet the Company

Flora Coker

Ensemble Member

Flora Coker has had a long and rich life in the theatre in Milwaukee and far flung ports. For 35 years she was a core member of the experimental theatre collective Theatre X. She has also appeared at Next Act, the Rep, the Chamber, Renaissance, Skylight, Milwaukee Mask and Puppet Theatre, Optimists’, and even the Florentine Opera in a non-singing role as an old gypsy/soothsayer in Carmen. Presently Flora is immensely enjoying a recurring role in Paul Druecke’s Milwaukee Kitchen.

Christopher Goode

Ensemble Member

Christopher is a Milwaukee-based actor, director, improviser, and occasional sketch comedy writer. Over the past few years you could have found him acting with Windfall Theatre, doing improv and sketch comedy at The Interchange Theater Co-op, performing experimental musical performance pieces with his partner Mia at the Milwaukee Fringe Festival, and doing all of the above with Schmitz 'n Giggles. Some of his favorite hobbies include yoga, gaming, playing with his dog Rosco, and watching The Sopranos. Love to Mia.

David Flores

Ensemble Member

DAVID FLORES has worked extensively in the performing arts in Wisconsin, including Boulevard Theatre, First Stage, Forward Theater, In Tandem Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Shakespeare, Next Act Theater, Off The Wall Theatre, Optimist Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, Skylight Music Theatre, Theater X, Theatre Gigante, Third Avenue Playworks, Windfall Theatre, Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, and Wild Space Dance. Credits range from Albee to Die Zauberflöte. Has served as stage director for Boulevard Theatre, First Stage, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, and Windfall Theatre. Studied music and dance at Harvard University. Long-time member of City of Milwaukee Arts Board.

A.J. Magoon

Ensemble Member

A.J. is pleased to be part of this compelling new work. Milwaukee credits include Thom Pain in THOM PAIN (BASED ON NOTHING) (Theatre Nervosa), Raleigh in LAST TRAIN TO NIBROC (Acacia Theatre Company), Jason/Tyrone in HAND TO GOD (Voices Found Repertory), Polly/Filch/Chuck/A.J. in THE BEGGAR’S OPERA (Theatre Gigante) and work with First Stage, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, Next Act Theatre, Summit Players Theatre, Brigata Theatre, The Boulevard Theatre, Kith & Kin Theatre Collective, Milwaukee Irish Arts, The Constructivists, Seat of Our Pants Readers Theatre, Quasimondo Physical Theatre, Sunstone Studios, Voices Found Repertory, Bard and Bourbon, Windfall Theatre and Cooperative Performance. A.J. is the Marketing Director at Next Act Theatre and a founding member of Summit Players Theatre, the latter of which he served administratively for nine years, including four as Executive Director. Love to Caroline and my parents – thanks to you for being here. ajmagoon.com

Kerruan Sheppard

Ensemble Member

Kerruan Sheppard is thrilled to be a part of the Sparrows Fall team. It's going to be an amazing show. He hopes everyone finds the courage to put themselves in someone else's viewpoint, because that's how we're going to change the world.

Jaleesa Joy

Ensemble Member

Jaleesa Joy is very excited to be part of the world premiere of "Sparrows Fall." She was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. She has worked with various theatre companies including Acacia Theatre and Lake Country Playhouse, as well as serving on the Board of Theatrical Tendencies. Thank you all for supporting local theatre. Enjoy!

Tyler Stauffacher

Ensemble Member

Tyler Stauffacher is a recent graduate of UW-Milwaukee's Peck School of the Arts with a BFA in Acting. His previous credits include understudying for Milwaukee Chamber Theatre's A Doll's House (Krogstad/Dr. Rank/Torvald Helmer) as well as educational credits for UWM. Notable UWM credits include Macbeth (Macbeth), Sweat (Jason), You On The Moors Now (St. John Rivers/Bhaer/Edgar Linton), and Pericles (Bolt/Fisherman).

Lorraine Stallsmith-Martin

Ensemble Member

Lorraine is delighted to be part of the "Sparrows Fall" company. A graduate of Boston University she has worked with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Marquette University and Acacia Theatre. After an acting hiatus, she is grateful to be working again with Richard Gustin.

Cassandra Solvik

Ensemble Member

Cassandra was a student at UW-Fond du Lac where she took acting classes and performed under Richard Gustin’s direction. She played Helena in A Midsummer Nights Dream; Dawn in Lobby Hero; Marti, Bunny, Lil, Tiffany, and Roberta Victor in Rash Acts and acted in two of Richard’s original plays: Surviving the Cycle and Sparrows Fall.

