Step right up! Step right up! Next Act Theatre presents a World Premiere: THE BOYS FROM BARABOO a Wisconsin-set, Music-filled Play About the Ringling Brothers
Local playwright Heidi Armbruster chronicles the rise and fall of Wisconsin’s famous circus family
Milwaukee, WI – October 20, 2026 – Next Act Theatre continues its 2026-27 season with the World Premiere of THE BOYS FROM BARABOO by Heidi Armbruster, directed by Next Act Artistic Director Cody Estle. This energetic, musical circus tale, Next Act’s first-ever commissioned play, will run December 2 – 20, 2026 at Next Act’s artistic home at 255 S. Water Street in Milwaukee. Tickets for single patrons may be purchased by calling 414-278-0765 or visiting nextact.org.
Comedy! Songs! Entertainment! Step right up as Heidi Armbruster chronicles the rise and fall of the Ringling Brothers: five boys from Baraboo, Wisconsin. The story of their circus—the greatest show on Earth—is bookended by the brothers’ scrappy beginnings and difficult ends. THE BOYS FROM BARABOO tells the uniquely American story of a death-defying entertainment empire: music, storytelling, grit and charm create a tale that’s equal parts vaudeville revue and prestige drama.
“I’ve found a great deal of fertile ground in writing about the state of Wisconsin,” said Armbruster. “This is my first dip into Wisconsin history—and the peculiar and particular mix of ambition and practicality that grows in Wisconsin’s soil. In the 1980s, in a backyard in Baraboo, my best friend and I made up routines of our own, hoping we’d be discovered and someday get to work at Circus World Museum. A hundred years earlier, in a backyard in Baraboo, five boys were doing the very same thing.”
Next Act Theatre commissioned Armbruster to write the play, which serves as the company’s entry in World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide festival celebrating new plays and musicals running throughout 2026. This is the second time the company has participated in World Premiere Wisconsin – in 2023, it presented GOD’S SPIES by Bill Cain during the festival. Armbruster has worked with the Next Act staff to develop the script, including a weeklong workshop and staged reading for donors and friends of the theatre in January 2025.
Not only is THE BOYS FROM BARABOO set in Wisconsin, it also boasts an entirely local cast. Actors Karen Estrada, Laura Gordon, Brian Mani, Molly Rhode and Sarah Zapiain all return to the Next Act stage, while Kat Wodtke rounds out the cast in her Next Act debut. In addition to previous work with Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, First Stage and others, Wodtke is part of the Milwaukee band Long Mama. Next Act Artistic Director Cody Estle will direct the play. He previously directed the company’s productions of SWING STATE, CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION and THE TREASURER. This is Estle’s third season with the company.
“I’d just like to point out what a fantastic idea it was for Heidi to write a play about the Ringling Brothers!” said Estle. “During our weeklong workshop, we did research, learned the music, deepened our understanding of the characters, explored their intentions, and perhaps most impressively, watched Heidi work through her rewrites in real time. It was exciting to see this piece truly begin to take shape.”
The creative team also includes:
- Music Director Alissa Rhode
- Scenic Designer Jeffrey D. Kmeic (Next Act: TRAYF, SWING STATE, CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, THE CHILDREN)
- Lighting Designer Noele Stollmack (Next Act: SWING STATE, BOSWELL, THE CHILDREN)
- Costume Designer Izumi Inaba (Next Act: SANCTUARY CITY, SCARECROW)
- Sound Designer Josh Schmidt (Next Act: SWING STATE, BOSWELL, CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION)
- Properties Designer Jim Guy (Next Act: SWING STATE, CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY)
- Dramaturg Deanie Vallone
- Movement by Evan Zes
- Choreographer Molly Rhode
- Stage Manager Nat Goeller
Next Act will also continue offering several accessibility initiatives during the run of THE BOYS FROM BARABOO which are new this season, including the use of closed captioning devices as well as open captioning, ASL interpretation, audio description and touch tours at select performances. Closed captioning devices will be available at the new lobby accessibility cart alongside existing assistive listening devices and, at select performances, audio description receivers. Details of all accessibility initiatives can be found by visiting Next Act’s website or calling the Ticket Office. All of these initiatives were successfully implemented during the company’s previous production of TRAYF by Lindsay Joelle.
