In the Press

"Following in the wake of the World Premiere Wisconsin season, there is a noticeable new trend in the Milwaukee theatre community: a hunger for new works. With companies large and small working directly with playwrights to bring the inaugural productions of plays and musicals alike to our city, audiences are developing trust in their local arts in real time and taking chances on unknown titles.

In the spirit of Halloween, I'm excited to share this interview with Greg Ryan, the producer of RIP: A Musical Comedy of Life and Death, which rocked the Next Act Theatre space in July."

"Robert Grede had just retired. He was thinking about what awaited him after retirement. Grede’s thoughts moved him to conceive of a simple musical theater story about an isolated moment in the life of a mortuary. That musical is brought to life this month in RIP: A Musical Comedy of Life & Death, a world-premiere production capably directed by Alan Piotrowicz on the intimate studio theater shared by Next Act and Renaissance Theaterworks. It’s an examination of life, death and everything in between. "

"'RIP — A Musical Comedy of Life & Death' put the fun in funeral, along with all the feels, when it had its world premiere in Milwaukee last week. Set in the fictional McCobb (say it out loud) Mortuary in Wisconsin, the story follows 10 characters - living, dead and uncommited – as they reflect on life, death, regrets and legacy. There is compassion, bitterness, greed, surprise and romance! Even some groaner Dad (dead?) jokes."

"Death can be funny. And heart-warming. And, of course, a time for introspection. At least that’s what death is in the RIP Productions delightful play “RIP A Musical Comedy of Life & Death” by local playwright Robert Grede.  The show is being presented at Next Act Theatre. Alan Piotrowicz directs.... There are all sorts of discussions about life after death, commentary on the funeral business, discussions about work and relationships, all woven into a clever story with hummable tunes."

"Next Act Theatre will host the premiere of "RIP -- A Musical Comedy About Life and Death" on Wednesday, July 17. Playwright Rob Grede, a former businessman, and producer Greg Ryan, an actor with experience in Milwaukee and Nashville, collaborated on the production. Grede returned to his first love, music, after retirement, leading to the creation of RIP."

"'RIP – A Musical Comedy of Life & Death' premieres July 17 at Next Act Theatre. Playwright Robert Grede and Director Alan Piotrowicz share the unique journey of getting this show to the stage. "

"In his life's journey, Robert Grede has traveled from Melody Top to the morgue, though not in the gloomy literal way some of you are imagining right now. When he was a boy, his mother regaled him with stories about the stars she ferried around town, including Robert Merrill and Gordon and Sheila MacRae, as a hostess for Melody Top, the summer stock musical theater on Milwaukee's northwest side. Now the musical Grede wrote and composed... is opening a summer production July 17-28 in the Next Act Theatre space at 255 S. Water St."

"R.I.P. is one of a few completely new pieces to be opening in Milwaukee this month. The musical comedy about the afterlife should be really interesting given the nature of the story. Director Alan Piotrowicz took some time out to answer a few questions about the show, which opens this coming week."

"We meet Robert Grede, the composer of a brand new musical titled "RIP - a Musical Comedy on Life and Death" which receives its world premiere in Milwaukee on July 17th and runs through July 28th. "

"Grede will be at a special Talk-Back after the Sunday, July 21st matinee. In an effort to be inclusive, a Pay What You Will performance will be held Wednesday, July 24th. Information about student, educator, and military discounts can be found on the Next Act Theatre website, www.NextAct.org/show/RIP."

"Robert Grede, who grew up in Elm Grove, has written a play, RIP - A Musical Comedy of Life & Death, that premieres in Milwaukee this July. Set in the ficticious McCobb (macabre?) Mortuary, five living and five dead characters speak about their regrets and what chance they may have for redemption. The plot is a fun frolic with love, laughter, and suspense. And there's an interesting surprise at the end." (article appears on page 8)

"The upcoming world premiere of Milwaukee composer Robert Grede’s musical RIP is, literally, a matter of life and death. RIP – A Musical Comedy of Life & Death, written by Grede, produced by Greg Ryan and directed by Alan Piotrowicz is showing for the first time at Next Act Theatre from July 17-28. RIP is a story of connection between the living and the dead. It takes place at the fictional McCobb Mortuary, where an attendant’s loneliness converges with the yearnings of those whose souls linger at the morgue."

"A local composer treads delicately through light and darkness in the world premiere of RIP-A Musical Comedy of Life & Death. Former advertising professional Robert Grede brings a carefully balanced show to the stage for its world premiere. Set at a mortuary, the ensemble has one foot in the grave: for every living character, there’s a dead one. People on both sides of life and death struggle to understand it all on a show set to haunt the stage of Next Act Theatre’s performance space in mid-to-late July."