WAUWATOSA, Wis. — Over 75,000 unique props, costumes, and set pieces destroyed by flooding at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s production facility in Wauwatosa.
“So our scene shops, our paint shops, all of our storage, prop storage, costume storage, set storage. We also had equipment from our downtown theater facility as we complete construction there. Anything from vintage, irreplaceable props and set pieces from the 1950s all the way up to, you know, tiny little newspaper things that we would use as props as well,” executive director Chad Bauman told WTMJ’s What’s On Tap.
Bauman says the estimated value of the losses will likely exceed $5 million, which is the limit of their flood insurance policy.
The performing arts organization is opening a temporary production shop in a different location, and other production groups across the U.S. and Canada are assisting in the recovery effort.
As of now, upcoming shows this fall and winter will go on as planned.
“We’ve got a plan to produce this season. Even though, for example, the set of A Christmas Carol was being stored there and it’s a total loss, we have a plan to rebuild it in the next couple of months,” Bauman said.
The Milwaukee Repertory Theater says people interested in helping with the recovery can make a tax-deductible donation, or purchases tickets and subscriptions.
