Milwaukee, Wis. (March 25, 2023) — Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee’s professional Equity music theatre company, is thrilled to unveil its transformative 2024-2025 season, brimming with captivating musicals, heartwarming classics, and world premieres.

“This season promises something for everyone,” says Skylight Artistic Director Michael Unger. “All of the stories we are telling will not only take our audiences on magnificent journeys, but also the characters in these wonderful musicals as well. We will be offering five productions that will empower, inspire, delight, mystify, and celebrate our world and the extraordinary people in it.”

The Season Opens with Award-Winning Waitress (October 4 – 27, 2024)

The season kicks off with the smash-hit musical Waitress. Based on the beloved 2007 film, Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a talented pie baker trapped in a loveless marriage. She dreams of a new life and finds solace in her quirky coworkers and the creation of her mouthwatering pies. With a score filled with beautiful ballads and empowering anthems,

Waitress is an unforgettable story of friendship, courage, and finding the sweetness in life.

“The musical Waitress was a sensation from the moment it opened in Boston in 2015 and throughout its Broadway run, tour, and record-breaking filmed presentation,” said Michael Unger, Artistic Director of Skylight Music Theatre. “We are extremely proud to present this slice-of-heaven story about a remarkable woman’s journey to discover her power as our 65th season opener.”

Skylight Premiere: Celebrate the Holidays with Oliver! (November 15 – December 29, 2024)

Just in time for the holidays, Skylight presents the joyous and heartwarming musical Oliver! This Skylight premiere is a captivating adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel, Oliver Twist. Filled with unforgettable characters, humor, and toe-tapping tunes, Oliver! is a cherished holiday tradition that the whole family will enjoy.

“Who in the world does not have a warm spot in their hearts for the character and the musical Oliver!?,” said Michael Unger, Artistic Director of Skylight Music Theatre. “This classic musical, based on one of the greatest stories ever written, is chock-full of great music, dancing, drama, humor, and heart. All of the above, combined with two dozen of Milwaukee’s finest youth performers, promises to be a show that the whole family can enjoy again and again during the holiday season."

World Premiere: A Modern Take on a Classic Love Story – Juliet and Romeo (January 17 – February 2, 2025)

Skylight is proud to present the world premiere of a brand-new musical, Juliet and Romeo. This reimagining of Shakespeare’s timeless tale promises a fresh perspective on the star-crossed lovers. With a captivating new score and a new take on a well-known story, Juliet and Romeo is sure to be one of the highlights of our season.

“This world premiere musical, written by the author of Skylight’s hit virtual musical, ‘Being Earnest’ is a hilarious take on Shakespeare’s most romantic and tragic play,” said Michael Unger, Artistic Director of Skylight Music Theatre. “Be of the first audiences to enjoy this brand-new musical in which 16th Century Verona and modern-day New York City collide. This romp bounces back and forth between rehearsing a production of one of The Bard’s best-known plays, and the actual characters within the play as Shakespeare is writing it. Many hijinks ensue as centuries and love stories get twisted in the freshest look yet at Juliet, Romeo, William Shakespeare… and down-on-his-luck community theatre director and aspiring novelist, Sawyer Bloom."

Midwest Premiere: Frankenstein: The Musical (February 21 – March 9, 2025)

Skylight brings this electrifying stage adaptation of Mary Shelley’s gothic masterpiece, Frankenstein, to the Midwest for the first time. Frankenstein: The Musical is a thrilling and thought-provoking exploration of the power of discovery, the responsibility of creation and the fragility of the human condition.

“This intimate, chamber musical version of the classic story of Victor Frankenstein and the creature he creates is told in a way that uniquely honors Mary Shelley’s novel,” said Michael Unger, Artistic Director of Skylight Music Theatre. “With ingenuity in all design departments, this production will be laser-focused on the blessings and perils of innovation, and the powerful connection between the creator and the created as their worlds spiral out of control."  

Season Finale: Skylight Premiere: Sister Act (April 4 – 27, 2025)

The season concludes with the Skylight premiere of the divine musical comedy Sister Act. This hilarious and uplifting show follows Deloris Van Cartier, a lounge singer forced to hide out in a convent after witnessing a murder. Disguised as a nun, Deloris uses her musical talents to transform the convent choir and inspire the community.

“This story, as are all the stories in our 65th Season, is about transformation. Everyone evolves in unexpected ways by revolving around nightclub singer-turned-postulate, Ms. Delores Van Cartier. But perhaps the biggest transformation is Delores herself. Her goals move from self to selflessness as she becomes the inspiration to a community that needs it in more ways than anyone realizes. The joyful noise that is Sister Act will lift spirits, hearts, and copious amounts of laughter as this hit film turned hit musical graces the Cabot stage for the first time.”  

Season Subscriptions on Sale Now

Season subscriptions for the 2024-2025 season are now on sale. Subscribers enjoy the best seats, ticket exchange privileges, and special discounts. For more information or to subscribe, call the Skylight Box Office at (414) 297-3688 or visit www.skylightmusictheatre.org.

Skylight Music Theatre Celebrates 65th Season in 2024-2025

WAITRESS

October 4 – 27, 2024

Book by Jessie Nelson 

Music and Lyrics by Sara Bareilles

Based upon the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly

Brought to life on Broadway by a groundbreaking, all-female creative team, Waitress features original music and lyrics by six-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles ("Brave,""Love Song"), and a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson. Nominated for four Tony Awards (including Best Musical), Waitress is inspired by Adrienne Shelly's beloved film and offers a special recipe for finding happiness in unexpected places. Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, is stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. Supported by her quirky crew of fellow waitresses and loyal customers, Jenna summons the secret ingredient she's been missing all along — courage.

Recommended for ages 13 and up.

Skylight Premiere!

OLIVER!

November 15 – December 29, 2024

Book, Music, and Lyrics by Lionel Bart

Freely adapted from Charles Dickens' 'Oliver Twist'

Consider yourself at home with Lionel Bart's classic musical based on the Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to also win an Academy Award for Best Picture. The streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. Oliver! is a musical theatre masterpiece, perfectly showcasing the talents of a large ensemble cast, including two dozen local youth performers, to bring these classic characters and score to life.

Recommended for ages 8 and up.

World Premiere!

JULIET AND ROMEO

January 17 – February 2, 2025

Book by Paul Gordon

Music and Lyrics by Paul Gordon and Curtis Moore

In this delightful and hilarious re-imagining, Bloom is a community theatre director and failed novelist currently directing a mediocre production of Romeo and Juliet. But when the ghost of Shakespeare turns up, Bloom insults him by criticizing the ending to his greatest tragedy. Bloom tells The Bard he could write it better, resulting in an unexpected twist from Shakespeare, who sends Bloom INTO the play. Once inside, as Bloom tries to “improve” the ending from within, he must navigate the twists and turns of the plot all while trying to fit in with the renowned fictional characters we all know and love. But once Bloom meets Juliet, his plans unravel as he falls for her and risks changing the story, past and present, in ways no one expected.

Recommended for ages 11 and up.

Midwest Premiere!