'The "must-have" holiday CD of the year... Flying higher than Rudolph on triple eggnogs.' -- Patrick Fineran, Racine Journal Times 'Holiday music "Weird" Al Yankovic-style with hilarious results.' -- Gemma Tarlach, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 'It's fantastic. Not only a hilarious writer, but the performances and arrangements are first rate, right on the money, artful and impressive.' -- David Friedman, songwriter, arranger & conductor Joel Kopischke - The Facts Milwaukee native Joel Kopischke has been performing professionally for over 25 years, proving that singing loudly can be a sought-after commodity. Joel is a regular in the regional musical theatre and cabaret circuit, having appeared with Skylight Opera Theatre, First Stage Milwaukee, American Folklore Theatre, Door County's Third Avenue Playhouse, Madison Opera, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his work here in Wisconsin, Kopischke's expertise in cabaret-style performance has taken him to Chicago's Royal George, Davenport's and beyond. He has toured Europe and much of the United States singing everything from Gershwin to Mozart, everywhere from his mom's Women's Club to Paris and South Africa. In addition to live performance, he has been featured in radio and television commercials and jingles for several Fortune 500 companies across the nation. As a songwriter, Kopischke has written and performed original tunes, with local composer Jamie Johns, in cabaret performances at the Skylight Opera Theatre. He wrote "The Gift" with award-winning composer David Friedman. And he performed his original song "One World" at Milwaukee's 1996 Olympic Torch Run ceremony with Senegalese drummer N'Dongo "Lucky" Diopp and WAMI-award winning bands Oasis and Leahy's Luck. Kopischke has written several cabaret-style shows and revues, including Hooray For Hollywood produced by Broadway Baby dinner theatre; and has written original and adapted works produced by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. As part of an international Peace Run, Kopischke performed in Sedona, Arizona and at the closing ceremonies at the United Nations' Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza and can be heard on "May Peace Prevail On Earth-The Peace Music Initiative." Joel has studied with, performed with, and/or collaborated with Ann Hampton Callaway, Amanda McBroom, Ron Cohn, Shelly Markham, Julie Wilson, John de Lancie, Tony Randall, Monty Hall, Anne Jeffreys, Susan Watson, Van Johnson, Kurt Ollmann, Anthony Crivello, and David Friedman. Additionally, Kopischke is a member of WAMI, ASCAP, the Dramatist's Guild, and the Chicago Cabaret Professionals, and has performed stand-up comedy. He is a Milwaukee native and a graduate of Wauwatosa West High School (1982) and Waukesha's Carroll College (1985). What the critics say... Listen To My Heart - The Songs of David Friedman Performer "Joel Kopischke performs a broad range of songs. He proves to be quite versatile, playing a perfectly modulated comic piece (If You Love Me, Please Don't Feed Me), proceeding through heartfelt love (Trick of Fate) into existential longing (Catch Me)." - Russ Bickerstaff, OnMilwaukee.com A Cudahy Caroler Christmas - In Tandem Theatre Performer "When Kopischke's character dons a bowling glove and belts out 'O Bowling Night,' he brings down the house." - Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Hooray For Hollywood - Broadway Baby Dinner Theatre Writer, director and performer "Kopischke has added material and reworked the show since it was first staged at Broadway Baby, making it tighter and giving it more personality. As the director, he has continued the improvement, transforming what had been a rather bland series of songs, chatter and comic material into a sharply focused and crisply entertaining two hours of fun. ... Kopischke and Miller are terrific as Groucho and Chico Marx..." - Damien Jacques, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Chess - Stepping Out Productions Performer "Joel Kopischke (Freddy Trumper) effusively portrays the aggressive petulance of the American player... Kopischke's finesse in evolving his character's turbulence and self- awareness is superb and essential to the unfolding of this intricate story." - Dianna DeMond, OnMilwaukee.com Early Songs and Sketches by Noel Coward - In Tandem Theatre Performer "Every word of Coward's witty lyrics is clearly heard, even in Kopischke's rendition of 'I've Been to a Marvelous Party,' throughout which he becomes more and more hilariously inebriated." - Elaine Schmidt, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Spitfire Grill - American Folklore Theatre Performer "The folky sound of Sheriff Joe Sutter (Joel Kopischke) provided a perfect AFT familiarity." - Keith Nordahl, Door County Advocate Le bourgeois gentilhomme - Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Writer "...a cleverly distilled script conjured a rich picture of the Moliere comedy..." - Tom Strini, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Mozart Finale - Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Writer, performer "With narrator Joel Kopischke portraying the composer's friend Franz Sussmayr, and music director Andreas Delfs leading the MSO in appropriate underscoring, the dramatic elements of the evening were largely successful." - Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel