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John Proctor Is the Villain

  • By Kimberly Belflower
  • Directed by Laura Braza

January 12 – February 7, 2027

Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater
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A Bold, Contemporary Twist On A Classic Story

Broadway smash hit and seven-time 2025 Tony Award nominee John Proctor Is the Villain is a sharp, provocative reexamination of morality and consequence. Set in a modern high school classroom, students collide over truth, power, and whose voices actually get heard. Funny, fearless, and bursting with energy, this contemporary take flips familiar ideas on their head and tackles today’s most urgent questions—leaving you laughing, gasping, and talking long after you leave the theater.

"A heart-wrenching, guttural, cathartic masterpiece. This is a perfect play for our moment, an urgent response to a time of crisis and a battle cry in the face of a terrifying world."  — Variety

Approximate Running Time:

100 minutes with no intermission

Content: Explores mature themes and contemporary issues. Click here for more specific content information.

Seating Chart

Synopsis

Below are more details about the show. If you prefer to experience the story without knowing any plot details in advance, we recommend closing this window.

At a high school in a one-stoplight town in Georgia, a group of lively teens navigate young love, sex ed and a few school scandals while studying a canonical play in English class. As the students delve into the American classic, they begin to question the play’s perspective and the validity of naming its hero. With deep wells of passion and biting humor, this dramatic comedy captures a generation mid-transformation, running on pop music, optimism and fury. Alternating between touching, unsettling and bitingly funny moments, these teens discover that their future is not bound by the past and that they have the power to change it all by writing their own coming-of-age story.

John Proctor Is the Villain made its Broadway debut on April 14, 2025, directed by Danya Taymor, and was nominated for seven Tony Awards.

Accessibility Information

Milwaukee Rep offers a variety of accessibility services and seating options to help ensure a welcoming experience for all guests. The Checota Powerhouse features wheelchair, wheelchair transfer, companion, bariatric, and no-step seating. Look for the accessibility key on the seating chart when purchasing tickets.

To learn more about our accessibility services, explore our full Access Program or contact our Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.

Audio Description:
Tuesday, January 19, 6:30pm

American Sign Language (ASL):
Friday, February 5, 7:30pm

GalaPro Captioning:
Saturday, January 23, 3pm
Wednesday, January 27, 1:30pm
Thursday, January 28, 7:30pm
Friday, January 29, 7:30pm
Wednesday, February 3, 1:30pm
Sunday, February 7, 2pm
Presented by Christine Symchych & Jim McNulty

Corporate Sponsor
Cannon and Dunphy Injury Lawyers

 

[Critic’s Pick!]
A vital, hilarious, thrilling, urgently necessary new play.

— The New York Times

John Proctor Is the Villain not only serves as a modern day recontextualization of the original play, but also a laugh-out-loud funny and deeply affecting examination of girlhood, feminism, the #MeToo movement, and the unstoppable power of female friendship. It is pure, heartbreaking perfection.

Full of zing, zest and heartbreak, this play hits as hard as it does because at its heart, fighting their way through one hell of a junior year, are the kind of heroes we actually need.

— New York Magazine

Pre-Show Experiences

Make a night of it with special events and activities before the performance. All events held in the Herzfeld Foundation Education & Engagement Center.

Dinner Dialogue

Sunday, January 31, 5:00pm
Cost: $30 per person, excludes John Proctor show ticket

False Idols & Heroes
How do we decide who deserves our admiration? Explore the heroes we celebrate, the stories we inherit, and what happens when those narratives are challenged. Consider the difference between inspiration, influence, and idolization in today's world.

Post-Show Experiences

Extend your theater experience with special events and activities after the performance.

Panel: Shaming, Reputation, and Policing of Women’s Bodies

Post-Show - Tuesday, January 19

Join us for an important conversation that digs into how reputation, shame, and public judgment are used to control women’s bodies and voices—on stage, in schools, and in society at large. We’ll unpack how narratives are shaped, and what it takes to push back.

TalkBacks

The conversation continues after the show. Stay in your seat for a post-show TalkBack with members of the cast. Free with your show ticket.

Wednesday, January 20 after the performance
Wednesday, January 27 after the performance

Dinner Dialogue

Sunday, January 31, 5:00pm
Cost: $30 per person, excludes John Proctor show ticket

False Idols & Heroes
How do we decide who deserves our admiration? Explore the heroes we celebrate, the stories we inherit, and what happens when those narratives are challenged. Consider the difference between inspiration, influence, and idolization in today's world.

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