We have enjoyed many shows over the last 3 years but tonight it went above and beyond in quality…read more Kinky Boots was SPECTACULAR and every role and touch was done beautifully. I have a slight hearing impairment and yet today the actors sang loud and clear all through the show. I so appreciate good actors who can pull this off. The entire cast was incredibly talented, and the music and staging rivaled shows I have seen in large cities. Cyndi Lauper wrote the music and lyrics, and she is brilliant. This theater has lots of parking and the ticket prices are easy on the pocket. There are refreshments for sale and if you have a few $$ to spend they are building a more intimate Black Box theater next to the main stage. This is going to be another big win for the theater crowd. Thank you for bringing this wonderful program to Waukesha. The two main actors, William Salinas and Caleb Joyner gave their all and the audience was all in for the entire production. But I also loved every supporting actor for their talent, which was incredible. I can't wait for the next shows- I plan to attend them all!

Last minute decision to see Murder on The Orient Express today. Very impressed by the intimate,…read morewelcoming atmosphere of the theater and dedicated volunteers. I was blown away by the cast and set. The acting equaled what I have seen at much larger venues with large budgets, ( and significantly higher ticket prices) ! I definitely will be returning, it is a hidden gem in Waukesha County!

Wonderful, intimate theater in Hartland. Many great shows and much variety. High level of talent…read moretoo, esp for a small theater in a suburban location, Don't miss out on this gem!

My love affair with the Boulevard is fairly new. Mark (The Artistic Director) stopped by a meeting…read moreI hosted awhile back and brought along some of the actors to share a reading with us. I then drug my date to the full length performance of "Circle Mirror Transformation". I had no idea what to expect, but I loved the energy and accessibility of the folks I met and I wanted more. I enjoyed the first show so much I've been to another one since and have brought several of my friends with me! That same energy and sense of accessibility was clear at the theater-I was not disappointed! Mark makes a point to acknowledge people in the audience, thanking them, and asking them to talk about their organizations. There is a real sense of community happening and it's hard not to feel like part of the family. Location is perfect-You can park once and grab dinner before and drinks or dessert after. Arrive early (Doors open 20 minutes prior to curtain). Try out your chair and make sure it's comfortable, there are a few fairly uncomfortable ones. Avoid the "Lincoln Balcony". Have a drink and pee before you get there. Small space=No food/drink service and one tiny bathroom.

My husband and I love going to see the many wonderful productions performed in this small theater…read morespace. They hire many beginning actors/ actresses, helping get their foot in the door, as well as many local talents. Mark is always very sociable and promotes the current works being presented by other theater companies; many times if someone from another theater is in the audience he will give them a moment to announce what they have in store. This theater is one of the reasons Bay View has become such a wonderful neighborhood to visit, live in, and open new business. I would suggest giving this theater a try, I think too many people overlook local theaters and miss out on some very well produced pieces. Also, Mark is a certified officiant for weddings and did a wonderful job with ours. We received many compliments from our guests and we were thrilled that he could take part in such an important way on our wedding day. Thanks Mark! :) Street parking only, in spitting distance of: Cafe Lulu, Guanajuato (sp?), Riviera Mia, Babe's, Stone Creek Coffee, Toppers, Cafe Centraal, Wild Flour Bakery, and Jimmy Johns in case you want dinner or a snack before the show. There are other scrumptious places to eat within a short drive as well.

Although I thought the play Circle Mirror Transformation was done poorly, I loved the theater…read more Intimate, the audience on three sides, there isn't a bad seat in the house. Acoustics are good and the lighting excellent. As for Circle, the casting was ludicrous, especially the younger women who didn't fit their roles at all. Their performances were less than high school level. They played into over-acting, exaggerating every facial expression and movement. It was embarrassing. This play's staging is all about mirror placement. The audience should be able to see the reactive expressions of the actors from different angles. This director placed one mirror at the back of the stage, barely reflecting the audience. What the heck was that? It served no purpose. I understand the Next Act Theater has a low budget, but hire actors who look the part of the characters they play. There are hundreds of wonderful theatrical artists in the Milwaukee area who would give anything for one of these parts. There is no excuse. All that being said, the Next Act Theater is still a fantastic venue to see a production, most are much better than this version of Circle Mirror Transformation, an Obie award winning play.

Milwaukee's theater scene is really strong, but don't sleep on this small powerhouse of a theater,…read moreNext Act Theatre! I loved my subscriptions in 2021, 2022, and can always count on Next Act to give me a play that makes me think, laugh, question society through the lens of a new play written in a Shakespearean style or through a multicultural lens. So far in 2023 I've enjoyed Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" the West End's longest running play, and am looking forward to another in 2024! The art in the lobby is curated to reflect the current play, as well! Seats are easy to purchase online or by phone, and there's even an audio service during performances for the hard of hearing. Next Act supports the best in acting talent in the Milwaukee area, great playwrights and I recommend you check them out!

