Beyond The Ingenue: Trailblazers

Filmed concert production

Webcast November 20-December 20
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00 p.m., Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Directed by Meghan Randolph
Music Direction by Lisa Erdman and Mark Wurzelbacher

Music and Lyrics by various Wisconsin writers

Suggested Donation: $10 per viewer

"Unique, thoughtful and inspiring...An inspiring collage of struggle and triumph, Trailblazers is an extraordinary ode to many brave women who have made (and are still making) a better world possible...Do not miss this moving tribute to trailblazing women." -The Isthmus

Read the full review here.

After an audience-loved curated revue in 2018, Beyond the Ingenue is back. In this rendition, Wisconsin-based composers have worked with local performers to create musical theatre pieces about the womxn who inspire them. In these eleven original songs, they face questions, losses, prejudices, pain, trials, and triumphs. From actors to advocates, writers to philanthropists, rulebreakers to game-changers, this concert takes you into the lives of ten extraordinary people who challenged the rules, defied the odds, and made history. With Beyond the Ingenue: Trailblazers, we prove once again that, on stage, womxn deserve better stories.

This program was streamed in pay-what-you-wish form from November 20-December 20, 2020. We are working on a way for audiences to purchase the content to view, and will have more info for you soon!

Library preview performance

The inspirations, composers, and performers:

Lisa Ben: Writer, publisher of the first gay magazine, "Vice Versa". Song by Erin McConnell and Evan Lange. Played by Stephanie Drahozal.

Greta Thunberg: Teenaged climate change activist. Song by Erica Berman and Mark Wurzelbacher. Played by Grace Halverson.

Sarah McBride: Trans rights activist and author, Democratic candidate for Delaware State Senate. Song by Catherine Capellaro and Andrew Rohn. Played by Siobhan Jackson.

Lavinia Dock: Women's health and social activist, founder of nursing standards. Song by Jennifer Hedstrom and Kelsey Anne Johnson. Played by Kelsey Anne Johnson.

Amelia Earhart: First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Song by Lili Pierce and Allison Keller. Played by Elayne Juten.

Kristen Bell: Actress, singer, human rights and mental health advocate. Song by Abbey Monreal. Played by Krystal Lonsdale.

Viola Davis: Academy Award, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning actress and active philanthropist. Song by Autumn Maria Reed. and Nikko Murphy. Played by Nikko Murphy.

Michelle Obama: Attorney, former First Lady, speaker, author, advocate. Song by Kathleen Leone. Played by Bryanna Plaisir.

Princess Ka'iluani of Hawai'i: Last heir to the throne of the Hawaiian kingdom who fought fiercely against its overthrow. Song by Kailea Saplan and Meghan Rose. Played by Kailea Saplan.

Jayne Houdyshell: Tony-award winning actress and active inspiration to young and aspiring actors. Song by Amy L. Welk and Patrick Beckman. Tribute performed by Amy L. Welk.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Attorney, women's rights advocate, gender equality warrior, second woman to serve on U.S Supreme Court. Song by Jennifer Hedstrom. Played by Ann Imig.