Next Act Theatre

From PrideFest to Turtle Fest to ‘Mary Poppins’

And don't forget the Brewtown Rumble. It's a fun week for Milwaukee.

‘Circle Mirror Transformation’ Keeps Audiences Guessing

Skilled Next Act staging of Obie-winning play shows how theater games mirror life.

We Love You Barbra Streisand

A play about the diva's basement collection of trinkets and crafts? You'd be surprised.

‘The Children’ Is Provocative Theater

A play both topical and futuristic asks tough questions in Next Act staging with strong acting.

RTW Puts Cyber Crimes Center Stage with “The Nether” by Jennifer Haley

Is “The Nether’s” dystopian near-future already upon us?

‘Almost, Maine’ Is a Lot of Fun

It's one of regional theater’s most frequent offerings and Next Act production shows us why.

Renaissance’s ‘The Moors’ Is a ‘Excellent Menagerie’

This is not theater for everyone, but it is good theater that upends theater norms.

Milwaukee Theater District Launches “Best Seats in MKE” in lead up to Second-Annual Milwaukee Theater Week

Next Act’s Wrestling Play Is Fun Flashy Romp

'The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity' had the audience booing, cheering and stomping.

New Musical a Life and Death Comedy

World premiere of 'RIP' offers graveyard humor, groaner puns and a forgettable score.

Locust Street Festival and PrideFest Headline Busy Weekend

Run straight from the beer run to the Pride Parade.

‘The Treasurer’ a Darkly Funny Family Play

Next Act production captures complications of caretaker son dealing with controlling mother's dementia.

‘L’Appartement’ Is a Mind-Bending Comedy

North American premiere of Australian play gets smart RTW production.

Milwaukee Theater District Launches Marquee Madness Promotion

‘The Mountaintop’ Offers Very Human Martin Luther King Jr.

Uneven MCT production offers commanding performance by Bryant Bentley as King.

‘Scarecrow’ Is All About Wisconsin

Heidi Armbruster's skilled writing and performance of one-woman play offers humor, drama and an uneven ending.

New Event ‘Winter Break’ at South Shore Park

Plus: Mama Tried Motorcycle Show and Milwaukee's Got Talent

Patrick Rath to step down as President and CEO of United Performing Arts Fund

UPAF Begins National Search Process

‘The Wolves’ Is Great Theater

Renaissance offers fast paced yet thoughtful staging of punchy new play by Sarah DeLappe about a girls soccer team.

All In Productions Announces Non-Equity Diversity General Auditions

Held In Person and Virtually at Next Act Theatre

‘The Mousetrap’ Is Polished and Professional

Famous Agatha Christie mystery gets a fun, smartly directed staging by Next Act.

Milwaukee Theater District Announces Inaugural Milwaukee Theater Week

Multiple Harvest Events To Check Out This Weekend

Plus: Jazz in Riverwest and comedy all across the city.

Next Act’s ‘Splash Hatch’ Is Potent Drama

Densely layered play with a quirky titie captures the dread and hopes of inner city life.

Next Act Theatre Promotes Libby Amato to Managing Director

Former Interim Managing Director Also Served as Business Manager, Other Roles

Can Bipartisan Effort Save State Arts Funding?

Wisconsin ranks 50th in arts support. Group of 'heavy hitters' hopes to change that.

It’s About This Guy Named Shakespeare

Next Act's rollicking production of "God's Spies" has fun with Shakespeare, "King Lear" and bawdy old England.

‘Tidy’ Is An Environmental Puzzle

Audience must figure out what is real in new one-woman play with neat technical effects staged by Renaissance Theaterworks.

Veteran Broadway Actor to Perform Excerpts from “McGuire” for MPS Students and the Public

Proceeds to fund college scholarship program for Hamilton High School Students

Black Arts MKE Teaches Students Black History With Interactive Show

February production at Marcus Center brought students on stage to learn and perform.

The Professors Of Desire

Next Act’s fascinating show, "There Is a Happiness That Moring Is," is about sex, love, death, poetry and so much more.

World Premiere Wisconsin Inaugural statewide theater festival celebrating new plays and musicals runs March 1 – June 30, 2023

Festival features nearly 50 participating theaters premiering new works throughout Wisconsin

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Presents the World Premiere of HOOPS

Adapted by Eliana Pipes with Original Music by B~Free from The HOOPS Project by Nicole Acosta

‘The Tin Woman’ Offers Heartache, Humor

Next Act's slightly surreal dramedy about a heart transplant has strong scenes but weak ending.

