Episode 4

Building the Milwaukee Black Theater Festival w/ Malkia Stampley-Johnson

Published on: 31st August, 2021

Our guest this week is Malkia Stampley-Johnson is an actor, director, arts facilitator and consultant and emerging producer who – among many incredible credits – is the Artistic Director of the Milwaukee Black Theater Festival, which just wrapped up its second year. 

In the intro, Lindsay, Mac, and David discuss the big news that Mayor Barrett is being recommended for appointment as the Ambassador of Luxembourg – meaning we’ve gotta brush up on our Luxembourg arts and culture knowledge. 

Malkia joins the pod at 14:30. The impact of TV, theater, and family music-making early in life (15:40), growing up in Milwaukee and beginning her theater career here (21:40), what it means to be centered in Milwaukee (28:05), how Milwaukee Black Theater Festival was built (29:40), how the second year unfolded (35:55), how the festival honors leaders and celebrates young talent (38:35), “Pretty Fire”’s lead Camara Stampley (41:55), change needed to build a more equitable arts and culture community (45:40), turn as Czar of Arts and Culture (56:50).GUEST BIO: 

Follow Malkia Stampley: @MalkiaStampley on Facebook and Insta 

E304 Ephemera: 

Luxembourg Culture 

Onboarding innovations at the State Department 

UNESCO (United Nations Education Scientific Culture Organization) World Heritage Sites in Luxembourg 

“Raisin in the Sun” (1989), American Playhouse (dir. Bill Duke) 

“61st Street” (2022) 

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About the Podcast

Creative MKE
Milwaukee is an arts hub. The city's creatives, entrepreneuers, arts and culture organizations, and businesses are part of an interconnected creative economy that is fueling growth and community wellbeing in powerful ways.
Join Elisabeth Gasparka for this conversation show from Imagine MKE, where we hear from creative leaders in Milwaukee and beyond, to highlight all the incredible transformative power of their work in our region. We hope that after listening to the pod you’ll be able to imagine Milwaukee's arts and culture ecosystem—and all the awesome artists, organizations and creative assets within it, in a new way.
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