More to Consider
By A.J. Magoon, Marketing Director
Next Act’s brand of powerful theatre frequently brings audiences face-to-face with important issues. If you’re a frequent Next Act patron, we know you probably want plays that make you think, feel and talk about a variety of topics.
While our shows are a great jumping-off point into the issues we’re exploring, there are ways to go deeper! One way is our newsletter, as well as our newly-introduced audience guide, which is available digitally on the Next Act website and in print in our lobby before each performance. But we’d also like to invite you to be a bigger part of the conversation!
Before select performances of each play, we offer Personal Previews. These conversations, featuring a guest from the current production, are moderated by a Next Act staff member and give patrons additional context and insight about a play before the performance. We allow both time for the guest to share thoughts and also time for patrons to ask questions. Personal Previews happen 30 minutes before curtain time of our Sunday Matinees (except Closing Sunday). For SANCTUARY CITY, we are excited to have Director Jake Penner and understudy (and Venezuelan international student, see the full story here) Patricia León de la Barra as our guests.
Then, following each Sunday Matinee (except Closing Sunday) and Thursday Evening (except Thursday Preview) performance, Next Act also offers a Talkback. At our Talkbacks, audience members are encouraged to remain after a performance to talk with cast members about the play – both the experience of performing the play itself as well as the topics and issues raised. For SANCTUARY CITY, we are also excited to welcome guests from several community organizations to provide additional thoughts, reactions and context for both audience members and cast members.
One of our community partners, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin (ACLU WI), fights to protect, defend and expand civil rights and liberties — particularly for communities historically denied their rights — through nonpartisan advocacy, community education, litigation and organizing in order to create a more just future.
Our other community partner, the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, provides legal services at no cost to more than 6,000 eligible individuals and families each year. Legal Aid specializes in civil matters involving housing security, guardianship, consumer protection, financial health, civil rights and immigration, enabling clients to redevelop and strengthen their communities from within.
Interested in having a more involved role in the conversation around SANCTUARY CITY? Check out the schedule below and attend a performance —and supplementary event(s)—on your desired day!