The Bridge: Milwaukee Rep

The Bridge: Building Toward re(New)ed Theatre Audiences is a new special series hosted by AT Offscript. Produced with support from the Wallace Foundation, the series debuted on March 6, exploring how theatres are innovating to engage and sustain audiences amid the shifting realities of the field. 

Amid the “polycrises” of the present moment, TCG’s most recent Theatre Facts report revealed an unexpected ray of hope: In contrast to pandemic-driven declines in overall attendance and ticket revenue, subscriptions and other loyalty models have shown renewed resilience. The Bridge will take listeners inside theatres that are bucking the decades-long trend of subscription decline, offering both visionary questions and practical strategies for audience engagement.

Our fifth episode features Corinna Schulenburg, Co-Lead of TCG's Research Programs, in conversation with Chad Bauman, the Ellen & Joe Checota Executive Director of Milwaukee Repertory Theate. From their website: "Milwaukee Rep 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."

This episode was originally recorded on April 16, 2026. The Bridge is supported by the Wallace Foundation, and grounded in their research report, "In Search of the Magic Bullet: Results from the Building Audiences for Sustainability Initiative."