Your adventure awaits with First Stage’s 2015-16 Season!

Lucy (played by Catherine Gwidt) advises Jeff Frank
at First Stage's 2015-2016 Season Announcement event.

First Stage Artistic Director Jeff Frank and Associate Artistic Director John Maclay announced the 2015-2016 season to Family Package holders and donors at our season announcement event on Sunday, March 8. 

“First Stage’s commitment to creating innovative new work for young people and families is center stage once again in our 29^th season,” said Frank. “Adventures new and well-remembered will grace our stages this season - from James' journey across the ocean on a giant peach, to Ella from Frell's quest to cure her curse, to the heroic efforts of young Theodore and his giant friend Oliver to save their village.”

World premiere titles include two First Steps plays, our interactive theater series geared toward theater-goers ages 3-6: SPOOKLEY THE SQUARE PUMPKIN The Musical October 10 – November 1, 2015 by Joe Troiano with music by Jeff Zahn; and JUST A LITTLE CRITTER MUSICAL February 13 – March 13, 2016 by First Stage Associate Artistic Director John Maclay with music by First Stage Theater Academy alum Brett Ryback. 

THE SNOW by Finegan Kruckmeyer, will debut at the Marcus Center’s Todd Wehr Theater February 26 – March 20, 2016. “We’re thrilled to develop this piece with Oregon Children’s Theatre and Magik Theatre, the commission of our first international playwright,” said Frank. “Finegan Kruckemeyer is a master storyteller, and we are thrilled that THE SNOW will be part of The Wisconsin Cycle this year, honoring our own state’s frozen tundra and rich tradition of Germanic folk tales.” The final world premiere of the season ELLA ENCHANTED, co-commissioned by Adventure Theatre MTC (in Maryland) and First Stage, takes the stage April 1 – May 1, 2016.

A snippet from Little Critter gets laughs. Ben
Usatinsky, Anna Fitzsimmons and John Maclay.

Well-loved classic titles round out the season beginning with ROALD DAHL’S JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH October 16 – November 15, 2015, a musical adaptation of the literary classic. Cherished holiday classic A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS makes its First Stage debut November 27, 2015 – January 3, 2016. Join Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy and the rest of the Peanuts gang as they discover the true meaning of Christmas.  January marks the return of one of the most popular plays in First Stage history with HOLES January 15 – February 14, 2016. “It’s a season of new works while remaining rooted in the traditions First Stage families have come to expect and look forward to each year,” said Frank. The season concludes with the return of the spunkiest mouse around in LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE May 13 – June 12, 2016. Commemorating the 20^th anniversary of the book by Wisconsin author Kevin Henkes, this imaginative adaptation invites you into Lilly’s colorful world of imagination!

First Stage’s award-winning Young Company will perform two plays at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center in its 12^th season. One of Shakespeare’s greatest romances ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL December 11 – 20, 2015, is a wild journey filled with comedy, love, bold plans, dirty tricks and brilliantly drawn characters. “These young people have earned a national reputation for performing the works of Shakespeare with clarity and skill well beyond their years,” said First Stage Associate Artistic Director and Director of the Young Company John Maclay.  “Our Shakespeare puts the focus where it should be: on the language and each character’s individual journey.” The Young Company then presents Jean Anouilh’s brilliant twentieth century adaptation of the classic Greek play, ANTIGONE April 8-17, 2016.

First Stage’s 2015-2016 season:

FAMILY SERIES at the Todd Wehr Theater:

ROALD DAHL’S JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH
October 16 – November 15, 2015

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS
November 27, 2015 – January 3, 2016

HOLES
January 15 – February 14, 2016

THE SNOW
February 26 – March 20, 2016

ELLA ENCHANTED
April 1 – May 1, 2016

LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE
May 13 – June 12, 2016

FIRST STEPS SERIES at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center:

Spookley the Square Pumpkin The Musical
October 10 – November 1, 2015

JUST A LITTLE CRITTER MUSICAL
February 13 – March 13, 2016


FIRST STAGE YOUNG COMPANY:

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL
December 11 – 20, 2015

ANTIGONE
April 8-17, 2016

Family Packages on sale April 1, 2015

Current Family Package holders can renew now for the 2015-2016 season. Family packages will go on sale to the general public on April 1, 2015. To find out more about how to create a family package, CLICK HERE. Please contact the First Stage Box Office with questions or assistance renewing your package.