0
Buy Tickets 0 Cart Donate
Buy Tickets 0 Cart Donate

The Cherry Tortured

  • Written & Directed by Aaron Posner

February 26 – March 28, 2027

Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater
Buy Tickets
Buy Tickets
Buy Tickets Call Ticket Office
Chekhov’s Classic. Door County Freshness.

Milwaukee Rep favorite Aaron Posner (The Chosen) returns for the World Premiere of his gloriously funny, brilliantly sharp reimagining of Chekhov’s masterpiece, The Cherry Orchard. Set in modern day Door County, one unforgettable family fights for love, legacy, and tradition as the future of their beloved family estate teeters on the edge of change. The Cherry Tortured is the latest in Posner’s award-winning series of bold and clever Chekhovian adaptations that rank among the most produced plays in the country — and you can be the first to see this cheeky, free-spirited take on an all-time classic.

“[Posner is] a dramatist who knows his Chekhov up and down.” — The Washington Post

Approximate Running Time:

2 hours and 25 minutes including one intermission

Content: A bold new play exploring complex themes and relationships. Click here for more specific content information.

Seating Chart

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, March 16, 6:30pm

American Sign Language (ASL):
Friday, March 19, 7:30pm

GalaPro Captioning:
Thursday, March 11, 7:30pm
Saturday, March 13, 3pm
Wednesday, March 17, 1:30pm
Friday, March 19, 7:30pm
Wednesday, March 24, 1:30pm
Sunday, March 28, 2pm

Part of
World Premiere Wisconsin

 

Executive Producers
Idy Goodman
Judy Hansen

A John (Jack) D. Lewis New Play Development Program Production

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, March 21, 5:00pm
Herzfeld Foundation Education & Engagement Center 
Cost: $30 per person, excludes The Cherry Tortured show ticket

Generational Legacy & Trauma
What do we inherit from the generations that came before us? Explore how family history, cultural traditions, and lived experiences shape our identities and perspectives. Consider what we carry forward, what we leave behind, and how we define our own legacy.

Prologue: Financial Success Workshop

Tuesday, March 23, 5:00pm-7:00pm
Cost: Suggested donation of $20

Discover simple strategies to build wealth, reduce financial stress, and take control of your financial future. Learn practical money concepts that can help you make more confident financial decisions—no matter where you're starting. Reserve your seat today and start building the future you deserve!

Post-Show Experiences

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

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.

Thursday, March 11 after the performance
Thursday, March 18 after the performance

Panel: What Does Success Look Like?

Post-Show - Tuesday, March 16

Success isn’t a fixed destination—it shifts depending on who is telling the story. Inspired by the reimagining of The Cherry Orchard, this conversation explores ambition, failure, legacy, and the pressure to define “making it” on society’s terms versus your own.

Dinner Dialogue

Sunday, March 21, 5:00pm
Herzfeld Foundation Education & Engagement Center
Cost: $30 per person, excludes The Cherry Tortured show ticket

Generational Legacy & Trauma
What do we inherit from the generations that came before us? Explore how family history, cultural traditions, and lived experiences shape our identities and perspectives. Consider what we carry forward, what we leave behind, and how we define our own legacy.

You Might Also Like These Productions

Instructions for a Séance

October 6 – November 8

Herro-Franke Studio Theater

A hilarious, haunting one-woman show blending memoir and magic as a séance summons Houdini—and confronts ambition, motherhood and life’s beautiful chaos.

Heist

November 17 – December 20

Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater

A high-stakes, twist-filled crime caper full of secrets, clever surprises and edge-of-your-seat suspense. Who will pull off the ultimate score?

John Proctor Is the Villain

January 12 – February 7, 2027

Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater

A sharp, hilarious Broadway hit where students clash over truth, power, and whose voices matter—provocative and timely, a must-see theatrical ride.

Twelve Angry Men

February 2 – 28, 2027

Herro-Franke Studio Theater

A gripping courtroom drama where twelve jurors battle bias and doubt, proving how one voice can change minds—and the course of justice.

Penelope

April 6 – May 9, 2027

Herro-Franke Studio Theater

A witty, music-filled journey reimagining a mythic woman’s wait, blending humor, heartache and modern grit with live music and fierce emotional honesty.