Star Power

When the Judy Garland “bio-play” End of the Rainbow opened on Broadway, The New York Times’ Ben Brantley called British actress Tracie Bennett’s performance “one of the most complete portraits of an artist I’ve ever seen.” It would have to be, considering Garland’s iconic status within American culture. Peter Quilter’s play, of course, needs an actress to embody the soul of Garland and not just know her mannerisms. Fortunately for Milwaukee audiences, the Milwaukee Rep’s Mark Clements has found a woman worthy of the task. Chicago’s Hollis Resnik, who acted occasionally with The Rep in the mid-’90s, will take on the story of Garland as told in Quilter’s play, which takes place in 1968, just as Judy was trying to make another “comeback.”