New Works at Milwaukee Rep

Since 1958 Milwaukee Repertory Theater has premiered nearly 150 plays and musicals and thanks to the John (Jack) D. Lewis New Play Development Program continues to add new works to the theatrical cannon each season. Here's a look at world and regional premieres on Milwaukee Rep's stages.

The Process of Creating a World Premiere Production by Milwaukee Repertory TheaterMilwaukee Repertory Theater

The Nerd by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Mark AveryMilwaukee Repertory Theater

Larry Shue

Larry Shue was both a resident actor and playwright-in-residence at Milwaukee Rep. His two best known plays "The Nerd" and "The Foreigner" made their world premieres in Milwaukee.

The Nerd 1981, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, From the collection of: Milwaukee Repertory Theater
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Playbill cover from the world premiere of "The Nerd" by Larry Shue in 1981

The Nerd by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Mark AveryMilwaukee Repertory Theater

World Premiere of "The Nerd" by Larry Shue in the 1980-81 Season featuring Rose Pickering and James Pickering.

Foreigner 1983, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, From the collection of: Milwaukee Repertory Theater
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Playbill cover from the world premiere of "The Foreigner" by Larry Shue in 1983

The Foreigner by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Mark AveryMilwaukee Repertory Theater

World Premiere of "The Foreigner" by Larry Shue in the 1982-83 Season featuring Peter Rybolt, Bonnie Horan and Alan Brooks

Kingdom Come by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Mark AveryMilwaukee Repertory Theater

New Works

Developing new plays and producing world premieres has been a big part of Milwaukee Rep's mission throughout its history  ---- At right is the World Premiere of "Kingdom Come" by resident artist Amlin Gray in the 1981/82 Season. [Pictured: Daniel Mooney, Ellen Lauren, Rose Pickering & Alan Brooks]

Lakeboat by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Mark AveryMilwaukee Repertory Theater

David Mamet's "Lakeboat" made its World Premiere in the 1979/80 Season featuring Victor Raider-Wexler, Larry Shue and Thomas Hewitt

The Marvelous Wonderettes by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Jay Westhauser.Milwaukee Repertory Theater

Rhae Ann Theirault, Laurie Birmingham, Becky Spice & Bets Malone in the 1998/99 World Premiere of "The Marvelous Wonderettes" by Roger Bean. Several new works by Mr. Bean have been produced in the Stackner Cabaret

Lumberjacks in Love by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Jay WesthauserMilwaukee Repertory Theater

The expanded 2-Act version of Fred Alley and James Kaplan's musical comedy "Lumberjacks in Love" premiered in the Steimke in 2000. Pictured David Ledingham, Doug Mancheski & Scott Wakefield

The Bachelors by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Jay WesthauserMilwaukee Repertory Theater

The world premiere of Fred Alley & James Kaplan's "The Bachelors" in 2001/02. Pictured: Doug Mancheski, Kelly Anne Clark & Michael Herold.

Sam Cooke-Forever, Mr. Soul by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Jay WesthauserMilwaukee Repertory Theater

Lawrence Stallings in the 2006/07 World Premiere of "Sam Cooke-Forever, Mr. Soul" by Kevin Ramsey. This is one of several new works by Mr. Ramsey produced at Milwaukee Rep.

Moby Dick by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Mark AveryMilwaukee Repertory Theater

World Premiere of "Moby Dick" by Eric Simonson in the 2002/03 Season

One House Over by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Michael Brosilow.Milwaukee Repertory Theater

The Clements Era

When Mark Clements began his tenure as Artistic Director he increased the company's commitment to fostering the development of new works for the theatrical cannon

Five Presidents by Milwaukee Repertory TheaterMilwaukee Repertory Theater

Brit Whittle, Mark Jacoby, Steve Sheridan, Martin L’Herault and Jeff Steitzer in the World Premiere of "Five Presidents" by Rick Cleveland in 2015.

Five Presidents by Milwaukee Repertory TheaterMilwaukee Repertory Theater

One House Over by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Michael Brosilow.Milwaukee Repertory Theater

The cast, crew and creative team for the world premiere of "One House Over" by Catherine Trieschmann in 2018.

One House Over by Milwaukee Repertory TheaterMilwaukee Repertory Theater

Things I Know to Be True by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Michael Brosilow.Milwaukee Repertory Theater

Bill Geisslinger, Aubyn Heglie and company in the American Premiere of "Things I Know to Be True" by Andrew Bovell in 2019.

Things I Know to Be True by Milwaukee Repertory TheaterMilwaukee Repertory Theater

Songs for Nobodies by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Michael Brosilow.Milwaukee Repertory Theater

Bethany Thomas with Abdul Hamid Royal on piano and Alicia Storin on cello in the 2018 American Premiere of "Songs for Nobodies" by Joanna Murray-Smith. This was the inaugural production in the renovated Stackner Cabaret

River of Song by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Michael Brosilow.Milwaukee Repertory Theater

David Lutken, Spiff Weigand and Harvy Blanks in the World Premiere of "Mark Twain's River of Song" by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman in 2019.

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