Plan Your Visit

Plan Your Visit

Convenient Downtown Venues

First Stage live theater performances are located within the downtown Milwaukee area, and are easily accessible from I-43 and I-94.  Street parking, surface lots, and parking structures are available near each venue. Each of our venues are accessible to all.

We are happy to assist you in planning your First Stage experience.  If you need further assistance, please call our Patron Services Manager at (414) 267-2961 or email ticketmanager@firststage.org. 

Upon entry to the Todd Wehr Theater, you will walk through a security scanner to check for any items not permitted in the building. While purses and small bags are allowed, please leave larger bags, backpacks, or other items at home. Review Security Procedures at the Marcus Performing Arts Center. Please allow ample time for parking and security checks before the performance.

Ticketing Information

Online at FirstStage.org
Tickets to individual performances, Family Packages, and All-Access Memberships are available on our website, 24/7.

By Phone
Tickets to all performances, call the First Stage Box Office at (414) 267-2961, weekdays 9AM – 4PM.

For tickets to performances held at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, call (414) 273-7206, weekdays 10AM – 4PM.

In Person
For all First Stage tickets, visit us in person at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 W. Walnut Street, Milwaukee, 53212, weekdays 9AM - 4PM or on weekends when there is a First Stage performance scheduled. Limited parking is available at adjacent parking lot, with free street parking available nearby along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (Third Street) and Vel R. Phillips Avenue (Fourth Street).

For tickets to performances at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, please visit the Marcus Center Box Office at 929 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, weekdays 12PM – 4PM.

At the Performance
Tickets may also be purchased at the performance venue (inside the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center’s entrance, or at the Marcus Center’s Todd Wehr Theater lobby) one hour prior to the performance starting time. Note: tickets are subject to availability.

By Email. Electronic tickets are sent to the email address provided when you placed your ticket order, and will come from the address confirmations@firststage.org. This email comes separately from your order confirmation email, which details your transaction. You will be able to either add your tickets to your Apple Wallet or download your tickets as a PDF to either print at home or save on your phone. Watch this video tutorial for additional assistance. The barcode on your tickets will be scanned upon entrance to the theater.

By Mail. If you opt to receive traditional paper tickets and place your order 7-10 days prior to your performance, you will receive your tickets by mail to the address you provide when placing your order. These tickets will be scanned upon entrance to the theater.

Will Call. “Will Call” is a theater term for picking up your tickets. All Will Call tickets may be picked up starting one hour prior to your performance start time. Will Call tickets for performances in the Todd Wehr Theater will be available at the glass counter in the main lobby of the Todd Wehr Theater. Will Call tickets for all performances at Milwaukee Youth Arts Center are located just inside the hallway after you enter the lobby of the building.

Absolutely! First Stage offers flexible ticket exchanges to accommodate busy families.

Patrons with a Family Package or an All-Access Membership receive the benefit of free ticket exchanges. There is not a fee unless there is a price difference for the new performance.

For exchanges for individual tickets (not part of a Family Package or All-Access Membership), there is a $6 fee for the entire order to process the exchange.

To exchange your tickets, please call the Patron Services Manager at (414) 267-2961 or email ticketmanager@firststage.org.

Our plays are enjoyed by children, teens, and adults alike; parents and caregivers are the best judge of your child’s ability to understand and appreciate a specific play. We recommend that children under age 3 do not attend our performances.

Every person, regardless of age, will need a ticket. Young people ages 18 months-old or younger who do not need their own seat and will sit on your lap will be required to have an Infant Lap Pass for each performance, no matter where your seats are located. Infant Lap Passes are $10 and are available at the theater prior to the performance or by contacting the Box Office at (414) 267-2961 or ticketmanager@firststage.org.

Groups of 10 or more may receive a discount off regular ticket prices for First Stage performances. Contact the First Stage Box Office at (414) 267-2961 or email ticketmanager@firststage.org for more information or to make your group reservation.

School groups of 10 or more may attend our weekday matinee performances.

Learn more about making a school group reservation for a field trip to a First Stage performance, as well as other Theater in Education programs that tie our plays to classroom curriculum.

To make your reservation, contact our Assistant Patron Services Manager at (414) 267-2962 or email fieldtrips@firststage.org.

Never fear! We can always re-print your tickets free of charge, or re-send your electronic tickets to your email. Inform the box office representative when you arrive at the theater, and they will reprint your tickets.

There are options! Please contact our Patron Services Manager at (414) 267-2961 or email ticketmanager@firststage.org for assistance with rescheduling your missed performance.

Please call our Box Office at (414) 267-2961 to inform us of your needs. Visit our Accessibility page for more information on accommodations.

Getting Here

First Stage performs at both the Marcus Performing Arts Center's Todd Wehr Theater and the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. Below is a list of remaining performances in our 2024/2025 season and their respective venues:

The Marcus Performing Arts Center is navigable using the 929 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 address. The entrance to the Todd Wehr Theater is facing the Riverwalk, off East State Street.

From the West, take I-94 heading east. Take I-43 northbound ramp on your right. Take the Kilbourn Avenue exit ramp. Turn slight right onto West Kilbourn Avenue. Continue onto East Kilbourn Avenue over the bridge to Water Street. Make a left turn onto Water Street. The Marcus Center is located on the corner of Water and State Streets.

From the South, take I-94/I-43 heading north. Take the McKinley Avenue exit ramp. Turn right onto McKinley Avenue. Continue onto East McKinley Avenue over the bridge to Water Street. Make a right turn onto Water Street. The Marcus Center is located on the corner of Water and States Streets.

