By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published Aug 22, 2017 at 4:06 PM

If you've been to a show at In Tandem Theatre Co. in recent years, you know that audiences get treated to a little show even before the curtain goes up, thanks to lobby piano performances prior to (as well as after) every show – all 100-plus shows on the company's schedule.

Unfortunately, the sponsor funding that made that musical welcome to the Tenth Street Theatre has come to a close. But the lights haven't officially come down on the lobby piano pre- and post-show performances yet – at least if In Tandem has anything to say about it. 

The theater company will host "All Keyed Up," a piano recital fundraiser, with the goal of raising money to help supplement the musicians – both professional and up-and-coming – for the upcoming season's shows. The event will take place at Steinway Piano Gallery in Wauwatosa, 11550 W. North Ave., on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 4:30-6 p.m. Tickets – which are tax-deductible and include complimentary wine and cheese at the recital – cost $25. 

The night's performances include a selection of show tunes from Carolyn Wehner, James Russell on jazz piano, In Tandem's youngest lobby pianist Natan Steigman, pianist Donna Kummer joining Glen Quarrie on woodwinds for a duet and Nathan Wesselowski singing Franz Shubert's "Standchen" with accompanist Stephanie Lippert on the keys. 

Limited seating for the fundraiser recital is available by visiting In Tandem's website or calling 414-271-1371. Meanwhile, In Tandem's new theatrical season – the company's 20th anniversary – will open on Oct. 5 with Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor's "All The Great Books (Abridged)," starring Ryan Schabach, Chris Goode, Doug Jarecki and hopefully, with your help, a lobby pianist before and after the show.

Matt Mueller Culture Editor

As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.

When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.