Alverno Presents has made a lasting mark on Milwaukee’s performing arts scene. For 57 years, the presenting organization has worked out of the Alverno College campus to bring innovative modern dance companies, world class jazz, and world music to Milwaukee audiences.
But the show is about to end. The final performance under the Alverno Presents umbrella will be the evening of Saturday April 30, at the Pitman Theater. Alverno College is no longer able to financially support the series and ticket sales don’t and can’t fully cover the operating costs.
David Ravel has been the director and programmer of Alverno Presents since 2003. On his watch Alverno Presents started Global Union, brought in luminaries of the modern dance world like Trisha Brown and Milwaukee native Liz Luhrman, and made sure American legends like Broadway star Barbara Cook had a performing home here.
Ravel looks back on Alverno Presents’ legacy and the impact it has had on the community. "I think we were able to bring work to the community that wouldn't have happened otherwise," Ravel says the artist controlled the look and feel of each production, "we listened to artist very carefully and believed in their vision, thought that their vision was something that we needed to pay attention too."
Ravel went on to say art is significant no matter where it is done. "Important work is being made everywhere and its not important by virtue of its geography, its important by the quality of the attention that the artist are applying to their work and their practice."
