Next Act believes that stories work best when they involve characters in the midst of a struggle or a quest. Audiences identify with them, becoming emotionally and intellectually invested. The character’s situation, tragedy or triumph becomes the audiences’ to endure, mourn or celebrate. The theatre proves itself, then, as essential to the nourishment of our human spirit by bringing us together to examine, experience and explore the human condition, perhaps coming away with knowledge and perspective that only a good story can deliver.
Mission
Next Act Theatre engages the hearts and minds of audiences with intimate, compelling productions intended to stimulate thought, foster the exchange of ideas and promote the development of new perspectives and understanding.
Our mission is defined by four specific and interrelated goals:
- Next Act produces dramatic material that brings social, cultural and political issues to the center of the community debate, reflecting the universal needs and aspirations of our fellow human beings.
- Next Act nurtures and collaborates with the best of local, professional talent.
- Through strategic play selection, community outreach activities, and accessible artistic style and management, Next Act works to develop new audiences.
- Next Act establishes and maintains familiar, appreciative relationships with patrons and donors through service-oriented administrative practices and proactive staff interaction.
Land Acknowledgment
Next Act Theatre recognizes that we live and work on traditional homelands of the Kickapoo, Menominee, Peoria, Myaamia, Potawatomi, Hochunk, and Sioux peoples, and serve a community where members of Wisconsin’s sovereign indigenous nations remain present.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
We stand together with our community and fellow arts groups to embrace words and actions that help make our organization a better, more empathetic, accepting and inclusive place. We will continue to use our creative platform to lift up the stories of marginalized community members and bring social, cultural and political issues to the center of the community debate. In addition, we have come to understand there is more work to do and commit to actions that increase equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work.
Our Audience
Next Act performs for a growing subscriber base of over 1,200 and a single ticket community of over 4,500, attracting individuals and groups from Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Our audiences express a consistent and positive appreciation for the intimacy of our performance style and accessibility.
Next Act Theatre is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization.