Kaleidoscope
a new musical
by Patrick Thompson
About Kaleidoscope
What happens when the hero's journey is seen through a different lens? Kaleidoscope, a new musical by Patrick Thompson, explores this question through original songs, movement, and inventive storytelling.
Show Information
All performances are SOLD OUT! If you'd like to see the show, follow this link for a LIVE VIRTUAL performance on August 19, 2023 at 7:00 pm CT
Meet the Characters & More
In this section, you will meet the actors and see their introductions to their characters. In addition, you can find our social narrative and visual agenda for the show!
Ruthie
Ash Mullholland
Ollie
Pip Buffington
Yara
Ali Meisinger
Greyson
Jack Allen
Bailey
Amanda Lojeski
Paulie
Jude Smith
Understudy
Maureeen Henderson
Understudy
Nina Ceccato
Meet the Cast & Crew
Learn about the amazing artists bringing this show to life!
The Cast
Ali Meisinger
Yara
Ali Meisinger is so excited to play the role of Yara in Kaleidoscope this summer!! Some of her theater credits include plays in elementary and middle school, high school musicals, and First Stage Theater Academy. When she is not in the theater you can find her being a musical theater enthusiast and big Shakespeare fan! She would love to give thanks to family and friends for all the support they’ve given her over the years! She hopes to continue her acting career and be in more plays and musicals. And enjoy the show!
Ash Mulholland
Ruthie
Ash (she/her) is ecstatic to be a part of not only her fifth production by Pink Umbrella Theater, but also her first EVER lead role in a show. She has been featured in other works under the umbrella including both SHINE!(2021) and SHINE Remount(2022) as the artistic Pickle, the first ever virtual production of SCAVENGERS!(2021) as the swift and very stubborn Scout the Rabbit, and in the BIGGER TOP as the gymnast POP. Truly, Ash can reflect with her character in KALEIDOSCOPE (2023) in more ways than one, before theatre she didn’t have many friends growing up and would create a great journey using her imagination to seek her joy. Now, she has great artist friends and an awesome production team she calls her “secondary family”. She would like to thank Katie Cummings for the amazing opportunities since becoming a member under the umbrella, Molly Kiefer for being an amazing dancer, teacher, and friend to hang out with, Patrick for sharing his amazing talent and granting me the opportunity to work with him, and her wonderful castmates for playing, laughing, singing, and helping her continue to fulfill her dreams as a performer. She really hopes you join her in her journey through the Kaleidoscope as well enjoy this fantastic show. Her website can be found here. http://ashmulholland.com/
Amanda Lojeski
Bailey
Hi my name is Amanda Lojeski. I have been involved in many productions over the years. I graduated from Union Grove high school in 2011. I have been involved in theater since my freshman year of high school. Since 2015 I have been involved with the ACAP playmakers and in 2020 I got involved with Pink Umbrella Theater. In my spare time I enjoy doing art, skiing, biking, bowling, and spending time with my service dog, family, and friends.
Jack Allen
Greyson
Jack Allen (he/him) is thrilled to return to Pink Umbrella Theater Company for its first musical, Kaleidoscope. Pink Umbrella Theater Company audiences saw Jack perform the role of HONK in last summer's production of Bigger Top and as SUNSHINE in the production of SHINE! at Summerfest. Jack is a recent graduate of Nicolet High School, where he performed in Little Shop of Horrors, Clue, Peter Pan, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and more. He is a member of the International Thespian Society and the National Honor Society, and he served as a Freshman Mentor at Nicolet and as a Camp Counselor at Muddy Boots Yoga Camp in Cedarburg. This Fall Jack will intern with Project Search at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin while he continues to pursue work in theater. Jack would like to thank Patrick, Katie, Molly, and his fellow cast and crew for creating this amazing Kaleidoscope family of heroes and wants to remind you that YOU are a hero too!
Jude Smith
Paulie
Jude is thrilled to be playing Paulie in Pink Umbrella's "Kaleidoscope"! Some of the shows he has also been in include Seussical KIDS (Judge Yertle the Turtle), The Lion King KIDS (Zazu), HONK! (Turkey), The Jungle Book KIDS (Ensemble/Vulture), and Chicken Bones for the Teenage Soup (Marge/Norbert).
Maureen Henderson
Understudy
Maureen is very excited to be cast in Pink Umbrella’s first ever Musical. Hopefully the first of many Pink Umbrella musicals to come. She was last seen in “All in Your Head” in the lead role as Emily. Maureen would like to thank Pink Umbrella for this wonderful opportunity and she hopes you enjoy the show.
Nina Ceccato
Understudy
Bio coming soon!
Pip Buffington
Oliver
Peregrine Shannon Buffington is irrationally excited to play Ollie in their first professional production! Pip has loved all things writing, music, and theater since childhood. Pip’s autistic, queer, and nonbinary identities deeply influence all aspects of their life - especially performing. They owe so much to their husband, Luke, daughter, Bethy, voice coach, Ryan, and the Pink Umbrella Theater Company. Pip wants to dedicate their performance to their late grandfather, Dr. William Stekiel, who first exposed them to the wonders of music. Pip’s deepest belief is that storytelling, written, sung, and spoken, helps people understand the kaleidoscope called the human experience.
