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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
