Alchemist Theatre & Lounge

We saw Death Ship 666 there and it was well worth it! We laughed and smiled and really enjoyed the view and comfort from the «stowage» (back rows) seats. The director did a phenomenal job with the comedy and the actors are to be commended for their many roles. The nostalgic atmosphere here was quaint, comfortable and worth a visit by everyone. Kudos to staff throughout the theater and behind the scenes for keeping this little treasure alive.

This is a hidden gem in Bayview. The lobby area has a full bar and is full of antiques and cool gadgets from yesteryear. The theatre hosts amateur and professional fringe theatre companies who put on high quality productions. There are no regular business hours so check their website for updated hours and show schedules.

When I walked in my 1^st thought was «my god 4 years in this city and you have never been here shame on you look at this place» seriously honest. The ambiance and set up gave me chills with excitement. It was classy, spooky, vintage, dramatic i think you get the point. We saw Fortuna the time bender vs the school girls of doom. It was amazing i laughed so hard, the cast was absolutely brilliant the script pratically made me shoot my girly drink out my nose with laughter and glee. So moral of story get your butts down here see a show take in the sights grab a speciality drink. This theater company is filled with people who love what they do and they love the space they have. I too love this space i want to come back again very soon and sit back in a dark corner with my drink and take in all the sights again and again and again.

Made my inaugural trip to the Alchemist for their New Year’s Eve party. Honestly, I have started longingly at the establishment for years. Wondering what the heck was in there. It seemed hip. Too hip for I. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The people were super sweet. The patrons an eclectic friendly group. The burlesque a ton of fun. It’s a neat little space with a loungey area on one side and a small intimate theater venue on the other. I am one of those people who can admittedly be intimidated by places like this, I just loathe feeling like I am crashing someone else’s party, you know? My fears were misplaced as this is truly everyone’s party. Put them on your list.

This is a hard review to write, not because I don’t think the Alchemist Theater is a pretty awesome place but because the play I saw there was so aboundingly awful. The girl and I saw a play there around Halloween, The Alchemist’s Eye, that I can only assume was written by the owner. I have a good amount of family that work in theater and I grew up in lighting booths and it was one of the worst shows I’ve ever seen. The acting was good. The set was fine. The script was terrible.
That, however, is water under the bridge. I’m sure you won’t see the same play I did, but you will go to the same theater I did. And that place is worth checking out. They have a pretty awesome, if small, front-​room/​lobby/​bar type deal where you can hang out until the movie starts. They have a decent selection of local beers and booze and my girlfriend says they make a wicked kiddie cocktail.
The theater itself is super-​intimate, which I love. Maybe 10 – 12 rows of seats, with eight seats across. I’d be pretty surprised if it was more than 100 seats total. Even from near the back you are right on top of the action. This is, in my opinion, the best way to experience theater.
As I said, the set-​design was stellar. There was tons of stuff to catch the eye and explore and characters were constantly interacting with things that had been there all along but you didn’t notice. They managed to make one set seem very big and non-​repetitive for a several-​hour play.
I would definitely go to the Alchemist Theater again, but I would see something else. One of the better theaters I’ve been to in Milwaukee with one of the worst shows.

A kick in the Dickens…
…is the show I saw at the Alchemist on Friday night and it was awesome!
Half improv/​half semi scripted take on a Dickens play, but all pure delight!
The staff was beyond friendly, the holiday themed drinks were delicious, and the theatre was intimate and cozy.
It was a real deal at only 15 bucks a ticket for a 1.5 hour show, and drinks were reasonably priced as well.
I would certainly come to Alchemist again to see another show!

I really enjoyed the Alchemist Theater. I took my mom to see Juliet and Romeo — a twist on Shakespeare where they simply switched the parts of Romeo and Juliet. Lesbian themes added, of course. Men were used for breeding. Hilarious delivery. The acting was pretty good overall. The costumes were decent. The makeup was bad.
My favorite part was the closing monologue where a woman (unknown character) was talking about the tragedy of Juliet and Romeo. She started in her regular American accent. Then she switched to British. Then all of a sudden, she was Australian, mate!
The theater itself is small and intimate. A bit claustrophobic. But there is a nice amount of leg room. Would also recommend for an intimate date.

