1996 – 2000

Organizational History

1996

“The Mirror in the Lake” and “Truckin’ Taps and the Mystery Maps.” Touring Midwest.

“Without Pity.” “Performing AIDS: Politics, Pedagogues and Practices Conference,” Cleveland, Ohio. Northeastern Ohio Universities, College of Medicine, Human Values in Medicine. Performed by Frank Frill, Alexis Lauren, Ken Adams, Ned Libel, Danielle Dresden, Donna Peckett, with stage direction by Peggy Rosin, Introductory Paper by Anne Simon-Wolf, MSS.

“Playing with Memories.” A play by Danielle Dresden, directed by Eisman Sheridan, score by Jane Reynolds (piano) with Dieter Buckle (viola) Performed by Sarah Whelan, Bob Ann, Donna Peckett, Danielle Dresden. Funded by the Wisconsin Arts Board, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, American Family Insurance Group.

“The Mirror in the Lake.” Summer performances for low-income youth. Funded by the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, Wisconsin Arts Board, Wisconsin Power & Light Foundation, American Family Insurance.

“Jazz Tap Duo.” Paul Hastily, piano; Donna Peckett, taps; Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin; Sun porch Cafe, Madison, Wisconsin.

1996

“Women of a Certain Age.” Cabaret performance of monologues and suites of tap dance and jazz music. Text by Danielle Dresden; stage direction by Jody Reissue. Performed by Wendy Fern Button, Peggy Rosin, Pam Adams, Danielle Dresden, Jane Reynolds, Catherine Rush, Celeste Smother, Donna Peckett. Funded by American Family Insurance Group and Richard B. and Marilyn Mazes.

“The History of Fashion From 1780 – 1930.” Slide lecture by art historian, E. Peckett. TAPIT Studio Theater.

“The Poetry Cafe, American Rhythms.” American poetry, tap dance, jazz music in an environment of metal work sculpture. Curated by Professor Andrea Musher. Performed by Steve Braunginn, Abu Mogaka, Andrea Musher, Danielle Dresden, Donna Peckett; with music by Jeff Iceless (bass), Paul Hastily (piano) and tap dance by Donna Peckett. Metal sculptures constructed by Michael Burns. Funded by the Wisconsin Humanities Council, Madison citrates, American Family Insurance Group.

“Without Pity, A Play about A Man and His Times.” Performance for area high school students, World AIDS Day, ‘96. Barmier Theater, Madison. Funded by the New Harvest Foundation, AIDS Network and the HIT Squad, Neil Allen Peckett Memorial Fund.

Tap Workshop with Chicago dancer Lane Alexander.

1997

“Truckin’ Taps and the Mystery Maps” and “The Mirror in the Lake.” Touring Illinois and Wisconsin. Funded by the Wausau Performing Arts Foundation.

“Without Pity, A Play about A Man and His Times.” Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 1996-97 Season, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Performances and outreach activities. Performed by Adam Saecker, Matthew S. Nelson, Jose Planks, Ken Adams, Danielle Dresden, Donna Peckett, with technical assistance by Steppe and Steve Jennies. Original stage direction by Peggy Rosin, with acting coaching by Jody Reissue. Funded by Arts Midwest, Krannert Center, private sector.

“Happening Here, A Cautionary Tale for our Time.” A new play by Danielle Dresden about the rise of totalitarianism in the United States. Performed by Dresden and Peckett, with Pete S. Sell, Richard Johnson, Cole Hornaday; light design by David Goutiness, sound palette by Steve Jennies, special properties by Celeste Smother; technical support by Steppe and Bobby Engeler-Young; staged by Catherine Rush. Funded by the Madison Civic Center, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, Herbert H. Kohl Charities, Inc., Richard B. and Marilyn Mazes.

“Summertime Travels.” Summer performances for youth, with Dresden and Peckett. Funded by the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, Wisconsin Arts Board, Neil Allen Peckett Memorial Fund.

“New York City Disasters.” Slide-lecture by raconteur/art historian, E.. Peckett at the TAPIT Studio Theater.

“The Poetry Cafe at the 1997 Isthmus Jazz Festival.” Funded by the Friends of the Madison Civic Center and the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission.

“Truckin’ Taps and the Mystery Maps.” Touring Ohio and Wisconsin. Support by Heartland Arts Fund.

