Theaters

Milwaukee Repertory Theater

For 57 years, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater has been dedicated to providing the highest level of professional theater to Milwaukee and Wisconsin. Its legacy began in 1954, when Milwaukee native Mary Widrig John forged a plan to create a professional theater for the city. The result was the Fred Miller Theater on Oakland Avenue, so named after the head of Miller Brewing Company and chair of the theater's fund-raising campaign who died in a plane crash before the project was completed. The Fred Miller Theater produced a standard repertoire of Broadway's current hits. To draw initial audiences, the company espoused the star system and featured well known performers in lead roles. In the early 1960's, the company reorganized to create a resident acting company and expand its repertoire to include classics and premieres of new works. The name Milwaukee Repertory Theater was chosen in 1963 to reflect this new philosophy. The Fred Miller Theater facility, now called the Miramar Theater, is still used by many smaller theater companies in Milwaukee.

In 1995, The Rep moved into it current home, a cleverly converted power plant, the Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex. This facility houses three theaters and is adjoined to the Milwaukee Center, Wyndham Hotel and Pabst Theater. Considered the Rep's mainstage, the Quadracci Powerhouse seats 720 patrons. The 218-seat Stiemke Studio is a black box theater. The Stackner Cabaret is a full service restaurant and bar and presents smaller, mainly music-based pieces for audiences in its 118-seat theater. Together, these spaces provide the Rep with a variety of staging options and allow us to offer our audiences a wide range of dramatic fare. The Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex also houses the Rep's rehearsal facilities, shops and administrative offices.

For a complete history of Milwaukee Repertory Theater, click here.