Such Great Heights: Elevating The Backstage Experience at Miller High Life Theatre

The Anniversary Tour of the year came through Milwaukee last week, and it was a sight to behold (as evidenced by the photo above). If you were in attendance you are already aware of the incredible performance held by The Postal Service + Death Cab For Cutie, and their special guests Slow Pulp. 

While the band and crew members were loading in for the big show, the hospitality team was hard at work behind the scenes assembling the dining and green room experience, which included a delicious meal that was prepared in the newly renovated backstage kitchen. Keep reading for a glimpse at the lesser-seen side of the tours that come through the metaphorical doors of Milwaukee! 

Though Pabst Theater Group's partnership with Miller High Life Theatre was announced in 2022, the hospitality team had been jamming in unconventional spaces while awaiting the completion of the new kitchen. Until recently, it was common to turn a convention hall into a makeshift green room and flip the Riverside Theater’s kitchen into a culinary staging area before transporting backstage meals to the Miller High Life Theatre. Now, everything can be done onsite, which makes for a much smoother transition and an even better experience for guests.

Previously, the green room was an empty room used for random storage on occasion. Our Maintenance team (Hi Al and Bob!) built all of the walls from scratch and our Production team (Hi Simon and crew!) built out the wooden booths pictured below. Milwaukee-based design & build firm Scathain was commissioned to build the custom tables, which happen to be the same tables backstage at Riverside Theater, too.

As for the kitchen, the existing space was also fairly empty with just a couple of coolers, prep tables, and a dish station. New prep coolers were installed along with two large butcher block prep tables that were custom-made. A hood fan/system was by far the most lengthy part of the project and allowed us to add our cooking equipment which includes a 6 burner stove, a large flat top with oven, and a grill. A major upgrade from the previous working conditions! 

None of this would have been possible without several people including Director of Operations, Paige Gedlen, the WCD crew, and the rockstar contractors and gear suppliers. They’re the unsung heroes behind the curtain, turning backstage dreams into reality.

Check out the killer shots of this backstage masterpiece, captured during The Postal Service + Death Cab For Cutie’s stay in Milwaukee ahead of their mesmerizing show last Monday. 

As mentioned in previous blog posts, touring life can be pretty grueling, and sometimes a home-away-from-home treatment is needed while out on the road. Here at Pabst Theater Group, we elevate the backstage experience - what might normally be a couch and some snacks becomes much more with our expertly designed backstage spaces.

Plus, with an in-house hospitality team 100% dedicated to making the artist experience as relaxing as it can be, this translates far beyond the green room and dining area into the kitchen and the delicious meals that Executive Chef Kevin Sloan's team prepares in-house. 

If you need more evidence that this space is as magical as we've made it sound, check out more photos in the slideshow below. Yes, there are food photos included!

Author

By: Hillary Gunn

Hillary is the Creative Marketing Manager for the Pabst Theater Group. You'll find her behind the scenes curating content right here on our Green Room blog, dreaming up captivating social media campaigns, overseeing the PTG Street Team, and coordinating our dedicated team of house photographers.