Kelsey Lawler

If you’ve seen Les Miserables many times over the years, you might wonder if you really have to go again. Is it worth it? Should I bother? Yes it is, and yes you should. The show remains so special, so strong, and even after years of repeat viewings? It’s never not worth it.

To have these lives reflected in art — on stage, now, reaching for empathy in a world that needs it more than ever — is a bright spot. That this story might resonate with someone unexpected — change a mind, affect a heart — is the whole point.

Jon Marans’ Old Wicked Songs posits that beauty sits at the intersection of sadness and joy. By that logic, the play itself is indeed a beauty. On stage now at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre under the direction of Elyse Gorens Edelman.

Now is your chance to see WICKED on stage, Milwaukee. To revisit an old favorite. To get jazzed before the release of 'Wicked: For Good'—and get to know the source material. If you enjoy the movie but are new to Broadway, let this be your gateway.

Camille’s Rainbow is a little marvel in its own right. It’s also a brilliant example of an experience we desperately need more of: exposure to enriching art that also allows kids to be kids.

Camille's Rainbow is an immersive opera experience specifically designed for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers.  It's a beautifully gentle, playful, 45 minutes to spend together in community with other little ones and their families.

Holy smokes! That's all I could think after opening night of the Rep’s 'Million Dollar Quartet.' This electric, high-energy show is a must-see for fans of rock 'n' roll and anyone who could use a smile, a laugh, or a whole lotta shakin'.

Directed by Ray Jivoff and starring Doug Clemons, this quirky and charming one-man show is a delight not to be missed—particularly for fans of the incomparable Barbra Streisand. 

The Milwaukee Rep’s Cabaret is stepping outside the box with 'The Last Five Years,' and it’s totally refreshing. This completely sung-through musical is a beautiful thing—an intimate story for an intimate space. I dare say it's a must-see.

If you take your littles to one show this spring, make it Finding Nemo at First Stage. This “theatre for young audiences” version of the classic Disney & Pixar film is a musical adventure featuring book, music, and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez—the dream team behind Frozen. The music is catchy, and the epic tale of a clown fish father trying to find his lost little fish in the big blue ocean is nicely compacted into a 75-minute (with intermission) spectacle.

Ice cream. The color yellow. Roller coasters. There are so many life-affirming, wonderful things in this world. Every Brilliant Thing is a one-man (or one-woman) show that celebrates life in all its brilliance—and resilience. 

Emily Song is a supernatural coming-of-age story in the vein of Percy Jackson. On her 12th birthday, Emily (Ginger Mai Foster) discovers she’s a music mage and her voice is her superpower. When the villainous Queen of the Night (Sara Zapiain) kidnaps Emily’s dad (David Lee) and best friend Layla (Annie Sturtz), it’s up to Emily and her Grandma Celeste (Sally Imbriano) to save the day. 

To say The Milwaukee Rep’s The Craic is good fun would be redundant. The word “craic” (pronounced crack) essentially means “fun” in Irish. This world premier written by Mark Clements and Deanie Vallone is not just good fun, but also a cozy theatrical hug. The Craic invites us out of the bleak midwinter to a space filled with the warm voices, oustanding instrumentalists, easy laughter, toe-tapping trad tunes, and heart-tugging ballads. 

What if Romeo & Juliet was a rom com complete with time travel, musical numbers, and duels fought over pizza toppings? That’s what we get with the world premiere of Juliet & Romeo: A New Musical, now on stage at Milwaukee’s Skylight Music Theatre.

Get ready to be delighted. The Golden Girls Holiday Special is back for its 8th year, bringing some Miami sunshine to Milwaukee this December.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer the Musical is a wholly enchanting experience—the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season with kids of all ages.

What did our critic think of ALCINA at MILWAUKEE OPERA THEATRE?

A baroque-style opera about a lovelorn sorceress, staged in a local vintage shop—that's Alcina, a collaboration between Milwaukee Opera Theatre and Early Music Now. Incredibly intrigued by this production, I was itching to chat with Milwaukee Opera Theatre's Producing Artistic Director, Jill Anna Ponasik about the upcoming show (November 12–17th, 2024):