Great White Throne Runs Through November 8

Renaissance Theaterworks will present Great White Throne through November 8, offering audiences a look at the pressures faced by women in the Southern Bible Belt. The production runs Wednesday through Sunday at the theater in Milwaukee.

Written by Cara Johnston, the play is currently in its World Premier Wisconsin presentation. The work was originally developed during the Br!NK New Play Festival in 2025. Many of the artists who participated in that initial development are part of the current production team. This continuity has allowed the cast and crew to handle the material with a sense of familiarity and care.

The story centers on two specific roles: the Pastor's Wife and the Deacon's Wife. Libby Amato plays the Pastor's Wife, while Marcella Kearns portrays the Deacon's Wife. The characters are set against the backdrop of a close-knit Christian community where men largely dictate the terms of life.

The production design emphasizes the contrast between the two leads. Kearns wears a floral dress, a soft cardigan, and sensible flats, with her hair slightly askew. Her character is described as boisterous and full of joy, possessing a large heart that makes her slow to anger. In contrast, Amato stands ramrod straight in a smooth pink dress, a pink blazer, and pink heels. Her character is portrayed as tense and rigid, despite a later revelation that she hates the color pink.

The staging incorporates a clock on a pink wall that remains visible throughout the performance. This device aligns the real time of the audience's experience with the time passing on stage. Occasional ticking sound cues reinforce the passage of time, a central element of the narrative. The design choice ensures that neither the actors nor the audience can ignore the speed with which the story unfolds.

Amato's performance focuses on the internal struggle of a woman whose anxiety, rage, and grief are confined by her role. Her character's journey culminates in a major outburst that reflects a loss of personal agency. Kearns, meanwhile, brings an inviting charm to the Deacon's Wife, pulling the audience into the story through her unassuming warmth. The two women bicker, confess, and reach out to one another in a pink bathroom, exploring the complex dynamics of their faith and their relationships.

Tickets for the run are available online at rtwmke.org or by calling the box office at 414-278-0765. The production is a collaboration between Renaissance Theaterworks and World Premier Wisconsin.