From the North, take I-43 south.  Exit freeway at the Fond du Lac/McKinley Avenue ramp. Turn left onto McKinley Avenue (eastbound).  Make a right turn onto Water Street.  The Marcus Center and the Marcus Center Parking Structure are located on the corner of Water and State Streets.

The Marcus Performing Arts Center Parking Structure is located one block north of the Marcus Center, between East State Street and East Highland Avenue. To access the parking structure, turn onto State Street from Water Street. The entrance is one block west of Water Street on the right. There is also access to the west side of the parking structure, via Edison Street.

Handicapped accessible stalls are available. For your convenience, a skywalk crosses State Street from the parking structure to the Marcus Center. To access the skywalk from the parking structure, take the stairs or elevator in the southeast corner and go to the third floor (roof level).

The entrance is one block west of Water Street on the right. The parking fee is $15, payable by credit or debit card only. Cash payment is not accepted. Handicapped accessible stalls are available. 

Prepaid Parking

Think ahead and take advantage of prepaid parking at the MPAC Garage! Please note: Parking fees are subject to demand pricing based on events going on in the district. Save time and money with this convenient option.

Directions for purchasing parking:

1. Click the dedicated Book Parking link
2. Click the save (heart) to note this lot for future visits
3. Use the Start Time Now drop down ("Select a start time" option will allow you to choose a date)
4. The link will redirect you to sign up. Set up an account by entering your email, phone number, and a password
5. Add your license plate
6. Enter a payment method
7. Select Special Event $15 (note this is the advance rate. Parking fees are subject to demand, so pre-paid parking helps avoid potential higher costs at the gate).
8. You will receive a QR code and instructions on how to use the code via email. (You can also access the QR code in your active sessions on the HonkMobile app or Website)

Please contact Interstate Parking with any questions about prepaid parking at info@interstateparking.com.

If a member of your party is in a wheelchair, scooter, or has other mobility or accessibility concerns and needs to access the Todd Wehr Theater by elevator, we encourage you to drop them off curbside at 123 East State Street, which is the northern side of the building and guide them to the Todd Wehr Theater accessible entrance doors on the ground level, underneath the main two-sided staircase used by patrons to enter the theater. You enter through the doors on your furthest left and up the ramp to access the Todd Wehr Theater lobby.

Additionally, street parking is free on weekends beginning Fridays at 6PM. Please check the City of Milwaukee website for any parking restrictions or additional updates.

From the Riverwalk to the lobby entrance
From East State Street, you will access the Todd Wehr Theater using the entrance that faces the Riverwalk. There is a long set of stairs that leads to the Todd Wehr Lobby. 

From the Riverwalk to the accessible entrance
From East State Street, you will access the Todd Wehr Theater using the entrance that faces the Riverwalk. The elevator entrance for the Todd Wehr Theater is located under the stairwell leading to the lobby. Walk just past the stairs facing the Riverwalk entrance to access a set of glass doors. Enter through these doors and proceed down the hallway towards the elevator. 

From the Skywalk Entrance
From the Skywalk, First Stage patrons will be guided to the right. Follow the long hallway until you reach the Todd Wehr Theater entrance on the right, near the Bradley Pavilion entrance.

Please note: There is not a way to access the Todd Wehr Theater from the Marcus Center’s Water Street entrance.

The Milwaukee Youth Arts Center is located at 325 W. Walnut Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212.

From the West, take I-94 heading east. Take I-43 northbound ramp on your right. Take the Fond Du Lac Avenue/McKinley Avenue exit ramp. Turn right onto McKinley Avenue. Continue onto East McKinley Avenue. Turn left on North Dr. Martin Luther King Drive (Third Street). The entrance to the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center parking lot will be on the left.

From the South, take I-94/I-43 heading north. Take the Fond Du Lac Avenue/McKinley Avenue exit ramp. Turn right onto McKinley Avenue. Continue onto East McKinley Avenue. Turn left on North Dr. Martin Luther King Drive (Third Street). The entrance to the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center parking lot will be on the left.

From the North, take I-43 south.  Take the Fond du Lac/McKinley Avenue exit ramp. Turn left onto McKinley Avenue (eastbound).  Turn left on North Dr. Martin Luther King Drive (Third Street). The entrance to the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center parking lot will be on the left.

Limited free parking is available in the adjacent lot of the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. If you are using the area as a drop-off/pick up point, please try not to block the flow of traffic, and move as soon as possible to a parking space.

Street parking along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (Third Street) and Vel R. Phillips Avenue (Fourth Street) is available within a close walk of the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. The MPS Parking Lot located at West Galena Street and Vel R. Phillips Avenue offers free parking to MYAC guests on evenings and weekends.

The front entrance of the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center faces West Walnut Street, between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Vel R. Phillips Avenue. Patrons may drop members of their party off in front of the Walnut Street entrance for easy access to the entrance, then proceed to either MYAC parking lot or street parking.

Handicapped accessible parking spots are available in the MYAC parking lot. MYAC also offers barrier-free accessible entrances and walkways.

ENRICHMENT GUIDES

Explore this guide for a range of materials and activities intended to help you discover connections within the play. Developed by First Stage's Theater in Education department.

Learn More about ENRICHMENT GUIDES

Accessibility

First Stage’s accessibility policy guarantees a welcoming experience for all patrons. At the Marcus Performing Arts Center, all entrances, including the Riverwalk entrance with a ramp and elevator to the Todd Wehr Theater, are wheelchair accessible. Routes are also accessible from the parking structure and multiple street entrances.

Learn More about Accessibility