51ÁÔÆæ

A mistimed sneeze, a foolish drowning stunt, a helpful cuckold, an enthusiastic dentist, and a boy reluctant to face manhood—this is just a taste of what unfolds when Anton Chekhov’s short stories meet the wit and whimsy of Neil Simon. The Good Doctor is a clever “tour de farce� filled with absurdity, charm and deeply human foibles and follies. Blending Chekhov’s timeless observations with Simon’s comedic sparkle, this series of vignettes captures the unexpected tenderness of life’s missteps with humor and heart.

Set in 1980s Naples, Scapino! is a zany reimagined farce inspired by Molière’s 1671 comedy Les Fourberies de Scapin. This madcap romp bursts with slapstick and fast-paces humor, including tall tales, bad impersonations, ridiculous chase scenes, disgruntled waiters, lovable panhandlers, melodic macaroni, and misbehaving sausages. Overflowing with physical comedy and rapid-fire humor, it’s a theatrical free-for-all that’s as unpredictable as it is hilarious. You’ve been warned: your belly might just ache from laughing so hard!

Full of wit, absurdity and sly social commentary, H.M.S. Pinafore is a hilarious tale of love, honor and duty aboard a Royal Navy ship whimsically named after a woman’s garment. Written by master social satirists W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan—one of musical theatre’s most iconic duos—this classic 19th-century comic opera gets a fresh, imaginative adaptation and staging by Milwaukee Opera Theatre’s Artistic Director Jill Anna Ponasik and 51ÁÔÆæ Department of Theatre's Jeffrey Mosser. Presented in cooperation with Milwaukee Opera Theatre, this lively production promises sharp humor, infectious music and a delightful twist on tradition.

15-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain: he excels at mathematics but struggles to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched, and he distrusts strangers. One night, at seven minutes after midnight, Christopher discovers his neighbor's dog, Wellington, has been speared with a garden fork. Suspected of the crime, Christopher is determined to solve the mystery. His detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a thrilling journey that upturns his world. Based on the best-selling novel by Mark Haddon and winner of Tony and Olivier Awards for best play in New York and London.

The show that launched Bernadette Peters as a Broadway star, this delightful, funny, tongue-in-cheek love letter to Hollywood musicals of the 1930s tells the story of sweet Ruby’s journey from her small hometown to New York City to become a Broadway star. There, she meets Dick, a sailor with ambitions as a songwriter. In grand Hollywood fashion, they tap dance their way from the chorus to stardom on the deck of a passing battleship. Dames at Sea is a non-stop ride of romance, laughs, dance and musical delights.

An epic tale of shipwreck and devastating loss, love and redemption across the Ancient Mediterranean. One of William Shakespeare's later plays, Pericles is ultimately a story of the triumph of the human spirit, exploring themes that dominate headlines today: the Middle East, refugees, perilous sea crossings and sex trafficking. It offers spectacular grace and one of the most beautiful reunions this master of the theatrical stage ever wrote.

A tale of love and redemption set in the mountains of North Carolina in the mid-20th century. Written by American icon Steve Martin and singer-songwriter Edie Brickell, Bright Star features a Tony-nominated score with a bluegrass musical style all its own. This uplifting and heart-rending story inspired by true events follows a literary editor and a young soldier just home from World War II on their transformative journey through loss and separation to grace, reconciliation and reunion.