Spring is in the air in the Milwaukee Theater District! From budding up-and-coming artists to the flourishing final number of a Broadway musical, the city’s theater scene is in full bloom this month. Here are our nine shows you just have to see in April.
Sister Act
April 4-27 | Broadway Theatre Center
Watch the 1992 hit movie come to life on the stage of the Broadway Theatre Center. Upon witnessing a murder, nightclub singer – and former mischievous pupil – Deloris Van Cartier enters witness protection, taking refuge in a convent disguised as a nun. Watch Deloris change from selfish to selfless as she helps enliven a choir, a parish and a community in a play that will lift your spirits and leave you with plenty of laughs along the way. Buy your tickets here!
Jim Gaffigan
April 9-13 | The Riverside Theater
Gaffigan is back again! Returning to Milwaukee for the first time since 2021, the seven-time Grammy-nominated comedian, actor, writer, producer, two-time “New York Times” best-selling author, three-time Emmy-winning top touring performer and multi-platinum-selling recording artist is once again bringing the laughs to the Riverside Theater. Making a stop in the Cream City for six shows on his upcoming “Everything is Wonderful” Tour, Gaffigan’s unique comedic stylings and perspective on life make this one a can’t-miss. Get your tickets before they’re gone!
Lakecia Benjamin
April 11 at 7:30 p.m. | Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall
With a genre-defying sound, a dynamic presence and some fiery sax work to boot, Lakecia Benjamin blends traditional jazz along with elements of hip-hop and soul to blaze a trail that has earned her recognition as a “Rising Star Alto Saxophonist” in the 2020 “Downbeat” Critics Poll and “Up and Coming Artist of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association. Find your seats to her Marcus Performing Arts Center debut.
Brahms Requiem
April 11-13 | Bradley Symphony Center
Johannes Brahms, one of the best composers of all time, wrote hundreds of songs, pieces of music, symphonies and concertos. The Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, along with the orchestra, will bring Brahm’s personal journey of sorrow and consolation to life with a performance that’s nothing short of breathtaking. Don’t miss your chance to see this intricately beautiful piece come to life at the Bradley Symphony Center. Get your seats today!
Christian Yelich’s Home Plate Charity Concert
April 17 at 7:30 p.m. | Pabst Theater
Stepping up to the plate in April is a star-studded charity event benefitting three local nonprofits. Headlining this year’s concert is the multi-platinum Goo Goo Dolls, known for songs like “Iris,” “Black Balloon” and countless other anthems of the early-to-mid-00s, along with Nicotine Dolls, comedian Charlie Berens and a few surprises along the way. Get your tickets today!
Circle Mirror Transformation
April 25 - May 18 | Next Act Theatre
Searching for meaning in your life (and some laughs along the way)? Join these four lost New Englanders as they enroll in Marty’s community center drama class. Over six weeks, they take part in theatre games, experience heartbreak and overcome adversity of epic proportions. Get your tickets to this thoughtful comedy today!
Espejos Clean
April 8 - May 11 | Milwaukee Rep
In this bilingual play with Spanish and English subtitles, the lives of Sarah and Adriana could not be more different. One, a manager of a resort’s housekeeping staff. The other, a self-proclaimed disaster of the family just trying to keep it together at a destination wedding. When a storm forces the two together, the women uncover secrets they both taught themselves to ignore. Don’t miss this powerful study of isolation, perspective and the power of being seen. Find your seats!
Sleeping Beauty
April 11-13 | Marcus Performing Arts Center
Lose yourself in this dreamy adaptation of one of the world’s most well-known fairytales. When Princess Aurora pricks her finger on her sixteenth birthday, she is cursed by a spell of endless sleep, only to be awoken by true love’s first kiss. Experience this enchanting tale of romance and rescue, accompanied by live music by the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra. Get your tickets today!
The Tallest Man on Earth
April 24 at 8 p.m. | Pabst Theater
Songwriting brilliance, multi-instrumental mastery and a stage presence that fits his stage name. If you like folk music, Kristian Matsson, a.k.a. The Tallest Man on Earth, is one show you have to experience live. From the raw, Bob Dylan-esque sound of his early work to his more fragile, intimate works on albums like “Dark Bird is Home,” “I Love You. It’s a Fever Dream” and his latest work “Henry St.,” Matsson’s songwriting and poignant lyrics draw listeners into deeply personal narratives, blending poetic storytelling with intricate guitar work. Snag your tickets today!
Curtain Call
While most months we focus on nine shows coming to the Milwaukee Theater District, this month we’ve given ourselves a little creative license to include a special addition…and the pick is in…with the first pick in the Milwaukee Theater District Draft, we select:
Jordy Nelson’s Milwaukee Tailgate Party with “Inside the Huddle”
April 26 at 5 p.m. | UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena
Capping off Milwaukee Tailgate Week Presented by Potawatomi Sportsbook, this event at the iconic UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena is so much more than a show; it’s a family-friendly fan experience that’s bringing the excitement of the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay right here to Milwaukee. Featuring a lineup of Packers legends, including Jordy Nelson and a few very special guests, festivities kick off at 3 p.m. with games, tailgate activities and food at 3 p.m., followed by the live recording of “Inside the Huddle” at 5 p.m. Get your tickets today!
Adaptive Performances
Milwaukee Theater District shows are for all! Here are some of the adaptive performances from these can’t-miss shows.
