Is “The Nether’s” dystopian near-future already upon us?
December 16, 2024 (Milwaukee, Wis) – Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) continues their 32nd season with “The Nether” by Jennifer Haley, January 12th – February 2nd with preview performances on January 10th and 11th, at the Theater on 255 S Water Street in Milwaukee’s Harbor District. Tickets are available at rtwmke.org 24 hours a day, by phone at 414-278-0765 or in person at the box office, 255 S. Water St., from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. M-F and 2 hours before performances.* Full list of performance dates, times, special events and accessible performances below.
*The Ticket Office will be closed from December 23 through January 1 for the holidays.
Play Synopsis
“The Nether” by Jennifer Haley is a tense, thought-provoking play set in a near-future world where immersive virtual realities blur the line between right and wrong. When a detective investigates a disturbing online realm, she uncovers a dark network that raises unsettling questions about technology, morality, and the human psyche. A chilling exploration of digital desires and their real-world consequences.
Content Warning: The play contains strong language and mature themes, including virtual crimes such as murder and sexual abuse. While the show addresses these topics, no explicit depictions of sex or violence occur on stage. Strongly recommended for an adult or older teen audience.
In an interview with playwright, Jennifer Haley, on TimeOut.com, she says ‘There are some very dark things out there,‘and I felt I had to out-dark them all.’ However “The Nether” is beyond shock and provocation. Haley said, ‘It started as an intellectual exercise, a kind of devil’s advocate for [someone’s] right to do something terrible in [a virtual world]. But how can our behaviour in the real world not be influenced by living out fantasies like these? If you inhabit an online identity do you become a different person? Or do you show a different side of yourself?’
Cast
SIMS/PAPA………………………………….Steve Koehler*
MORRIS……………………………………..Laura Gray*
DOYLE……………………………………….C. Michael Wright*
WOODNUT………………………………….Dimonte Henning*
IRIS…………………………………………..Josephine Van Slyke/Zoah Hirano
U/S SIMS/PAPA…………………………….Bill Watson
U/S DOYLE………………………………….Mark Corkins
U/S MORRIS………………………………..Maya Danks
U/S WOODNUT…………………………….Jake Badowski
Production Team
DIRECTOR…………………………………Elyse Edelman
STAGE MANAGER………………………..Bailey Wegner*
ASST. STAGE MANAGER……………….Sydney Smith
COSTUME DESIGN………………………Karin Kopischke**
INTIMACY DIRECTION…………………..KaiLee Evans
LIGHTING DESIGN……………………….Colin Gawronski
PROP DESIGN…………………………….Maddy Yee
SCENIC DESIGN………………………….Doug Dion
SOUND DESIGN………………………….Brandon Reed**
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR…………………Tony Lyons
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association
** Member of the United Scenic Artists of America
Playwright/Director/Cast Biographies
Jennifer Haley, Playwright
Jennifer Haley’s The Nether won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and the Ovation Award for Best New Play. The work premiered at Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre and has since been performed in 28 countries, translated into 19 languages, and produced by major theaters like MCC Theater and London’s Royal Court Theatre. Her other works include Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom and Breadcrumbs. Haley has written for Netflix’s Hemlock Grove and Mindhunter, and currently resides in Austin.
Elyse Edelman, Director
Elyse is thrilled to direct The Nether at Renaissance Theaterworks, following her previous work on The Wolves and appearances in The Drowning Girls, Top Girls, and The How and the Why. She has worked with Forward Theater, American Players Theatre, and Milwaukee Rep, among others. She holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater and is an Advisory Company Member at Forward Theater in Madison. Website: elyseedelman.com
Steve Koehler, Sims/Papa
Steve is excited to make his debut with RTW. He is best known for his long-running role as “Lloyd” in Guys on Ice. Other credits include The Bridges of Madison County, The Sound of Music, Rabbit Hole, and Victory Farm. Steve teaches physics and engineering at Pathways High School in Milwaukee.
Laura Gray, Morris
Laura returns to RTW, where she has appeared in Luna Gale, Barney and Bee, and Stop Kiss. A veteran of over 20 years of Milwaukee theater, Laura’s other credits include work with Chamber Theatre, Next Act Theatre, Milwaukee Rep, and First Stage. She is also a theatre professor at Carroll University and the Director of the Standardized Patient Training Program.
C. Michael Wright, Doyle
Michael has been performing professionally for 48 years, including appearances at the Guthrie Theater, American Players Theatre, and Milwaukee Rep. He is a former Producing Artistic Director at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre and has directed over 100 productions. His Broadway credits include Master Harold… and the Boys.
Dimonte Henning, Woodnut
Dimonte has appeared in Seven Guitars, Stick Fly, and Clybourne Park, among many regional theater productions. He has also acted on TV in Chicago PD and appeared in commercials for UBER and Harley-Davidson. He is also a director and theater producer.
Josephine Van Slyke, Iris
Josie is excited to return to RTW after performing in The Wolves. Her recent credits include Little Women (Jo) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck) at First Stage. A senior at Golda Meir High School, Josie is also a member of First Stage’s Young Company.
Zoah Hirano, Iris
Zoah makes her RTW debut with The Nether. A sophomore at Shorewood High School, she has appeared in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Titanic the Musical, and A Christmas Carol at Milwaukee Rep. Zoah is also a second-year member of First Stage’s Young Company.
Performance Schedule & Special Events
Week 1
Friday January 10th, 2025 7:30 p.m. Pay-what-you-can Preview
Saturday January 11th, 2025 4:00 p.m. Preview
Sunday January 12th, 2025 5:00 p.m. Opening Night
Week 2
Wednesday January 15th, 2025 7:30 p.m. Wine Wednesday
Thursday January 16th, 2025 7:30 p.m. SheLeads
Friday January 17th, 2025 7:30 p.m. PRIDE & Talkback
Saturday January 18th, 2025 4:00 p.m.
Sunday January 19th, 2025 2:00 p.m. Playclub
Week 3
Wednesday January 22nd, 2025 1:30 p.m. Talkback & Open Captions
Wednesday January 22nd, 2025 7:30 p.m. Wine Wednesday
Thursday January 23rd, 2025 7:30 p.m. ASL Interpreted
Friday January 24th, 2025 7:30 p.m. Pre-show talk
Saturday January 25th, 2025 4:00 p.m. Open Captions
Sunday January 26th, 2025 2:00 p.m.
Week 4
Wednesday January 29th, 2025 1:30 p.m. Sensory Friendly
Wednesday January 29th, 2025 7:30 p.m. Wine Wednesday
Thursday January 30th, 2025 7:30 p.m.
Friday January 31st, 2025 7:30 p.m. Audio Described
Saturday February 1st, 2025 4:00 p.m.
Sunday February 2nd, 2025 2:00 p.m. Closing Performance
Season Sponsors: Laura & Mike Arnow, Jan Serr & John Shannon, UPAF, CAMPAC, Milwaukee Arts Board, Wisconsin Arts Board, Shubert Foundation, Herzfeld Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Bert L. & Patricia S. Steigleder Charitable Trust
Show Sponsor: J. Michael Reavis
About Renaissance Theaterworks
RTW is Milwaukee’s first professional theater company founded and led by women and the nation’s second-oldest professional theater devoted to gender equality. RTW is a resident company at 255 South Water St. in Milwaukee’s Harbor District, with increased capacity and improved accessibility.