The Crew
Clayton Mortl
Assistant Director
Clayton Mortl is excited to be working with Pink Umbrella again, having previously appeared in their productions of "SHINE!" and "Bigger Top", respectively, as an actor, and he's thrilled to be making his behind-the-scenes debut with the company as assistant director of "Kaleidoscope". He hopes you enjoy the show!
Katie Cummings
Director
Katie Cummings has dedicated over twenty years as a theater artist, educator and advocate for inclusion and diversity in theater. A Wisconsin native, Katie graduated from Cardinal Stritch University with a BA in Theater and Business. Her resume includes First Stage, Bunny Gumbo, UW-Milwaukee, Chamber Theater and St. Joseph High School. Katie believes that theater has the power to develop empathy, create meaningful connections and engage community. She is excited to present this trip down memory lane.
Katie Lindgren
Technical Director
Katie is thrilled to be working with Pink Umbrella again this summer as the Technical Director and Designer for Kaleidoscope. She holds her BA in Technical Theater from Cardinal Stritch University and her MS in Special Education from UW-Whitewater. Katie has worked with TheaterRED, Milwaukee Chamber and Milwaukee Fringe Festival in a variety of stage management, scenic design and stagehand roles. Her original piece, Beautiful Ruins will be showcased at the Milwaukee Fringe Festival this summer. Katie is currently the program coordinator for a recreational adult day program serving adults with disabilities in our community where her focus is creating meaningful, engaging and quality programming opportunities for their participants. Katie is an avid believer in being a lifelong learner and creating accessible opportunities for all. klindgren.com
Kristina Van Slyke
Costumer
Kristina L. Van Slyke is honored to design her third production with Pink Umbrella. Her designs were previously seen in SHINE! and Bigger Top. Other local design credits include work with Cardinal Stritch University, Chamber Theater, First Stage Children's Theater, Bialystock & Bloom, Cornerstone, The Boulevard Ensemble and film work with Dirty Job Films. She thanks Katie Cummings for the friendship and creative partnership for over 20 years and her family for the endless support.
Madeline Lisiecki
Accessibility Assistant in Training
Hi! You can call me Maddie, and I always wanted to help out with theatre- specifically being an assistant. I have experience and can’t wait for more opportunities to connect with other people! One of my first musicals that I’ve watched was in 8th grade, called Newsies: 2017. I love how theatre can have so many perspectives. In the meantime, I’ll be spending time with my family! Extra information is that I have anxiety and have blue hair!
Molly Kiefer
Movement Director
Molly Kiefer (she/her) is a neurodivergent mover, teaching artist, and disability advocate. Her artistic work is informed by disability and investigating seemingly mundane everyday experiences. She has performed with Zeze Schorsch and Wild Space Dance Company and has choreographed for Pink Umbrella Theater Company (SHINE!). Molly is passionate about making artistic spaces more accessible for everyone who enters them and co-leads 'Sunshade: A meeting place for Disabled Artists'.
Olivia Jardas
Stage Manager
OJ is a thespian, scientist, and life-long learner. She has her B.A. in Theater Arts, B.S. in Biological Sciences, and M.A. in Teaching. OJ has directed and designed productions all around the Milwaukee suburbs, but this, by far is her favorite one. In her free time, OJ is at home playing the Sims, reading, or playing with her two cats: Luci and Ham.
Omari Fleming
Stage Manager
Omari Fleming is a rising senior currently pursuing a BM in Music Performance with a concentration in Voice and a minor in Clarinet at Kentucky State University. At the university, Omari has participated in numerous ensembles including but not limited to: The Mighty Marching Thorobreds, Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Band, Pit Orchestra, and the KSU Wesley Foundation Praise Team. Omari has years of experience performing within the realms of classical, pop, r&b, gospel, jazz, and musical theater. This is Omari’s first show with Pink Umbrella and he is very excited to see how it comes together!
Patrick Thompson
Book, Music, & Lyrics // Music Director
Patrick Thompson (he/him) is a composer and teaching artist based in New York City. He currently works at Carnegie Hall as an artist with The Lullaby Project, Big Note, Little Note and will be performing in their upcoming production of Camille’s Rainbow. With New York City Center and New York Theatre Workshop, he brings musical theatre into the elementary and high schools of the five boroughs. He is honored to bring KALEIDOSCOPE back home to Milwaukee and work with such an incredible company of artists at Pink Umbrella.
More info can be found at www.hotcheese.org
Rebekah Farr
Accessibility Assistant
Rebekah Farr (she/her) is excited to be working on the production team for her third Pink Umbrella production. She has been working in Milwaukee as an actor, educator, and director since 2018. Acting credits include Ella in I’M GONNA PRAY FOR YOU SO HARD, Sofie in WINK, and Iris in THE NETHER (The Constructivists), Hermia in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and Dromio of Syracusa in COMEDY OF ERRORS (Shakespeare in the Park), Portia in MERCHANT OF VENICE and JULIUS CAESAR (Bard and Bourbon), and acting in the Young Playwright Festival (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre). Love to her ever supportive family and friends always. Thank you to Katie for always welcoming her under the umbrella.