Theater Forward

The Broadway/Regional divide, Union beefs, the challenges of expanding a season, dream productions, and a beautiful perspective on talkbacks make this a perfect summer mailbag episode. 

Live events are back to normal, but theaters and artists are struggling in the wake of COVID. From show cancellations to lagging ticket sales, we dive into our experience as well as what we're hearing from theaters across the country as they try to recover from the last two years. 

An in-depth look at our biennial new play festival, Wisconsin Wrights. This unique festival features three new works by WI playwrights, showcased in professionally-produced readings and talkbacks with audiences. The 2022 WI Wrights festival runs May 18-21. 

We discuss each of our four plays for 22-23, and share the process of building a complete theater season. A behind-the-scenes look from a company that produces newer work, fresh from Broadway and beyond. 

In the wake of the cancellation of the Humana Festival of New Plays, we talk about new work in theater, why it's important to us, and how we (and you) can best support it.

Make no mistake, we LOVE talkbacks. But this polarizing topic has entered the chat again, and it has theaters buzzing. We offer our take on the new (and necessary) conversation about the role and impact of postshow discussions.

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we share our favorite plays and theatrical experiences dealing with LOVE. From the conventional to the unconventional and classic to modern, we discuss the stories, songs, moments and relationships that inspire our theater-loving hearts. 

As theatermakers, we dive into what in blazes is going on in the theater world in relation to COVID - what our fellow producers are doing, what we're talking about in our spaces, and what we anticipate in the not-too-distant future. 

It's back! Another round of stories from WI artists about the productions that changed their lives. Volume 5 features Lighting Designer Greg Hofmann, Actress Jennifer Vosters, Actress Colleen Madden, and Playwright Marie Kohler. 

It was an important year for the arts in America, and we recap our experience as both theatermakers and theatergoers - reflecting on our struggles, our successes, and when we were just plain lucky.