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Next Act Theatre

255 S Water St
Milwaukee, WI

Next Act Theatre is a theatre in Milwaukee, WI.

Upcoming Shows

Trayf

Trayf

16 Sep – 4 Oct 2026

This funny, heartwarming road-trip bromance following two Orthodox Jewish teens is an ode to the turbulence of youth and the friends that see us through.

The Boys from Baraboo

The Boys from Baraboo

2 Dec – 20 Dec 2026

"Step right up!" for the rise and fall of the Ringling Brothers in a tale that’s equal parts vaudeville revue and prestige drama.

In the Next Room or the vibrator play

In the Next Room or the vibrator play

17 Feb – 7 Mar 2027

Victorian manners meet self-discovery in this smart, classy and electrifying comedy about longing, intimacy and what it truly means to love someone.

At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen

At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen

21 Apr – 9 May 2027

The whirlwind story of a pair of drag queens, exploring identity and illness while unapologetically celebrating Black, queer life with all its sorrows and joys.

🌙 Make a Night of It

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Articles

Review: GYPSY at Skylight Music Theatre

Review: GYPSY at Skylight Music Theatre

by Keith Gray-Dozal · September 26, 2026

For me, there are certain musicals that become inseparable from the memories we associate with them. Gypsy: A Musical Fable is one of those shows. Skylight Music Theatre's production of Gypsy at the Cabot Theatre, does exactly that — led by a remarkable Janet Metz as Rose.…

Review: MAYBE WE'LL FLY at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre

Review: MAYBE WE'LL FLY at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre

by Cathy Jakicic · September 25, 2026

Throughout her life Wisconsin folk/outsider artist Mary Nohl created her art from found treasures and a love of nature. In “Maybe We’ll Fly,’” Wisconsin playwright Marie Kohler created her art from a lifetime of Nohl’s memories.…

Review: MAMMA MIA! at Marcus Performing Arts Center

Review: MAMMA MIA! at Marcus Performing Arts Center

by Keith Gray-Dozal · September 24, 2026

There is something wonderfully comforting about returning to Mamma Mia! You know the songs. You know the story. You probably even know exactly when you are going to laugh. But when the right cast comes together, none of that familiarity matters. Instead, it feels a little like reconnecting with old …

Review: GEORGE & GRACIE: A LOVE STORY at Milwaukee Rep

Review: GEORGE & GRACIE: A LOVE STORY at Milwaukee Rep

by Cathy Jakicic · May 4, 2026

Actor/writer Tami Workentin wrote the play (her first) for herself and her real life husband, James Pickering. The jokes (with a bit of music and history thrown in) can fast and furious,. You could almost hear the rim shot.…

Review: MRS. CHRISTIE at Milwaukee Repertory Theater

Review: MRS. CHRISTIE at Milwaukee Repertory Theater

by Cathy Jakicic · April 19, 2026

Heidi Armbruster brings heart and humor of real-life mystery of “Mrs. Christie.” Agatha Christie created more than 80 mysteries over her legendary career, but only one didn’t come with a solution. It’s the one she created when she disappeared for 11 days in 1926. Christie never explained her…

Review: FRIDA...A SELF PORTRAIT at Milwaukee Repertory Theater

Review: FRIDA...A SELF PORTRAIT at Milwaukee Repertory Theater

by Sofia Ascorbe · April 17, 2026

What did our critic think of FRIDA...A SELF PORTRAIT at MilwaaOn a cold April evening, I headed to the Milwaukee Repertory Theater to see FRIDA…A SELF PORTRAIT with my partner and both of my parents who were visiting from out of town. Moments earlier, we had just collectively witnessed live the Ar…

REVIEW: SPARROWS FALL At RG Productions & Theatre Gigante

REVIEW: SPARROWS FALL At RG Productions & Theatre Gigante

by Keith Gray-Dozal · April 17, 2026

RG Productions and Theatre Gigante have come together in a historic collaboration for the world premiere of Sparrows Fall, written and directed by Richard Gustin in conjunction with World Premiere Wisconsin. The result is one of those productions that stays with you long after you leave the theatre�…

Past Shows

24 total · showing 1–10

small, easy, simple good: The Interview Project

small, easy, simple good: The Interview Project

1 Aug

About the Program Next Actors is Next Act Theatre’s completely free summer intensive for advanced high school theatre artists and recent graduates. Over four weeks, student actors work alongside professional directors to explore the art of documentary theatre. They learn to...

