29 Years of Theatre 29 Years of Performance (1990-2019)

In June of 1990, Next Act Theatre was created a long and successful relationship with Cecsarini and with the merger of Next Generation Theatre and the company. Kakuk brought many administrative Theatre Tesseract. After joining the two theatre talents to Next Act Theatre along with his winning companies, Next Act began its journey with a smile. subscriber base of 1,000. Leading the ambitious 1993 - 1995 new theatre company were Producer Jane Barclay Mandel, Artistic Director Jonathan Smoots, and The next two seasons saw encouraging growth Associate Artistic Director David Cecsarini. for Next Act as the theatre continued to stage three productions per year at the Stiemke Theater 1990 - 1992 in the Rep complex. Playing in the Public Library’s Centennial Hall, 1995 - 1998 the first two years were an exercise in patience for this young theatre company. The work was By the 1995-96 season, the company had regained critically acclaimed but the 8th and sufficient strength to add a fourth production. location proved a challenge for attracting This made it necessary to secure an alternate new audiences. Near the end of its second year, space for one production per season. The Broad- Smoots and Cecsarini realized that, to survive, way Theatre Center’s Studio Theatre, the Hum- they needed to move Next Act downtown and phrey Masonic Center and Marquette’s Helfaer restructure the company. Theatre each supplied that fourth venue through these years. Additional staff members were also 1992 - 1993 brought on: C. Michael Wright as Associate Artistic In 1992, with the help of positive sales, strong Director in 1996 and Jonathan West as Marketing support from angel Jack Rosenberg, and playing & Development Manager in 1997. in the Todd Wehr and Stiemke Theaters, Next 1998 - 2000 Act embarked on a reduced, three-production season. At this time Smoots decided to explore Seeing a need to establish a home space that other artistic opportunities, leaving Cecsarini to could accommodate the growing number of theatre assume the Producing Director position. He did, patrons, the goal was set to build a theatre which however, stay on as Artistic Associate for another could seat between 150-175 patrons. However, a three seasons. suitable and affordable venue was not found, and an interim, 99-seat theatre space was created at Cecsarini was in need of a business partner, and 342 N Water Street on the second floor. Housed in the summer of 1992, Charles Kakuk, who was in the same building as Next Act’s offices working in marketing at the Milwaukee Ballet, and rehearsal space, the Off Broadway Theatre reached out to fill this need. His phone call began (named by Jack Rosenberg) opened in early 2000. David Cecsarini & Charles Kakuk The first production was A NIGHT IN NOVEMBER, a contemporary, Irish one-man show starring James Ridge, directed by Wright. The summer of 2000 also marked the third season of Next Actors: Summer Theatre for Teens. Next Actors is a six-week playwriting and performance seminar that allows 16-20 students, free of charge, to experience the thrill of theatre. With the guidance of professional teaching artists, the students create, produce and perform an original play. The program culminates in a week-long performance tour ending at Next Act Theatre with the final benefit Next Act as the company christened its new performance. During the summer of 2016, Next home at 255 S Water Street, premiering with the Actors celebrated its 19th season. first performance of THE EXONERATED. Next Act now has a dynamic new home with 152 seats that embrace an intimate, three-sided thrust stage. The new facility brought with it an expansion of the mission: to provide affordable performance space for other companies, emerging groups and independent artists.

Next Actors 2014 2005 - 2010 These years saw more changes for Next Act. Wright left to assume the Artistic Directorship at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, the Off Broadway The Exonerated building was sold, and Next Act once again faced by Jessica Blank & Erik Jensen the challenge of creating a new theatre space. In 2011 - 2012 2010, Next Act staged its final production at 2012 - present the Off Broadway, the 2010 Next Actors Benefit performance. The Journey Home Capital Campaign Shortly before the 2014-15 season began, Kakuk to build Next Act’s new Walker’s Point facility lost his long battle to cancer. “He has truly given had already begun with critical initial support us his all, and Next Act survives as a testament from subscribers and generous benefactors to his determination and commitment,” Cecsarini David and Julia Uihlein. said. The last four seasons have seen the compa- ny grow into its new space, retire all construction 2010 - 2011 debt, complete theatre improvement projects The three-production 2010-11 Next Act season and welcome new patrons to Next Act’s home. was housed at the Tenth Street Theatre while offices and rehearsal space were established at Next Act Theatre continues to offer a four-pro- 219 N Milwaukee Street. Construction for Next duction season of provocative and compelling Act’s new home began in May 2011 with a tight plays intended to stimulate thought, foster the completion deadline of October 6, when the first exchange of ideas and promote the development performance of the 22nd season was scheduled. of new perspectives and understanding. 2011 - 2012 The 2011-12 season was another beginning for

