Artistic Director Heather Renken announced Encore’s 2025-2026 season will be a combination of live plays, filmed works, a variety show with a narrative and an Encore Classic! Join us in the Martin Street Theatre, our brand-new performance space, and celebrate 25 years with Encore Studio for the Performing Arts!
ABOUT ENCORE STUDIO FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS:
Encore Studio for the Performing Arts celebrates 25 years as Wisconsin’s first professional theatre company for people with disabilities, and is one of the very few in the United States! Encore offers an innovative, inclusive, and professional environment where all people work together in the pursuit of artistic and theatrical excellence.
Working in the community of professional theatre, Encore actors develop their creative skills and talents to communicate, through the performing arts, a challenging and authentic message about disability and culture.
Encore actively promotes an environment where each individual’s talents, skills and abilities can be fostered and developed to reach their goal of having a career as a performing artist.
Encore opened its doors on September 6th, 2000. Only weeks later on October 14th, Encore premiered its first production, “Not Stubborn… Not Strong-Willed” at the world-class Monona Terrace convention center to an uproarious standing ovation. It’s been full steam ahead ever since. Encore has since traveled all over the state of Wisconsin and beyond with a full performance schedule. The original work Encore has produced has garnered local, regional, and national attention. With a troupe of 18 actors and 8 staff, Encore has produced 50+ original works to date, with many more to come.
Open House to Celebrate 25 years – September 6th 2025
On September 6th 2000, Encore Studio for the Performing Arts began changing the theatrical landscape of Madison. This season we celebrate! Encore kicks off with an Open House from 4-7 on Saturday, September 6th, 2025! Our space has been undergoing a transformation as we have expanded to create a new Theatre and Lobby/Box office area and we’d love to show it to you! We are hosting an informal open house and would love folks to join us for nibbles, conversation and a champagne (or non-alcoholic sparkling alternative) toast! See the new space, meet the team and join us for a quick chat about Encore’s history and upcoming season. On Saturday, September 6th from 4- 7 the doors to the new Martin Street Theatre will open and we’d love to see you walk through!
Season 2025-2026!
From the Top: Encore at 25 by KelsyAnne Schoenhaar and others – October 17- November 2 Fridays 8pm, Saturdays and Sundays 2pm
From the Top: Encore at 25 is a retrospective look that celebrates the last 25 years of original writing with reprises and reimagined classics of Encore’s vast collection of pieces. Excerpts from To Love or Not to Love, Lost Track, and The Last Weekend of December along with favorite shorts and films are featured in this selection from Encore’s body of work.From the Top: Encore at 25 features stories that celebrate our history, stories that linger and reverberate long after the curtain falls.
Papineau( x) on Parade By Steve Wyeth and Heather Renken – February 6- 22 , 2026
Fridays at 8PM Saturdays and Sundays at 2 PM
It’s the last broadcast of Cable Access Channel WPAP’s long running talent competition show Papineau on Parade. In its 15 years the talent show has entertained the community of Papineau Wisconsin and launched the career of Wynne Joseph, star of the underground hit Dude, Where’s my Flip Phone? Funding has run out for WPAP and this is show runner Rae Fennimore’s last chance to make good or go out in a blaze of glory. This variety show explores how corporate funding decides how and who is allowed to have a voice.
Real Life – By KelsyAnne Schoenhaar
May 15-31st Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays and Sundays at 2PM
“Real Life premiered at Madison’s Bartell Theatre in November 2004.” Many people with autism are considered to live in a world all their own. But is it any less real than the culture we inhabit? Real Life offers a window into a fascinating world encompassing a dichotomy of intellectual genius and severe social awkwardness. Focusing on high-functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, Real Life follows the lives of four individuals with this disability. How they live, how they survive, how they flourish, and the fascinating drama that is their real life. An original, full-scale play with music. “… the year’s most beautiful show.” “… one of the most moving theatrical productions I’ve seen in some time” “…fabulously original and effective.” – Kenneth Burns, Isthmus “…engaging and authentic” “… a near perfect marriage of script and talent” – Jan Neudeck, Madison Magazine”
Tickets: www.encorestudio.org/tickets
All performances will be held at the Martin Street Theatre, 1480 Martin St. Madison, WI
More information: www.encorestudio.org
