Milwaukee Repertory Theater kicks off the 2026/27 Season—its second in the new Associated Bank Theater Center—with the high‑octane musical Footloose, running September 22 – November 1, 2026, in the Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater. Directed and choreographed by Three-time Olivier Award‑winner Stephen Mear, who dazzled Rep audiences with Ragtime and Dreamgirls, this smash‑hit musical bursts onto the stage with electrifying ’80s anthems and thrilling choreography including “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” and “Holding Out for a Hero.” When city teen Ren moves to a small town where dancing is banned, he challenges the rules, sparks romance, and inspires a community to rediscover joy, freedom, and the power of music.
Leading the 25-actor cast of Footloose are Keyon Pickett (The Wiz, Nat’l tour) as Ren McCormack and Maddie Robert (Dolly: A True Original Musical, Nashville) as Ariel Moore. They are joined by principal performers Victoria Byrd (Boop!, Broadway) as Urleen, Allyson Kaye Daniel (The Wiz, Broadway) as Lulu Warnicker, Rae Davenport (Ain’t Misbehavin’, Milwaukee Rep) as Ethel McCormack, Jackey Good (Million Dollar Quartet, Nat’l Tour) as Vi Moore, Olivia Hellman (Into The Woods, San Francisco Playhouse) as Rusty, Milwaukee native Steven Koehler (Come From Away, Milwaukee Rep) as Rev. Shaw Moore, Niki Metcalf (Hairspray, Nat’l tour) as Wendy Jo, Justin Wolfe Smith (The Full Monty, Gateway Playhouse) as Chuck Cranston, Milwaukee native Steve Watts (Titanic, Milwaukee Rep) as Wes Warnicker and Carson Zoch (Shrek the Musical, Nat’l Tour) as Willard Hewit.
The ensemble features several of Milwaukee Rep’s Emerging Professional Residents (EPR) and others including Manuel Abreú (EPR) as Garvin, Matthew Callas (EPR) as Travis, Marjorie Failoni (Anything Goes, MUNY) as Eleanor Dunbar/Betty Blast, Nicolas Garza (In The Heights, Milwaukee Rep) as Cowboy Bob, Galen Graff (EPR) as Bickle, Dimonte Henning (August Wilson’s Seven Guitars, Milwaukee Rep) as Coach Dunbar, Andre Lajevardi (Penn State Musical Theatre) as Lyle, James Patterson (Ragtime, Milwaukee Rep) as Principal Clark, Tarrick Walker as Jeter and ensemble members Giulia Marolda (The Adams Family, Surflight Theater), Rafaela Torchia (EPR), Kate Turner (EPR), Jazmin Wilkins (EPR) and swings Adam Moxness and Stephanie Staszak.
Footloose is directed and choreographed by three-time Olivier Award-winner Stephen Mear with music direction by Dan Kazemi who has music directed over 30 productions at Milwaukee Rep. The creative team is rounded out with set design by Todd Edward Ivins (A Christmas Carol, Milwaukee Rep), costume design by Raquel Adorno (As You Like It, Writers Theatre), lighting design by Jason Fassl (Come From Away, Milwaukee Rep), sound design by Cricket S. Myers (Run Bambi Run, Milwaukee Rep), voice and dialect coaching by Jill Walmsley-Zager and casting by Jonathan Hetler, CSA and Michael Donovan Casting with Michael Donovan, CSA and Richie Ferris, CSA. The production is staged managed by Mark Johnson.
Footloose will be performed September 22 – November 1, 2026, in the Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater and is presented by David Kundert with Corporate Sponsor PNC, Executive Producers Tracy and Michael Askotzky, Maureen McCabe as well as Beverly and Tony Petullo and Associate Producer Elaine Pagedas.
To purchase tickets, visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com, call the Ticket Office at 414‑224‑9490, or stop by in person at 108 E Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee.
For more information, please visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com
About Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Milwaukee Rep is the largest performing arts organization in Wisconsin. Its new artistic home, the Associated Bank Theater Center, opened Fall 2025 with three unique performance venues—the Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater, Herro-Franke Studio Theater, and Stackner Cabaret. For over seven decades, Milwaukee Rep has been a centerpiece of Milwaukee’s vibrant arts and cultural scene with productions ranging from Broadway musicals to Shakespeare to American Classics and New Works that are entertaining, inclusive and impactful. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Ellen & Joe Checota Executive Director Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity. More information visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com