Despite its beers and baseball facade, Milwaukee holds its own when it comes to a cultured performing arts scene. The city boasts opera companies, a world-class symphony, a nationally acclaimed ballet company and an array of professional dance and theater companies.
"We’re a bit of a surprise for people who come from out of town, that there is the variety and quality of arts that are here," says Paul Mathews, president and CEO of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts (414.273.7121), located in the center of the downtown Theater District and home to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Ballet Company, Florentine Opera Company, First Stage Milwaukee, Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and At the Center community concerts.
"Milwaukee was founded in the 1800s by Western Europeans, and like so many northern industrial cities, it has a strong history in the arts," Mathews says. "The arts historically were an important part of the quality of life. I’ve seen the performing arts become an increasingly more popular form of corporate entertaining compared to sports."
The Marcus Center has a number of venues for groups. The 2,300-seat Uihlein Hall is the center’s largest performance space and can be used for meetings and lectures.
"We have an atrium area outside of the main hall and we have a small meeting space for up to 75 for a sit-down dinner or for pre-show cocktail parties," Mathews says. "The promenades and hallways are open to events and offer bar service."
Other options include the open-air Peck Pavilion and the Bradley Pavilion, which overlooks the RiverWalk and can accommodate up to 700. The center also offers several smaller theaters for meetings and functions.
Resident arts groups can also bring groups backstage for a reception or a meet and greet.
"The Broadway series is our own presentation, so we can request speakers and have them out in front pre show. Groups can also do talk-backs with Broadway performers at lunches and dinners," Mathews says.
Outside the theater district, which also features the group-friendly Milwaukee Repertory Theater (414.224.9490), the Historic Third Ward neighborhood is home to the Broadway Theatre Center, which presents performances from several theater companies, including the center’s owner and operator, Skylight Opera Theatre (414.291.7800).
The center offers the 358-seat Cabot Theatre and the Skylight Bar, a cabaret-style space that seats up to 100, with standing room for 175.
The Milwaukee Theatre (800.745.3000) is the city’s largest theater, hosting an extensive calendar of concerts, Broadway musicals and other shows. The theater can accommodate groups.
In Brookfield, the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center (262.781.9470) is a hub for a variety of arts media, including visual arts, and it hosts the annual Hidden River Art Festival, featuring local artists presenting a variety of media.
The venue offers the 619-seat Kuttemperoor Auditorium and the Grand Hall, with an outdoor terrace for alfresco performances and receptions. The Studio Theater seats up to 160 and can combine with the Gerlach Outdoor Theater to host a combination indoor and outdoor event.