The Hero Inside of Us. Theater, Dance, Video Residency with the Promise Program, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Steve Barker (Worthwhile Films), video artist; Danielle Dresden, theater artist; Donna Peckett, dancer-choreographer.

“Without Pity, A Play about A Man and His Times: Performance, Analysis, Discussion.” World AIDS Day, 1997, Wisconsin Union Theater. Conference, performance and post-show discussions for area high school students; with speakers, Steve Braunginn, Professor Julie Dacca and therapist, Anne Simon-Wolf, MSS. Funded by the Wisconsin Humanities Council, AIDS Network of Madison, Neil Allen Peckett Memorial Fund, Celt Marks.

1998

“The Mirror in the Lake, A Musical Mystery,” touring Wisconsin.

“L’CHAIM! A Jewish Tapestry.” A play, celebrating 150 years of Jewish life in Wisconsin, written by Danielle Dresden; directed by Sarah Whelan; slide images, Glenn Treadle; archival research by Professor Amelia Owe Ritzier and oral interviews by Dresden and Ritzier; tapestry backdrop, Lou Ann Ricks Petersen; costumes, Matthew S. Nelson; performed by Nelson Zane Eisman, Peter Bresnick, Donna Peckett and Danielle Dresden, with music by Barbara Chasid ( Peter Bresnick, violin) ; special composition by Dieter Buckle. Technical support, Steppe and Craig Johnson. Performances in Madison, Wisconsin; outreach for elementary and high school students. Funded by the Wisconsin Sesquicentennial Commission, Wisconsin Arts Board, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, Herbert H. Kohl Charities, Inc., Robert D. and Irwin A. Goodman, Frances and Lawrence Winston.

“Without Pity, A Play about A Man and His Times.” 8th AIDS Theater Festival, 10th National HIV Update Conference, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco; with Adam Saecker, Danielle Dresden, Donna Peckett.

“Theater for Young Audiences.” Performances and workshops by Danielle Dresden and Donna Peckett, Shelby County, Ohio. Sponsored by the Gateway Arts Council, Sydney, Ohio. Heartland Arts Fund support.

“Summer Performances for Young Audiences.” Shows for low-income youth, performed by Dresden and Peckett. Funded by Madison citrates, Wisconsin Arts Board, Neil Allen Peckett Memorial Fund.

“The Ragtime Era, 1890-1915.” Slide-lecture by art and social historian, E.. Peckett, TAPIT Studio Theater.

“The Mirror in the Lake.” Touring Wisconsin, Illinois and presented by the XENIX, Ohio Recreation Department.

“Behind the Beat,” A Lecture-Demonstration on Race and Gender in American Tap Dancing and Workshop on Motion Dance.” 1998 Isthmus Jazz Festival presentation, by Professors Mary Net and Ann Silkily. Funded by the Wisconsin Humanities Council, Friends of the Madison Civic Center, Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel.

“Face The Music.” Jim Schwa & the TAPIT Sisters; “Soul Journey;” Lynette (vocals); Dieter Buckle (viola); Danielle Dresden and Donna Peckett; “Better Than A Vitamin;” Joan Wild man and Jane Reynolds (synthesizers); Dresden (monologues); Peckett (tap dance). Scripts by Danielle Dresden, dance by Donna Peckett. Funded by Wisconsin Arts Board.

“The Poetry Cafe.” Showcase Performance at the Ohio Arts Presenters Network Annual Conference, Hamilton, Ohio. Danielle Dresden, poet; Donna Peckett, tap dancer; Paul Hastily, pianist.

1999

“Mystery Plays for Young Audiences.” Touring Illinois and Wisconsin.

“L’Chaim! A Jewish Tapestry.” Iowa-Grant High School, Cob, Wisconsin, with Nelson Zane Eisman, Peter Bresnick, Danielle Dresden, Donna Peckett, Paul Hastily (piano), Craig Johnson (director), Steppe (technical support).

“Duck Soup Silent Movie Opening Performance.” Frank Frill (harmonica) and Donna Peckett (taps) as Howard and Johnson. Madison Civic Center, Valentine’s Day.

“Without Pity, A Play about A Man and His Times” (final performance). 1999 Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay Transponder College Conference, Mona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, with Richard Gaining (originator of the role of Neil Peckett); Ken Adams, Jose Planks, Matthew S. Nelson, Danielle Dresden, Donna Peckett; technical support, Steppe (stage manager); Steve Barker, Johanna Golden, Kate Weatherman. Funded by the UW-Madison 10% Society; Cartridge Savers, Inc.