I absolutely cannot believe that this place is in my neighborhood and I only just now made my first visit. Great atmosphere, staff, and drinks. The show was amazing — I cackled out loud through the entire thing (fortuna the time bender vs the schoolgirls of doom). In fact, I liked this place so much that I jumped at the chance for a deal when an email special from Entertainment featured the theater. We got a 2−4−1 special and are going to another show next week!

A great combo theatre/​bar, it’s always interesting to see new plays, local theatre or improv comedy at the Alchemist. Great new seats with lots of leg room still seats a good crowd, and there’s always a good drink selection at the bar include incredibly tasty cocktail specials exclusive to the Alchemist. Just remember, you probably shouldn’t have more than 2 Pirate Mai Tais (they are very strong.) The Alchemist’s Halloween and Christmas shows are always a must see, and sell out quickly.

What a cool little joint with a great vibe. And I do mean little. I don’t think the theater could possibly hold more than 50.
I caught a comedy show there on a Sunday night. Went by myself and had a great time. The comedy was good… but the ombienience was better. Cheap beer didn’t hurt either. I’ll be back soon!

First off, this is a 4 star rating because I’ve only been once and I’d really need a couple more visits before I feel justified in giving Alchemist a 5.
That being said, I had a great time here. $ 5 for an improv show makes for a fun and cheap Friday night out. The theater space is kind of rough, but lends itself to improv and the other, seemingly campy shows being advertised on fliers. There is seating for about 50, and many of the seats have cup holders – a boon for those wanting to take a beer or soda in with them.
By the way, the building is split: one side is the theater, the other a lounge. In the funky lounge, you can relax with a New Glarus Spotted Cow or can of PBR and watch the little TV in the back (playing a Godzilla movie when I was there), or socialize with the performers and/​or friends.
The theater is in the Bayview area and is only about 3 miles from downtown Milwaukee. Street parking was available. The group I saw was «Meanwhile Improv Troupe.» They perform about every other week and typically bring in a guest performer. The night I went, they had someone from ComedySportz.
If you’re in Milwaukee and looking for something a little off the beaten track, definitely head to The Alchemist.

Once again, I seem to be following Laura’s footsteps… and agreeing with her assessment. The interesting thing about this space is its sheer intimacy. I’ve never been in a performing arts arena that seats only 36 people, and it gives an accessibility to the performances that makes everything more immediate.
On our visit last night, we witnessed 7 one-​act plays put on by the Pink Banana Theatre Company – all nicely done, though a few were pretty avant garde in presentation and theme, and really stretched my understanding of theater to include something more akin to performance art (think frog-​suited man with goggles climbing atop black boxes in the dark, spotlight on, wondering gaze at a banana, two bites of banana, and then «I am Andy Warhol!»).
Nonetheless, I very much appreciated the experience, and particularly the fact that it was all smoke-​free, as well as encouraging great comfort in well-​padded seats with drinks from the lounge next door.

What a great space! I went to see a family friend perform a holiday improv and sketch comedy called «The Show» at the Alchemist Theatre last night, and heard toward the end of the night that this week was actually the rental theatre’s debut.
Entering the lobby, there’s a cute bar and small café area. We arrived straight after dinner and a few drinks, but I can imagine that eventually, this place will attract groups of friends to hang out and chat before and after their shows. The dimly lit seating was very inviting.
The theatre space itself is small, intimate, and dare I say, unique in Milwaukee. At least I have never been in a theatre like this here. The seats are ridiculously comfortable, and the stadium seating allows for a good view even toward the back of the narrow theatre.
I hope I have reason to return in the future — truly a unique entertainment experience!
And, if you read this today, you should go see «The Show» this weekend — it’s hilarious!!!