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Media Contacts

Cindy Moran, Public Relations Consultant (414) 405-6290
Kelly Gerlach, Director of Advancement (414) 267-2938

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Press Releases

2023-2024 season

First Stage’s 2023/24 Amplify Reading Series season concludes with a play
reading of EMILY SONG AND THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT

First Stage proudly presents ESCAPE FROM PELIGRO ISLAND: A Create Your Own Adventure Play

First Stage’s award-winning Young Company presents AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE

First Stage announces date for next year’s Make Believe Ball

First Stage introduces new Access for All program for 2024/2025 Season

First Stage celebrates spring with fun production of DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE MUSICAL

First Stage and Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra announce: 3.5 Millions Dollars Awarded for Two Endowments for Advanced Theater and Music Training

A fun-filled, friendship-packed musical ELEPHANT & PIGGIE’S “WE ARE IN PLAY!” comes to Milwaukee Youth Arts Center this month

First Stage's 30th Annual Make Believe Ball on Saturday, February 24, 2024

First Stage presents action-packed, mythical adventure THE LIGHTNING THIEF: The Percy Jackson Musical

Media Alert: Amplify Reading of ESPERANZA RISING on December 13

First Stage’s award-winning Young Company presents HENRY IV, PART 1

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL returns to First Stage this holiday season!

MEDIA ALERT: First Stage's 2023/24 season of the Amplify Reading series begins with a reading of BIG CITY HARMONY by Ty Defoe on November 4

First Stage Announces Sensory Friendly Performance Schedule for 2023/24 Season

First Stage Announces New Managing Director Daniel Grambow

First Stage proudly presents the world premiere production THE FORGOTTEN GIRL

First Stage to host 14th Annual Wine Tasting & Dinner in early November

First Stage Announces Pay What You Choose Schedule for 2023/24 Season

Uplifting world premiere production DREAM, QUICKIE! DREAM! opens at Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Todd Wehr Theater this October

First Stage announces Artistic and Creative Teams for 2023/24 season

Michelle LoRicco joins First Stage as new Associate Artistic Director

Amplify BIPOC Play Series returns to First Stage for fourth season

First Stage’s 2023/24 season filled with fun, excitement and adventure

2022-2023 season

First Stage Managing Director Betsy Corry to Retire Following 2022/23 Season

First Stage proudly presents the world premiere production THE GRACIOUS SISTERS

Bob Marley’s THREE LITTLE BIRDS brings Jamaican good vibes to First Stage this spring

First Stage raises over $150,000 at 29th Annual Make Believe Ball

First Stage's award-winning Young Company presents LITTLE WOMEN

First Stage presents THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES

First Stage brings Tolkien's epic tale THE HOBBIT to the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center

First Stage kicks off the new year with hopeful production of CARMELA FULL OF WISHES

First Stage Breaks Fundraising Record at Annual Wine Tasting & Dinner Event

First Stage's award-winning Young Company presents A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

First Stage celebrates the holidays with RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER™: THE MUSICAL

First Stage welcomes new Board President Chris Marschka

First Stage announces Sensory Friendly Performance Schedule for the 2022/23 Season

First Stage's announces Pay What You Choose Schedule for the 2022/23 Season

First Stage kicks off 2022/23 season with fun, family-friendly musical: ARTHUR™ AND FRIENDS MAKE A MUSICAL!

First Stage announces third season of AMPLIFY BIPOC PLAY SERIES

First Stage's Summer Theater Academy classes begin Monday, June 13, 2022

First Stage announces a season filled with music, joy and adventure for 2022/23

2021-2022 season

Bestselling children’s book THE LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET comes to life in magical First Stage production

First Stage presents the world premiere production THE AMAZING LEMONADE GIRL

Final Two Weeks! THE LEGEND OF ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS Closes Sunday, April 3

First Stage's award-winning Young Company presents MACBETH

First Stage presents the triumphant return of THE LEGEND OF ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS

Milwaukee’s First Stage and Ko-Thi Dance Company in collaboration present THE DANCING GRANNY

First Stage announces Sensory Friendly Performance schedule for remainder of 2021/22 Season

First Stage announces Pay What You Choose schedule for remainder of 2021/22 Season

First Stage kicks off the New Year with THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM - 1963

First Stage's award-winning Young Company presents THE LARAMIE PROJECT

First Stage presents heartwarming holiday classic A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

First Stage’s fall Amplify – BIPOC Short Play Series continues with THE TALE OF LA LLORONA AS TOLD BY CONSUELO CHAVEZ

First Stage’s Annual ImpACT Event Highlights Community Impact and Commitment

First Stage continues its Amplify – BIPOC Short Play Series this fall with STEP KIDS

First Stage announces a return to live performances in 2021/22 season

Amplify – First Stage’s second BIPOC Short Play Series kicks off with 'How to Actually Graduate in a Virtual World'

Second Season of Amplify – First Stage’s BIPOC Short Play Series – returns this fall

Samantha D. Montgomery is named Artistic Inclusion and Community Engagement Director at First Stage

2020-2021 season

In a year with challenges and uncertainty, First Stage shows resiliency and creativity

Amplify — First Stage's BIPOC Virtual Short Play Series continues with UNMUTED 

First Stage's BIPOC Virtual Short Play Series kicks off with COPPER HORNS IN WATER 

First Stage announces AMPLIFY – BIPOC Virtual Short Play Series

First Stage's Annual Fundraising event: Make Believe ... It's a Ball 

Coming to Milwaukee's First Stage this February — THE CRUCIBLE 

First Stage offers unique, engaging livestream performances in ESCAPE FROM PELIGRO ISLAND 

First Stage And Betty Brinn Children's Museum Announce New Collaboration

CHRISTMASTOWN COMES TO FIRST STAGE 

First Stage Streams Shakespeare's Adventurous, Romantic Comedy THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA 

First Stage's Virtual Season of Plays continues with comedic romp SHE KILLS MONSTERS

Milwaukee's First Stage Receives COVID-19 Cultural Organization Grant 

First Stage presents THE GIRL WHO SWALLOWED A CACTUS (In Your Home)

A World Premiere Historical Adventure Series: The Quest for Solomon's Treasure 

First Stage Announces New HOPE Fund 

New Play Reading of APOLLO AND THE TRIALS OF HERCULES 

First Stage Fall Theater Academy 2020 

First Stage Announces Through Our Lens — A New Virtual Performance Series