Welcome to the Neighborhood!

By A.J. Magoon, Marketing Director

While 2020 has been a year of change – much of it uncertain and difficult to deal with – there’s one big change we are glad to see happening! As previously announced, Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) will be moving in to share our performing space starting with their upcoming 2020-21 season.

As RTW says, “Recognizing a gender imbalance within professional theater, Suzan Fete, Marie Kohler, Raeleen McMillion, Jennifer Rupp and Michele Traband founded RTW in 1993 to produce excellent theatrical work while actively promoting the careers of women onstage and off.” Since then, the company has been helping to promote and pursue gender parity in the arts and society all over the world. RTW is currently led by Managing Director Lisa Rasmussen and Artistic Director Suzan Fete.

Of course, RTW and Next Act have shared performance space before: the two companies have a history of collaboration spanning back to the 1990s, including sharing space at the Stiemke Theater in the Milwaukee Repertory Theater complex and at The Off-Broadway. Next Act’s Producing Artistic Director David Cecsarini stated, “We look forward to hosting RTW’s productions once again, and even though there is significant crossover between our audiences, we anticipate the added benefit of introducing even more people to more good theatre.”

Starting in late 2020 with the opening of Next Act’s 2020-21 season, our home at 255 S. Water Street is going to become a hub for more quality Milwaukee theatre than you’ve ever seen here before. While the circumstances will lead to changes, we look forward to sharing our space with Renaissance and sharing the work of two excellent Milwaukee theatre companies with you in a safe, intentional and engaging way.