Friends,
We’re beyond excited to kick off a season filled with stories that travel far and wide! From the serene beauty of fictional Cardiff Township in Wisconsin’s Driftless region, to the buzzing streets of Chicago, Newark, and all the way to Scotland and London, we’ve got a lineup that’s as diverse as it is thrilling. Get ready to have your heartstrings tugged and your imagination stretched with these four exciting plays, never before seen on Wisconsin stages!
Expect stories about love—what it looks like, what it means in the eyes of both individuals and the law. We’ve got a stunning bio-play from a cherished Milwaukee playwright that will make history leap off the stage, and gripping narratives about life in America’s heartland, where people fight to preserve the way of life they hold dear. You’ll see how legacy plays out for a celebrity and go on a deep dive to uncover truths in the process.
This season promises something for everyone! As we follow these unforgettable characters, we’ll not only see pieces of ourselves, but we’ll also gain a greater understanding of one another.
I can’t wait to share it all with you!
Yours,
Cody Estle
Sanctuary City
By Martyna Majok | Directed by Jake Penner
Wisconsin Premiere
September 10 – October 5, 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 themselves and each other in America. But as time hurtles on and complications mount, each must reckon with the sacrifices it will take in order to find a place to call home.
Featuring King Hang, Joe Lino and Ashley Oviedo
Boswell
By Marie Kohler | Directed by Laura Gordon
Wisconsin Premiere
November 19 – December 14, 2025
When ambitious 20th-century academic Joan goes looking for unpublished writings by literary giant Samuel Johnson, she finds her work interrupted by James Boswell. Chatty, bawdy, flawed and deeply honest, Boswell’s 18th-century journals of his grand journey through Scotland with Johnson take Joan back in time, showing her the power of authenticity and the need to make her own place in the world. Heart and mind spar wittily in this epic adventure of friendship, travel and the written word.
Featuring Heidi Armbruster, Madeline Calais-King, David Cecsarini, Josh Krause, Brian Mani and Sarah Zapiain
Swing State
By Rebecca Gilman | Directed by Cody Estle
Wisconsin Premiere
February 11 – March 8, 2026
It’s hard to know who your friends are in a world that’s more divided than ever. Recently widowed, Peg tends to the native plants in her 40-acre rural Wisconsin prairie backyard. Her solitary days are interrupted only by visits from Ryan, a family friend with a checkered past. When a mysterious theft alerts the authorities, a string of events unfold that forever changes their lives and their community. Pulitzer Prize finalist Rebecca Gilman questions how we help each other when it feels like our way of life is in danger of disappearing.
Featuring Elyse Edelman, Jack Lancaster, Kelli Strickland and Tami Workentin
Dinner with the Duchess
By Nick Green | Directed by Samantha Martinson
U.S. Premiere
April 22 – May 17, 2026
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, lines are crossed and tensions reach a crescendo as a simple dinner becomes a battleground in the fight for the truth. Nick Green’s tense, personal drama explores whether the artist or her art defines a legacy.
Featuring Laura Gordon
More casting to be announced!
Season tickets are now on sale! Buy subscriptions or Flex Passes online or over the phone at (414) 278-0765. Single tickets will go on sale Monday, July 14, 2025.