First Stage Milwaukee Inc Performing Arts Center

Our first stage theater academy remains one of the nation's largest high-impact theater training programs for youth, teaching life skills through stage skills to young people ages 3-18 with a staff of professional teaching artists. Total enrollments in the 2023/24 season was 1,402 with a total of 937 unique students over 130 unique class offerings. In addition, first stage offers the next steps program for students on the autism spectrum. This program was able to serve 18 students over the season. First stage will not turn anyone away from the theater academy due to inability to pay. We offer the family partnership program offering financial aid scholarships and other logistical support as needed. In 2023/24, 139 scholarships were awarded totaling $60,419.

The first stage professional theater productions welcome 74,854 audience members across 312 performances during the 2023/24 season. Among these performances included our sensory friendly performances, with one offered per production. More than 900 audience members were served through our sensory friendly performances. First stage also provided theater production experience at no or little cost to 2,523 young people and families through our "pay what you choose" performances, "first stage for $5" ticket offers, and a select number of free preview performance tickets given to our nonprofit partners and theater academy families who receive financial aid.