Milwaukee Rep Unleashes High-Tech Thrills and Holiday Suspense With Heist
Photo from the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
October 14, 2026 (Milwaukee, WI) – Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its 2026/27 Season with the pulse‑pounding new production Heist, running November 17 – December 20, 2026, in the Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater. Written by Arun Lakra and directed by Blake Robison, this cinematic, twist‑filled crime caper is brought vividly to life onstage.
A high‑tech adventure packed with sharp dialogue, clever surprises, and unexpected laughs, Heist follows a crew with secrets and one last job that could change everything. Part Ocean’s Eleven, part mystery‑whodunnit, and all heart‑pounding theatrical fun, this genre‑bending thriller keeps audiences guessing until the final moment. Perfect for the holiday season, Heist offers the ultimate escape into suspense, humor, and high‑stakes entertainment.
Heist playwright Arun Lakra is an India-born, Calgary-based writer of both plays and screenplays. In addition to his creative endeavors, he’s an ophthalmologist. “The most gratifying thing about Heist is that it seems to be attracting a new cohort of folks in addition to traditional theatregoers,” Lakra said. “Young people — students, young folks in their 20s and 30s …. It’s kind of a “gateway drug” to the theatre. And if plays like Heist can bring a new generation into the theatre, I think that would be fantastic.”
The cast of Heist features Brian Vaughn (Amadeus, Milwaukee Rep) as Marvin, Alex Purcell (Glengarry Glen Ross, Broadway) as Ryan, Jessica Fishenfeld (The Light in the Piazza, NYC Skirball Cener) as Angie, Brian Thomas Abraham (The Who & The What, Milwaukee Rep) as Kruger, Angel Lin (Mr. Holland’s Opus, Ogunquit) as Fiona, Kate Goehring (The Inheritance, Broadway) as The Spider.
Directed by Blake Robison, the Artistic Director of Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, the creative team of Heist includes set design by Tim Mackabee (In The Heights, Milwaukee Rep), costume design by Shahrzad Mazaheri (English, Guthrie), lighting design by Jaymi Lee Smith (She Loves Me, South Coast Rep), sound design and compositions by Matthew M. Nielson (Million Dollar Quartet, Milwaukee Rep), projection design by Joe Payne (Noises Off, Milwaukee Rep), and stage managed by Mark Johnson.
Heist is presented by Ellen & Joe Checota with Corporate Sponsor We Energies Foundation, Executive Producers Mike Carter Rebecca & Bryan House and Abbie & David Nash with Associate Producers Susan & John Harrits and Katie & Chris Hermann. It is a co‑production with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Gulfshore Playhouse.
To purchase tickets, visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com, call the Ticket Office at 414‑224‑9490, or stop by in person at 108 E Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee.
For more information, please visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com
::FACT SHEET::
Heist
By Arun Lakra
Directed by Blake Robison
November 17 – December 20, 2026
Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater
A Co‑Production with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park & Gulfshore Playhouse
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission
High-Tech Thrills. High-Stakes Laughs.
A crew with secrets. One last job that could change everything. Heist is a cinematic, twist‑filled crime caper brought vividly to life on stage—part Ocean’s Eleven, part mystery‑whodunnit, and all heart‑pounding theatrical adventure. Featuring sharp dialogue, clever surprises, and unexpected laughs, this high‑tech thriller takes audiences on a ride that keeps them guessing until the final moment. Perfect for the holiday season, Heist is the ultimate escape into suspense, humor, and high‑octane theatrical fun.
Critics across North America have praised the show’s inventive storytelling and technical wizardry.
BroadwayWorld calls it “a pulse‑pounding thriller… cinematic and unforgettable,” while the Edmonton Journal hails it as “thrillingly technical, fast‑paced, and cleverly scripted.” The Gauntlet celebrates its characters as “as fascinatingly loveable as any of the classic films in the heist genre itself,” and Tucson.com describes it as “clever, stylish, and unpredictable—a theatrical experience that feels like stepping inside a movie.”
Connection Series Events:
Community Nights
Teen Night Wednesday, November 18 Pre‑Show: 6:00pm | Curtain: 7:30pm Cost: $15 per person (includes pre‑show dinner and Heist ticket) Spend an evening with other teens exploring live theater, meeting new people, and enjoying great conversation. Connect with members of Milwaukee Rep’s Teen Council, learn about opportunities to get involved, and experience the excitement of a live performance together.
Pre‑Show Experiences
All events held in the Herzfeld Foundation Education & Engagement Center
Dinner Dialogue: Build Your Dream Heist Crew Sunday, December 13 at 5:00pm Cost: $30 per person (excludes show ticket) . Inspired by the twists and turns of Heist, this interactive Dinner Dialogue puts you in the driver’s seat. Assemble your ideal team, navigate unexpected challenges, and explore how trust, teamwork, and risk influence every great plan.
Post‑Show Experiences
Panel Discussion: Heist and the Thrill Genre Post‑Show – Tuesday, November 24 Why do we love a good getaway? This high‑energy conversation dives into the world of heist stories—slick schemes, high stakes, and the adrenaline rush of breaking the rules. From stage to screen, panelists explore what makes the genre so irresistible.
TalkBacks Stay after the performance for a conversation with members of the cast.
- Wednesday, December 9 (after the 1:30pm performance)
- Wednesday, December 16 (after the 1:30pm performance)
The Night Cap: Holiday Bingo & Ugly Sweater Contest Post‑Show – Thursday, December 10 Level 2 of the Haack Galleria. Celebrate the season with festive bingo, holiday cheer, and a friendly, ugly sweater competition.
Heist Game Night Tuesday, December 1, 6:00–9:00pm Cost: $10 per person Test your teamwork during a game night filled with escape‑room‑style challenges, puzzles, codes, and surprises. Gather your team and see if you’ve got what it takes to pull off the perfect heist.
Access Services
Milwaukee Rep offers a variety of accessibility services and seating options in the Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater, including wheelchair, transfer, companion, bariatric, and no‑step seating.
Audio‑Described Performance: Tuesday, November 24, 6:30pm
ASL Performance: Friday, December 4, 7:30pm
Open‑Captioned Performances (GalaPro):
Saturday, December 5, 3pm
Wednesday, December 9, 1:30pm
Thursday, December 10, 7:30pm
Friday, December 11, 7:30pm
Sunday, December 13, 2pm
Wednesday, December 16, 1:30pm
For more information on all Connection Series Events visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com/engageandlearn.
About Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Milwaukee Rep is the largest performing arts organization in Wisconsin. Its new artistic home, the Associated Bank Theater Center, opened Fall 2025 with three unique performance venues—the Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater, Herro-Franke Studio Theater, and Stackner Cabaret. For over seven decades, Milwaukee Rep has been a centerpiece of Milwaukee’s vibrant arts and cultural scene with productions ranging from Broadway musicals to Shakespeare to American Classics and New Works that are entertaining, inclusive and impactful. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Ellen & Joe Checota Executive Director Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity. More information visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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