First Stage Milwaukee Inc Performing Arts Center

FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE, INC. DOES BUSINESS AS FIRST STAGE. OUR MISSION IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BY CREATING EXCEPTIONAL THEATER EXPERIENCES THROUGH OUR THREE MAIN ACTIVITIES:1) OUR PROFESSIONAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS ENGAGE, ENLIGHTEN, AND ENTERTAIN, AND IN 20/21, THEY REACHED ALMOST 26,200 AUDIENCE MEMBERS.2) OUR THEATER ACADEMY TRAINING FOSTERS LIFE SKILLS (E.G. CONFIDENCE, RESPECT, FRIENDSHIP, SUPPORT, MOTIVATION, ETC.) WHILE IT TEACHES STAGE SKILLS. IN 20/21, OUR ACADEMY HAD OVER 1,300 ENROLLMENTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 745 CHILDREN IN GRADES K-12.3) OUR DYNAMIC THEATER-IN-EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROMOTE LEARNING THROUGH THEATER, AND IN 20/21, OUR TEACHING ARTISTS CREATED A LIBRARY OF 30 PRE-RECORDED WORKSHOPS TO BE USED BY 89 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN.

FIRST STAGE KNOWS THAT THE ARTS CAN BE USED AS A POWERFUL VEHICLE FOR IN-SCHOOL LEARNING, RATHER THAN DETACHED FROM TRADITIONAL CURRICULUM AS AN "EXTRA." DRAMA IN PARTICULAR EFFORTLESSLY LENDS ITSELF TO INTEGRATION WITH LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE ARTS. FIRST STAGE DOES NOT GO INTO CLASSROOMS TO TEACH DRAMA, BUT RATHER FIRST STAGE USES THEATER AS AN EFFECTIVE MEDIUM TO TEACH ACADEMIC SUBJECT MATTER. FIRST STAGE HAS THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO USE THEATER ACTIVITIES TO PRESENT CURRICULUM EFFECTIVELY TO ALL TYPES OF LEARNERS VISUAL, AUDITORY AND KINESTHETIC. IN ADDITION, CLASSROOM TEACHERS HAVE AN ONGOING CONCERN ABOUT STANDARDIZED TESTING. IN RESPONSE, FIRST STAGE OFFERS PROGRAMS THAT BOOST CRITICAL LITERACY SKILLS, INCREASE STATE STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES AND HELP TEACHERS LEARN NEW AND CREATIVE WAYS TO TEACH. AS SCHOOLS ARE FORCED TO SPEND LESS ON ARTS PROGRAMMING, THESE PROGRAMS CLEVERLY BLEND THE ARTS WITH EXISTING CURRICULUM MAKING IT A WIN-WIN FOR TEACHERS THAT ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO COVER A GREAT DEAL OF MATERIAL AND FOR STUDENTS THAT THRIVE WHEN THEY ARE ALLOWED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND USE THEIR NATURAL CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM. THE THEATER-IN-EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE ALSO RUN BY SKILLED AND NATIONALLY RESPECTED LEADERS. PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR, JULIA MAGNASCO SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES/USA THE UNITED STATES CENTER FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THEATRE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE. AS A PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION WITH OVER 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE FIELD, TYA/USA IS KNOWN FOR ITS NATIONAL FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE, AND TYA TODAY, A NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED MAGAZINE FOR THE FIELD OF THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. MS. MAGNASCO WAS ALSO SELECTED AS ONE OF THE FORTY UNDER FORTY AWARD RECIPIENTS BY THE MILWAUKEE BUSINESS JOURNAL IN 2017.IN THE 2020/2021 FISCAL YEAR, FIRST STAGE REACHED 89 SCHOOLS AND 74% OF ALL CITY OF MILWAUKEE SCHOOLS. AND THROUGH COMMUNITY SUPPORT, 70 OF THESE SCHOOLS RECEIVED FIRST STAGE'S SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP PACKAGE FOR FREE. THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM WAS BEGUN IN 2020/2021 TO REACH SCHOOL CLASSROOMS DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, WHEN SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED OR WHEN VISITORS WERE NOT ALLOWED IN SCHOOLS AND FIRST STAGE TEACHING ARTISTS COULD NOT PROVIDE PROGRAMMING IN-PERSON. INSTEAD, FIRST STAGE'S