A different kind of theatre

One year after its opening, Alchemist Theatre has grown into a humble nucleus of independent and up-and-coming artists, actors, and comedians. The local experiment in theater-for-rent enters its second year with added momentum from its accompanying lounge, which is open even when the theater is not.

A surly Santa Claus, a snowman in police custody, and a mentally challenged prospector mushing a team of plush dogs were just some of the characters in Rudolph the Pissed-off Reindeer, a vision that actor/comedian Patrick Schmitz was able to bring to the stage with support from the Alchemist Theatre.

The quirky satire of the 1960s Rankin/Bass animated Christmas special sold out every performance of its three-weekend run and exemplifies the diverse entertainment at the Alchemist Theatre, 2569 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., which opened January 2008. 

In its first year, the venue has offered theatrical performances, improv and sketch comedy, films, live music, and gallery nights. The theater has 36 comfortable seats and can add seating to accommodate up to 51 patrons. There is a spacious stage and a dressing area. Unique artwork decorates the cool tones of the accompanying smoke-free lounge, also open on non-show nights. The lounge also offers snacks.

Erica Case and Aaron Kopec opened Alchemist Theatre and Lounge in January 2008 along with a third partner, Mike Temple. Kopec’s friend and fellow actor Kirk Thomsen later joined in. Temple has since left to spend more time with out-of-town family, Kopec said, so Case, Kopec, and Thomsen are the current partners. Both Kopec and Thomsen performed in other Milwaukee theater groups, including Off the Wall, prior to Alchemist.

Out of the Ordinary

The Alchemist founders set out to create a non-traditional theater. Their goal was to create space that actors and production groups could rent and that would be affordable-and profitable-to those with small budgets.

“The idea originated from Aaron and Erica. They basically got tired of going to smaller theaters and getting very little in return,” said Thomsen, referring to theaters that charge $20 or higher for a ticket but offer what he described as inferior performances, poor audio quality, or uncomfortable seating.

Kopec explained Alchemist rents out the theater space for $185 per performance night, which also includes basic advertising and technical support. Production groups are offered $50 back for every 18 patrons the renter attracts per night.

“So typically, after the return bonus, most groups only pay $35 per night, and groups keep 100 percent of ticket sales,” said Kopec.

Thomsen said the cast and crew of many community theater groups in Milwaukee and vicinity typically don’t receive any monetary compensation, or much recognition beyond their names appearing in the playbill, so Alchemist offers an opportunity for cast and crew to be paid and get their names out there.

“One of the glitches in Milwaukee is that we [actors] suffer from doing a show for two months and not receiving any gratuity from doing it,” Thomsen said. “While I love to perform as much as the next person, it does come down to that fact that you would want to see something, maybe in the way of money or maybe in the way of promotion for your talents. We really strive in that area.”

Thomsen said Alchemist offers entertainers space on its website for their photos and bios. He said they hope to add video clips from the shows.

Bar, Not Box Office, Defines Difference

Case, a native Bay View resident, said the concept for Alchemist Theatre came into being when she was a student at Alverno College, where she researched local theaters and developed a business plan to subsidize theater with lounge.

There have been some minor diversions from the original idea, Case said. “We originally thought about doing a little bit more of a café with food, and then sort of ended with more of a lounge/bar type of environment.”

Revenue is primarily generated from the lounge sales, unlike traditional theater business models that rely on box office receipts.

“We do not profit from ticket sales from any of the groups that perform here,” Thomsen reiterated. Instead, the lounge, which opens at 4:30pm six days a week, provides the financial foundation to support the arts, Thomsen said. “It’s almost like every beer you drink, it allows us to have the ability for a performer to perform here.”

The lounge originally served beer and wine, Kopec said, and since October 2008, they have added liquor, mixed, and specialty drinks.

Case said the theater and lounge attract a variety of patrons and artists from all over Milwaukee and the surrounding areas, many of whom support each other. They also draw some people who had never been to a theatrical show before but are enticed by the low ticket prices. Tickets for Rudolph were $8, with the average ticket price at Alchemist $15 or less.

“Different shows attract different age groups, but all are typically represented in some way for each,” said Kopec. He added that the lounge usually attracts the 21-35 demographic, and also older couples who come in for a specialty drink or two before or after dinner, plus people who come in for drinks after shows at other theaters.

Thomsen said Alchemist prides itself on being a little different in that they are open to people who are willing to work to develop their ideas. “It does need to meet certain guidelines of quality, but by no means are we snobs towards having work done here,” Thomsen said.

He cited Patrick Schmitz as an example of someone able to produce a play because of Alchemist’s affordable rates. “We just want to know that people have a passion for what they do. Patrick definitely has a passion for the arts…”

Strong Artist Support Network

Schmitz, the mastermind who wrote and directed Rudolph, also performs with The Gentleman’s Hour, an improv sketch comedy group that performs every other Sunday at Alchemist. Schmitz said he has been entertaining for approximately 10 years.

“Bucketworks is where we started,” Schmitz said. “Then we were doing shows at ComedySportz, then we found out about this place, and we got a regular gig.”

Actress and improv comedienne Megan McGee is part of Broadminded, an all-female improv and sketch comedy group that performs at Alchemist.

