In between festivals and fireworks, you can still find theater performances in the Milwaukee area over the summer, some outdoors and some free.
Here’s a capsule summary.
‘Angel Street (Gaslight),’ Acacia Theatre Company
“Angel Street” is the American name of Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 play that contributed an unforgettable word for devious human behavior: gaslight, as in manipulating someone as to make them doubt their sanity. Acacia’s performances of this tense melodrama continue through June 28 at The Norvell Commons at St. Christopher’s Church, 7845 N. River Road. Tickets are pay what you can. Visit www.acaciatheatre.com or call (414) 744-5995 for more information.
‘The Sweet Delilah Swim Club’ and more, SummerStage of Delafield
The season of outdoor theater is under way at SummerStage, located within Lapham Peak in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Through June 27, they’re performing the comedy “The Sweet Delilah Swim Club,” about the thirty-years later reunion of swim teammates. Then, beginning July 26, it’s Shakespeare’s comedy “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” For directions and ticket info, visit summerstageofdelafield.org.
‘Reefer Madness: The Musical,’ Outskirts Theatre Company
Now here’s a show whose context has changed since its first off-Broadway production in 2001. This musical is a parody of the notorious anti-marijuana propaganda film of the same name from 1936. Expect fiends! Outskirts is an LGBTQ+ led nonprofit company. Performances continue through June 28 at La Cage NiteClub, 801 S. 2nd St. For tickets, visit www.outskirtstheatre.org.
‘Hamlet,’ Summit Players Theatre
Through July 26, the Summit crew are performing Caroline Norton’s concentrated adaptation of “Hamlet,” starring Sarah Zapiain, at Wisconsin state parks and a few Milwaukee-area green spaces. These performances are free. Bring your own chair or blanket. Upcoming Milwaukee performances include 7 p.m. June 29 at Catalano Square Park, 147 N. Broadway, and 2:30 p.m. July 26, Havenwoods State Forest, 6141 N. Hopkins St. For info and the complete statewide schedule, visit summitplayerstheatre.com/calendar.
‘The Lover’ and ‘Come Into the Garden, Maude,’ Boulevard Theatre
Long-running Boulevard Theatre is packaging comedies by Harold Pinter and Noel Coward into a program of matrimonial mayhem. Boulevard says these will be “elevated concert stagings” directed by veterans David Flores and Mark Bucher, with a cast including Carole Herbstreit Kalinyen, Maggie Marks, Matt Specht and Pamela Brown Stace.
Performances will take place at 7 p.m. June 23, 4:30 p.m. June 27, 5:30 p.m. June 28, 7 p.m. June 29 and 7 p.m. June 30 at Plymouth Church, 2717 E. Hampshire. Admission is by goodwill donation at the door, $15 per person is suggested. Reserve seats by emailing boulevardtickets@gmail.com.
‘Ghosts,’ Wisconsin Classic Stage
It’s billed as “Ibsen in the Parking Lot.” Director Josh Pohja and company are staging the Norwegian master’s tense drama about family secrets in the parking lot of Calvary Presbyterian Church, 935 W. Wisconsin Ave. (Let’s hope the real church is spared the fate of the church in Ibsen’s play!) Performances begin at 6 p.m. July 10-12 and 17-19. Visit wisconsinclassicstage.com.
‘Richard III’ and ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor,’ Optimist Theatre
Starting July 11, Optimist performs free shortened versions of this Shakespeare tragicomedy at Milwaukee parks and green spaces. At each location, Libby Amato stars as the only human figure in a 50-minute version of “Richard III,” with other characters played Muppet-style by puppets. Then four actors will perform a 40-minute distillation of the comedy “Merry Wives.” Bring a blanket or portable chair. To check the schedule and learn more about the productions, visit optimisttheatre.org.
‘Spamalot,’ Marcus Performing Arts Center
Get ready for the Black Knight and The Knights Who Say “Ni!” The musical “Spamalot” is adapted, of course, from the comic film classic “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” The national touring company performs July 14-19 at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St. Visit marcuscenter.org or call (414) 273-7206.
‘The City of Benedict della Crosse,’ Wauwatosa Historical Society
The historical society and Brigata Theater are staging Gaetano Marangelli’s play about an idealistic candidate for state senate who lands in a struggle “between power and ideals.” It will be staged in an outdoor tent on the Kneeland-Walker Grounds, 7406 Hillcrest Dr., Wauwatosa. Proceeds benefit the historical society. 7 p.m. July 29 and 30. Visit wauwatosahistoricalsociety.org.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Catch these summer theater shows in Milwaukee, some of them free
Reporting by Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
