A power outage at the Valley Power Plant has disrupted performances in Milwaukee’s theater district. The incident occurred on December 13, 2023, leading to the cancellation of several shows at the Marcus Performing Arts Center.
Impact on Milwaukee’s Theater District
The Valley Power Plant is a crucial source of heat for downtown buildings, including the Marcus Performing Arts Center, Fiserv Forum, and Pabst Theater. Due to the outage, the Marcus had to cancel its afternoon events featuring productions like The Pigeon Gets A Big Time Holiday Extravaganza and The Nutcracker.
Cause of the Power Outage
According to WE Energies spokesperson Alison Trouy, the outage stemmed from a disruption in the gas supply to the plant. This interruption affected the steam generation necessary for heating downtown facilities.
Resolution and Future Outlook
Efforts to rectify the issue were underway on the day of the outage. By the afternoon, WE Energies reported that steam was being restored to all impacted customers. Trouy confirmed that the problem had been resolved and reassured the public that no further steam outages were expected.
Key Locations Affected
- Marcus Performing Arts Center
- Fiserv Forum
- Pabst Theater
- Baird Center
This unexpected outage highlights the importance of reliable energy sources for vital sectors like performing arts in Milwaukee. El-Balad will continue to monitor the situation for updates as we approach the holiday performance season.
