One of the most recent additions to the Milwaukee venue list is the newly renovated Milwaukee Theater; a beautifully constructed facility sitting right in the heart of downtowns Theater district.
The Milwaukee Theater was previously known as the Milwaukee Auditorium. The Milwaukee Auditorium was built on the site of the Exhibition Hall – which burned to the ground – in 1909. Over the course of its lifetime, this venue has held many public events including concerts, sporting and Theater events and graduations. The Auditorium was especially a favorite concert venue, drawing the likes of Bob Dylan, Roger Waters and Frank Zappa over the years. Probably the most famous moment of the Theater’s history was a speech delivered by then presidential-candidate Theodore Roosevelt immediately following an assassination attempt on his life.
The Milwaukee Auditorium finally became the Milwaukee Theater in 2003 after an extensive renovation project. Although the Milwaukee Theater failed to meet budget projections in its first 23 months of operation, the Wisconsin Center District (operators of the Milwaukee Theater) contend the $42 million renovation (nearly $10 million over budget) has paid off in other ways. Those ways include as a convention draw or the subsequent revenue area restaurants and hotels receive from touring acts the Milwaukee Theater hosts, including Jerry Seinfeld and David Bowie.
One of the Milwaukee Theater’s most appealing features is it’s lobby. The lobby of the Theater features a spacious, elegant domed rotunda, which begs to be used for large parties and receptions; even wedding receptions.
The Milwaukee Theater seats up to 4,086 people in two tiers of seating. If a more intimate setting is required, seating at the Milwaukee Theater can be configured to eliminate the two outermost sections; 1 and 5, creating seating for 2,500. The steeply raked house at the Milwaukee Theater allows each seat a clear view of the 74 foot stage. The most distant seat from the stage in the Milwaukee Theater is 125 feet, compared with 210 feet in the Milwaukee Auditorium.
There is an orchestra pit in the Milwaukee Theater with room for more than 60 players. If not needed for a show, the space can accommodate 57 audience seats. In addition, the Milwaukee Theater houses to “royal boxes”, each with room for 39. Sitting on the edge of each corner of the stage, these “royal boxes” may not have the best view of the stage, but they do offer a good spot to be seen.
Michael Feinstein, Dennis DeYoung and Daniel Rodriguez opened the renovated Milwaukee Theater in the winter of 2003. The Milwaukee Theater has also been home to Broadway hits, Urinetown, Miss Saigon and Oliver!. The Milwaukee Theater continues to carve out its niche as member of the downtown Theater disctrict. Some of the exciting performers the Milwaukee Theater has hosted recently include: The Pixies, Mark Knopfler, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and Garrison Keillor.
Parking for events at the Milwaukee Theater is available at the Wisconsin Center District’s parking lot located at 500 W. Wells Street.
Milwaukee Theater
800 W Wells St,
Milwaukee, WI 53233
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