Milwaukee Rep Reveals 2026/27 Season
An Expanded Lineup of 13 Bold Contemporary Plays, World Premieres, Musicals and Returning Favorites across the Checota Powerhouse Theater, Herro‑Franke Studio Theater, Stackner Cabaret, and Pabst Theater
February 3, 2026 (Milwaukee, WI) – Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Wisconsin’s largest performing arts organization and one of the nation’s leading regional theaters, today announced its 2026/27 Season—its second full season in the state-of-the-art Associated Bank Theater Center. Building on the momentum of this year’s inaugural slate, the new season showcases a mix of Broadway hits, world premieres, intimate new works, and audience favorites across four performance venues.
The 73rd Anniversary Season runs September 2026 through May 2027 and reflects Milwaukee Rep’s commitment to producing entertaining, provoking, and inspiring theater that sparks conversation and celebrates the diverse stories of the community.
“With our 2026/27 Season, we continue to discover what’s possible inside the recently opened Associated Bank Theater Center,” said Artistic Director Mark Clements. “With an expanded 13-production season, including three new plays, one in each of our performances spaces, every production reflects the heart of Milwaukee Rep with bold new award-winning voices, world-class artistry, and stories that celebrate the full spectrum of our shared humanity.”
“Milwaukee Rep’s modernized and expanded home at The Associated Bank Theater Center provides world-class performance spaces in which we can produce the best of American theater,” said Ellen & Joe Checota Executive Director Chad Bauman. “This coming season, we will produce more productions than ever before as we continue to showcase brilliant, boundary-pushing, and deeply challenging work in a space that has quickly become a hub for the community, a place where everyone feels welcome and inspired, and a theater where artists can do their best work.”
The 2026/27 Season highlights:
- Three major new-play development projects through the John (Jack) D. Lewis New Play Development Program—including two World Premieres (The Cherry Tortured and MKE MVP) and continued development of the genre-bending Instructions for a Séance.
- A Broadway powerhouse lands in Milwaukee with the seven-time Tony Award–nominated hit John Proctor Is the Villain.
- A landmark special event: Mark Clements directs a star-studded Wisconsin cast in the iconic courtroom drama Twelve Angry Men as part of a new three-play Herro-Franke Studio Theater season.
- A high-voltage musical opener as Footloose storms the Checota Powerhouse stage under the direction and choreography of Olivier Award-winner Stephen Mear.
- A beloved holiday tradition returns as A Christmas Carol once again fills the historic Pabst Theater featuring Matt Daniels as Scrooge.
The Stackner Cabaret launches the season with the high-energy Broadway celebration The World Goes ’Round by Kander and Ebb, running September 11 – November 1, 2026. Reconfigured as an actor-musician performance and featuring iconic songs from Chicago, Cabaret, and more, this vibrant revue sets the tone for an unforgettable year. Next, audiences are treated to the return of JP Coletta—who brought the house down in last season’s Million Dollar Quartet—in his brand-new show JP Coletta’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Piano Man, November 6, 2026 – January 3, 2027. The momentum continues with the World Premiere of Matt Zembrowski’s MKE MVP, a spirited tribute to the Milwaukee Bucks championship run told through the eyes of devoted fans, January 16 – March 14, 2027. Closing out the Stackner season is the beloved hit The Craic, back by popular demand March 26 – May 30, 2027. Sing along to classics like “Danny Boy” and “Whiskey in the Jar” and relive the electric atmosphere that had audiences on their feet.
The Herro-Franke Studio Theater presents an expanded three production offering highlighting bold voices and intimate storytelling. The season begins with Instructions for a Séance, written and performed by Katie Bender, October 6 – November 8, 2026. Equal parts hilarious, haunting, and heartbreakingly honest, this one-woman show blends memoir and live magic to explore ambition, motherhood, and the extraordinary hidden in everyday life. The Studio then hosts Twelve Angry Men, directed by Mark Clements, February 2 – 28, 2027, and featuring a powerhouse cast of Wisconsin favorites including Matt Daniels, Steve Koehler, James Pickering, Marcus Truschinski, Jonathan L. Wainwright, and more. This is a rare opportunity to see this epic courtroom drama in the intimate Studio Theater. The Studio season concludes with Penelope, directed by Laura Braza and running April 6 – May 9, 2027. Inspired by The Odyssey, this captivating one-woman journey fuses myth, music, and theatrical invention.
The five-show Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater Season begins with the smash-hit musical Footloose, bursting onto the stage with high-octane choreography and electrifying ’80s anthems September 22 – November 1, 2026. Directed by West End legend Stephen Mear—who dazzled Rep audiences with Ragtime and Guys and Dolls—this production promises a thrilling start. Next up is Heist by Arun Lakra, November 17 – December 20, 2026, directed by Blake Robison. A cinematic, twist-filled crime caper, Heist blends the slick fun of Ocean’s Eleven with the intrigue of a classic whodunnit. The new year brings a bold contemporary reimagining with John Proctor Is the Villain, January 12 – February 7, 2027. Directed by Laura Braza, this seven-time 2025 Tony Award nominee offers a sharp, provocative look at morality and consequence. The season continues with the World Premiere of The Cherry Tortured, written and directed by Aaron Posner, February 26 – March 28, 2027. Set in modern-day Door County, this fresh take on Chekhov follows one unforgettable family fighting for love, legacy, and the future of their cherished estate. Closing the Powerhouse season is Somewhere by Tony Award–winning playwright Matthew López, directed by María Amenábar Farias, April 13 – May 9, 2027. Set in 1959 New York City against the excitement of West Side Story, this tender, riveting portrait of the Candelaria family celebrates dreams, resilience, and the power of imagination.
Subscriptions are now available for renewal. Subscription prices for the 2026/27 Season range from $125–$857. Packages available are the Ultimate 11-play package, which includes the entire Subscription season spanning all three of Milwaukee Rep’s performance spaces; Powerhouse/Stackner Cabaret 9-play package; Powerhouse/Studio 7-play package; Powerhouse 5-play package; Stackner Cabaret 4-Play package; as well as a Create Your Own Season package and Flex Passes. Subscribers can also add A Christmas Carol and Twelve Angry Men to their packages at this time. Single Tickets will go on sale later in the summer. For additional information on Subscription offerings, please contact Milwaukee Rep’s Ticket Office at 414-224-9490 or visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com/Subscriptions
.
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.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Milwaukee Repertory Theater
