Blood suckers, 9/11 conspiracies, and other reasons to see Milwaukee theater

Milwaukee's robust theater scene hosts a handful of professionals, a bunch of semi-pros, and a ton of amateur companies. But we're not a theater-going town like Chicago, which means really good shows often play to half-empty houses. Most Milwaukeeans haven't discovered that live theater is to movies what live sports is to televised sports. It’s a whole different experience—unpredictable, more intense, even risky. True, most local performers aren’t full-timers, which means they have the good sense not to try to make their living on the stage. But there are lots of talented people, and plenty of cool shows coming this season for adventurous fun-seekers to explore the rush of sitting in dark rooms with strangers. Here are five of the best.

1. Dracula: The Undead (Alchemist Theatre, October 15-November 7)
The Alchemist’s resident tech genius Aaron Kopec should guarantee that the set and effects alone will be worth the admission. Plus, there are always beautiful, scantily clad vampire chicks to spice up this horror story set in the ruins of Castle Dracula, where gypsies re-enact the tale of the infamous bloodsucker. After the show, suck down some Bloody Marys at the adjacent Bay View Lounge.

2. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare...Abridged (Soulstice Theatre, December 3-19)
This hilarious send-up should double as a handy crash-course in Shakespeare, going through all 37 of The Bard’s plays in a marathon 90 minutes. Bay View-based company Soulstice Theater has some fine comic talent for this irreverent, improv-heavy show.

3. Yankee Tavern (Milwaukee Repertory Theater, January 5-31)
The Rep is the 2-ton gorilla of Milwaukee theater; its pro talent delivering shows with consistently impressive design and high-grade acting can't be ignored. This recent play works myriad conspiracy theories into a story about a bar, a suicide, and a ghost.

4. Macbeth (Off The Wall Theatre, February 18-28)
What better way to embrace the dark days of Wisconsin winter than with one of the world's darkest plays, done by Milwaukee's darkest theater company? Director Dale Gutzman promises an intense experience, setting the audience—limited to 25 for each performance—in a maze of translucent walls and suffocating madness. Gutzman can wring almost-superhuman commitment from his cast of talented amateurs, so the drama will be extreme.

5. A Day In Hollywood/A Night In The Ukraine (Skylight Opera Theatre, March 12-April 4)
This show is a love letter to old-time Hollywood movies, including a sarcastic song-and-dance tribute to censorship and an original comedy in the style of the Marx Brothers. You're in good hands with these gifted professional singers, dancers, and actors, including Milwaukee veteran Norman Moses, who reprises one of his favorite roles as the Groucho character, Serge B. Samovar.