Community Calendar

Stop by Retzer Nature Center to hike, read, and enjoy this fall’s Story Hike! Set out on the White Trail to read “The Acorn and the Oak” by Rhonda Accardo and learn more about oak trees and their fascinating ecosystem, all while enjoying a heartfelt story along the way.

Story Hike is provided through a partnership with Retzer Nature Center and the Bridges Library System.

We provide the easiest way to get on the water! Paddle on the waters of the Summerfest lagoon, the inlet of the Lakeshore State Park, and the protected marina at Discovery World using paddle boats, stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, or hydro-bikes.

If you prefer a scenic river experience, book a single or tandem kayak for a trip down the Milwaukee River, just north of downtown. We provide all of the equipment!

Join us this season with friends, colleagues, families, dates... anyone who enjoys the beautiful outdoors in the Milwaukee area.

The United States marks its 250th anniversary in 2026. To understand how our nation came to be, we invite you to think about how immigrants have shaped the United States, starting right here in Milwaukee.
Indigenous Peoples were the first to live on this land. Later, waves of immigrants arrived, changing the community and creating the Milwaukee we know today. Examining immigration in Milwaukee offers a window into the larger American story.
For over 180 years, immigrants have shaped Milwaukee’s economy, neighborhoods, and culture. Waves of German, Polish, Italian, and Irish newcomers built businesses to grow the city in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their skills and labor established Milwaukee as a center of industry and craftsmanship.
As new generations arrive from Latin America, Asia, Southwest Asia and North Africa (also referred to as the Middle East), and Africa, they bring traditions, languages, and foods that continue to redefine what it means to be American. Milwaukee’s diversity can be seen in its restaurants, festivals, and neighborhoods. Here, the legacies of past and present immigrants come together to shape the future.

Family histories, myth, and memories not only survive migration and cultural transplantation; they persist at the foundations of identity. Warren King’s sophisticated sculptures explore his family’s origins in Shaoxing, China, their journey to the suburbs of Wisconsin, and how he understands this displacement in light of his own Western upbringing. King’s sculptures often combine thematic and aesthetic elements from Chinese and Western traditions, masterfully working cardboard into near life-size figures and wall pieces that recall traditional lacquerware and woodcarving. This exhibition originated at the James Watrous Gallery in Madison, Wisconsin, where it was co-curated by Jody Clowes and Warren King, and is presented in collaboration with the Organization of Chinese Americans-Wisconsin.

New to storytelling? Or in need of a refresh on the basics? Want to practice a story to tell at our StorySlam? This interactive workshop is for you!

This workshop takes place directly before the StorySlam and is meant to be a place to workshop a story you might want to tell on-stage later that night. If you aren’t ready to throw your name in the hat, no worries! This space is open to anyone who is interested in becoming a better storyteller, and is a perfect way for you to connect with other storytellers before our StorySlam!

Take your storytelling to the next level by sharing on stage at StorySlam: Signs on October 13! Please note that your workshop ticket does NOT provide entry to the Slam;

Local author Greg Jones will read from his second poetry collection. Books will be available for purchase.

Ex Fabula StorySlams are live events where community members connect and share true, personal stories related to the night’s theme, told without props or notes. Come to listen – or throw your name in the hat for a chance to share a true story related to the theme of Signs. At the end of the night, the audience votes by secret ballot to crown an Audience Favorite, who will be invited to share a story at ALL STARS in May.

The audience can also be a part of the storytelling by submitting UltraShorts! These are handwritten “ultra-short” stories on the night’s theme that will be read onstage by the emcee.

This event will have ASL interpretation so that Deaf community members can attend, and, if they like, share a story onstage
We have a variety of accessibility options available upon request, including reserved ADA seating, Braille and large print materials, transportation reimbursement, and more. Guests requiring an accommodation can include their request in the order notes field at checkout or contact Ex Fabula directly.

Doors at 6:30/Stories at 7:00 PM.

Karthik Pandian’s work in film, installation and intervention renders mythologies of the present through forgotten, fragmentary and futuristic pasts, unsettling the ground of history.

Get ready to kick off your heels and feel the beat! The smash-hit film Footloose the Musical explodes onto the stage with high-octane choreography and electrifying ’80s anthems, 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. Helmed by Olivier Award-winning artist Stephen Mear, who wowed Rep audiences with his choreography for Ragtime and Guys and Dolls, this energetic, feel-good Tony-nominated musical will have you laughing, cheering, and jumping to your feet.

Step into an unforgettable adventure of mystery, mischief, and messy humanity. Katie Bender transforms the theater into an intimate DIY séance, daring to summon the spirit of Houdini—and maybe wrestle with the chaos of her own life along the way. Equal parts hilarious, haunting, and heartbreakingly honest, this one-woman show fuses memoir and live magic to explore ambition, motherhood, and the craving to break free. Expect laughter and glimpses of the extraordinary hidden in everyday life.

“A funny…haunted exploration of ambition, legacy, and familial responsibility.” — The Austin Chronicle

*Please note that dates, times and ticket prices are subject to change. Visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com for the most up-to-date information.