The United Performing Arts Fund, or UPAF, supports arts organizations of various types across Milwaukee, from music to the visual and performing arts. The organization began in 1967 as a way to stabilize the finances of Milwaukee's prominent performing arts groups, including the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
It was at that time that a young actress named Erika Slezak was getting her start with a job at the Milwaukee Rep. Slezak starred as a member of that company from 1967-1969 before landing a role of Victoria Lord on the ABC soap opera, One Life to Live.
Slezak played Victoria Lord for 40 years, and won six Emmys. But she never forgot the role Milwaukee had in shaping her career.
"I was so happy to be working and learning lines, and meeting the people," she says. "The board members at the time were so welcoming. They gave little parties and invitations to us [theater company] all to get to know each other. It became a real family."
Slezak's appreciation for repertory theatre and the Milwaukee arts scene developed during these formative years. She says civic performing arts groups are essential creative outlets for both audiences and actors.
"Repertory theatre is so important," she says. "It [gives] the audience a chance to see a different production five or six weeks. [It's] a place for actors to go and work, and play all kinds of different roles, and gain experience, and watch other actors, and learn from them."
As for UPAF, it launches its 50th anniversary annual campaign on Monday.
