First Stage

First Stage One of the nation's most acclaimed theaters for young audiences and families. and Stephen Schwartz, and award-winning authors Lois Lowry and Cornelia Funke.
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First Stage touches hearts and transforms lives through professional theater productions that engage, enlighten and entertain. Committed to new play development, First Stage has presented nearly 50 world premieres in its history and has collaborated with renowned artists including Harry Connick Jr. Its Theater Academy, teaching life skills through stage skills, is the nation's largest high-impact

theater training program for young people. As Wisconsin’s leader in arts-in-education programming, First Stage’s dynamic Theater in Education programs promote active learning in our schools and our community, serving over 20,000 children each year.

We’re honored to be a recipient of the 2026 Paul Purcell “Kids Win!” Annual Baird Education Grant! ⭐️🎉 This support will...
05/30/2026

We’re honored to be a recipient of the 2026 Paul Purcell “Kids Win!” Annual Baird Education Grant! ⭐️🎉

This support will honor the late Paul Purcell by bringing 165 future Page to Stage workshops to 11 classrooms, giving students the chance to collaborate, create, and shine through storytelling and performance.

Thank you to for investing in youth access to quality education and helping inspire the next generation of storytellers and creators. 💛

💙 FIRST STAGE'S PRODUCTION OF DISNEY’S FROZEN 🩵CASTElsa, Molly Hill Fuller*King Agnarr / Duke Of Weselton / Ensemble, Ge...
05/18/2026

💙 FIRST STAGE'S PRODUCTION OF DISNEY’S FROZEN 🩵

CAST
Elsa, Molly Hill Fuller*
King Agnarr / Duke Of Weselton / Ensemble, George Lorimer*
Queen Iduna / Ensemble, Jamie Mercado*
Pabbie / Oaken / Ensemble, Jake Horstmeier*
Bulda / Ensemble, Karen Estrada*
Understudy for Elsa, Suze Falk
Understudy for King Agnarr / Duke Of Weselton/ Ensemble, Chris Orth
Understudy for Queen Iduna / Ensemble, Caitlyn Nettesheim
Understudy for Pabbie / Oaken / Ensemble, Aundre Reid
Understudy for Bulda / Ensemble, Sarah Zapiain

YOUNG PERFORMERS
Fire Cast
Anna, Melody Marks
Kristoff, Ben Nowacek
Olaf, William Jelenchick
Hans, Cole Bugiel
Sven, Cal Jordan
Young Elsa, Kiena Schatzman
Young Anna, Tesney Schatzman
Starlighter, Elliot Lippman
Starlighter, Dominique Gordon
Starlighter, Zharick Manrique Puentes
Starlighter, Jeremiah Cooper

Frost Cast
Anna, Alice Rivera
Kristoff, William Swoboda
Olaf, Dominic Lasky
Hans, William Kastner
Sven, Johnathan Doome
Young Elsa, Emily Dalecky
Young Anna, McKenna Becker
Starlighter, Emma Hipp
Starlighter, Kelton Crawford
Starlighter, Sofia Sass
Starlighter, Terrance Ilion

CREATIVE TEAM
Director, Michael Dean Morgan
Music Director & Conductor, Paul Helm
Associate Director & Choreographer, Michelle LoRicco
Student Choreographer, Abbie Cashman
Scenic Designer, Arnold Bueso
Puppet Designer, Nicki Kulas
Costume Designer, Jazmín Aurora Medína
Wig Stylist, Dana Rochester
Lighting Designer, Jason Fassl, USA
Co-Sound Designers, Kirstin Johnson & Josh Schmidt, USA
Sound Design Assistant, Ian Weber
Production Stage Manager, Kelly L. Schwartz*
Assistant Stage Manager, Aminah Rockett*
Production Assistant, Vivian Madson
Audio Engineer / Deck Carpenter, Matt Whitmore
Head Electrician, Mandy Montanye
Stagehand, Eliot Garfield
Social Media Ambassador, Cole Bugiel

