History
The elegant Modjeska Theatre, built in 1920, was perfectly designed acoustically for the human voice and for musical instrumentation. In 1991, Stewart and Diane Johnson, professional theatre artists, purchased the Modjeska Theatre on 12th and Mitchell Streets and began to renovate this historic, vaudeville theatre/movie palace. During the last 17 years, concerts, plays, dance performances, comics, movies and many other entertainment acts have appeared on the Modjeska stage.

The Johnson's long-range goal in purchasing the Historic Modjeska Theatre was to create a nonprofit, neighborhood-based performing arts and theatre education organization on Milwaukee's near Southside. So, in December 1997, they created the Modjeska Youth Theatre Company, Inc. whose primary mission is to provide opportunities for community residents - children, youth and adults - to participate in arts programs and performances.

The first programming initiative of the Modjeska Theatre Company, Inc. was the formation of the youth theatre company. The clear intent of this initiative is to provide young people from the greater Milwaukee area with a chance to participate in theatre education workshops and to work with professional theatre artists in creating high quality, life affirming theatre productions for the enjoyment of their community. The mission of the youth theatre company is to enhance the lives of Milwaukee area youth through theater performances and productions. By means of on and off stage activities, youth will develop responsibility and commitment, personal discipline and problem solving communication skills that will enhance life experience.

Stewart and Diane dedicated all of there time (and most of there money) making this dream a reality.

In the summer of 2007 The johnson's sold the theater to the youth theater company.

In January 2008 Stewart and Diane Johnson resigned. 

I  hope that the dream they dedicated 15 years of their lives to, will focus its energies on the children.