Dear Readers,
In 2027, the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) celebrates 60 years of championing the performing arts in Southeastern Wisconsin, and we’re excited to welcome you to another remarkable season. Every performance is more than an evening of entertainment – your attendance strengthens our region by supporting thousands of artists, musicians, performers and backstage professionals.
UPAF organizations also provide arts education to more than 96,000 children each year, inspiring the next generation through the power of the arts. Donors who contribute at the UPAF SMART Card level enjoy two-for-one tickets at all 14 UPAF member organizations while investing in the future of our vibrant arts community. Whether you’re planning a date night, an evening with friends or a family matinee, this guide will help you discover the perfect performance. Visit UPAF.org to explore upcoming events, learn more about the SMART Card and celebrate 60 years of regional impact through the arts with us.
Sincerely,
Annemarie Scobey-Polacheck
UPAF President and CEO
Event Spotlights
1. Trayf
SEPT. 16-OCT. 4 | NEXT ACT THEATRE, 255 S. WATER ST.
In 1990s New York City, Orthodox Jewish teens and lifelong best friends Zalmy and Shmuel are intent on saving the world from behind the wheel of their “Mitzvah Tank” van. But when a curious outsider deepens Zalmy’s interest in the secular world of rock ’n’ roll and roller skates, Shmuel does everything in his power to keep his and Zalmy’s dreams intact. This road-trip bromance is a funny and heartwarming ode to the turbulence of youth, the universal suspicion that we don’t quite fit in and the faith and friends that see us through. Wisconsin Premiere. Featuring A.J. Magoon, Alex Mitchell, Lucas Prizant and Rachael Zientek.
2. Season Opening Fanfare
SEPT. 18-19 | MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, BRADLEY SYMPHONY CENTER, 212 W. WISCONSIN AVE.
The 2026-27 MSO season begins with bravura to the tune of Copland’s stirring Fanfare for the Common Man. Brahms’ double concerto for violin and cello follows, with the MSO’s own Concertmaster Jinwoo Lee and Principal Cello Susan Babini collaborating on this unusual and impassioned combination.
3. Footloose the Musical
SEPT. 22-NOV. 1 | MILWAUKEE REPERTORY THEATER, 108 E. WELLS ST.
Get ready to kick off your heels and feel the beat! The smash-hit film Footloose explodes onto the stage with high-octane choreography and electrifying ’80s anthems, including “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” and “Holding Out for a Hero.” When city teen Ren moves to a small town where dancing is banned, he challenges the rules, sparks romance, and inspires a community to rediscover joy, freedom, and the power of music. Helmed by Olivier Award-winning artist Stephen Mear, who wowed Milwaukee audiences with his choreography for Ragtime and Guys and Dolls, this energetic, feel-good Tony-nominated musical will have you laughing, cheering, and jumping to your feet.
4. Gypsy: A Musical Fable
SEPT. 25-OCT. 18 | SKYLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE, 158 N. BROADWAY
Featuring Broadway stars Janet Metz and Andrew Varela, Gypsy is set during the final years of American vaudeville and follows the relentless stage mother Mama Rose as she pushes her daughters toward show business success. As vaudeville fades and Mama Rose’s ambitions clash with reality, her shy daughter Louise unexpectedly finds fame as the legendary burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee. This classic musical explores the complicated bonds between mothers, daughters and the pursuit of stardom.
5. Pops Season Opener: Kings of Soul
SEPT. 26-27 | MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, BRADLEY SYMPHONY CENTER, 212 W. WISCONSIN AVE.
Principal Pops Conductor Byron Stripling returns, opening the season with a concert honoring the true kings of classic soul. Groove to the greatest hits from legendary artists Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Otis Redding, The Temptations and more.
6. La Traviata
OCT. 16-18 | THE FLORENTINE OPERA, 205 W. HIGHLAND AVE., SUITE 201
She lives fast, loves freely and throws a better party than anyone in Paris. But beneath the champagne and charm, Violetta knows her days in the spotlight won’t last forever. When she dares to trade pleasure for true love, society – and Alfredo’s very proper family – are quick to remind her just how unforgiving Paris can be. Verdi’s La Traviata is all romance, sacrifice and a story where “happily ever after” takes a hard pass.
7. Great White Throne
OCT. 16-NOV. 8 | RENAISSANCE THEATERWORKS, 255 S. WATER ST.
A darkly comic examination of power and inheritance, following a pastor’s wife as she collides with the limits, expectations and hypocrisies of public ministry. In her darkest hour, she comes face to face with the last person she wants to see, igniting a reckoning with faith, influence and the cost of living a life on display. Great White Throne is written by local actor and playwright Cara Johnston and was developed as part of the 2025 Br!NK New Play Festival. Great White Throne is also RTW’s contribution to World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide festival celebrating new works.
8. From Darkness, Light
OCT. 18 | BEL CANTO CHORUS, 5400 W. WASHIGNTON BLVD.
Before audiences came to know it as the Nelson Mass, Haydn titled his 1798 composition Missa in Angustiis, the Mass for Troubled Times. Written amid political uncertainty and the turmoil of war, this masterpiece transforms feelings of anxiety into a powerful expression of hope, faith and triumph. Bel Canto Chorus opens its season by pairing Haydn’s work with Ola Gjeilo’s Luminous Night of the Soul, a contemporary meditation that explores themes of light, spiritual union and the divine spirit of art. Featuring the Baptist College of Ministry Chamber Strings, this inspiring program bridges centuries of sacred music, illuminating the enduring search for light, peace and renewal.
9. Festival of Spheres
NOV. 15 | MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, CARROLL UNIVERSITY SHATTUCK MUSIC CENTER, 218 N. EAST AVE.
