Pink Umbrella Theater Buys Mitchell Street Building for Accessible Arts Hub
Milwaukee’s vibrant arts scene is gaining a significant new anchor. Pink Umbrella Theater, a company dedicated to inclusive and accessible theater, is set to open its first permanent home, Pink’s Accessible Theater House (PATH), in June 2026. The theater is acquiring a building at 1104 W. Mitchell St., a location steeped in the history of Milwaukee’s Mitchell Street, for $385,000.
Founded in September 2018, Pink Umbrella Theater has quickly become a vital force in the city’s performing arts landscape. The company distinguishes itself by its commitment to hiring actors and artists with disabilities, and by creating sensory-friendly performances accessible to a wide range of audiences. Currently serving over 300 students and staging two to three public performances annually, Pink Umbrella anticipates doubling its performance output with the new facility.
The move to a permanent location represents a major milestone for the company, according to Executive Director Katie Cummings. “The rental market is a joke” for organizations of their size, Cummings said, highlighting the challenges faced by smaller arts groups in securing affordable space. The acquisition was made possible in part by a $200,000 special project grant from the Ruth Foundation for the Arts, specifically earmarked for the creation of new plays featuring disabled artists and actors. Support from the Small Arts & Culture Cohort, a collective of smaller Milwaukee performing arts groups, also played a crucial role in the fundraising efforts.
The building, formerly known as The Mitch, will undergo renovations designed to maximize accessibility and inclusivity. While the first floor is already ADA-compliant, Pink Umbrella plans to install an adult changing table and a dedicated sensory room, recognizing the needs of performers and audience members with autism. A lift will be installed to provide access to the basement level, which will house a smaller performance space with a capacity of approximately 30 people. The main performance space will be named the Muriel J. Stahl Studio Theater, recognizing financial support from the Susan and Cary Silverstein Family Foundation, and is expected to accommodate an audience of around 150.
Pink Umbrella’s commitment to accessibility extends beyond physical infrastructure. The company’s performances are consistently designed to be sensory-friendly, and its theater classes, offered for ages four through adult, are taught by instructors trained in both theater and special education. This holistic approach reflects the company’s core mission: to change the narrative by changing the narrator, creating a space where artists with disabilities are not merely accommodated, but centered and empowered.
The opening of Pink’s Accessible Theater House is slated to be celebrated with a ribbon-cutting event on . The company’s first production in the new space, tentatively scheduled for September-October, is titled “Out of the Box.” Cummings described the show as a collaborative creation, developed in response to requests from caregivers and designed to incorporate audience feedback in real-time.
Beyond its own productions and classes, Pink Umbrella intends to make its new venue available to other small arts groups in Milwaukee, fostering a spirit of collaboration and resource-sharing within the community. This commitment to inclusivity extends to supporting the broader arts ecosystem, solidifying Pink Umbrella’s position as a vital cultural hub.
The acquisition and development of Pink’s Accessible Theater House represents a significant investment in Milwaukee’s arts community and a powerful statement about the importance of inclusive representation in the performing arts. More information about the project and related fundraising efforts can be found at pinkumbrellatheater.org/ourhouse.