We have attended a few productions here, and have enrolled our 6 year old in a few of their…read moreclasses. They do great work here. A week or two before our daughters first class I told her she was going to come here for a "drama class." She freaked out and assured me she only wants to be dramatic when she wants to be dramatic. I've since learned that First Stage is about far more than drama. It is about helping young people find their comfort and confidence through creativity and "stage skills." And our daughter has since learned to really love this place. The facility is great for parents an children alike. They work hard to provide an environment where your child feels safe and creative. They've more than succeeded. As a parent, I feel well taken care of here as well. I'm drafting this review in a comfy chair in the atrium lounge area where they provide wifi and vending machines, etc. If you have kids, you have to be here. This is one of the places that makes me feel proud about Milwaukee!

First Stage is Amazing. I started attending shows as an…read moreadult to witness a friend perform as a professional actor. My nephew is now old enough to attend shows and we go at least once per year if not more. The shows are geared toward the children but if I must say, are delightfully entertaining for adults as well. This season we saw Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the set design incorporating the puppet animals as well as the Bumble were fantastic. Special props to the stage hands who made the show run so smoothly. Bottom line is that it's great. Tickets are inexpensive, the experience is fantastic and there is a halftime break to buy cookies. If you have a little one in your life it's a great excursion and even if you don't, everyone should check in with the kid at heart once in a while.

Renaissance Theaterworks is dedicated to improving gender parity in theater. They're the only woman…read morefounded and run theater company in Milwaukee. What's not to love about that?!? My mom and I went recently to their production of Top Girls. The theater space the show was in was perfectly intimate (not a bad seat in the house). I love enjoying plays in such small venues. To be able to see the actors every facial expression and gesture completely captivates me. The play was beautifully acted and thought provoking. It was a great play to see with my mom (who was staying with me for a couple weeks). We ended up having some great conversations about it! If you go to see one of their shows on a Wednesday evening, it's wine Wednesday! You get a complimentary glass of wine with the play. Oh...and they gave us chocolates (like really amazing, rich bites of heavenly goodness) as we exited. What a lovely evening! Get to it!

Founded in 1993, Renaissance Theaterworks is Milwaukee's only women-founded, women-run theatre…read morecompany. Their mission is to "create compelling theater focusing on the exploration of the feminine voice and to offer professional opportunities to emerging local theater artists." I've seen two of their excellent offerings written by 2009 Playwright in Residence (part-founder) Marie Kohler: Boswell's Dreams (2005) and the Dig (2009). Both plays were intriguing and well worth my art dollars. The company has since taken up residence at the 100-person seat Studio Theater in the Broadway Theater complex. With the Third Ward location one can easily find plenty of restaurants nearby to make this a nice centerpiece for a night out. Parking in the lot next door is $5 or you might be lucky to find an open meter space. Renaissance Theaterworks is well worth your time and support! Support the Arts, Milwaukee!

This is a classic small cinema, with one level, old school chairs and a small lobby. They play some…read moremovie classics, which is what brought me there, a screening of Purple Rain. They offer pizza and adult drinks. Their popcorn is actually quite good. The pizza is adequate, but it took forever to be ready. They do have on site parking, which is useful. The staff members we interacted with were polite. Overall, I enjoyed my visit there.

This is an adorable, smaller cinema that plays a lot of older and local films. It really is a…read morehidden gem of the city. It's a bit of an older cinema, so expect that going in but it's really worth supporting such a great place for the community. I have seen numerous films here and every time it makes me feel like I'm a kid again going to the cinema with my family. The popcorn here is really good too-They use real butter!

Moonlit Movies in Oconomowoc has been a well attended local event since inception, being held in…read moretwo downtown locations... One downtown on Main St., the other at Folwer Park on Fowler lake. Both drawing several thousand friendly and happy people! It bring the whole town out and the whole together. The Main Street site being my favorite as one can set up camp for the movie, and grab a great meal at any one of the great local eateries ranging from food trucks to 5 star Indian, and everything in between. The community pulls out all the stops with almost every church within 5 miles having a big presence (with a few sadly and notably absent) of engaging activities for family and kids. There are three movies movies during the season, and one being aimed at a kid free audience too.

Awesome... Movies shown in the park, and snacks and drinks are available. Classic movies shown in…read morenature. Plenty of room, so bring your own chair. Check schedule for movie times.