ON THE EXHALE To Be Presented By Vanguard Milwaukee

Vanguard Milwaukee (formerly Vanguard Productions) has announced their fall production of On the Exhale by Martín Zimmerman.

After the loss of her child in a school shooting, On the Exhale follows one woman’s journey through grief, anger, and the search for accountability after a senseless tragedy. On the Exhale takes an unflinching look at America’s gun culture, power fantasy, and how one’s darkest impulses can be seized upon.

Told through just one performer, On the Exhale is a gripping and timely piece of theatre, running just over one hour. Vanguard Milwaukee’s production will open October 9th, 2026 and run through October 12th, 2026 at The Drawing Room at 706 S. 5th Street Milwaukee, WI 53204. Tickets go on sale on August 9th, 2026. 

Vanguard Milwaukee’s production of On the Exhale will be directed by Annika Perez-Krikorian. Perez-Krikorian serves as the literary director of Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. Previously she has directed at The Tank NYC, the Eugene O’Neill Center, and Gonzaga University. She recently directed a reading of The Bill by Caroline Norton at Renaissance Theatreworks’ Br!nk Festival. This is her first production with Vanguard Milwaukee. Lighting and Set Design will be provided by AntiShadows, LLC, whose work can be seen at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Next Act, First Stage, Northern Sky Theatre, and many others. Sound Design will be provided by Elliott Brotherhood, who previously worked on Vanguard’s production of LUNGS, and is the artistic director of Secret Handshake Productions, a Milwaukee based audio production company. Costume Design will be done by Cassandra Gherardini, who has previously worked on All is Calm with Vanguard. 

On the Exhale will star local actor Emily Vitrano. Vitrano was most recently seen in Renaissance Theatreworks’ production of Barefoot in the Park as Corie, and her performance as Marjory in The Moors with Renaissance was named one of Jim Higgins’ “14 Performances to Remember from the 2024/2025 Theater Season”. Vitrano’s regional work includes Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act Theatre, and the Allentown Shakespeare festival. She holds her MFA from the University of Northern Illinois where she also serves as a faculty member. Vitrano and Perez-Krikorian will work together closely on this intimate and emotionally resonant production. 

As part of Vanguard Milwaukee’s commitment to fostering meaningful conversations about socially and politically relevant topics, Vanguard is partnering with Moms Demand Action and Mothers Against Gun Violence Milwaukee for this production. These activist groups will host post show panels after select performances and offer information about how audience members can get involved in activism in the greater Milwaukee area.

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