Dinner with the Duchess

Dinner with the Duchess

22 Apr – 17 May 2026

U.S. Premiere! At the end of a storied career, violin virtuoso Margaret gives her final interview to a young reporter. As the evening wears on, Margaret must confront secrets and ghosts of the past to face an impossible question: how will she be remembered? Boundaries are drawn...

Artistic Legacy: An Evening of Classical Music and Conversation

Artistic Legacy: An Evening of Classical Music and Conversation

7 Apr

Join Next Act Theatre for “Artistic Legacy: An Evening of Classical Music and Conversation” in honor of our final show of the 2025-26 season, DINNER WITH THE DUCHESS. Patrons can grab a drink at the bar before heading into the theatre to experience the talent of violinists from...

Swing State

Swing State

11 Feb – 8 Mar 2026

In a small Wisconsin town, a mysterious theft leads to a string of events that will forever change Peg, Ryan and their community.

Trayf - Staged Reading

Trayf - Staged Reading

15 Dec

This road-trip bromance is a funny and heartwarming ode to the turbulence of youth and the faith and friends that see us through.

Boswell

Boswell

19 Nov – 14 Dec 2025

Heart and mind spar wittily in this epic, historical adventure of friendship, travel and the written word.

Sanctuary City

Sanctuary City

10 Sep – 5 Oct 2025

In post-9/11 Newark, NJ, two teenagers brought to America as children now face an impossible question: what are they willing to risk for a future in the only country they’ve ever known? These two DREAMers and lifelong friends will fight like hell to establish a place for...

The Wedding Singer

FeaturedThe Wedding Singer

31 Jul – 10 Aug 2025

Based off of the hilarious rom-com of the same name, The Wedding Singer is a rockin' musical that will have partying like it's 1985! Rock star wannabe, Robbie Hart, is New Jersey's favorite wedding singer. He's the life of the party until his own fiancée leaves him at the altar...

Comedy

THE CHILDREN

12 Feb – 9 Mar 2025

In Marie Kohler's upcoming production of The Children, two retired nuclear scientists living in isolation face a stark reality as an old friend arrives with a daunting request. Set against a backdrop of environmental collapse, the play explores themes of personal responsibility...

Almost, Maine

Almost, Maine

20 Nov – 15 Dec 2024

Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost in Canada. It’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above...

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SIX (Boleyn Tour) in Milwaukee, WI SIX (Boleyn Tour)
Uihlein Hall at Marcus Center For The Performing Arts (2/02-2/07)
"The Craic" in Milwaukee, WI "The Craic"
Checota Powerhouse Theater, Associated Bank Theater Center (3/26-5/30)
Churchill in Milwaukee, WI Churchill
Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall (10/01-10/01)
DR. SEUSS'S HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! in Milwaukee, WI DR. SEUSS'S HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS!
First Stage (11/21-12/27)
THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE in Milwaukee, WI THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE
First Stage (4/02-5/02)
BIG: THE MUSICAL  in Milwaukee, WI BIG: THE MUSICAL
Skylight Music Theatre (11/13-12/27)
Gypsy  in Milwaukee, WI Gypsy
Skylight Music Theatre (9/25-10/18)
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder in Milwaukee, WI A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
Skylight Music Theatre (3/12-3/28)
EVERYBODY in Milwaukee, WI EVERYBODY
First Stage (12/04-12/13)
Matt Rife in Milwaukee, WI Matt Rife
Fiserv Forum (11/07-11/07)