TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH THEATER
One of the nation’s most acclaimed theaters for young audiences and families, First Stage touches hearts, engages minds, and transforms lives by creating extraordinary theater experiences for young people and families through Professional Theater Productions, unparalleled Theater Academy training, and dynamic Theater in Education programs.
Our Mission & Vision
First Stage touches hearts, engages minds, and transforms lives by creating extraordinary theater experiences for young people and families through:
- Professional Theater Productions that inspire, enlighten, and entertain
- Unparalleled Theater Academy training that fosters life skills through stage skills
- Dynamic Theater in Education programs that promote active learning in our schools and community
First Stage strives to be the national leader and driving force behind the creation of the best and most innovative plays for family audiences, theater training programs for young people, and education initiatives for our schools and our community. These three interwoven programming pillars are accessible to, and reflective of, our increasingly diverse community. Through our exceptional leadership, dedicated team, and commitment to financial sustainability, First Stage will broaden the reach and impact of our transformational programs, thus enabling dreams to be fulfilled, hope to be fostered, and families to enjoy the lasting legacy of a profound shared experience.
Theater for all ages
First Stage touches hearts and transforms lives through professional theater productions that engage, enlighten and entertain. Each season, First Stage presents a well-rounded season of shows tailored for family audiences, with enriching theater experiences for a variety of age groups. From captivating performances for little ones as young as three to our Young Company Performance Projects featuring advanced high school theater students, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. With imaginative staging and heartfelt stories, First Stage productions create unforgettable experiences that resonate with theater lovers across generations.
For detailed age recommendations for each show, visit our production landing pages.
Young performers
First Stage’s professional theater productions use age-appropriate casting — professional actors to portray the adult-aged roles, and young people to play the roles of young people. Two casts of young people perform in rotation, to balance performance and school commitments. Young people working alongside adult professionals also benefit greatly in terms of their own personal development, gaining life skills such as confidence, focus and cooperation through the rehearsal and production process.
New play development
First Stage is committed to new play development, finding innovative ways to tell beloved stories old and new, with nearly 70 world premieres. First Stage has collaborated with renowned artists including Harry Connick Jr. and Stephen Schwartz, and award-winning authors Lois Lowry and Cornelia Funke.
Theater Academy
First Stage Theater Academy, founded in 1992, is the largest theater training program for youth nationwide. Serving approximately 3,000 students annually from southeastern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and beyond, it goes beyond basic actor training to teach life skills through stage skills. With programs like Young Company for high schoolers and Next Steps for students on the autism spectrum, it fosters an environment where young people learn to take risks, build self-esteem, and develop vital skills like collaboration and creative thinking. Sessions are offered year-round at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield, and the Oak Creek Performing Arts & Education Center.
Theater in Education
First Stage’s Theater in Education programs aim to incite young people’s desire for learning and help classroom teachers explore curriculum using interactive, imaginative, and integrated methods. First Stage uses theater to drive education, creating programs that produce measured results and help students set and meet high standards of academic and personal achievement. Through theater field trips, classroom workshops, and residencies, students are encouraged to experience their world differently and find new connections to their school curriculum. First Stage serves over 20,000 students each year in its Theater in Education programs, establishing itself as Wisconsin’s leader in arts-in-education programming.
Professional Theater Artists
First Stage is a professional company employing members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of
professional Actors and Stage Managers. Actors’ Equity Association, founded in 1913, represents more than 48,000 actors and stage managers in the U.S. Equity negotiates wages and
working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theater as an essential component of our society.
First Stage employs members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, IATSE, Local #18.
First Stage is an equal opportunity employer. Except in plays where race itself is an issue, casting is decided on the basis of ability, not race.
Industry Affiliations
First Stage is a member of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education, Arts Wisconsin and TYA/USA, the international association of theater for children and young people. First Stage is a proud cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund and appreciates the generous support received annually thanks to your UPAF donation.