Everything You Wanted to Ask About Sex

Renaissance staging of 'The How and the Way' pits two scientists in a dense, smart, punchy discussion that surprises.

Next Act Theatre Hires Cody Estle as New Artistic Director

Chicago Artistic Director to Join Next Act Theatre in December 2022

Why Black Men Die Young

Next Act’s ‘Kill Move Paradise’ is beautifully directed and acted though the dialogue can get preachy.

Tony Crivello Returns In ‘McGuire’

Tony-winning Milwaukee native stars in fresh staging of one-man show about legendary Marquette basketball coach.

World Premiere Wisconsin Hires Festival Producer Michael Cotey

The Milwaukee Black Theater Festival Returns Bigger Than Ever with Events Across the City

Black Arts MKE presents week-long celebration showcasing our city’s strong and growing Black performing arts and culture scene

To Be Or Not To Be Hamlet

Next Act’s fun staging of ‘The Last White Man’ imagines three actors competing for role under guidance of Black female director.

What I Hear You Saying Is…

Renaissance production of ‘Actually’ looks at sex and consent for university students with thought-provoking play.

Milwaukee Performing Arts Organizations Update COVID-19 Safety Requirements

Florentine Opera, Marcus Performing Arts Center, Milwaukee Ballet, and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra among organizations announcing COVID audience screening and mandatory masking to end in March

Even the Program Notes Are Funny

Next Act’s ‘Pipeline’ is witty, insightful look at dilemmas posed for Black students, families at upscale school.

Cold War Comedy For Christmas

Next Act’s ‘Red Herring’ is stuffed with Soviet spies, FBI agents and love affairs, but not enough laughs.

Strong Acting Powers ‘Three Viewings’

Live theater is back and Next Act show offers laughs, surprises and sorrow.

Milwaukee Black Theater Festival Begins

Plus, a Metallica themed booze cruise, acrobatics at Southridge Mall and an Eagle Park beer release.

UPAF Announces August Rally for Arts Education Fundraising Effort

Community will have the opportunity to directly support arts education programming.

UPAF Announces Affiliate Program Becomes Fully Unrestricted Grant Initiative

Grant applications are now open and more accessible to performing arts organizations.

A Thousand Natural Shocks, In a Basement

The one-woman play, set in a basement, that manages to cover a a lot of ground.

A Stunner About a Sociopath

Next Act’s “9 Circles” offers psychological interrogation of young killer with a powerful performance by Casey Hoekstra.

Screen “Twister” At the Avalon

Plus, The Domes begin its spring show, dog day at Lyndon Sculpture Garden and Ghost Tours return to The Riverside Theater.

All In Productions Announces Non-Equity Diversity General Auditions

Held virtually due to COVID-19

Gobel Is Powerful in ‘Neat’

Playing multiple characters, Marti Gobel powers engaging tale of growing up Black in the South.

Stories My Aunt Told Me

Renaissance Theaterworks revives ‘Neat,’ with Marti Gobel playing 24 characters.

The United Performing Arts Fund Announces $11,300,000 Fundraising Target for 2021 Community Campaign

UPAF will shine a spotlight on local artists throughout the 12 week campaign.

Lessons From an Inner City School

Next Act Theater’s ‘Principal Principle’ is an edgy look at a new teacher trying to make good.

Next Act’s ‘The Christians’ Is Compelling

It feels like live theater being streamed, in a smart play about a mega-church facing a sudden challenge.

Local Companies Are Innovating Amid Pandemic

Renaissance, Next Act and Milwaukee Rep all are finding creative ways to do theater.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater Welcomes Seven Emerging Professional Residents for the 2020/21 Reset Season

Professional and Non-Professional Arts Groups Both to Be Awarded at Footlights Performing Arts Awards

The results will be announced at the live awards ceremony June 22, 2017 at Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s Quadracci Powerhouse.

Regrets, They Have a Few

Four actors deftly stretch time and memory in “Bloomsday.”

Ray Jivoff Named Artistic Director of Skylight Music Theatre

Ray Jivoff has been active in the Milwaukee theatre community as an actor, teacher and director since moving here in 1988.

In Tandem Theatre Presents its Biggest Musical to Date

Let In Tandem take you back to 1920’s France to the magic of the carnival!

Footlights Announces John McGivern as Ceremony Host for 2017 Footlights Performing Arts Awards

The first-ever Footlights Performing Arts Awards ceremony is set for Thursday, June 22, 2017 at Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s Quadracci Powerhouse.

Footlights Announces Footlights Performing Arts Awards for 2017 for the Greater Milwaukee Area

Nominations are currently open.