TEACHING ARTISTS PRE-RECORDED 30 WORKSHOPS TO CREATE A VAST LIBRARY OF CURRICULUM AND PROGRAMMING. THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM THEN INCLUDED UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THIS WORKSHOP REPOSITORY. EXAMPLES OF THESE WORKSHOPS INCLUDE: THE EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM (GRADES K-3): THESE 20-30 MINUTE WORKSHOPS UTILIZED PICTURE BOOKS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN DRAMA-BASED ACTIVITIES WHILE REINFORCING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF FUNDAMENTAL LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION SKILLS. EACH STORY WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO CHAPTERS, ENDING WITH PROMPTS MEANT TO ENCOURAGE CREATIVE THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND MAKING PERSONAL CONNECTIONS. THE INTRO TO ACTING RESIDENCY (GRADES 4-8): THE 15-MINUTE WORKSHOPS INTRODUCED STUDENTS TO THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS OF THEATER AND HELPED STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR ACTOR TOOLS OF BODY, VOICE, AND IMAGINATION. STUDENTS DOVE INTO THE STORY OF THE LION KING, AS THEY EXPLORED A KEY ELEMENT OF THE DRAMA PROCESS EACH SESSION AND WERE ENCOURAGED TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE ALONG WITH THE TEACHING ARTISTS. SESSIONS CONCLUDED WITH A PROMPT MEANT TO HELP STUDENTS PUT INTO PRACTICE THE SKILLS THEY JUST LEARNED AND INCLUDED GROUP ACTIVITIES FOR THE CLASS TO ENGAGE IN TOGETHER. THE ARTS INTEGRATED WORKSHOPS (GRADES 5-9): THESE 30 TO 50-MINUTE WORKSHOPS USED DRAMATIC ACTIVITIES TO TEACH LESSONS THROUGHOUT THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULA AND WERE DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS AND THE NATIONAL CORE ARTS STANDARDS IN THEATRE. EACH WORKSHOP WAS DIVIDED INTO SMALLER CHAPTERS, ENDING WITH PROMPTS THAT TEACHERS COULD USE TO ASSESS FOR UNDERSTANDING. FOR EXAMPLE, AFTER ACTIVELY EXPLORING RUBY BRIDGES' STORY, STUDENTS WERE ASKED TO CREATE A STORYBOARD SEQUENCING KEY MOMENTS IN HER STORY TO DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW RUBY'S STRENGTH AND COURAGE INFLUENCED A NATION.AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, FIRST STAGE EVALUATED ITS MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMMING EFFECTIVENESS: 72% OF THE SCHOOL EDUCATORS FELT THAT THE VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS STRONGLY CONNECTED TO THE RELATED KEY ACADEMIC STANDARDS. 72% OF THE SCHOOL EDUCATORS FELT THAT THE VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS SUPPORTED THE STANDARD BASED SKILLS THEY WERE TEACHING THEIR STUDENTS. 56% OF THE SCHOOL EDUCATORS OBSERVED THEIR STUDENTS BEING ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SESSIONS. 52% OF THE SCHOOL EDUCATORS REPORTED THAT THEY USED SOME, IF NOT ALL, OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS FIRST STAGE MADE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT FURTHER LEARNING OF THE WORKSHOPS' KEY ACADEMIC STANDARDS.

THEATER ARTS HAVE AN INTRINSIC POTENTIAL TO TEACH IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS SELF-CONFIDENCE, DISCIPLINE, COMMITMENT, AND TEAMWORK. HAVING ACCESS TO THEATER PROFESSIONALS WITH THE UNIQUE ABILITY AND PASSION FOR WORKING WITH CHILDREN, FIRST STAGE FOUNDED THE THEATER ACADEMY IN 1992. THE GOAL OF THE ACADEMY IS TO TEACH "LIFE SKILLS THROUGH STAGE SKILLS." ACADEMY CLASSES HELP CHILDREN BUILD CHARACTER, DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND INCREASE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. THE THEATER ACADEMY HAS BEEN PROVEN TO HELP STUDENTS IN SCHOOL BY IMPROVING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE SCORES (SELF-AWARENESS, RESPECT FOR SELF AND OTHERS, TEAMWORK, ETC.) AND INSTILLING 21ST CENTURY WORKFORCE SKILLS (COLLABORATION, CRITICAL