Hailey Wurz

Ensemble Member

Hailey Wurz is a recent graduate from UWM with a BFA in Acting and a Minor in Psychology (2025). Her most notable roles have been Charlie from The Sparrow, Fleance from Macbeth, and Pander from Pericles, all from UWM PSOA productions. Sparrows Fall will be her debut into the professional world!

Adelie Content

Ensemble Member

Adelie is a recent grad from the UWM Peck School of the Arts BFA acting program and is pleased to be making her professional debut in Sparrows Fall. Featured UWM roles include Maria Marten in The Ballad of Maria Marten, Beverly in The Elephant and Lady Macduff in the Scottish play.

Joel Dresang

Ensemble Member

Joel Dresang (he/him) is elated to be part of the world premiere of Sparrows Fall. Joel’s credits include “All My Sons,” “Henry V,” “The Light in the Piazza” and “The Diary of Ann Frank.” He has appeared in Schmitz n Giggles Shakesparodies of “Romeo & Juliet” and “King Lear” and has performed with Wisconsin Classic Stage, Waukesha Civic Theatre, Windfall Theatre and Milwaukee Entertainment Group. He is on the board of Vanguard Milwaukee. Joel is co-host of Real Stories MKE, featuring Ex Fabula storytelling on 89.7 WUWM. Catch him Aug. 13-22 in Schmitz n Giggles’ “The Wizard of Oz…kinda sorta.”

Richard Gustin

Playwright/Director/Producer

Richard Gustin (he, him) Richard is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and Dramatists Guild. He has been seen in major roles at various regional theaters including Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, First Stage Milwaukee, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Cleveland’s Great Lakes Theater, Acacia Theatre, Virginia Museum Theatre, Chicago’s Ivanhoe and Blackstone Hotel, John Michael Kohler Arts Center and the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. His plays include SPARROWS FALL (premiere fundraiser for the Lydia R. Diamond New Play Award Chicago Dramatists), Chicago Equity Joseph Jefferson Award winning (Best Actor) and FringeNYC Fan Favorite BEING SEEN, WHEN LIFE HAPPENS, SURVIVING THE CYCLE, MOTHER'S COURAGE, LEVIATHAN, WINK, MERCY, CIRCLE 7, SOMEONE LIKE ME, FLAT WORLD, CONCENTRIC CIRCLES, SWITCH, FOUND OBJECTS, CRUCIFICTION and EVERYMAN. BEING SEEN enjoyed a critically acclaimed sold-out run at FringeNYC starring Broadway veteran William Youmans (seen in Broadway’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD with Jeff Daniels and currently in WICKED) and Allison Minick. BEING SEEN received the AEA Joseph Jefferson Best Actor (Kelly Anne Clark) Award at Chicago's Den Theatre and subsequently toured to the OSO Arts Centre London UK. For more information about Richard’s work: www.rg-productions.org www.richardgustin.com

Isabelle Kralj

Producer

ISABELLE KRALJ founded Theatre Gigante in 1987, and has served as its Artistic Director ever since. In 1999, she joined forces with Mark Anderson, who joined Gigante as Artistic Co-Director. Together and solo, Kralj & Anderson have created over 75 theatre works. She has directed many Gigante productions, as well as productions for other performing organizations, including the former Theatre X, First Stage Milwaukee, JM Kohler Arts Center, and Suffolk University. She has an extensive career as an auteur of hybrid work, director, choreographer, performer, and teacher and has appeared as a director and/or actor in countless productions for Gigante. Kralj has danced with companies including the Slovenian National Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, among others, and has choreographed for Theatre Gigante, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, First Stage Milwaukee, Theatre X, Door Shakespeare, UW-Whitewater, and DBUS (in Slovenia), among others. Her work as a creating artist and/or performing artist has been seen throughout the U.S., including Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, and in Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Croatia. Isabelle has an MFA, and has received a New Choreography Award from the Wisconsin Arts Board, the Lifetime Award for High Artistic Achievement from UWM’s Slovenian Arts Council, and a commendation from the Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia for promoting Slovenian culture through Theater.

Jenn Sorvik

Stage Manager

Jenn Sorvick is a local theater artist, thrilled to be stage managing with RG Productions and Theatre Gigante. She is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago’s Comedy Writing and Performance program and returned to Milwaukee to continue pursuing theater. Jenn assistant stage managed Hamlet as a part of Optimist Theatre’s Shakespeare in the City in 2024, and most recently has stage managed Theater Gigante's Dust and Terminus. Jenn is also the Events Operations Coordinator for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

Scott Stanley

Music Director

Scott Stanley has been directed by Richard Gustin in numerous productions and has been active both on and off-stage for many years. He has provided musical direction for productions of Godspell, Working, …Forum, Camelot, Lumberjack in Love, and Cabaret. He has also played in numerous pit orchestras. While Scott has many acting credits as well, he enjoys making any contribution he can to a production.