THE BOYS FROM BARABOO is generously sponsored in part by Producing Sponsors Marianne and Sheldon Lubar; Associate Sponsors Bob Balderson and The Holman Family; and Co-Sponsors Anonymous, Margaret Dethloff and Terri Zeh, Parallel Employment Group and Susan and Howard Schoenfeld. Next Act Theatre is a proud member group of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF). Next Act Theatre’s 2026-27 season is supported in part by a grant from CAMPAC, the Shubert Foundation, the Herzfeld Foundation, Bader Philanthropies, the Milwaukee Arts Board, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Production Schedule
December 2 – 20, 2026
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEC 2 PREVIEW 7:30 |
3 PREVIEW 7:30 |
4 OPENING 7:30 |
5 4:00 |
6 2:00 P/T |
9 1:30 7:30 C |
10 7:30 T |
| 11 7:30 |
12 4:00 |
13 2:00 P/T |
14 PWYC 7:30 |
16 1:30 |
17 7:30 S/T |
18 7:30 A&T |
| 19 4:00 |
20 CLOSING 2:00 |
Key:
- P = Personal Preview
- T = Talkback
- C = Open Captioning
- S = ASL Interpretation
- A&T = Audio Description/Touch Tour
- PWYC = Pay What You Can
Special Programming
Pay What You Can
Patrons can purchase tickets for any price of their choosing; suggested price of $20. Tickets are sold in-person only at Next Act Theatre; tickets go on sale one hour before curtain; cash, check and card are accepted; limit two tickets per patron.
Personal Previews
Personal Previews occur 30 minutes before curtain at select performances. These pre-show conversations allow patrons to learn more about the context of the play as well as the process of creating a piece of theatre. A member of the Next Act Theatre staff talks with a member of the show’s production team (such as the director or a designer) about their work on the play.
Talkbacks
Talkbacks follow select performances and allow patrons to ask questions and discuss aspects of the play with the cast. They generally last 30 minutes. Next Act Theatre may also invite guests from the community to answer questions about their areas of expertise as they relate to the play.
Open Captioning
The second Wednesday evening performance of each play at Next Act Theatre is designated for Open Captioning. At this performance, captions for the play are projected for all patrons in the theatre.
ASL Interpretation
The third Thursday evening performance of each play at Next Act Theatre is designated for ASL Interpretation. At this performance, American Sign Language interpretation will be available. For best visibility, patrons interested in taking advantage of ASL Interpretation should sit in Section 1 in the middle of Row B or C.
Audio Description and Touch Tours
The third Friday evening performance of each play at Next Act Theatre is designated for both Audio Description and Touch Tours. One hour before this performance, a Touch Tour will take place in the theatre before seating has begun. This tour will give visually-impaired audience members an opportunity to touch major pieces of scenery, props and costumes in order to more richly visualize the world of the play. Audio Description of the performance will also be available. Interested patrons can check out an Audio Description headset from the lobby accessibility cart to use during the performance.
Fact Sheet
- Who: Next Act Theatre
- What: THE BOYS FROM BARABOO by Heidi Armbruster
- Where: Next Act Theatre, 255 S Water St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
- When: December 2 – 20, 2026
- Description: Comedy! Songs! Entertainment! Step right up as Heidi Armbruster chronicles the rise and fall of the Ringling Brothers: five boys from Baraboo, Wisconsin. The story of their circus—the greatest show on Earth—is bookended by the brothers’ scrappy beginnings and difficult ends. THE BOYS FROM BARABOO tells the uniquely American story of a death-defying entertainment empire: music, storytelling, grit and charm create a tale that’s equal parts vaudeville revue and prestige drama.
- Ticket Price: $35 previews | $40 weekday matinees | $45 evenings | $50 weekend matinees (Includes fees. Discounts available for seniors, students, educators and active military/veterans.)
- Ticket Office: 414-278-0765 or online at nextact.org
- Visit the Ticket Office during business hours.
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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