Jonathan Smoots News

For one day only, Monday, September 25th, save up to 25% off of tickets to Milwaukee's favorite holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol, using promo code DICKENS.

One of Chekov's most well known works, THREE SISTERS will play at American Players Theatre until September 23. See what the critics are saying!

A FLEA IN HER EAR at American Players Theatre plays at the Hill Theatre until October 7. It features Nate Burger as Camille Chandebise, Cristina Panfilio as Antoinette, John Taylor Phillips as Etienne, Gavin Lawrence as Dr. Finache, Andrea San Miguel as Lucienne, Kelsey Brennan as Raymonde Chandebise, David Daniel as Victor Emmanuel / Poche, Marcus Truschinski as Tournel, Juan Rivera Lebron as Don Homenides de Histangua, John Pribyl as Feraillon, Rebecca Hurd as Eugenie, Tracy Michelle Arnold as Olympe, Jopnathan Smoots as Herr Stompf, Kipp Moorman as Baptistin, and Robert R. Doyle as Hotel Guest.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at American Players Theatre's newly renovated Hill Theatre brings a modern spin on this Shakespearean classic, which first played on the American Players Theatre stage thirty seven years ago.

What could be a better holiday gift to Milwaukee than a World Premiere adaptation of Dickens' beloved A Christmas Carol? On Friday night, Artistic Director Mark Clements opened his resplendent adaptation for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater in the gorgeous Pabst Theatre. In this innovative adaptation by Clements in collaboration with a stunning artistic team, the production renewed holiday magic in the company's 41st year for the city that Clements and The Rep call home.

Milwaukee Rep is excited to present a new, family friendly adaptation of Charles Dicken's A CHRISTMAS CAROL, written by Rep Artistic Director Mark Clements, featuring the same traditional story and characters you love. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

When the audience arrives at American Players (APT) Up the Hill Theatre for the opening of William Shakespeare's King Lear, they might believe a presidential press conference will be staged. Green lawn expands into the audience, actors place contemporary white chairs in a distinct pattern and a glass podium greets the audience--and plenty of paparazzi appear to capture the King, the Duke of Gloucester and Duchess of Kent, and Lear's three daughters entering the lawn party. At night under the stars, the royal staging opens when the King appears announcing his 'retirement,' dividing his kingdom to his three progeny. Two dutiful daughters ascend to the podium pronouncing their love, while Cordelia speaks from the back row of chairs, the front of the Up The Hill Theatre. Goneril, Regan and Cordelia were 'dressed to kill', so to speak in sophisticated, fashion worthy coats and the appropriate fascinators, for English royalty, as were the men.This beginning places the audience firmly in a King Lear crafted for the current day, up to the very minute audiences.

 Milwaukee Repertory Theater announces casting for the World Premiere adaptation of A Christmas Carol.  Previously announced Milwaukee Rep favorite Jonathan Wainwright (Of Mice of Men, A Christmas Carolas Mr. Cratchit), will make his debut as Scrooge becoming the 12th actor in Milwaukee Rep history to portray one of Dicken's most recognizable characters.  He'll be joined by many familiar faces including Associate Artist Jonathan Gillard Daly (Man of La Mancha, Of Mice and Men) as Mr. Fezziwig, Michael Doherty (Ragtime) as Fred, Associate Artist Angela Iannone as Mrs. Fezziwig, Chike Johnson (Of Mice and Men) as Ghost of Christmas Present, Associate Artist Reese Madigan (Five Presidents) as Bob Cratchit, Associate Artist Jonathan Smoots (A Christmas Carol) as Marley, Malkia Stampley(Dreamgirls) as Mrs. Cratchit and Associate Artist Deborah Staples (Harvey, The Amish Project) as Ghost of Christmas Past.   Complete casting to be announced at a later date.

n a year when the country tries to discern the truth about numerous politician's pasts, presents and futures, Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband attempts to make some sense of blackmail and corruption in the government institutions and individuals who serve their citizens. American Players Theatre takes their audiences Up The Hill for Wilde's summer visual delight. This fascinating production captivates the eye along with the ear dressing the cast in lavish period costumes designed by Matthew J. Lefebvre amid a cream and golden gilded stage, period rooms, courtesy of Scenic Designer Takeshi Kata.

