James Butchart directs Off-Broadway Theater performance

October 19, 2006

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's own James Butchart is the director of the upcoming play "Woyzeck," scheduled to run Oct. 19 through Nov. 4 at the Off-Broadway Theater in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.

As an associate professor in the theatre/dance department, Butchart has directed many plays at UW-Whitewater, as well as in Milwaukee, most recently a production of "Two Rooms" for In Tandem Theatre.  He has also directed for First Stage Milwaukee, Skylight Opera Theatre and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  

"I discovered 'Woyzeck' as an undergraduate at UW-Whitewater in 1976," Butchart said.  "I was amazed and enthralled that a play written in 1837 could be so contemporary in its ideas, characters, structure and language."  Butchart directed a student production as an undergraduate and earned an "A" for his efforts. 

Now thirty years later, Butchart is returning to "Woyzeck" combining dramatic imagery of the Milwaukee Dance Theatre with the modern songs of Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan from their album "Blood Money," performed by Frank Pahl and Daniel Kahn.  "It is such a perfect match of temperament, style and sensibility and a wonderful way to bring a modern sense to the play," he said.

Woyzeck is the all-purpose servant of a German captain. The captain considers him amoral and stupid, largely because Woyzeck is poor. Woyzeck also makes money by allowing the doctor to experiment on him. This production examines issues of human worth, morality and religion.

Milwaukee's Off-Broadway Theatre is located at 342 N. Water Street.  For ticket information, call the box office at (414) 278-0765.