Something for Everyone
By A.J. Magoon, Marketing Director
Next Act Theatre’s 2026-27 season has something in it you’re sure to love. The upcoming season is entertaining, surprising, heartfelt, provocative and compelling – no matter what you like to see when you go to the theatre, there’s sure to be something for you. What catches your eye?
Music Fans Rejoice
Our upcoming season is chock-full of music. In TRAYF by Lindsay Joelle, the conflict between Zalmy’s Orthodox Jewish lifestyle and his fascination with secular culture plays out, in part, in mix tapes, bootlegs and the music of 1990s New York City. Expect Mordechai Ben David and the Miami Boys Choir sharing space with Elton John, R.E.M. and Nirvana. Heidi Armbruster’s THE BOYS FROM BARABOO is a play with music: armed with accordions, banjos, guitars and more, six talented actor-musicians bring the story of the rise and fall of the Ringling Brothers to life. Classic American folk tunes like “Oh My Darling Clementine” and “Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay” underscore the scrappy, local beginnings of a circus empire. Meanwhile, AT THE WAKE OF A DEAD DRAG QUEEN by Terry Guest promises a larger-than-life experience, including the music of some of history’s fiercest divas. Whether you’re looking for Whitney Houston, Judy Garland, Diana Ross or Janet Jackson, this pitch-perfect ode to Black queer joy has something for you.
Love Is All You Need
Next Act’s 2026-27 is packed full of love – of all different kinds! TRAYF’s Zalmy and Shmuel are the definition of a bromance, and their coming of age together reveals the way our friends’ love sees us through even the hardest times. In THE BOYS FROM BARABOO, love – both family and romantic – is found and lost over decades. IN THE NEXT ROOM or the vibrator play by Sarah Ruhl may sound racy, but at its heart lies a tender story of marriage and how to nurture love. And AT THE WAKE OF A DEAD DRAG QUEEN centers a queer love story that shows the power of loving someone else, even if you’re not sure you can love yourself.
What’s New?
A fan of new stories? You’ll love this season at Next Act Theatre! TRAYF and AT THE WAKE OF A DEAD DRAG QUEEN are both Wisconsin Premiere plays, while THE BOYS FROM BARABOO is a World Premiere – the first play Next Act has ever commissioned!
Entertainment Galore
The 2026-27 season may be one of Next Act’s most exciting and entertaining. Interested in high-energy circus shenanigans? How about clever buddy comedy? Or drag performances with enough glitz and glamour to blow the roof off? Whatever kind of entertainment you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it in the 2026-27 season.
Lots to Talk About
If you come to Next Act for impactful theatre that inspires thought and provokes conversation, you’re in for another great season. Our plays are entertaining, but also full of thoughtful moments and important conversations. The universal struggle of finding where you belong, the desire to leave a legacy worth remembering, the need for meaningful and intimate connection and the challenges of being authentically, joyfully yourself are all on full display in this quartet of compelling plays.
If you like a little bit of everything, you’re in luck! Season subscriptions and Flex Passes are now on sale at (414) 278-0765 or online. Don’t miss a second of the upcoming season, and enjoy discounted prices, scheduling flexibility and more. Single tickets go on sale July 13, 2026. Whatever interests you, make sure you don’t miss out on Next Act’s thrilling 2026-27 season!