When it comes to the performing arts in Milwaukee, April is nobody’s fool. The city’s performing arts scene isn’t messing around this month, with a loaded slate of big names in unexpected places, top-tier shows, bold takes on classic productions, and a soothsayer live and in person taking place all over town. There’s so much to see and so much to do that we’ve curated this list of 18 shows just for you. Here’s what to see this month. No foolin’.
Is This a Room?
Now – April 5 | Milwaukee Chamber Theatre
The Wisconsin Premier of this 2020 Obie and Drama Desk-winning production rolls into the Broadway Theatre Center, “Is This A Room?” Entirely derived from FBI transcripts, this production puts you right at the heart of one of the country’s most complicated whistleblower controversies ever. Following the story of Air Force veteran and NSA translator Reality Leigh Winner’s leak of Russian 2016 election interference documents, you are taken on a wild, suspenseful ride that puts you in an ethical quandary for our times.
Barefoot in the Park
Now- April 12 | Renaissance Theaterworks
What happens when your mom dates your upstairs neighbor? Well, if you’re a member of the audience at Next Act Theatre, you get comedy gold. Newlyweds Paul, a young lawyer, and Corie, a romantic free spirit, move into their new Manhattan apartment. Sure, it’s small and there’s no heat and there’s a hole in the skylight, but home is where your mother-in-law is, right? When Corie’s mother starts dating the couple’s upstairs neighbor, Corie and Paul must face their differences with sidesplitting effects.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ The Fats Waller Musical Show
Now – April 26 | Milwaukee Rep
You know the name, now see this Tony Award-winning musical play out before your very eyes. The celebration of legendary jazz artist Fats Waller takes center stage as five performers transform the Stackner Cabaret into a jazz club that brings the spirit of the Roaring Twenties into the 2020s. Full of classic songs and new takes on the well-loved Waller jazz style, this one comes together as a brilliant eulogy to the iconic trailblazer.
Romeo Santos & Prince Royce
April 1 | Fiserv Forum
You don’t have to check the fine print on this incredible show at Fiserv Forum. With more than 200 awards and a wide array of platinum records lining their walls, the kings of bachata are coming to Milwaukee to kick off the month. The Dominican American duo will bring their hits to the Cream City for one night only, with songs like, “Eres Mia,” “Imitadora,” “Porquesta Indecente,” "Corazón Sin Cara," "Darte un Beso" and "Rechazame," all ringing out throughout the arena.
Frida…A Self Portrait
April 3 – May 17 | Milwaukee Rep
Step into the life of one of the world’s most famous artists. Fittingly titled for one of the most recognized self-portrait artists of all time, immerse yourself in the tumultuous, beautiful and magnificently creative life of Frida Kahlo through music and movement inside the Herro-Franke Studio Theater. Throughout the 75-minute production, explore the events that shaped Kahlo into who she was, her bold passion and how we shape ourselves through the art we love.
Polica
April 3 | The Cooperage
This month’s slate of shows has a few familiar faces in new spaces, starting with Minneapolis rock outfit Polica bringing their unique brand of electro-indie-pop to The Cooperage. Touring their latest release, “Dreams Go,” one of the band’s most emotionally resonant and lyrically connected works yet, while maintaining the chemistry that has made it a favorite of fans throughout the Midwest and beyond.
Maximiano Release Show
April 4 | Cactus Club
Milwaukee’s local music scene is alive and well, with up-and-coming artists like Maximiano creating new works and venues like Cactus Club celebrating their release with regularity. Call them what you like – folk, indie, Americana – Maximiano’s work has been getting some serious attention, and all it takes is one look at the band’s resume to see why. In 2025 alone, they performed in 15 states, across 28 cities, pulling off 107 shows, giving them plenty of polish on their stage presence and enough material to release their latest work, “Rokeby.”
Debí Tirar Más Fiestas (Bad Bunny Night)
April 4 | The Argo
Debí tirar más fotos de cuando te tuve. Don’t regret missing out on this Bad Bunny-themed dance party. Punch your ticket to a full-on party in Milwaukee’s North Shore community, headlined by your favorite Bad Bunny songs, as well as reggaeton, dembow, merengue and Latin hits, that’ll have you moving to the rhythm of the music all night long. Die-hard fans and Super Bowl converts alike will love this one at the newly opened Argo music venue in Whitefish Bay.
A Rockin’ Midsummer Night’s Dream
April 10-26 | Broadway Theatre Center
It’s really the best of both worlds. Musical? Check. Rock? Check. What more can you ask for, really? The course of love never did run smooth, but this musical sure does. The bold new take on the well-loved Shakespeare comedy, with everything you love about the 16th-century playwright’s work, with a dynamic, genre-spanning score that pulls together the play’s themes of humor, heart and theatrical mischief.
