MILWAUKEE: Milwaukee Repertory Theater has announced that its new-play development program has doubled in size and funding to $2 million, thanks to a $1 million gift from David Herro and Jay Franke. Over the next two years, Milwaukee Rep will produce six new plays across all three of its stages in the new Associated Bank Theater Center, and commission three new writers for workshops and premieres: Pulitzer winner Ayad Akhtar, MacDowell fellow Gloria Majule, and Mexodus co-creator Nygel D. Robinson.
“Milwaukee Rep has a responsibility to invest in the future of the American theatre,” said artistic director Mark Clements in a statement. “New work is the lifeblood of our art form, and these commissions represent our commitment to shepherding bold ideas from first spark to full production, and ultimately out into the national landscape. We’re proud to champion artists whose voices will shape the canon for years to come.”
World premieres to come include a stage adaptation of Akhtar’s debut novel American Dervish; Milwaukee favorite Tami Workentin bringing American comedy duo George Burns and Gracie Allen to life in George & Gracie: A Love Story; Aaron Posner’s The Cherry Tortured, a reimagining of the Chekhov classic set in Door County, Wisconsin; Matt Zembrowski’s MKE MVP, which charts the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship journey through the eyes of fans; Katie Bender’s Instructions for a Séance, a Wisconsin-specific one‑woman show that traces Harry Houdini’s beginnings in Appleton; and a new American premiere by Australian playwright Andrew Bovell.
The commissions include an additional piece by Akhtar; African Moms’ Book Club by Gloria Majule, about four ultra‑wealthy Tanzanian women whose monthly book club is upended by a young widow returning home from abroad; and The Ballad of John Henry by Nygel D. Robinson, a new musical about the American folk hero.
Milwaukee Rep’s new-play development program supports each playwright’s creative development and aims to nurture their unique voice with a customized, fully resourced, flexible process tailored to their needs. It is led by Clements and literary director Annika Perez‑Krikorian. The organization views it as its responsibility to the American theatre ecosystem to champion new voices, expand the canon, and support artists at pivotal moments in their careers.
Since its launch in 2016, Milwaukee Rep’s John (Jack) D. Lewis New Play Development Program has supported world premieres by leading playwrights, including Dael Orlandersmith (twice), Catherine Trieschmann, Eleanor Burgess, Lloyd Suh, Eric Simonson, Gordon Gano, Idris Goodwin, Craig Lucas, Daniel Messé, Sean Hartley, Andrew Bovell, Antonio Edwards Suarez, Joanna Murray‑Smith, Mark Clements, and Deanie Vallone.