Experience an unforgettable evening of orchestral music as MYSO’s flagship Senior Symphony presents a program that journeys across the cosmos. Debussy’s shimmering “Fêtes” from Trois Nocturnes and Lili Boulanger’s radiant D’un Matin de printemps evoke color and energy. John Williams’ iconic music from Close Encounters of the Third Kind invites us into a world of mystery and wonder. Holst’s monumental The Planets, a thrilling masterpiece that has captivated listeners for a century with its vivid musical portraits of our celestial neighbors culminates the event, brought to life by the artistry and energy of MYSO’s finest young musicians.
10. Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
NOV. 21-DEC. 27 | FIRST STAGE, 121 E. STATE ST.
Experience the wit, wonder and larger-than-life spirit audiences know and love, wrapped in toe-tapping songs and Seussian spectacle. Generations have cherished the memorable story of the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who, Max, and the joyful Whos of Whoville – and now, First Stage brings this holiday classic to life with their signature storytelling. Bursting with inventive theatricality and the imagination of First Stage’s young and professional artists, this production offers a fresh way to experience a story that feels like an old friend. Filled with humor, heart and holiday magic, this musical celebration is a must-see event that invites audiences of all ages to rediscover the joy of the season.
11. The Boys from Baraboo
DEC. 2-20 | NEXT ACT THEATRE, 255 S. WATER ST.
Comedy! Songs! Entertainment! Step right up as Heidi Armbruster chronicles the rise and fall of the Ringling Brothers: five boys from Baraboo, Wisconsin. The story of their circus – the greatest show on Earth – is bookended by the brothers’ scrappy beginnings and difficult ends. The Boys from Baraboo tells the uniquely American story of a death-defying entertainment empire: Music, storytelling, grit and charm create a tale that’s equal parts vaudeville revue and prestige drama. World Premiere. Featuring Karen Estrada, Laura Gordon, Brian Mani, Molly Rhode, Kat Wodtke and Sarah Zapiain.
12. Christmas at the Basilica: Uplifted
DEC. 4-6 | BEL CANTO CHORUS, 2333 S. SIXTH ST.
Experience the splendor of the season as Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee returns to the magnificent Basilica of St. Josaphat for Christmas at the Basilica, an inspiring celebration of holiday music. The soaring acoustics and breathtaking architecture provide the perfect setting for Paul Patterson’s thrilling Magnificat, a contemporary work that radiates joy, brilliance and awe through its dazzling interplay of voices and brass. Audiences will be immersed in a program that also includes familiar carols and singalongs. Rich choral textures, triumphant brass and the grandeur of the organ combine to transform one of Milwaukee’s most iconic sacred spaces into a living cathedral of sound.
Fall Calendar
SEPTEMBER:
The World Goes ‘Round: Milwaukee Rep, Sept. 11-Nov. 1
An Aria Extravaganza: The Florentine Opera, Sept. 15
Trayf: Next Act Theatre, Sept. 16-Oct. 4
Composed for the WCW: A 150th Anniversary Concert: Present Music, Sept. 17
Maybe We’ll Fly: Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Sept. 18-Oct. 11
Season Opening Fanfare: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Sept. 18-19
DanceLAB Youth Get It Out There: Danceworks, Sept. 19
Footloose: Milwaukee Rep, Sept. 22-Nov. 1
Gypsy: Skylight Music Theatre, Sept. 25-Oct. 18
Kings of Soul: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Sept. 26-27
OCTOBER:
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Oct. 2-3
Go Dog Go!: First Stage, Oct. 3-Nov. 1
Instructions for a Séance: Milwaukee Rep, Oct. 6-Nov. 8
Made in America: Korngold & Rachmaninoff: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Oct. 9-10
La Traviata: The Florentine Opera, Oct. 16-18
From Darkness, Light: Bel Canto Chorus, Oct. 18
Great White Throne: Renaissance Theaterworks, Oct. 18-Nov. 8
Movement & Melody: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Oct. 23-25
Forty Something!: Present Music, Oct. 30
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Oct. 30-31
NOVEMBER:
Peter and the Wolf: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Nov. 1
Mirror, Mirror: Milwaukee Ballet, Nov. 6-8
Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Nov. 6-8
JP Coletta’s Rock ’n’ Roll Piano Man: Milwaukee Rep, Nov. 6-Jan. 3
Play Your Part: Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Nov. 7
A Gift of the Magi: Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Nov. 13-Dec. 6
Big: Skylight Music Theatre, Nov. 13-Dec. 27
Royal Fireworks: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Nov. 14-15
Festival of the Spheres: Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Nov. 15
Heist: Milwaukee Rep, Nov. 17-Dec. 20
Brahms Symphony No. 2: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Nov. 20-21
DPMKE Fall Concert: Danceworks, Nov. 20-22
Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: First Stage, Nov. 21-Dec. 27
A Hundred Ways: Thanksgiving: Present Music, Nov. 22
Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Nov. 27-29
DECEMBER:
Celebrating the Season in Song: The Florentine Opera, Dec. 2
The Boys from Baraboo: Next Act Theatre, Dec. 2-20
A Christmas Carol: Milwaukee Rep, Dec. 2-24
Christmas at the Basilica: Uplifted: Bel Canto Chorus, Dec. 4-6
Everybody: First Stage, Dec. 4-13
The Nutcracker: Milwaukee Ballet, Dec. 5-26
Carols & Classics: The Florentine Opera, Dec. 10
Black Nativity by Langston Hughes: Black Arts MKE, Dec. 10-13
Youth Holiday Showcase: Danceworks, Dec. 12
Hometown Holiday Pops: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Dec. 12-20
DIPC Intergenerational Performance Company Concert: Danceworks, Dec. 13
Performances as of Sept. 1, 2026. For complete listings, visit upaf.org.
