Fate, Humor & Heart: First Stage Invites Audiences On A Theatrical Roller Coaster Ride With Ride The Cyclone (high School Edition)

MILWAUKEE — First Stage — one of the nation’s leading theaters for young people and families — invites audiences to buckle up for a funny, moving look at what makes a life well-lived in RIDE THE CYCLONE (HIGH SCHOOL EDITION), a Young Company Performance Project.

RIDE THE CYCLONE (HIGH SCHOOL EDITION), a Young Company Performance Project, runs March 28 through April 13, 2025, at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. Tickets are available now on FirstStage.org.

In this hilarious and outlandish musical, the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other—the chance to return to life.

“This smash hit explores the lives of teenagers post-mortem as they narrate their own stories to influence their fates, offering them a chance at life once more. The dynamic and contemporary musical shares the powerful theme of storytelling as a means of defining oneself and impacting one’s destiny,” said Michelle LoRicco, associate artistic director at First Stage and director and choreographer of RIDE THE CYCLONE (HIGH SCHOOL EDITION).

This marks LoRicco’s inaugural production as Young Company Director. “The excitement among the Young Company members was electric when this title was announced, highlighting the strong relevance and resonance of the themes interwoven through the script and music,” said LoRicco.

With music showcasing various musical genres—from glam rock to pop to rap and folk—witness as stories unfold in unexpected and thrilling ways.

Note: Contains mature content, language and themes including discussion of untimely death and mature situations including references to sex, drugs, and violence.

Ride the Cyclone (High School Edition) is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing Global (www.broadwaylicensing.com).

The show runs approximately 75 minutes, including a brief intermission. Recommended for families with young people ages 13-17 and theater lovers of all ages. This production’s Pay What You Choose Performance is on Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m.

Creative Team

Young Company Director … Michelle LoRicco

Assistant Director … Lola Onorato

Assistant Choreographer … Abbie Cashman

Music Director … David Bonofiglio

Assistant Music Director … Thomas Bastardo

Costume Coordinator … Michelle Verbos

Lighting Coordinator … Marion Frank

Sound Coordinator … Derek Buckles

Video & Projection Design … Lola Onorato

Sound Board Operator … Alice Rivera

Dance Captain … Paxton Haley

Stage Manager… Carrie Johns

Assistant Stage Manager … Sophia Bernhardt

Second Assistant Stage Manager … Silver Anderson

Young Company Cast

Karnak … Edward Owczarski

Virgil / Talia … Paxton Haley

Ocean … Evelyn Maassen

Constance … Hazel Dye

Jane Doe … Mackenzie Wooten

Noel … Lio Landis

Mischa Bachinski … Max Larson

Ricky … Thomas Bastardo

Understudy for Karnak … Silver Anderson

Understudy for Virgil / Talia … Abbie Cashman

Understudy for Ocean … Alice Rivera

Understudy for Noel … Cole Sison

Swing … Zoah Hirano

Swing … Dylan Gray

*Appearing through an Agreement between First Stage and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

Don’t miss out on the rest of the season productions coming soon! Find tickets and additional information at www.firststage.org/2024-2025-Season.

• May 2 – 18 ESPERANZA RISING
• May 3 – 4 DOG MAN: THE MUSICAL

For additional information about the 2024-2025 season and to order tickets, please go to firststage.org or call (414) 267-2961.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE: Download media assets and additional production information

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.