THINKING, INCREASED COMMUNICATION, FLEXIBILITY AND CREATIVE THINKING). FIRST STAGE ACADEMY OFFERS A JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY AND HELPS CHILDREN MAXIMIZE THEIR OWN POTENTIAL IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDED BY ADULT MENTORS AND POSITIVE PEERS. IN NON-COVID YEARS, ACADEMY CLASSES ARE OFFERED YEAR-ROUND. IN MOST TYPICAL SEASONS, FIRST STAGE OFFERS CLASSES WITH CONTACT HOURS RANGING FROM 8 TO 140 HOURS EACH, FOR OVER 2,300 ENROLLMENTS OR APPROXIMATELY 1,650 CHILDREN, ABOUT 46% OF WHICH ARE FROM THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND 19% OF WHICH ARE IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN ORDER TO ATTEND. DUE TO THE NEED TO LIMIT CAPACITY (FOR ANY IN-PERSON CLASSES DUE TO SPATIAL DISTANCING FOR COVID SAFETY AND FOR ANY VIRTUAL ACADEMY CLASSES BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF HAVING TOO MANY FACES IN A ZOOM CLASSROOM), THE 2020/2021 SEASON NECESSITATED A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF ENROLLMENTS TO 1,304 FOR APPROXIMATELY 745 CHILDREN. MORE THAN 50% OF CLASSES WERE HELD VIRTUALLY. IN-PERSON CLASS SIZES WERE REDUCED BY 50% IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CDC SAFETY PROTOCOLS. DESPITE THESE LIMITATIONS, FIRST STAGE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH ITS PLEDGE TO NEVER TURN AWAY A STUDENT DUE TO A FAMILY'S INABILITY TO PAY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CLASSES. IN 2020/2021, 57 STUDENTS RECEIVED 145 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MORE THAN $17,000 OF FINANCIAL AID AWARDS.FIRST STAGE'S THEATER ACADEMY HOLDS CLASSES YEAR-ROUND. SEVERAL OF ITS MORE UNIQUE PROGRAMS ARE DESCRIBED BELOW, AS WELL AS ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE RECENT SEASON: IN 2020/2021, FIRST STAGE OFFERED IN-PERSON PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE CLASSES AT THE MILWAUKEE YOUTH ARTS CENTER FOLLOWING CDC PROTOCOLS. THESE CLASSES PROVIDED STUDENTS (THIRD GRADE AND UP) THE OPPORTUNITY TO BROADEN PERFORMANCE SKILLS AND PERFORM A POPULAR SHOW AS THEIR FINAL (VIRTUAL) PRESENTATION IN A TIME WHEN THERE WERE LESS ON-STAGE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FIRST STAGE YOUNG PERFORMERS. ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CLASSES IN 2020/2021 WAS THE VIRTUAL MASTER CLASS SERIES. MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARNED SPECIFIC THEATER TOPICS FROM PROFESSIONAL THEATER ARTISTS, INCLUDING AUDITIONING, ACTING FOR THE SINGER, COMEDY WRITING AND SATIRE, AND PUPPETRY. AS DISCUSSED ABOVE IN THEATER PRODUCTIONS, FIRST STAGE YOUNG COMPANY THE THEATER ACADEMY'S ADVANCED ACTOR TRAINING PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHICH HAD 60 MEMBERS IN 2020/2021 PRODUCED THE TWO GENTLEMENT OF VERONA AND THE CRUCIBLE. AND INSTEAD OF TRAVELING TO CEDAR CITY, UTAH IN OCTOBER AS IT HAS SINCE 2008 TO COMPETE IN THE SHAKESPEARE COMPETITION AT SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY, A PORTION OF THE YOUNG COMPANY PRESENTED SCENES AND MONOLOGUES VIRTUALLY FOR THE COMPETITION AND FOR FIRST STAGE AUDIENCES. THE YOUNG COMPANY WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ITS FUNDRAISING TRADITION BY HOLDING ITS 11TH ANNUAL (AND SECOND VIRTUAL) BARD-O-THON IN APRIL OF 2021. IN CELEBRATION OF SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHDAY, THE FIRST STAGE THEATER ACADEMY CHALLENGES MEMBERS OF THE YOUNG COMPANY TO STRETCH THEIR ARTISTIC ENDURANCE BY PERFORMING AS MANY MEMORIZED SHAKESPEAREAN MONOLOGUES IN A ROW AS POSSIBLE. FIFTY-FIVE YOUNG COMPANY MEMBERS PERFORMED A TOTAL OF 556 MONOLOGUES IN 2020/2021'S BARD-O-THON, AND A PRESENTATION OF SOME OF THEIR WORK WAS VIEWED IN A FACEBOOK LIVE EVENT. THIS FUNDRAISER COLLECTED MORE THAN $17,000 IN PLEDGES FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO HELP SUPPORT SHAKESPEARE PROGRAMMING AT FIRST STAGE. FIRST STAGE'S NEXT STEPS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2012 AS A MUSICAL THEATRE AND ACTING PROGRAM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR STUDENTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION IN A WELCOMING AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. DURING THE SUMMER, NEXT STEPS ACADEMY CLASSES ARE USUALLY HELD AS WEEKLONG SESSIONS. IN ADDITION, DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, CLASSES ARE USUALLY HELD AS ONE-HOUR SATURDAY CLASSES AT THE MILWAUKEE YOUTH ARTS CENTER OR AS WORKSHOPS IN COMMUNITY CLASSROOMS, AS REQUESTED. HOWEVER, DURING 2020/2021, TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, FIRST STAGE TRANSITIONED ALL NEXT STEPS CLASSES TO THE ONLINE ZOOM PLATFORM. ALL CLASSES CONTINUED TO BE TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION TRAINING AND FOLLOWED THE SAME THEATER-BASED CURRICULUM THE EXPLORATION OF ACTING, SINGING, DANCING AND IMPROVISATION, THROUGH WHICH STUDENTS IMPROVED THEIR SOCIAL UNDERSTANDING, FINE AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS, EMPATHY, CONVERSATION SKILLS, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND CONFIDENCE. IN 2020/2021, NEXT STEPS HAD 11 UNIQUE STUDENTS WITH 47 ENROLLMENTS. FIRST STAGE'S STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD WAS CREATED IN 2013/2014 OUT OF A NEED FOR THE STUDENT'S VOICE TO BE HEARD IN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT ACADEMY PROGRAMMING AND POLICIES. BY 2014/2015, THE SAB DOUBLED IN SIZE AND ADDED AN OPPORTUNITY BEGINNING IN 2015/2016 FOR TWO REPRESENTATIVES TO SIT ON THE FIRST STAGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. EACH SUMMER, THEATER ACADEMY STUDENTS EMBARK ON THEIR KID-TO-KID CAMPAIGN. OVER THE COURSE OF 8 WEEKS, THE STUDENTS DONATE THEIR DOLLARS AND COINS, HOLD FUND-RAISERS, MAKE CHALLENGES TO ONE ANOTHER, ETC., TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS FINANCIAL AID TO STUDENTS WHO NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THE STUDENT'S ANNUAL KID-TO-KID CAMPAIGN RAISES SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

IN 1987, FIRST STAGE BEGAN AS A SMALL THEATER COMPANY WITH A GOAL OF PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL THEATER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES. NOW IN ITS 34RD SEASON, FIRST STAGE IS ONE OF THE NATION'S ACCLAIMED PROFESSIONAL THEATERS FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES, AND THE SECOND LARGEST THEATER COMPANY IN MILWAUKEE. IN A NORMAL NON-COVID SEASON, FIRST STAGE OFFERS A SEASON OF PROFESSIONAL THEATER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WITH TITLES CHOSEN FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE, AND THEIR ABILITY TO SPARK CONVERSATION AT HOME AND IN CLASSROOMS. CLASSROOM TEACHERS USE FIELD TRIPS TO FIRST STAGE AS MEANS TO HELP DEVELOP LITERACY AND ENHANCE LEARNING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM, INCLUDING TEACHER ENRICHMENT GUIDES AND WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALIGN EACH PLAY TO KEY COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS AND WISCONSIN MODEL ACADEMIC STANDARDS. THE 2020/2021 FISCAL YEAR WAS NOT A USUAL THEATRICAL SEASON FOR FIRST STAGE. