READ OUR “2025 FALL ARTS” FEATURE HERE.
Sanctuary City
SEPT. 10 – OCT. 5 | NEXT ACT THEATRE
In post-9/11 Newark, New Jersey, two teenagers brought to America as children now face an impossible question: What are they willing to risk for a future in the only country they’ve ever known? These two DREAMers and lifelong friends will fight like hell to establish a place for themselves and each other in America. But as time hurtles on and complications mount, each must reckon with the sacrifices it will take in order to find a place to call home. Featuring King Hang, Joe Lino and Ashley Oviedo.
Boswell
NOV. 19 – DEC. 14 | NEXT ACT THEATRE
When ambitious 20th century academic Joan goes looking for unpublished writings by literary giant Samuel Johnson, she finds her work interrupted by James Boswell. Chatty, bawdy, flawed and deeply honest, Boswell’s 18th-century journals of his grand journey through Scotland with Johnson take Joan back in time, showing her the power of authenticity and the need to make her own place in the world. Heart and mind spar wittily in this epic adventure of friendship, travel and the written word. Featuring Heidi Armbruster, Madeline Calais-King, David Cecsarini, Josh Krause, Brian Mani and Sarah Zapiain.
Life Lines
THROUGH DEC. 20 | HAGGERTY MUSEUM OF ART
“Life Lines” is the first in a series of object labs focusing on contemplative encounters with art and religion. Visitors are encouraged to slow down and truly engage with each piece. What begins as “I can do that” can evolve into the profound recognition, “I am that.” By lingering with these works, approaching them as potentially sacred sites, visitors can discover themselves in the art. Like the adage “God writes straight with crooked lines,” life’s unpredictable path can reveal a hidden, meaningful pattern through reflection.
MSO Pops Season Opener: Disco Divas
SEPT. 26-28 | MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Put on your sequins and platform shoes and get ready to dance as Principal Pops Conductor Byron Stripling opens the season with Disco Divas! Celebrate the reigning Queens of Disco with powerhouse vocals backed by driving orchestral forces, featuring the music of Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan and the one and only Diana Ross, along with classic disco hits from Earth, Wind & Fire, the Bee Gees, Michael Jackson and more. Sing along with the disco divas to your favorite hits like “Bad Girls,” “I’m Coming Out” and “Lady Marmalade.”
This Is Me: Bikes, Gear & the Stories They Tell
ON DISPLAY NOW THROUGH 2028 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MUSEUM
Motorcycles aren’t just machines – they become a part of who we are. Harley-Davidson riders are anything but a monoculture. What unites them isn’t a uniform or lifestyle – it’s the shared belief that motorcycling is an extension of self. This Is Me showcases the powerful instinct to express individuality through the bikes they ride, the gear they choose and the journeys they chase. Explore the unique stories of riders from every walk of life – from billionaires, to rock ’n’ roll royalty, to those who protect and serve our communities and many more! Step into a world where self-expression takes the shape of chrome, leather, speed and freedom.
A Journey Through Mexico from North to South
OCT. 31 | LATINO ARTS INC.
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with a vibrant evening of heritage, rhythm and tradition! A Journey Through Mexico from North to South showcases the vibrant artistry of Ometochtli Mexican Folk Dance. This performance brings Mexico’s rich cultural legacy to life through stunning choreography, live music and storytelling. The evening will also feature Grupo México en la Piel and Grupo Macehuani, along with a performance by the acclaimed Latino Arts Strings Program. This performance, which includes the opening of the Día de los Muertos exhibit in the Latino Arts Gallery, honors Mexican identity, ancestry and the spirit of community.
Don Giovanni
OCT. 24 & 26 | THE FLORENTINE OPERA
The notorious and unapologetic nobleman Don Giovanni (yes, that Don Juan) waltzes through life with a scandalous checklist: seduction, deception and, naturally, leaving a trail of broken hearts and vengeful fiancés. Despite plenty of red flags and a few angry mobs, he shrugs off every warning – including some from his sidekick, Leporello – like yesterday’s conquest. No lesson learned, no apologies offered – until fate shows up, ready to dish out a final, fiery “we need to talk.”
