SPONSORED CONTENT
P R E SE NT E D BY UNIT ED P ERFORMING ARTS F U ND
Live!
Y O U R G U I D E TO G R E AT P E R F O R M A N C E S T H I S FA L L Skylight Music Theatre
IMAGE: COURTESY OF UPAF
Dear Readers,
In 2027, the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) celebrates 60 years of championing the performing arts in Southeastern Wisconsin, and we’re excited to welcome you to another remarkable season. Every performance is more than an evening of entertainment – your attendance strengthens our region by supporting thousands of artists, musicians, performers and backstage professionals. UPAF organizations also provide arts education to more than 96,000 children each year, inspiring the next generation through the power of the arts. Donors who contribute at the UPAF SMART Card level enjoy two-for-one tickets at all 14 UPAF member organizations while investing in the future of our vibrant arts community. Whether you’re planning a date night, an evening with friends or a family matinee, this guide will help you discover the perfect performance. Visit UPAF.org to explore upcoming events, learn more about the SMART Card and celebrate 60 years of regional impact through the arts with us.
SCAN HERE TO LEARN MORE!
Annemarie Scobey-Polacheck Sincerely,
UPAF President and CEO
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SPONSORED CONTENT
Fall CALENDAR
Trayf SEPT. 16-OCT. 4 In 1990s New York City, Orthodox Jewish teens and lifelong best friends Zalmy and Shmuel are intent on saving the world from behind the wheel of their “Mitzvah Tank” van. But when a curious outsider deepens Zalmy’s interest in the secular world of rock ’n’ roll and roller skates, Shmuel does everything in his power to keep his and Zalmy’s dreams intact. This road-trip bromance is a funny and heartwarming ode to the turbulence of youth, the universal suspicion that we don’t quite fit in and the faith and friends that see us through. Wisconsin Premiere. Featuring A.J. Magoon, Alex Mitchell, Lucas Prizant and Rachael Zientek.
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
The World Goes Round Milwaukee Rep SEPT. 11-NOV. 1 milwaukeerep.com An Aria Extravaganza The Florentine Opera SEPT. 15 florentineopera.org Trayf Next Act Theatre SEPT. 16-OCT. 4 nextact.org Composed for the WCW: A 150th Anniversary Concert Present Music SEPT. 17 presentmusic.org Maybe We’ll Fly Milwaukee Chamber Theatre SEPT. 18-OCT. 11 milwaukeechambertheatre.org Season Opening Fanfare Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra SEPT. 18-19 mso.org 85 | milwaukeemag.com
DanceLAB Youth Get It Out There Danceworks SEPT. 19 danceworksmke.org/concerts
NEXTACT.ORG
Footloose Milwaukee Rep SEPT. 22-NOV. 1 milwaukeerep.com
Season Opening Fanfare
Gypsy Skylight Music Theatre SEPT. 25-OCT. 18 skylightmusictheatre.org
SEPT. 18-19
Kings of Soul Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra SEPT. 26-27 mso.org MYSO
IMAGES: COURTESY OF JONATHAN KIRN (MSO); COURTESY OF UPAF (MYSO)
SEPTEMBER
The 2026-27 MSO season begins with bravura to the tune of Copland’s stirring Fanfare for the Common Man. Brahms’ double concerto for violin and cello follows, with the MSO’s own Concertmaster Jinwoo Lee and Principal Cello Susan Babini collaborating on this unusual and impassioned combination.
MSO.ORG
FRIDAY
OCTOBER 16, 2026 AT 7:30PM SUNDAY
OCTOBER 18, 2026 AT 2:30PM Uihlein Hall Marcus Performing Arts Center
Tickets available at florentineopera.org or by scanning the QR code SE PTE MBE R 20 26 | 86
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OCTOBER
SPONSORED CONTENT
First Stage
Footloose the Musical
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra OCT. 2-3 mso.org
Instructions for a Séance Milwaukee Rep OCT. 6-NOV. 8 milwaukeerep.com Made in America: Korngold & Rachmaninoff Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra OCT. 9-10 mso.org La Traviata The Florentine Opera OCT. 16-18 florentineopera.org From Darkness, Light Bel Canto Chorus OCT. 18 belcanto.org
Great White Throne Renaissance Theatreworks OCT. 18-NOV. 8 rtwmke.org
JP Coletta’s Rock ’n’ Roll Piano Man Milwaukee Rep NOV. 6-JAN. 3 milwaukeerep.com
Movement & Melody Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra OCT. 23-25 mso.org
Play Your Part Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra NOV. 7 myso.org/ play-your-part-2026
Forty Something! Present Music OCT. 30 presentmusic.org Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra OCT. 30-31 mso.org
NOVEMBER Peter and the Wolf Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra NOV. 1 mso.org Mirror, Mirror Milwaukee Ballet NOV. 6-8 milwaukeeballet.org
Milwaukee Ballet Community Engagement Program
87 | milwaukeemag.com
Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra NOV. 6-8 mso.org
Get ready to kick off your heels and feel the beat! The smash-hit film Footloose explodes onto the stage with high-octane choreography and electrifying ’80s anthems, including “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” and “Holding Out for a Hero.” When city teen Ren moves to a small town where dancing is banned, he challenges the rules, sparks romance, and inspires a community to rediscover joy, freedom, and the power of music. Helmed by Olivier Award-winning artist Stephen Mear, who wowed Milwaukee audiences with his choreography for Ragtime and Guys and Dolls, this energetic, feel-good Tony-nominated musical will have you laughing, cheering, and jumping to your feet.
A Gift of the Magi Milwaukee Chamber Theatre NOV. 13-DEC. 6 milwaukeechambertheatre.org
MILWAUKEEREP.COM
Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Big Skylight Music Theatre NOV. 13-DEC. 27 skylightmusictheatre.org Royal Fireworks Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra NOV. 14-15 mso.org Festival of the Spheres Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra NOV. 15 myso.org/events/ festival-of-the-spheres Heist Milwaukee Rep NOV. 17-DEC. 20 milwaukeerep.com
IMAGES: COURTESY OF PAUL RUFFOLO (FIRST STAGE); UPAF (MILWAUKEE BALLET COMMUNITY)
Go Dog Go! First Stage OCT. 3-NOV. 1 firststage.org
SEPT. 22-NOV. 1
SEPT. 25-OCT. 18 Featuring Broadway stars Janet Metz and Andrew Varela, Gypsy is set during the final years of American vaudeville and follows the relentless stage mother Mama Rose as she pushes her daughters toward show business success. As vaudeville fades and Mama Rose’s ambitions clash with reality, her shy daughter Louise unexpectedly finds fame as the legendary burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee. This classic musical explores the complicated bonds between mothers, daughters and the pursuit of stardom.
SKYLIGHTMUSICTHEATRE.ORG
Based on the book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss Book and Lyrics by
featuring
TIMOTHY MASON
jacob horstmeier as THE GRINCH
Music by
MEL MARVIN Additional Music and Lyrics by Albert Hague and Dr. Seuss
firststage.org
November 21 - December 27, 2026 | Todd Wehr Theater at the Marcus Performing Arts Center D
Join Us For Our 71st Season FEATURED PERFORMANCES
For a full list of concerts, visit MYSO.org
Nov 7, 2026 - Play Your Part Community Concert Nov 15, 2026 - Festival of the Spheres Feb 20, 2027 - Founders Concert May 16, 2027 - Grand Finale
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SPONSORED CONTENT
Brahms Symphony No. 2 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra NOV. 20-21 mso.org
Danceworks
Pops Season Opener: Kings of Soul
La Traviata
SEPT. 26-27
OCT. 16-18
Principal Pops Conductor Byron Stripling returns, opening the season with a concert honoring the true kings of classic soul. Groove to the greatest hits from legendary artists Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Otis Redding, The Temptations and more.
She lives fast, loves freely and throws a better party than anyone in Paris. But beneath the champagne and charm, Violetta knows her days in the spotlight won’t last forever. When she dares to trade pleasure for true love, society – and Alfredo’s very proper family – are quick to remind her just how unforgiving Paris can be. Verdi’s La Traviata is all romance, sacrifice and a story where “happily ever after” takes a hard pass.
MSO.ORG
FLORENTINEOPERA.ORG
Great White Throne
From Darkness, Light
OCT. 16-NOV. 8
OCT. 18
A darkly comic examination of power and inheritance, following a pastor’s wife as she collides with the limits, expectations and hypocrisies of public ministry. In her darkest hour, she comes face to face with the last person she wants to see, igniting a reckoning with faith, influence and the cost of living a life on display. Great White Throne is written by local actor and playwright Cara Johnston and was developed as part of the 2025 Br!NK New Play Festival. Great White Throne is also RTW’s contribution to World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide festival celebrating new works.
Before audiences came to know it as the Nelson Mass, Haydn titled his 1798 composition Missa in Angustiis, the Mass for Troubled Times. Written amid political uncertainty and the turmoil of war, this masterpiece transforms feelings of anxiety into a powerful expression of hope, faith and triumph. Bel Canto Chorus opens its season by pairing Haydn’s work with Ola Gjeilo’s Luminous Night of the Soul, a contemporary meditation that explores themes of light, spiritual union and the divine spirit of art. Featuring the Baptist College of Ministry Chamber Strings, this inspiring program bridges centuries of sacred music, illuminating the enduring search for light, peace and renewal.
RTWMKE.ORG
BELCANTO.ORG
DPMKE Fall Concert Danceworks NOV. 20-22 danceworksmke.org/concerts Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! First Stage NOV. 21-DEC. 27 firststage.org A Hundred Ways: Thanksgiving Present Music NOV. 22 presentmusic.org Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra NOV. 27-29 mso.org
DECEMBER
The Boys from Baraboo Next Act Theatre DEC. 2-20 nextact.org A Christmas Carol Milwaukee Rep DEC. 2-24 milwaukeerep.com 89 | milwaukeemag.com
IMAGE: COURTESY OF UPAF
Celebrating the Season in Song The Florentine Opera DEC. 2 florentineopera.org
FILM WITH LIVE ORCHESTR A
OCT 2 | OCT 3 FRI-SAT 7:30PM
CALL OR CLICK 414-291-7605 | MSO.ORG BRADLEY SYMPHONY CENTER 212 WEST WISCONSIN AVENUE, MILWAUKEE, WI 53203
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SPONSORED CONTENT
Christmas at the Basilica: Uplifted Bel Canto Chorus DEC. 4-6 belcanto.org Everybody First Stage DEC. 4-13 firststage.org The Nutcracker Milwaukee Ballet DEC. 5-26 milwaukeeballet.org Carols & Classics The Florentine Opera DEC. 10 florentineopera.org Black Nativity by Langston Hughes Black Arts MKE DEC. 10-13 blackartsmke.org
Festival of the Spheres
Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
NOV. 15
NOV. 21-DEC. 27
Experience an unforgettable evening of orchestral music as MYSO’s flagship Senior Symphony presents a program that journeys across the cosmos. Debussy’s shimmering “Fêtes” from Trois Nocturnes and Lili Boulanger’s radiant D’un Matin de printemps evoke color and energy. John Williams’ iconic music from Close Encounters of the Third Kind invites us into a world of mystery and wonder. Holst’s monumental The Planets, a thrilling masterpiece that has captivated listeners for a century with its vivid musical portraits of our celestial neighbors culminates the event, brought to life by the artistry and energy of MYSO’s finest young musicians.
Experience the wit, wonder and larger-than-life spirit audiences know and love, wrapped in toe-tapping songs and Seussian spectacle. Generations have cherished the memorable story of the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who, Max, and the joyful Whos of Whoville – and now, First Stage brings this holiday classic to life with their signature storytelling. Bursting with inventive theatricality and the imagination of First Stage’s young and professional artists, this production offers a fresh way to experience a story that feels like an old friend. Filled with humor, heart and holiday magic, this musical celebration is a must-see event that invites audiences of all ages to rediscover the joy of the season.
MYSO.ORG
FIRSTSTAGE.ORG
The Boys from Baraboo
Christmas at the Basilica: Uplifted
DEC. 2-20
DEC. 4-6
Comedy! Songs! Entertainment! Step right up as Heidi Armbruster chronicles the rise and fall of the Ringling Brothers: five boys from Baraboo, Wisconsin. The story of their circus – the greatest show on Earth – is bookended by the brothers’ scrappy beginnings and difficult ends. The Boys from Baraboo tells the uniquely American story of a death-defying entertainment empire: Music, storytelling, grit and charm create a tale that’s equal parts vaudeville revue and prestige drama. World Premiere. Featuring Karen Estrada, Laura Gordon, Brian Mani, Molly Rhode, Kat Wodtke and Sarah Zapiain.
Experience the splendor of the season as Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee returns to the magnificent Basilica of St. Josaphat for Christmas at the Basilica, an inspiring celebration of holiday music. The soaring acoustics and breathtaking architecture provide the perfect setting for Paul Patterson’s thrilling Magnificat, a contemporary work that radiates joy, brilliance and awe through its dazzling interplay of voices and brass. Audiences will be immersed in a program that also includes familiar carols and singalongs. Rich choral textures, triumphant brass and the grandeur of the organ combine to transform one of Milwaukee’s most iconic sacred spaces into a living cathedral of sound.
NEXTACT.ORG
BELCANTO.ORG
The Florentine Opera
Hometown Holiday Pops Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra DEC. 12-20 mso.org DIPC Intergenerational Performance Company Concert Danceworks DEC. 13 danceworksmke.org/concerts ◆ 91 | milwaukeemag.com
IMAGE: COURTESY OF FLORENTINE OPERA
Youth Holiday Showcase Danceworks DEC. 12 danceworksmke.org/concerts
9.24-27.2026 MKEFILM.ORG/DDF
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TFBTPO
November 20-22, 2026 @ Discovery World January 22-23, 2027 @ St. John’s Cathedral March 12-14, 2027 @ Mitchell Studio 254
DANCEWORKSMKE.ORG/ MEMBERSHIP Photo: Christal Wagner
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