ORCHESTRA
Conductor/Keyboard, Paul Helm
Drums/Percussion, Ken Marchand
Reeds, Olivia Dobbs
Trumpet, John L. Rose
Violin, Pamela Simmons

⭐️ Academy Production Lab: THE NEVERENDING STORY: ATREYU AND THE GREAT QUEST! ⭐️⭐️ CASTAtreyu, Wren Elliott Bastian, Owe...
05/18/2026

⭐️ Academy Production Lab: THE NEVERENDING STORY: ATREYU AND THE GREAT QUEST! ⭐️

⭐️ CAST
Atreyu, Wren Elliott
Bastian, Owen Hoffman
Childlike Empress, Mackenzie Chesir
Falkor / Purple Buffalo, Bryce Betz
Gmork, Ezra Hayden
Bastian’s Father, Jake Badovski
Bookseller, Clarence Mask
Artax, Will Perkins
Morla the Aged One / Sassafranian Child, Vivienne Wagner
Urgl / Rock Troll, Nora Nelles
Engywook / Sassafranian Child, Vincenzo DeBruin
Maya, the Dark Princess, Cecily Tobiczyk
Chancellor / Rock Troll, Carter Killen
Attendant / Rock Troll, Quintin Johnstone
Eribo, Eleanor Sieminski
Night Hob / Sassafranian Adult, Charlie Machata
Good Fairy / Maya’s Entourage, Scarlett Lee
Maya’s Entourage, Leah Carlstrom
Bully / Ygramul / Sheerek (A Wind) / Rock Troll, Lilyana Locke
Bully / Ygramul / Lirr (A Wind), Beckett Ogren
Bully / Ygramul / Baureo (A Wind), Hadley Frantz
Bully / Ygramul / Mayestral (A Wind), Sofia Davis
Cairon / Swing, Lainey Techtmann

⭐️ STUDENT CREATIVE TEAM
Assistant Directors, Will Perkins, Clarence Mask, MacKenzie Chesir
Scenic & Prop Design, Vivienne Wagner, Eleanor Sieminski, Nora Nelles
Costume Design, Sofia Davis, Owen Hoffman, Wren Elliott
Puppet Design, Hadley Frantz, Carter Killen, Lilyana Locke
Lighting Design, Quintin Johnstone, Charlie Machata, Bryce Betz, Beckett Ogren
Sound Design, Scarlett Lee, Ezra Hayden, Vincenzo DeBruin
Assistant Stage Manager, Lainey Techtmann
Marketing, Cecily Tobiczyk, Leah Carlstrom

⭐️ CREATIVE TEAM
Director, Jake Badovski
Production Coordinator, Kasey Brown
Stage Manager, Beck Trumbull
Production Assistant, Lexi Slagle

📸 Paul Ruffolo

05/17/2026

⭐️ TONIGHT.
⭐️ WE DO.
⭐️ THE PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy closing night for Academy Production Lab: THE NEVERENDING STORY: ATREYU AND THE GREAT QUEST!

💙 As we close DISNEY’S FROZEN this Sunday we want to give a huge shout-out to our spectacular creative teams! We are so ...
05/16/2026

💙 As we close DISNEY’S FROZEN this Sunday we want to give a huge shout-out to our spectacular creative teams! We are so grateful and proud of their beautiful work!! This production was truly unique from the costumes and set design to the light and sound design and so much more! We are so lucky to have collaborated with such talented people!! 🩵