“I really like performing here because it’s such a small, intimate space, which is perfect for a group of our size, and the fact that it has a bar, and it’s easy to find,” said McGee.

She added that Broadminded performs all original skits, and Alchemist is always willing to help out with technical support or providing an extra actor when needed. Kopec often makes appearances in Broadminded’s sketches. “He’s our Honorary Broad,” McGee laughed.

Schmitz also hosts The Alchemist Open Improv Group, which performs every Tuesday and is open to both new and experienced actors and comedians, some of whom perform in other Alchemist productions.

Fjosh Redbeard has been involved with the Pink Banana theater group and had a role in Rudolph as The Bumble-the Abominable Snow Monster. He enjoys the diversity and immersive atmosphere at Alchemist’s open improv night.

“It’s a good learning experience, and it’s open to newcomers,” Redbeard said.

Patrik Beck is no stranger to the spotlight, having acted with groups such as the Milwaukee Rock Theatre and performed in rock and roll bands. Yet he enjoys the challenges of improv.

“I love the Alchemist improv night,” Beck said. “I have been doing local theater productions for years and have been on stage all my life. This is the first time I have had the opportunity to do straight improv comedy and I am amazed at how hard it is.”

Alchemist includes and welcomes future actors and actresses. Young actor Joel Boyd, who had the starring role of the dejected reindeer in Rudolph, appreciates the artistic freedom at smaller theaters.

“Almost every character has a scene where they just let you go, they let you do your art form the way you want to morph this character, the way you want their voice to sound, the way you want them to walk, they let you do things. I like how they just let you be free with what they’ve given you and you can expand off of that,” Boyd said.

Actor Caleb, who played Rudolph’s fellow misfit Hermey the elf, appreciates the relaxed atmosphere and the support for local artists. “I love the idea of a little place that just supports local art,” Caleb said, adding he has learned a lot about improvisational techniques from the fellow cast members.

Nevin Langhus and Anna Wolfe, who both act at the First Stage Children’s Theater group, pointed out Alchemist’s contrasts.

“Here, it’s very relaxed,” said Langhus. “It’s not a mainstream show. We’re here for fun.”

“Everyone’s basically just so nice,” added Wolfe.

Musician Jennifer Lee, who sings solo and as part of the duet Moonstone, performed at Alchemist last May for the opening night of the 10th Annual Milwaukee Short Film Festival. “The place was absolutely packed,” she said. “It was nice to see such support for independent films from fans and from the Alchemist.”

Andy North, who said he’s been performing in Milwaukee for a long time, described the local theater scene before Alchemist’s arrival-where actors had to wait to be cast to get their opportunities to perform.

“You have to wait for one of the bigger theaters to say you’re good enough to be in whatever show, and people don’t really get a chance to experiment and create on their own,” North said. “Here, people who might not get a chance to do that elsewhere get to put up shows that might not get put up elsewhere.”

One Year Later

Case said that openness to new and different ideas and staying flexible is the key to making things work, especially in a tough economy.

“We evolve as the arts scene and the artists evolve, and as things change, to be open to it and allow that flexibility. One of the things that hasn’t changed since the beginning was to never dictate what was art and what wasn’t, and to be open to everyone else’s creativity,” Case said. “One of the other big things that differentiates us from other small theaters is that we cross genres. We have stage performances, we have comedy, we have film, and we have musicians…the whole gamut of performance. In the lounge, we also have local artists play, and we also put on some gallery events. We really just try to be encompassing of any type of art. It really helps us to keep not only a broader audience, but a broader sect of performers and artists.”

Kopec sees the lounge as an opportunity.

“One of the big things that we are working on is to continue to work towards making the lounge a fun, specialty drink kind of bar where people can feel like they are in a funky, underground New York lounge without paying for it,” said Kopec. He added they eventually hope to add restrooms to the ground level. Currently, they are in the basement.

Every other Wednesday, Alchemist is trying out a quiz night in the lounge, Kopec said, with prizes including the “Alchemist Cheap Date Night” package with a pizza, two beers or soda, and two candy items. Murder mysteries were originally planned for early 2009 to fill some open time on the calendar, but were put on hold due to a boom of interest from theater groups who wanted to rent the space. “We do intend to bring some murder mysteries to the lounge and theater in the future…with some unique twists,” Kopec said.

Alchemist has also become more involved in community events, such as Biketoberfest, and Case said they’re open to partnering with other groups and businesses.

The gamut of upcoming Alchemist shows runs from Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? to Dracula: the Undead, to Old Time Radio, a series of vintage radio drama reenactments produced by Wisconsin Hybrid Theater.

“We‘re very excited about that,” said Thomsen, referring to the Old Time Radio shows. “Again, this is from a new group that has challenged themselves to bringing what they have great vision for to the stage. They came here and were really pleased as to what we had to offer for them…a good, clean house, a solid stage, wonderful dressing rooms…all those things are relevant to performance.”

A creative stage set and clever costumes enhanced the energetic performances of the cast of Rudolph the Pissed-off Reindeer. Kopec pointed out that Alchemist productions offer more than “just a chair on stage.” “You get a bang for the buck,” said Kopec.