Laurie “Bambi” Bembenek is a folk legend, especially in Milwaukee. The story of the former MPD cop-turned-Playboy Bunny was the talk of the town when she was convicted of the 1981 murder of her husband’s ex-wife. She maintained her innocence throughout the trial, while she was in prison and even after she escaped in 1991 with her boyfriend to Canada, where she was later caught thanks to an episode of “America’s Most Wanted.” When she was extradited stateside, there was new evidence in her case – evidence that suggested she may have been telling the truth all along.
“It’s a real story, it’s a true story, and a lot of people in Milwaukee know this story,” Milwaukee playwright Eric Simonson says. “So I said it would be really interesting if we did a musical.”
To make it an “all-Milwaukee production,” he enlisted the talents of Violent Femmes singer, guitarist and songwriter Gordon Gano to create the music. The tunes range from polka and country to ballads and classic rock.
“[Gano] has this wide range of different styles of music in his repertoire, and he uses all of them,” Simonson says. “It all sounds so different and original and absolutely perfect to the moments of the story.”
Now, Run Bambi Run, which was 12 years in the making, is about to make its world premiere at the Milwaukee Rep Sept. 13-Oct. 22.
Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at American Family Field to commemorate Milwaukee Magazine Day with the Milwaukee Brewers! Learn more and get tickets here.
Quilts Japan: The 16th Quilt Nihon
AUG. 31-DEC. 3 | WISCONSIN MUSEUM OF QUILTS AND FIBER ARTS
This Cedarburg museum is one of only four U.S. venues to feature highlights from this prestigious, international quilt competition hosted in Japan. New this year, the collection of 50 wonderfully intricate quilts will include miniatures.
Dad’s Season Tickets
SEPT. 7-24 | SUNSET PLAYHOUSE
It’s 1996, Brett Favre is at the top of his game and the Green Bay Packers are making a run for the Super Bowl. That’s when three sisters learn only one of them will inherit their father’s season tickets at Lambeau Field. This show, written by homegrown playwright Matt Zembrowski, will make its community theater debut at Sunset Playhouse.
Francisco X. Mora: Small Works
SEPT. 8-OCT. 6 | LATINO ARTS
Mexico-born artist and children’s book author/illustrator Francisco X. Mora made the move to Milwaukee in 1980 to study printmaking. His artwork focuses on the whimsical, bringing in friends, relatives and animals from his boyhood days, often using humor to share their stories.
Women Pulling at the Threads of Social Discourse
SEPT. 8-DEC. 31 | JEWISH MUSEUM MILWAUKEE
This collection of artwork honors women who subverted social expectations by using textiles to foster discussion about voting and reproductive rights, among other socio-political discourse. The show spotlights local and national artists who are at the forefront of these conversations.
Splash Hatch on the E Going Down
SEPT. 20-OCT. 15 | NEXT ACT THEATRE
Follow the story of Thyme, a young woman from Harlem whose pregnancy is progressing while her husband’s health is declining. She’s hyper-aware of environmental issues and is reconciling with the reality of her surroundings. The play grapples with the fact that sometimes our systems fail society’s most vulnerable populations.
Poetry Reading Featuring Courtney LeBlanc, Margaret Rozga and Angela Voras-Hills
SEPT. 29 | LION’S TOOTH
Courtney LeBlanc will be sharing works from Her Whole Bright Life, which tackles the trauma and exhaustion of a life lived with disordered eating. Margaret Rozga will read stanzas about Milwaukee’s fair housing marches from her latest collection, Holding My Selves Together. Plus, Milwaukee poet Angela Voras-Hills will read excerpts from her debut, Louder Birds.
This story is part of Milwaukee Magazine’s September issue.
Find it on newsstands or buy a copy at milwaukeemag.com/shop.
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