Artists In The Schools Program. Performing Arts Foundation, Wausau, Wisconsin and surrounding areas.

“Athena, Live!” Written by Danielle Dresden, stage direction by Jo Schemer, score by Jim Schwa, special properties by Bill Grover and Random Brent; costumes by Donna Breslin; set dressing by Soloist Smother; performed by Gillian Milo, Matthew S. Nelson, Donna Peckett, Danielle Dresden; technical support by Steppe. Six premiere performances for general audiences and three outreach shows for area high school students. TAPIT Studio Theater in Madison, Wisconsin. Funded by the Wisconsin Arts Board, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, Cartridge Saver, Inc.

PromiseKids Program. After school arts residency with Donna Peckett, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Madison.

Master class in tap dance with Martin “Trey” Dumas III, member of River dance Touring Company.

“Jim Schwall & The TAPIT Sisters.” Cafe Caffeine, Milwaukee; Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.

“The Mirror in the Lake.” Touring northern Wisconsin.

“Truckin’ Taps and the Mystery Maps.” South-central Wisconsin and Illinois summer library performances.

Danielle Dresden finalist, Yukon Pacific New Play Award for her play, “Without Pity, A Play about A Man and His Times. 7th Annual Edward Able New Play Lab, Prince William Sound Community College, Valued Alaska.

“Summer Performances for Young Audiences,” with Dresden and Peckett; support from the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, Bank One Foundation and Wisconsin Arts Board.

“Soul Journey.” Lynette, Danielle Dresden, Donna Peckett. 20th Annual NAM Conference, Chicago.

“The Lancaster, Ohio Festival.” “The Mirror in the Lake. ” By Danielle Dresden, performed by Dresden and Peckett.

“Mysteries of the Victorian Era.” Illustrated slide lecture by art historian, E.. Peckett. TAPIT Studio Theater.

“Athena, Live!” Benefit performance and reception, TAPIT/new works 15th Anniversary celebration. TAPIT Studio Theater.

“Athena, Live!” Edinburgh. Scotland Fringe Festival. Performed by Gillian Milo, Matthew S. Nelson, Donna Peckett, Danielle Dresden; written by Danielle Dresden; directed by Jo Schemer; technical support, Steppe. Funded by Berth Dresden.

“Soul Journey.” The story of one woman’s struggle through depression to fulfillment and hope. Written by Danielle Dresden; featuring Lynette (vocals); Jeff Iceless (bass), Paul Hastily (piano); Donna Peckett (taps); monologues by Danielle Dresden and comic interludes performed by Dresden and Peckett; directed by Sarah Whelan; light design by Kurt Scannable; costume design by Donna Breslin. Two performances, (one free outreach show for low-income consumers of the mental health community). Madison Civic Center, Starlight Theater. Funded by the Madison Civic Center Foundation, Madison citrates Commission.

“The Mirror in the Lake.” Madison performances.

“L’CHAIM! A Jewish Tapestry.” Temple Beth Hill 75th Anniversary Celebration, Kenosha, Wisconsin.

“Wausau Performing Arts Foundation, Performances of “Truckin’ Taps and the Mystery Maps” and “The Poetry Cafe,” with Dresden, Peckett, Paul Hastily. Jefferson Elementary School, Steven’s Point, Wisconsin.

PromiseKids Arts Residency. Donna Peckett, for the after-school program of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Madison, Wisconsin. Funded by St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Rotary Club, Dane County Youth Commission, Bethel Foundation, Middle Lutheran, Lutheran Brotherhood, Attic Angels.

“Jim Schwall & The TAPIT Sisters.” Amherst Coffee Company performance, Amherst, Wisconsin.

“Out Front with the Back Beat: A Brief History of American Rhythm Tap.” Lecture-demonstration by Donna Peckett, Wisconsin State Historical Museum.

2000

“Word Jam.” Orchard Ridge Elementary School opening residency performance with Jane Reynolds, Jeff Iceless, Danielle Dresden, Donna Peckett. funded by the Wisconsin Arts Board.

“L’CHAIM! A Jewish Tapestry.” National Performance Network Residency at the International Arts Festival, Milwaukee. Lavern College, Milwaukee Jewish Day School, Milwaukee community. Performed by Nelson Eisman, Peter Bresnick, Danielle Dresden, Donna Peckett, Jane Reynolds, Sarah Whelan, Steppe. Residency activities by Dresden and Peckett.