Next Act Theatre’s 29 Year Journey in pictures. Centennial Hall Hall Centennial Library Downtown Theatre O ffBroadway St Water 255 S 2018 - 2019 2009 - 2010 1999 - 2000 Outside Mullingar by John Patrick Shanley Mary’s Wedding by Stephen Massicotte Hauptmann by John Logan The Twelve Dates of Christmas 7 Stories by Morris Panych Room Service by John Murray & Allen Boretz by Ginna Hoben Purgatorio by Ariel Dorfman A Night in November by Marie Jones Blood at the Root by Dominique Morisseau The Value Of Names by Jeffrey Sweet My Thing of Love by Alexandra Gersten How to Write a New Book for the Bible 2008 - 2009 1998 - 1999 by Bill Cain : The Only Thing by Eric Simonson How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel 2017 - 2018 Murderers by Greetings! by Tom Dudzick Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson Going to St. Ives by Lee Blessing The Dresser by Ronald Harwood The Secret Mask by Rick Chafe The Pavilion by Craig Wright Below the Belt by Richard Dresser Equivocation by Bill Cain 2007 - 2008 1997 - 1998 I And You by Lauren Gunderson An Interview with Paul Robeson Artis Generis by James DeVita / 2016 - 2017 by Paul A. Mabon, Sr. & John Kishline Descent by Tom Patrick The Taming by Lauren Gunderson Greetings! by Tom Dudzick Stage Struck by Simon Gray UnSilent Night Faith Healer by Brian Friel Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me by John Kishline and Edward Morgan The Mystery of Irma Vep: A Penny Dreadful by Frank McGuinness The Other Place by Sharr White by Charles Ludlam The Price by Arthur Miller Bloomsday by Steven Dietz 2006 - 2007 1996 - 1997 2015 - 2016 Last of the Boys by Steven Dietz Sylvia by A.R. Gurney Back of the Throat by Yussef El Guindi Mercy of a Storm by Jeffrey Hatcher The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard Bravo, Caruso! by William Luce Paradise by Glyn O’Malley Three Viewings by Jeffrey Hatcher Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 Ears on a Beatle by Mark St. Germain Kindertransport by Diane Samuels by Anna Deavere Smith 2005 - 2006 1995 - 1996 Motherhood Out Loud Coyote on a Fence by Bruce Graham The Destiny of Me by Larry Kramer Conceived by Susan R. Rose & Joan Stein Red Herring by Michael Hollinger Noël and Gertie by Sheridan Morley 2014 - 2015 The Retreat from Moscow Fool for Love by Sam Shepard Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter by William Nicholson Relatively Speaking by Alan Ayckbourn by Julie Marie Myatt An Infinite Ache by David Schulner 1994 - 1995 Heresy by A.R. Gurney 2004 - 2005 Marvin’s Room by Scott McPherson No Child... by Nilaja Sun Dear Esther by Richard Rashke On the Open Road by Steve Tesich TEN QUESTIONS to Ask your Biology Teacher The Voice of the Prairie by John Olive Billy Bishop Goes to War about Evolution by Stephen Massicotte The Goodbye People by Herb Gardner by John Gray and Eric Peterson 2013 - 2014 Master Harold... and the boys 1993 - 1994 Perfect Mendacity by Jason Wells by Athol Fugard Lips Together, Teeth Apart Groucho: A Life in Revue 2003 - 2004 by Terrence McNally Book, lyrics & music by Arthur Marx & Mindgame by Anthony Horowitz The Firebugs by Max Frisch Robert Fisher Bravo, Caruso! by William Luce Evelyn and the Polka King by John Olive Race by David Mamet Between Men and Cattle by Richard Kalinoski 1992 - 1993 Three Views of the Same Object Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones by Henry Murray Brief Lives by Patrick Garland 2002 - 2003 Incommunicado by Tom Dulack 2012-2013 Taking Leave by Nagle Jackson Private Lives by Noël Coward microcrisis by Mike Lew Rough Crossing by Tom Stoppard It’s a Wonderful Life Live Radio Show 1991 - 1992 Between East and West by Richard Nelson The Boys Next Door by Tom Griffin Adapted by Mary MacDonald Kerr Bea’s Niece by David Gow The Clockmaker by Stephen Massicotte And a Nightingale Sang by C.P. Taylor Grace by Craig Wright 2001 - 2002 Cobb by Lee Blessing Bee-Luther-Hatchee by Thomas Gibbons Italian American Reconciliation 2011-2012 Visiting Mr. Green by Jeff Baron by John Patrick Shanley The Exonerated What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton 1990 - 1991 by Jessica Blank & Erik Jensen Side Man by Warren Leight Sylvia by A.R. Gurney A Wrinkle in Time Vigil by Morris Panych 2000 - 2001 from the book by Madeleine L’Engle One Time by Richard Lyons Conlon Down The Road by Lee Blessing Reckless by Craig Lucas Laughter on the 23rd Floor by Neil Simon The Voice of the Prairie by John Olive 2010 - 2011 Blood Knot by Athol Fugard Haven for the Disillusioned Four Places by Joel Drake Johnson Fallen Angels by Noël Coward conceived by Helena Dynerman Big Boys by Rich Orloff Sea Marks by Gardner McKay A Sleeping Country by Melanie Marnich