Wisconsin Classic Stage · Milwaukee

The
Company

A company built on the conviction that classical theater is not a relic — it is a living, necessary art form that speaks directly to the present moment.

Our Mission

Classical Theatre
for the Modern Stage

Wisconsin Classic Stage is Milwaukee's dedicated classical repertory company, committed to presenting the great works of the dramatic canon with rigorous craft and fearless contemporary relevance. We believe that ancient stories hold modern truths — and that the stage is where those truths become undeniable.

Founded on the principle that theatrical excellence and genuine community belong together, WCS brings world-class classical production to Milwaukee audiences — with the intimacy, urgency, and ambition the work demands.

"The show doesn't start with lights down — it starts the moment the audience enters the room. That idea is central to how we approach every production at Wisconsin Classic Stage."
Josh Pohja Executive Artistic Producer

"A noble and notably ambitious first outing for a new company."

— Russ Bickerstaff · The Small Stage

Administrative Team

The People Behind the Work

Josh Pohja

Executive Artistic Producer

Josh Pohja

Josh is the founding force behind Wisconsin Classic Stage, bringing a director's precision and a producer's drive to every production. His approach to classical work is rooted in the belief that theater begins before the house lights go down — in the space, the silence, the anticipation. His direction of Henry V has drawn praise for its unity of ensemble and its lyrical, deterministic staging.

Marvin Hannah Jr.

Associate Producer · Marketing Advisor

Marvin Hannah Jr.

Marvin brings depth of experience and a powerful presence to everything he touches — on stage and behind the scenes. As Associate Producer and Marketing Advisor, he shapes how Wisconsin Classic Stage connects with Milwaukee and beyond, ensuring this company's work reaches the audiences it deserves. A performer of remarkable range, he is also a vital member of the acting ensemble.

Katherine Ziemann

Company Manager · Casting Associate

Katherine Ziemann

Katherine is the organizational heartbeat of Wisconsin Classic Stage — the person who ensures that ambitious vision becomes seamless reality. As Company Manager and Casting Associate, she oversees the day-to-day life of the company while playing a central role in assembling the powerhouse ensembles that define each production.

What We Stand For

I
The Canon, Alive

Aeschylus, Chekhov, Stein — these writers speak to today because they understood human nature completely. Our work is to unlock that conversation and let it breathe in the present tense.

II
Milwaukee, First

World-class classical theater belongs in Milwaukee. We are committed to a company genuinely rooted in this city — its talent, its audiences, its character — while reaching for the highest artistic standards anywhere.

III
The Whole Room

Theater is not a transaction. It is an event that begins the moment the audience crosses the threshold. We design every production with that in mind: the space, the atmosphere, the encounter.

Come see what we're building.

Three extraordinary plays. One city. One company that refuses to compromise.

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