Kennedy Center Training. “Artists as Educators: Planning Effective Workshops for Teachers,” Madison Civic Center. Danielle Dresden and Donna Peckett selected for participation.

Rhythm & Rhyme. Arts Residency, Orchard Ridge Elementary School. Collaboration with 1st grade teacher- dance club leader, Karen Holschuh. Funded by Wisconsin Arts Board and the Madison Metropolitan School District.

“Bass Meets Taps, Duck Soup Cinema.” Jeff Eckles, bass; Donna Peckett, taps. Madison Civic Center.

“Changing Faces, Performances About Identity.” Residency and performance with Judd Narrate. Bay view Community Center; UW-Asian Studies students; Chadbourne Residential College of UW-Madison. Judd Narrate, one-woman show, “From the Heartland.” “Changing Faces:,” a new play by Danielle Dresden, with Peckett and Dresden, vocalist, Jan Whelan and pianist, Jane Reynolds, directed by Dennis Kern; costumes Donna Breslin and Matt Nelson; light design, Jerry Browning; technical assistance, Dan Casino. Madison Civic Center. Funded by Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, Madison Civic Center Foundation, Bay view Foundation, Inc., Chadbourne Residential College, Wisconsin Arts Board ; Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel.

“The Mirror in the Lake.” Forest Park, Illinois school.

“The Poetry Cafe.” Fabu Mogaka, Jane Reynolds, Donna Peckett, Danielle Dresden. Pleasant dale, Illinois school.

“The Mirror in the Lake.” Centrally Cultural Society, Centrally, Illinois. Wausau Performing Arts Foundation, Artists in the Schools Program. Kids-In-The-Crossroads, Madison Civic Center.

“Truckin’ Taps and the Mystery Maps.” Sun Prairie Public Library, Wisconsin; touring Illinois schools.

“Theater for Young Audiences.” Showcase for Illinois librarians. Rockford, Illinois.

“Word Jam.” Jane Reynolds (piano), Danielle Dresden (poet), Donna Peckett (taps), Forest Park, Illinois.

Danielle Dresden awarded 2000 Drama Award, Council for Wisconsin Writers, for her play, “Athena Live!”

“Changing Faces.” A play by Danielle Dresden, reading, 8th Edward Able Theater Festival, Valued, Alaska.

“Summer Mystery Theater for Young Audiences.” Performances for low-income children; funded by Bank One Foundation, Neil Allen Peckett Memorial Fund, Wisconsin Arts Board, private sector. TAPIT Studio Theater.

“L’CHAIM! A Jewish Tapestry.” Nelson Eisman, Danielle Dresden, Donna Peckett, Jane Reynolds (pianist); technical assistance, Steppe; directed by Sarah Whelan. Senior Summer School, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

I Got Rhythm. Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center summer dance residency, conducted by Donna Peckett.

“Women: Forgotten or Overlooked, 1860-1930s.” Slide-lecture by E.. Peckett. TAPIT Studio Theater.

“Word Jam: Rhythm & Rhymes for Reading Readiness.” Featured speaker session by Danielle Dresden and Donna Peckett. Georgia Association on Young Children Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.

Words in Motion. A 9-month residency program for three after school programs serving low-income youth in the greater Madison area. Residency activities in creative writing and dance facilitated by Danielle Dresden and Donna Peckett. Guest artists: Abu Mogaka, Jane Reynolds, Lou Ann Petersen. Funded by Pleasant Company’s Fund for Children, Neil Allen Peckett Memorial Fund, East Madison Community Center, Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, TEPEE/CASPER Program, Emerson School.

How to Stand up and Tell Your Story. Workshops by Dresden and Peckett, GLSEN Conference, Middletown, Wisconsin.

“The Mystery of the Missing Word.” A play for young audiences, by Danielle Dresden; directed by Sarah Whelan; music and lyrics by Tom Waselchuk, with Doug Brown; additional lyrics, Danielle Dresden; set design, Mary Saecker; costumes, Sara Greeks; choreography, Donna Peckett; performed by Danielle Dresden and Donna Peckett. Funded by the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, Herbert Kohl Charities, Inc., Deviser Investments.

“The Mirror in the Lake.” Family overnight at the Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois.

PromiseKids Arts Residency. St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Madison, Wisconsin. Conducted by Donna Peckett.