Samuel Fitzwater-Butchart

Tech Director/Sound Designer/Engineer

Samuel Fitzwater-Butchart (Sound Designer/Engineer), a Milwaukee native, Sam has worked for theatre companies such as Skylight Music Theatre and Next-Act Theatre, among others. They currently hold resident artist positions with Theatre Gigante (WI) I Am My Own Wife, Metamorphosis, Tarzan, Spalding Gray: Stories Left To Tell, CRAVE, HereThereWhere, Terminus, and Three Crows Theatre (IL), Our Country’s Good, Trojan Women, These Shining Lives, MacBeth, The Danish Play. Past Credits with Acacia include Tuesdays With Morrie, and A Sleep of Prisoners. Sam is thrilled to be back with Acacia for Freud's Last Session.

Colin Gawronski

Lighting Designer

COLIN GAWRONSKI (Lighting Designer) is a lighting designer and theatrical technician native to Milwaukee, who has worked extensively with Danceworks, Inc, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Sunstone Studios and Black Arts MKE/Bronzeville. They have worked with other local companies such as Renaissance Theaterworks, Wildspace, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Gina Laurenzi Dance Project, and In Tandem Theatre. Colin has also worked with Theatre Lila, Third Avenue Playworks and Forward Theater. Favorite productions include: STEW, OUT OF MANY ONE, ‘NEATH THE HILLS OF BASTOGNE, /maskəˈrād/, DUTCHMAN, BLACK NATIVITY, ROMEO & JULIET: A Theatre LILA Invention, SECRETS FROM THE WIDE SKY, DADDY LONG LEGS, SPALDING GRAY: STORIES LEFT TO TELL, STORIES FROM A LIFE, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, SERENDIPITY, BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA, MY FAIR LADY, LAMPS FOR MY FAMILY, and VAGABONDARE. Give Love Always.

Jaden Starks

Videographer

Jaden Starks is a UW-Milwaukee student filmmaker making his professional debut in Live video operation for Sparrows Fall. He specializes in documentary filmmaking and is pursuing a BFA in Film.

Todd Brei

Graphic Design

William Lipscomb

House Manager

Bill received his BA from the University of Virginia in 1982, where he focused on southern history and race relations. He received a JD, cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin in 1986. As a prosecutor, he served as an adjunct instructor in the Criminology and Law Studies Department at Marquette University. Bill continued his academic career at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology (SHSST), earning an MA in Systematic Theology. In 2022, He graduated with a certificate in spiritual direction from the Midwest Jesuit’s Seminars in Ignatian Formation program. Bill currently gives the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius at Gesu Parish and the Ignatian Spirituality Center of Milwaukee. He also teaches Social Ethics and guides lay graduate students at SHSST in discernment of call.

Photos

Multimedia

SPARROWS FALL to Premiere in Milwaukee with Flora Coker

RG Productions and Theatre Gigante have come together in an historic collaboration for the world premiere of "Sparrows Fall" written and directed by Richard Gustin in conjunction with World Premiere Wisconsin. "Sparrows Fall" is a daring experimental chamber production and was the original Chicago Dramatists fundraiser for the Lydia R. Diamond Playwriting Award. "Sparrows Fall" has been described as "A haunting, poetic meditation on historical trauma in a world of fractured hope."

Flora Coker, an original member of Milwaukee's famed Theatre X heads the cast in an exclusive two-week engagement April 16-26. TH, FRI, SAT at 7:30 & SUN at 3:00, Venue: Norvell Commons 7845 N River Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53217, Tickets $20 General Admission, $18 seniors, $15 students.

Acting Company: Flora Coker, A.J. Magoon, David Flores, Christopher Goode, Joel Dresang, Kerruan Sheppard, Tyler Stauffacher, Lorraine Stallsmith-Martin, Adelie Content, Hailey Wurz, Jaleesa Joy and Cassandra Solvik.

"Sparrows Fall" creative team includes Richard Gustin (director) Jenn Sorvik (stage manager), Sam Fitzwater-Butchart (technical director), Colin Gawronski (lighting designer), Scott Stanley (music director) and Jaden Starks (videographer archivist).

Note: This production contains images and themes of violence and is recommended for ages 15 and older.

The production is part of World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide festival celebrating new plays and musicals.

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