Men I Trust
April 10 | The Rave / Eagles Club
The hypnotic melodies and vocals of Men I Trust will ensorcel you and draw you into their distinctive musical stylings. Last performing in Milwaukee in Summerfest in 2018, this is your chance to catch them as they play The Rave / Eagles Club as they tour their recently released, and curiously named “Equus Caballus” (Meaning: Domesticated Horse) and “Equus Asinus” (Meaning: Domesticated Donkey) albums.
Tyler Henry: The Hollywood Medium
April 16 | The Riverside Theater
I see this one in your future as well. Have you ever wanted to communicate with your long-lost loved ones or connect with your ancestors? Tyler Henry’s clairvoyance is known the world over for reaching the other side, giving his clients peace of mind and aiding them in their grieving process. Known for shows like “Live from the Other Side,” “Life After Death with Tyler Henry,” and “Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry,” where he got his start, now you can see him bring the audience of The Riverside Theater messages from the great beyond when he comes to town during the middle of the month.
Schumann Romance
April 17-18 | Bradley Symphony Center
Many know the work of Robert Schumann, the German composer of the Romantic era, as well as his difficult struggle with depression. However, his wife, Clara, created her own work that was so brilliant, poignant, and well-constructed that they continue to stand the test of time. Known as the “Three Romances,” the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra will bring Clara’s incredible work to life, along with Joseph Joaquim, the violinist she dedicated her trio to, and close it out with Schumann’s “Symphony No. 2.”
Ethel Cain
April 24 | Miller High Life Theatre
Making just her second appearance in Milwaukee and Wisconsin, and her first local show since Summerfest in 2024, you can experience Ethel Cain as she’s meant to be heard. Taking place at the massive, but intimate Miller High Life Theatre, she’ll bring her acclaimed, lengthily named new album, “Willoughby Tucker, I Will Always Love You,” along with selections from her beautiful, intricate and lyrically dense breakout album, “Preacher’s Daughter.”
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
April 21 | Marcus Performing Arts Center
We’ve got concerts, plays, musicals and an actual soothsayer, but we were missing out on the expressive artistry of dance, that is, until right now. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is coming to the Marcus Performing Arts Center on April 21, bringing its powerful storytelling, technical brilliance and cultural impact to Milwaukee. Created during the Civil Rights movement, the troupe uplifts the African American experience through dance while transcending the boundaries of race, faith and nationality.
Bob Moses & Cannons
April 24 | Landmark Credit Union Live
Indie fans and house music fans can find some common ground at this Landmark Credit Union Live show. The recently opened Deer District music venue offers the best of both worlds with deep house music, tracked by indie and pop-inspired lyrics that give songs like their Grammy-nominated “Tearing Me Up,” as well as “Inner Light” and “Love Brand New,” their moody, but magnetic signature sound. The Canadian duo will be joined by Cannons, the L.A.-based alt/indie band touring hits like “Fire for You,” “Bad Dream,” and “Loving You.”
Barns Courtney Unplugged Solo Sessions
April 25 | Vivarium
Anyone who was at Barns Courtney’s Summerfest show in 2017 remembers the singer-songwriter well. They remember his raw energy and frenetic performance as he flew back and forth across the stage. So much so that he broke his foot, and kept playing until his set was done. Now, nearly a decade later, the British rocker returns to Milwaukee with a stripped-down performance, more intimate and less collateral damage.
James McMurty and the Martial Law Review
April 26 | Shank Hall
It’s a big month for fans of singer-songwriters in Milwaukee, as James McMurtry adds to the list of contributors to the American songbook to visit the Cream City in April. Careful not to describe himself as Americana or folk, McMurtry is a storyteller at heart, with a knack for picking up on the details and placing them into lyrically dense and beautiful arrangements that make his work compelling.
The Lemon Twigs
April 30 | Turner Hall Ballroom
Coastal fusion is heading to Turner Hall Ballroom to close out the month. Brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario are bringing their New York-based rock group The Lemon Twigs to Milwaukee, along with their unique blend of Laurel Canyon-inspired harmonics, power pop and baroque pop. Add to the escapist pop with quiet moments of introspection, and you have a California-meets-New York sound that’s vibey and the perfect spring prelude.
Adaptive Performances
Milwaukee’s performing arts scene is for every body! Don’t miss these adaptive performances across the city’s stages, giving everyone a chance to experience the magic of the theater.
A Rockin’ Midsummer Night’s Dream
Barefoot in the Park
Frida…A Self Portrait
Find your showtime in the Milwaukee Theater District and beyond! Get your tickets, book your stay and plan your dramatic Cream City escape today!