Switzerland
OCT. 17 – NOV. 9 | PENAISSANCE THEATERWORKS
A thriller by Joanna Murray-Smith and directed by Laura Gordon, Switzerland tells the tale of a handsome young emissary, Edward, who visits famed crime novelist Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Strangers on a Train) at her Swiss hideaway to persuade her to write one final Ripley novel. Dark humor and macabre twists unfold as Edward’s true, seductive agenda is revealed in this gripping story soon to be a major motion picture starring Helen Mirren.
Rosemary Ollison: Know My Heart
THROUGH DEC. 7 | WISCONSIN MUSEUM OF QUILTS & FIBER ARTS
The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts presents “Rosemary Ollison: Know My Heart,” the first solo museum exhibition of the acclaimed self-taught artist. This groundbreaking exhibition will showcase 30 of Ollison’s works. Celebrated for her intricate textile work, Ollison has dedicated over 40 years to her artistic practice, primarily created in her home environment. This exhibition marks a significant milestone in her career and will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalog featuring her unpublished writings, along with scholarly essays by historians Dr. Sharbreon Plummer and Debra Brehmer.
InSite: Field Guide
OCT. 10-11 | WILD SPACE DANCE COMPANY
Wild Space Dance Company’s InSite program returns for its fourth season with Field Guide, a free, immersive dance experience at Havenwoods State Forest. Audiences will be guided along trails, encountering performances where movement and environment intertwine. Celebrating Milwaukee’s urban wilderness, this event features a collaboration with Ometochtli Mexican Folk Dance. InSite sparks choreographic exchange and engages the public through site-specific performance. This program is made possible in part by a Ruth Foundation for the Arts Wisconsin Special Project Grant and Bader Philanthropies.
The Bradley Collection of Modern Art: A Bold Vision for Milwaukee
SEPT. 26 – JAN. 18, 2026 | MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM
Celebrate 50 years of Peg Bradley’s extraordinary gift of 20th-century master-pieces that shaped the Milwaukee Art Museum’s collection and Milwaukee’s cultural landscape.
Violins of Hope Wisconsin
GRAND OPENING: SEPT. 17, PLAY YOUR PART: NOV. 1-2, THE VIOLINS OF HOPE IN CONCERT: NOV. 16 | MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Celebrate the beginning of Violins of Hope Wisconsin, presented by MYSO. The residency begins with a moving grand opening featuring MYSO’s Senior Symphony. A highlight of the season, Play Your Part, brings together MYSO’s symphony and string orchestras, flute and wind ensembles, and jazz and steel-pan bands in a vibrant, genre-spanning performance. The Senior Symphony will return later in the residency, along with nationally recognized guest artists, for another inspiring event in a celebration of courage, survival and hope. Be a part of the journey and experience the power of music to uplift the human spirit.
Wayside Days
SEPT. 18-20 | ART PRESERVE OF THE JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER
Discover the unexpected at Wayside Days, Sept. 18-20 at the Art Preserve. Inspired by Ruth DeYoung Kohler II, this free event celebrates the rich experiences to be found along the detours and side roads in life’s journey. Enjoy live music, stroll the grounds and be inspired by compelling works of art. On Thursday, enjoy the final Levitt AMP Sheboygan concert, featuring indie rock powwow band Bizhiki. On Friday, take a tour of the Art Preserve. On Saturday, enjoy walking tours, live music, art-making, food and more. Whether you’re a creative spirit or a curious traveler, Wayside Days invites you to slow down and discover something new.
Celebrating Broadway and More
THROUGH JULY 2026 | MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Marcus Performing Arts Center kicks off the Johnson Financial Group Broadway Series in September with Mrs. Doubtfire. Additional titles include The Wiz, & Juliet, Hamilton and more. A few other fall highlights include performances from Maa Vue, Il Divo, Black Violin and Boney James. See the full lineup at MarcusCenter.org!