Next Act’s Christmas Play Is Uneven

1950s Milwaukee radio setting is grabby, but acting is a tad flat.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre presents LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan

November 23 – December 18 at the Broadway Theatre Center’s Studio Theatre

Danceworks Performance Company invites audience to the first concert of its 20th anniversary season: Dance In or Take Out?

November 3-6, 2016 at Next Act Theatre.

Architect Revitalizes, Repurposes and Builds Community

Allyson Nemec specializes in working with existing buildings, rather than new construction.

Danceworks Performance Company celebrates 20 years!

Season Subscriptions on sale now.

Next Act Pokes Fun at the Political Landscape this Fall

THE TAMING by Lauren Gunderson is a refreshing antidote to today's punditry and non-stop squabbling.

Wild Space Dance Company Announces 30th Season

Wild Space Dance Company will celebrate its 30th season in Milwaukee with two major performances

Jen Kirkman to Headline Milwaukee Comedy Festival

Comedian and Best Selling Author to Headline closing night at Historic Turner Hall.

Next Act Theatre Celebrates 26 Seasons with Annual Fundraiser

The evening kicks off with an exclusive VIP meet and greet with artists from the 2015-16 Season and Producing Artistic Director, David Cecsarini.

Danceworks Performance Company invites audiences to embark on an enchanted adventure in: The Quest

May 12-15, 2016 at Next Act Theatre

A Nation at Urban War With Itself

Next Act offers powerful production of ‘Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992’

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre presents SLOWGIRL by Greg Pierce

Milwaukee Premiere! February 24 – March 20, 2016

In Tandem Theatre Brings the Illuminating “Lamps for my Family” to the Tenth Street Theatre

In this poignant and funny play, Jack Duddy returns to his childhood home only to find a houseful of relatives – all of them deceased and wanting to talk his ear off!

Next Act Hires New Development Director

Anne is a people-oriented fundraising professional and manager, raising money in the non-profit sector since 2005.

Milwaukee Opera Theatre presents: THE STORY OF MY LIFE

Music and Lyrics by Neil Bartram / Book by Brian Hill

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre presents LOVE STORIES

November 25 – December 20, 2015 at the Broadway Theatre Center’s Studio Theatre

Veterans Bond as they Perform ‘Julius Caesar’

Actors from Feast of Crispian will present their first large-scale public performance at 7 p.m. Oct. 30 and 31 and 2 p.m. Nov. 1, at Next Act Theatre’s Performance Space, 255 S. Water St.

In Tandem Theatre Kicks Off the Holiday Season with New Musical Spoof

Now in its 18th season, In Tandem Theatre has been bringing alternative holiday hilarity to the stage since its beginning.

The Arab Among Us

Next Act’s ‘Back of the Throat’ offers angry, absurdist look at post 9/11 fears.

Danceworks Performance Company delves into the mysterious for season opener: Footsteps, Shadows and Whispers

November 5-8, 2015 • Next Act Theatre

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre presents DEAR ELIZABETH

DEAR ELIZABETH by Sarah Ruhl. September 23- October 18, 2015

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre presents BOEING BOEING

August 13 - 30, 2015 at the Broadway Theatre Center’s Cabot Theatre

In Tandem Theatre Opens 2015-16 Season With Award Winning Dark Comedy

In Tandem Theatre opens their 18th season with Any Given Monday

Milwaukee Comedy Festival Offers Laughs

10th annual fest offers huge line-up of comics over four days with most shows at Next Act Theatre.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre presents BOEING BOEING

August 13 - 30, 2015 at the Broadway Theatre Center’s Cabot Theatre

Lives of the Radium Girls

Umbrella Group’s staging of true story about 1920s women working at the Radium Dial Company becomes a harrowing, human tragedy.

Danceworks Performance Company announces 2015-16 season

Season subscriptions on sale now

Next Act Commits Heresy

A. R. Gurney’s futuristic parable offers strong views and weak drama, but a stellar cast does its best.

Fashion Through the Ages

Danceworks’ latest show spanned recorded time, from dinosaurs to Victorian dresses to today’s weddings.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre presents Ken Ludwig’s LEND ME A TENOR

April 10-27, 2014

Danceworks Performance Company and Present Music: Temptation’s Snare

March 6-9, 2014 • Next Act Theatre

Next Act puts faith in “Grace”

Director David Cescarini talks about his season's last play, an exploration of how we believe what we believe in. Plus: Next Act's 2013-14 season announced.

Next Act’s “Microcrisis” yields huge dividends

The satire of our global financial system finds the humor in its ironies – and the danger that still remains.