MILWAUKEE – At the Marcus Performing Arts Center, a treasured Christmas tradition takes center stage.

Seeing “The Nutcracker” ballet can be mesmerizing, from the leaps, to the lights to the loud sudden noises. Last week, the Milwaukee Ballet went without some of those elements – for good reason.

Before “The Nutcracker” begins, Evan Sulik and his mother Michelle are on their own adventure, meeting the characters ahead of a sensory-friendly performance.

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

“We purposely come to sensory night for ‘The Nutcracker’ every year,” Michelle Sulik said.

Many dancers walk out in costume beforehand to interact with kids. These connections help create familiarity when performers take the stage.

“I feel so happy,” Evan Sulik said.

Rachel Howell is community engagement manager at the Milwaukee Ballet. The performance planned for this night will have relaxed house rules and other changes for people who may struggle with a traditional theater environment. 

“Taking his mask off so they can tell that it’s a person playing this role might allow them to stay throughout the entirety of the performance without being nervous,” Howell said. “The show in general will be a little more muted. No loud sounds, no smoke, no haze. Things like that could be jarring.”

Some of Evan’s friends have come because they need accommodation.

“Whether it’s the lights up, or if they need to hoot and holler and get up and move. They can hoot and holler and get up and move,” Michelle Sulik said. “This is the only way that they can sit through the show.”

It was the first meet and greet since the COVID-19 pandemic. Families captured the warm moments.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android

“For him, it opened up ballet for him,” Michelle Sulik said. “Small accommodations open it up so that the arts are for everyone. And they really wouldn’t have that opportunity otherwise. Small things make a big impact.”

The goal of the one-night experience is clear: the power of the arts for all.

“Making ballet more accessible for people,” Howell said.

“The Nutcracker” runs through Christmas Eve, but this was the only sensory-friendly night.

The Milwaukee Ballet still has tickets available.

MILWAUKEE – Prosecutors are reviewing whether to charge a 12-year-old boy with shooting and killing a man. It happened several days ago – and on Wednesday, Dec. 18, the boy was back in court via video. 

On Monday, a Milwaukee County judge ordered a 48-hour hold on the boy in the homicide investigation as the state worked to put its case together. That hold is now expired, but the boy will remain in custody until at least Thursday afternoon.   

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

Milwaukee police were called to a home near 51st and Locust Saturday afternoon for a shooting. There, they found 32-year-old Levon Osuji shot. He was taken to Froedtert Hospital where he later died. 

Homicide investigation near 51st and Locust, Milwaukee

About an hour after the shooting, police arrested a 12-year-old boy at a home near 52nd and Garfield in connection with the shooting. 

On Monday, the boy’s defense attorney said while brief, the initial police reports indicated the case was of self-defense. 

State law requires that when children 10 or older are charged with homicide, adult court has original jurisdiction. 

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android

The boy also appeared Wednesday afternoon on a separate juvenile petition that has been open since June. In that case, if the adult hold expires, the boy will be released to his mother. 

Milwaukee landlord Joe Berrada has been ordered to pay nearly $2 million to settle a lawsuit over tenant’s rights.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced the settlement on Wednesday.

More than $980,000 of the settlement money will go toward civil forfeiture. Berrada is also ordered to vacate and seal certain eviction judgments.

“If the joint finance committee approves it, it will go to the court and seek what’s called a consent judgment, which is a court order that orders that provisions be adopted,” Kaul explained during his press conference.

Berrada controls more than 200 limited liability corporations and nearly 9,000 apartment units in Milwaukee and Racine.

TMJ4’s Mary Jo Ola is working to get reactions from residents. This story will be updated on air and online.

It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.

Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.

Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip