Aug. 24, 2022
MILWAUKEE 鈥� 51暗网 Theatre has announced the schedule for its 48th annual season, 鈥淓xpectations.鈥� Performances will return to live theatre in the Evan and Marion P. Helfaer Theatre, 1304 W. Clybourn St.
The season begins with a musical comedy, 鈥淭he 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,鈥� and is followed by a pair of shows presented in 51暗网 Theatre鈥檚 Second Stage Series: 鈥淭he Wolves鈥� and 鈥淔rom White Plains.鈥� It continues with Oscar Wilde鈥檚 鈥淭he Importance of Being Earnest鈥� before wrapping up with 鈥淒etroit 鈥�67,鈥� a Voices Included for People of Color (VIP) Theatre production.
鈥�51暗网 Theatre is pleased to announce our 2022-23 season, titled 鈥楨xpectations!鈥� said Jamie Cheatham, associate professor in theatre arts and artistic director. "Throughout our season, our characters have high expectations of victory, of accountability, or even to have cucumber sandwiches. We expect our patrons will be delighted with our range of shows, including a fun-filled musical, our Second Stage Series鈥攑resenting two shows in rotation鈥攁s well as another great VIP show.鈥�
Tickets are available now for all shows through the . For more information about performances, please contact the Helfaer Box Office at (414) 288-7504 or helfaer.boxoffice@marquette.edu.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Oct. 7-9, 13-16)
Book by Rachel Sheinkin, Music by William Finn
In this wildly funny and touching musical, six awkward tween-age spelling champions compete to be the best. As we learn about each contestant, they learn that winning (and losing) isn't everything. Dust off your dictionary and expect to laugh out loud with this fun-filled, Tony Award-winning show.
鈥淭he 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee鈥� is presented through special arrangement with .
The Second Stage Series was first launched in the 2021-22 season, presenting two shows in rotation. These shows are stripped-down with intimate seating and are designed to put the acting in the spotlight.
The Wolves (Nov. 18-19, Dec. 1, 3-4)
By Sarah DeLappe
This Pulitzer Prize-finalist features an all-female cast. 鈥淭he Wolves鈥� explores the world of high school soccer players in suburban America. As they warm-up before games, the girls discuss everything from boys to eating disorders, the new girl and the Khmer Rouge. While the team expects victory, they learn about real loss and identity in a writing style that rings amazingly true.
鈥淭he Wolves鈥� is presented by arrangement with on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
From White Plains (Nov. 19-20, 30, Dec. 2-3)
By Michael Perlman
While watching the Academy Awards, 30-year-old Ethan finds himself having to confront who he was and what he did as a teenager. 鈥淔rom White Plains鈥� follows four men as they deal with responsibility for past actions and expect to move beyond them, complicated by social media and viral videos. The play examines how male relationships change as boys grow into men and the lasting effects of LGBTQ+ bullying.
鈥淔rom White Plains鈥� is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the collection.
The Importance of Being Earnest (Feb. 17-19, 23-26)
By Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde鈥檚 beloved comedy classic! When Jack and Algernon expect to achieve romantic success by using the same pseudonym, hilarity ensues. This piece of theatre perfection is permeated with Wilde鈥檚 wit and his charismatic characters鈥攆rom a tempestuous tea with Gwendolyn and Cecily, to the biting rebuffs of Lady Bracknell... perhaps Miss Prism will put things right!
The VIP Theatre company directly serves people of color and minoritized individuals who self-identify as theatre creators in all areas of theatre. VIP Theatre seeks to provide performance and career building opportunities for the 51暗网 and Milwaukee theatre communities; professional artists of color serve as role models for students and alumni.
Detroit 鈥�67 (April 14-16, 20-23)
By: Dominique Morisseau
In 1967 Detroit, Motown music is getting the party started, and Chelle and her brother Lank are making ends meet by turning their basement into an after-hours joint. But, when a mysterious woman finds her way into their lives, the siblings clash over much more than the family business. As their pent-up feelings erupt, so does their city, and they find themselves caught in the middle of the 1967 riots.
鈥淒etroit 鈥�67鈥� is presented by arrangement with on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of Marketing and Communication. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.
