First Stage

First Stage performances are located within the downtown Milwaukee area, and are easily accessible from I-43 and I-94.  Street parking, surface lots, and parking structures are available near each venue.  Each of our venues are accessible to all.

Additionally, downtown Milwaukee offers a number of family-friendly activities and dining options to enjoy before or after a First Stage performance.

Using research-based best practices, Next Steps Theater Academy classes serve young people through our philosophy of teaching life skills through stage skills. We strive to help each student take his or her next steps as an artist and a person.

We serve both verbal and non-verbal students, students with classic autism, PDD-NOS, other sensory processing disorders, and Asperger’s. With small class sizes, our curriculum explores acting, singing, dancing and improvisation, through which students improve social understanding, fine and gross motor skills, empathy, conversation skills, public speaking and confidence.