Clever, funny, sharp, and unpredictable, Heist pays tribute to caper movies like Ocean’s Eleven, The Italian Job, Mission: Impossible, and The Usual Suspects with appealing intrigue and zestful flair.

Canadian playwright Arun Lakra’s contemporary account of professional thieves bonded by purpose yet shaken by betrayal centers on ringleader Marvin, a criminal mastermind who gathers four unique personalities, including a gymnast and a computer geek, to initially assist him in stealing a prized ruby valued at $6 million. The group ultimately sets their sights on stealing a diamond from the notorious international jewel thief known as The Spider, resulting in entertaining twists befitting the caper genre.

Cast of Heist. Photo by Mikki Schaffner

Heist received its world premiere in January 2024 at Vertigo Theatre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. During its American premiere in December 2025 at Arizona Theatre Company in Tucson and Tempe, critics praised the script’s ability to surprise. “Heist subverts expectations and brings audiences into a story where morality is grey, stakes are high, and no one is who they seem to be,” noted BroadwayWorld.com.

Lakra said his playwriting typically leans into more serious, thought provoking territory, which makes him even happier to have redefined what a caper can be.

“One of the things people seem to appreciate about this play is the comedy,” Lakra said. “You don’t typically walk in to see a heist expecting to laugh, but happily, audiences seem to find the play funny. I’m pleased that this play has found a home at the nexus of a heist thriller and a whodunnit with a splash of comedy.”

The Playhouse’s Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director Blake Robison is staging Heist’s Midwest premiere, co-produced by Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Gulfshore Playhouse. He commended Lakra’s impressive grasp of capers academically and structurally.

“Arun has an innate understanding of the genre and an encyclopedic knowledge of heist films,” Robison said. “The script is a Rubik’s Cube. There’s great craft behind it. Arun has woven the pieces together in clever and unexpected ways. He knows how to lead the audience and how to turn the tables at just the right moment.”

He particularly enjoys the familiarity of the characters in relation to various capers.

“I love how each character is a type: the Popeye, the Mary-Lou, the Geek, etc.,” Robison said. “We compare these characters with their prototypes in other heist stories. That’s part of the fun. ‘Oh, he’s like George Clooney in Ocean’s Eleven or ‘She’s the Ving Rhames character in Mission: Impossible.’”

Jessica Fishenfeld (Angie) in Heist. Photo by Mikki Schaffner

As a fan of classic and modern cinematic capers, Robison also admires Heist for being able to bring a new dimension to the kinds of stories typically told on stage.

“I do love caper stories! Not just recent ones like Ocean’s Eleven but older ones like The Sting, too,” Robison said. “It’s one of the most enduring and entertaining genres in film, but much rarer in the theatre. I think people are drawn to the daring, the complexity, and the fantasy of it.”

In his attempt to create a work that expands theatrical possibilities, specifically from a technical standpoint, Lakra is most proud of Heist’s cinematic allure.

“I feel live theatre, in general, is evolving rapidly as far as pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,” Lakra said. “With Heist, we wanted to create a cinematic experience. In some ways, a hybridization of a movie and a play. We take advantage of modern high-tech video projections and aerial acrobatics to complement the on-stage storytelling and the theatrical twists. The tech is part of the fun.”

Lasers, aerial stunts, and state-of-the-art projections are certainly essential, but Robison is eager to balance spectacle with specificity.

“The challenge of this script is twofold,” Robison said. “First, we’ve got to track all the strands of the plot and know what’s really going on in each scene. There’s what the audience sees at first glance, and then there’s what’s really happening once you know more. The second challenge is to bring specificity to the characters. They can’t be two-dimensional. We need to care about them even in the rapid-fire context of the storytelling.”

Above all, he hopes audiences are receptive to experiencing the unique thrill ride Heist provides as an exciting launch to the 2026-27 season.

“First and foremost, it’s FUN,” Robison said. “We need a little pure entertainment right now. Also, this production allows us to show off the capabilities of our new Playhouse. It’s a high-tech show with lasers, actors who fly, and more projections than we’ve ever done at the Playhouse. A great way to kick off the new season!