⭐️ CREATIVE TEAM
Director, Michael Dean Morgan
Music Director & Conductor, Paul Helm
Associate Director & Choreographer, Michelle LoRicco
Student Choreographer, Abbie Cashman
Scenic Designer, Arnold Bueso
Puppet Designer, Nicki Kulas
Costume Designer, Jazmín Aurora Medína
Wig Stylist, Dana Rochester
Lighting Designer, Jason Fassl, USA
Co-Sound Designers, Kirstin Johnson & Josh Schmidt, USA
Sound Design Assistant, Ian Weber
Production Stage Manager, Kelly L. Schwartz*
Assistant Stage Manager, Aminah Rockett*
Production Assistant, Vivian Madson
Audio Engineer / Deck Carpenter, Matt Whitmore
Head Electrician, Mandy Montanye
Stagehand, Eliot Garfield
Social Media Ambassador, Cole Bugiel

⭐️ ORCHESTRA
Conductor/Keyboard, Paul Helm
Drums/Percussion, Ken Marchand
Reeds, Olivia Dobbs
Trumpet, John L. Rose
Violin, Pamela Simmons

⭐️ FIRST STAGE PRODUCTION TEAM
Director of Production, Sammy Brown
Technical Director, Pat LoRicco
Scenic Carpenter, Tony Roman
Scenic Charge Artist, Juli Gessner
Properties Director, Nicki Kulas
Properties Artisans, Olivia Bastien, Ana McHenry
Costume Shop Manager, Jenny Thurnau
Cutter/Draper, Lyndsey Kuhlmann
First Hand, Michelle Verbos
Costume Crafts Artisan, Kasey Brown
Wardrobe Supervisor, Alexa Farrell
Wardrobe Assistant, Kalyn Diercks
Overhire, Ana McHenry, Aminah Rockett, Sophia deGuzman, Angeline Holzman-Forbes, Shelby Kaishian, Kat Ziemann

* Appearing through an Agreement between First Stage and Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

05/16/2026

Ever wondered what goes into creating our pre-show activities?! ✨

⭐️ Brinn HIll our Education Director takes you along for the creation of our pre-show activities for Academy Production Lab: THE NEVERENDING STORY: ATREYU AND THE GREAT QUEST! 🙌

This is the last weekend to see THE NEVERENDING STORY: ATREYU AND THE GREAT QUEST!

⭐️ THE NEVERENDING STORY: ATREYU AND THE GREAT QUEST
🗓️ MAY 8-17
📍 MILWAUKEE YOUTH ART CENTER’S GOODMAN MAINSTAGE HALL

DISNEYS FROZEN CLOSES THIS SUNDAY!!!📸 Paul Ruffolo
05/15/2026

DISNEYS FROZEN CLOSES THIS SUNDAY!!!

📸 Paul Ruffolo

05/15/2026

Ever wondered what backstage looks like? Join young performers Will (Artax) and Bryce (Falkor) in a backstage tour!!!

This is the last weekend to see THE NEVERENDING STORY: ATREYU AND THE GREAT QUEST! Don't miss this incredible show from our Academy Production Lab!

⭐️ THE NEVERENDING STORY: ATREYU AND THE GREAT QUEST
🗓️ MAY 8-17
📍 MILWAUKEE YOUTH ART CENTER’S GOODMAN MAINSTAGE HALL

✨ DON'T LET DISNEY’S FROZEN MELT AWAY!!! ✨DISNEY’S FROZEN closes May 17!! 📸 Paul Ruffolo📍 Marcus Center’s Todd Wehr Thea...
05/11/2026

✨ DON'T LET DISNEY’S FROZEN MELT AWAY!!! ✨

DISNEY’S FROZEN closes May 17!!

📸 Paul Ruffolo
📍 Marcus Center’s Todd Wehr Theater

✨ DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO SEE DISNEY’S FROZEN!!! ✨DISNEY’S FROZEN is open for 2 more weekends!!!📸 Paul Ruffolo🗓️ April...
05/09/2026

✨ DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO SEE DISNEY’S FROZEN!!! ✨

DISNEY’S FROZEN is open for 2 more weekends!!!

📸 Paul Ruffolo
🗓️ April 11 - May 17
📍 Marcus Center’s Todd Wehr Theater

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325 W. Walnut Street
Milwaukee, WI
53212

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