The popular Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse returns to First Stage for Kevin Kling's theatrical adaptation of Kevin Henkes best selling children's book beginning this May. A picture book written in 1996, Henkes' story features a tiny little girl mouse struggling to be who she is, wearing glitter sunglasses and mismatched outfits--as Lilly called herself, 'The Queen of the World' who liked everything' and in 2016, celebrates 20 years still tucked firmly in children's hearts.

Titan Theatre Company opens the final production of its 2015-16 season this week, Shakespeare's epic political drama, JULIUS CEASAR. Performances will begin tonight, March 25th, at the Queens Theatre, and BroadwayWorld has a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsal below!

Titan Theatre Company opens the final production of its 2015-16 season this week, Shakespeare's epic political drama, JULIUS CEASAR. Performances will begin March 25th at the Queens Theatre, and BroadwayWorld has a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsal below!

Titan Theatre Company Artistic Director Lenny Banovez and Producer Kevin Beebee announced today the concept, full cast and creative team for Titan Theatre Company's ambitious new production of Julius Caesar, Shakespeare's brilliant political drama. Performances begin at Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Park on March 25th, 2016 and will run through April 10, 2016. 

Milwaukee's Next Act theater needs to be filled to overflowing and sold out each performance this winter for their new production: Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992. Artistic Director David Cecsarini co-directs the play with Jonathan Smoots in a compelling evening where 37 characters, individuals, appear on stage courtesy of a spectacular theatrical company  The six actors represent the diverse human milieu affected by the Rodney King beating, and then the subsequent looting and riots devastating Los Angeles in 1992. 

American Players Theatre (APT) announces its 37th Summer Festival Season, June 3 - October 16, 2016, a diverse lineup of eight classical and contemporary plays in repertory that includes the return and work of two visiting Chicago directors: Derrick Sanders, founding Artistic Director of Congo Square Theatre Company directing The African Company Presents Richard III by Carlyle Brown in APT's intimate 200-seat Touchstone Theatre; and Jeff Award winner William Brown taking on William Shakespeare's King Lear in APT's flagship 1140-seat outdoor amphitheater on the Hill.

Opening night at the Pabst Theatre this December celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Milwaukee Rep's A Christmas Carol. The city's mayor Tom Barrett was on hand with an executive from Wells Fargo, the production's corporate sponsor. Each man echoed that theater, especially this longstanding tradition of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, creates family memories that last a lifetime and brings the community together.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL is currently running at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre through December 24, 2015, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

American Players Theatre (APT) is excited to announce its 37th season, which will run June 4 to October 16, 2016. In APT's flagship outdoor amphitheater, William Shakespeare will bookend the Hill season with The Comedy of Errors and King Lear. Also playing on the Hill: Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde and Arcadia by Tom Stoppard.

Marriage can be a foreign language. To some, the language comes easily. But, with time, the words can become meaningless as the motivation behind them lessens. The longer the relationship goes on, the more difficult it can become to comprehend the other person and know exactly what to say.

In the intimate American Players Theatre's (APT) Touchstone Amphitheater, Edward Albee's 1975 Pulitzer Prize winning play Seascape premiered on Saturday afternoon---perhaps with greater resonance in this century than when originally produced.. Director Laura Gordon returns to the drams after directing Milwaukee Rep's 2007 production in the Stiemke Studio along with APT company member Cristina Panfilio. Panfilio agian performed the role of Sarah, the coming up from the ocean floor lizard wife of Leslie. This stellar duo continues to define Albee's play with sensitivity and endearing wit, along with fellow actors Sarah Day, Jonathan Smoots and LeShawn Banks.