Next Act Theatre announced this week that it has surpassed its $950,000 fundraising goal and plans to move to a new theater that will be built in the former Transpak Crane Bay building at 255 S. Water St., in the South Water Works development in the Walker’s Point neighborhood.
Milwaukee-based Lighthouse Development Company LLC is redeveloping the former Transpak Corp. complex, located southeast of South Barclay Street and East Pittsburgh Avenue, into a mixed use development, primarily with apartments and office space.
Next Act says it has raised $994,020 for the project and will move to its new home in time for the opening of its 22nd season in September. Construction will begin in February.
The facility will include a 150-seat theater, administrative offices, rehearsal space and production support areas.
The new Next Act Theatre will also be available for use by other theater companies.
Quorum Architects Inc. did the design work for the project.
Next Act Theatre had been located in the 99-seat Off-Broadway Theatre at 342 N. Water St., the city’s Historic Third Ward, for 10 years. The theater company decided not to exercise the option for the final year of its lease and moved out last year, said Next Act development director Lisa Gatewood. Next Act is performing at the Tenth Street Theatre at 628 N. 10th St., Milwaukee, for the current theater season.
Click here to see the plans for Next Act Theatre’s new home.
