Milwaukee Repertory Theater is proud to announce that McNeal, the Midwest premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar’s newest play, has officially become the best‑selling production in the history of the newly named Herro‑Franke Studio Theater, surpassing previous audience favorites including What the Constitution Means to Me and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. McNeal joins Come From Away, the all-time best-selling show in Milwaukee Rep history as record setting inaugural productions in the Associated Bank Theater Center.
The milestone marks a defining moment for Milwaukee Rep’s newly reimagined black box venue, which opened this season as part of the Associated Bank Theater Center. The Herro‑Franke Studio Theater, now featuring modular platforms, flexible seating for 182 to 224 patrons, and expanded production capabilities, was designed to support bold, intimate storytelling. McNeal has proven to be the perfect inaugural production to showcase the space’s full potential.
Directed by Artistic Director Mark Clements, McNeal has captivated audiences with its darkly comic, razor‑sharp exploration of art, ambition, and authorship in the age of artificial intelligence. The production features jaw‑dropping projections and special effects never before seen in the studio, creating a theatrical experience that has driven unprecedented demand and multiple sold‑out performances.
“Launching the Herro‑Franke Studio Theater with a new play by Ayad Akhtar was already a tremendous honor,” said Artistic Director Mark Clements. “To see audiences respond with this level of enthusiasm is extraordinary. McNeal is not only breaking sales records; it’s redefining what’s possible in this space.”
The production features Peter Bradbury as Jacob McNeal, alongside a powerhouse ensemble including N’Jameh Camara, Ty Fanning, Jessica Ko, Jeanne Paulsen, Sara Sadjadi and Bridget Ann White.
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 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