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, FIRST STAGE WOULD NORMALLY OFFER A NINE OR TEN-PLAY SEASON, WITH OVER 460 PERFORMANCES AND NEARLY 110,000 AUDIENCE MEMBERS BETWEEN PUBLIC AND SCHOOL SHOWS. BUT DUE TO THE LIMITATIONS NECESSITATED BY THE COVID PANDEMIC, FIRST STAGE'S THEATER PRODUCTIONS WERE ALL PERFORMED VIRTUALLY, WITH MOST EVEN BEING REHEARSED VIRTUALLY. DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, THROUGH 46 PRE-RECORDED- OR LIVE-STREAMED PERFORMANCES, FIRST STAGE WAS STILL ABLE TO REACH 26,212 TOTAL AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND CAST 86 YOUNG PERFORMERS THROUGH ITS AGE-APPROPRIATE CASTING. AS FIRST STAGE IS COMMITTED TO PRESENTING PROFESSIONAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS, REGARDLESS OF CHALLENGES, THE ORGANIZATION PIVOTED AWAY FROM THE PHYSICAL THEATER SPACE IN 2020/2021 AND PROVIDED INNOVATIVE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES FOR REMOTE VIEWING. SEVERAL EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLES ARE LISTED HERE: WITH PERMISSION FROM OUR FRIENDS AT CHARACTER ARTS, LLC, FIRST STAGE FILMED CHRISTMASTOWN COMES TO FIRST STAGE, WRITTEN BY JOSE CASAS, JEFF FRANK, AND SAMANTHA MONTGOMERY. FIRST STAGE STAFF (FROM NEARLY EVERY DEPARTMENT) AND BOTH YOUNG AND ADULT PERFORMERS TOLD THE STORY OF HOW THE FOLKS IN SANTA'S CHRISTMASTOWN, WHEN THEY HEARD FIRST STAGE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PRODUCE RUDOLPH'S STORY THAT YEAR, DECIDED TO HELP. MISFIT TOYS, THE ELVES, SAM THE SNOWMAN, AND THE BUMBLE CAME TO FIRST STAGE TO SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER TO THE STAFF. THIS HOLIDAY SHOWPIECE, THOUGH FUNNY AND HEARTWARMING, PROVIDED A WINDOW INTO THE STRUGGLES OF LIVE THEATER DURING A DIFFICULT TIME. FIRST STAGE PARTNERED WITH MILWAUKEE'S INDIAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL TO PRODUCE COPPER HORNS IN WATER BY TY DEFOE. THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW PIECE WAS PART OF FIRST STAGE'S AMPLIFY SERIES, WAS BASED IN AN ANISHINAABE STORYTELLING TRADITION, AND WAS PERFORMED MOSTLY BY STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL AND ONE ADULT. UNMUTED BY ALVARO SAAR RIOS, WITH MUSIC AND LYRICS BY DEBORAH WICKS LA PUMA, WAS ALSO PART OF THE AMPLIFY SERIES. PERFORMED ENTIRELY BY YOUNG PERFORMERS, UNMUTED TOLD THE STORY OF A GROUP OF STUDENTS IN A VIRTUAL GYM CLASS, PLAYING A GAME OF SECRET OR DARE, WHEN THEIR TEACHER IS ACCIDENTLY KICKED OUT OF THE ZOOM ROOM. THE STUDENTS SHARE THEIR LOVE OF TUESDAY TACOS, THEIR FRUSTRATIONS WITH ONLINE SCHOOL, AND WHAT THEY MISS MOST. THE PRODUCTION WAS PERFORMED IN ENGLISH WITH SOME SPANISH LYRICS. A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PLAY, THE QUEST FOR SOLOMON'S TREASURE, BY JOHN MACLAY AND JEREMY TARDY, WAS STREAMED OVER SEVEN EPISODES IN THE FALL OF 2021. THE PRODUCTION TOLD THE STORY OF A LONG-RUMORED LOST TREASURE IN MILWAUKEE. EACH 15-20 MINUTE EPISODE ENDED WITH A NEW CLUE BEING REVEALED AND WITH THE NEXT EPISODE OPENING WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE CLUE. THIS ORIGINAL SERIES WAS A LITTLE BIT GOONIES, A LITTLE BIT NATIONAL TREASURE, AND A WHOLE LOT MILWAUKEE. IN ESCAPE FROM PELIGRO ISLAND, A CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE PLAY BY FINEGAN KRUCKEMEYER, PERFORMANCES WERE LIVE-STREAMED WITH AUDIENCES AT HOME VOTING TO DECIDE WHAT OUR UNLIKELY YOUNG HERO WOULD DO AFTER BEING STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND.OTHER PRODUCTIONS DURING THE 2020/2021 SEASON INCLUDED: FIRST STAGE YOUNG PERFORMER VIRTUAL SHOWCASE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MILWAUKEE BLACK THEATER FESTIVAL. A READING OF APOLLO AND THE TRIALS OF HERCULES A PLAY BY JOE FOUST AND JOHN MACLAY. THE GIRL WHO SWALLOWED A CACTUS BY ERIC COBLE AND PERFORMED BY MILWAUKEE ACTRESS AND FIRST STAGE THEATER AND THEATER ACADEMY ALUMNA KAREN ESTRADA. SCENES AND MONOLOGUES FROM THE UTAH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL'S HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION, PRESENTED BY FIRST STAGE'S YOUNG COMPANY, AN ADVANCED ACTOR-TRAINING PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, PRESENTED BY THE YOUNG COMPANY. THE CRUCIBLE BY ARTHUR MILLER, PRESENTED BY THE YOUNG COMPANY. SHE KILLS MONSTERS BY QUI NGYUEN. AND ADVENTURES WITH THE THREE LITTLE PIGS INSPIRED BY THE THREE LITTLE PIGS BY JAMES MARSHALL.