Your overall theatre experience is expanded with art exhibits in our lobby gallery. Be sure to check out the beautiful work of these visual artists on your next trip to Next Act.
Curator Jim Toth creates a unique collection of works to complement each Next Act production.
In Memoriam
Times in New York
Photography by Douglas Krimmer (1951-2023)
When I learned that TRAYF was going to be our first play of the season I immediately thought of the NYC photographs taken by my late friend Doug Krimmer. I contacted his widow Mary and was thrilled that she graciously agreed to loan to us large-format prints from the series “Times in New York” that Doug printed before his untimely death in 2023.
Doug was raised in West Allis, WI and after graduation from high school he started his own construction company, Krimco. He found a second, 25+ year career with the City of Milwaukee as a Commercial Code Enforcement Supervisor. However, his day jobs never defined him more than his passion for photography and the arts in general. Doug’s photographic work focused on the streets of New York City where he visited as often as he could starting in the early 90s. As his art practice grew, he became more and more involved in the Milwaukee art scene including opening Gallery H2O with several partners where for over 20 years he featured the work of established and up-and-coming artists, including the sculpture of one James Toth. After the gallery ran its course, Doug focused on his photography business, StudioMKE, where he produced high-quality prints for many local artisans.
Doug had an eye for the beauty and dignity in the people and places so often dismissed or ignored. I am honored to share a few of his many many images as a complement to the world of TRAYF.
Note: All of the photographs on display are one-of-one prints and are for sale for $200 each. Additional reproductions of this size and quality will not be produced. The photographs are printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag, an acid-and-lignin-free, museum-quality paper, widely considered a gold standard for archival photography and art reproduction.
Since the 2014-15 season, Jim has been curating and installing art exhibits for Next Act’s lobby gallery. Drawing on his connections as an artist and retired art educator, he has brought in a wide variety of local artists whose work complements our productions and enriches our patrons’ theatre experiences. He is especially pleased when the art and the play seem to have been meant for each other, as with Michael Andrysczyk’s detailed drawings of winter scenes paired with ALMOST, MAINE and Coree Coppinger’s powerful black and white photographs of MMA fighters paired with THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY. Before retiring, Jim had a two-career history, first as an Art Teacher and K-12 Art Coordinator for the South Milwaukee School District and then as the Director of Exhibits for the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum. In addition to his volunteer work for Next Act, he serves on the board for the Milwaukee Area Teachers of Art and as president of the south side community choir Cantare Chorale. He is also an artist who has show his sculpture at numerous art fairs including MAM’s Lakefront Festival of Arts and in many small group and gallery exhibitions. Jim and his wife Karen are long-time residents of Bay View.