12 Spring Arts Event’s You Won’t Want to Miss

It’s showtime! Here’s your guide to some of the hottest tickets in town.


CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM OUR SPRING ARTS GUIDE FEATURE


THEATER


1. Tidy 

MARCH 24-APRIL 16 | RENAISSANCE THEATERWORKS 

Armed with Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, a detective tackles the sea of stuff in her home. But what she uncovers is a troubling mystery. Can she solve it in time to save the planet? r-t-w.com 

2. Zuri’s Crown 

APRIL 27-29 | WILSON THEATER AT VOGEL HALL 

This original musical adapts the classic fairy tale of Rapunzel, but instead of a tower in a magical kingdom far, far away, the show takes place in a Black community around the corner. blackartsmke.org 


 

VOTE FOR MILWAUKEE’S BEST BEER!

What’s Brew City’s best? We’ve picked 16 of our favorite Milwaukee craft beers for a March Madness-style tournament, but it’s up to you to pick the winner! Will it be bright and hoppy? Dark and malty? A zippy lager? Every one is worthy of the title; who will claim the sudsy crown?


3. The Song of Bernadette 

MAY 19-JUNE 11 | CABOT THEATRE 

Based on Franz Werfel’s 1941 novel, a young girl from a French town has a life-changing vision. Catch the world premiere of this “Broadway-bound” musical here in MKE. skylightmusictheatre.org


ART


4. The Topography of Line 

THROUGH APRIL 2 | SAINT KATE – THE ARTS HOTEL 

Leslie Vansen, a professor emeritus at UWM’s Peck School of the Arts, has spent her life studying the art of lines. She uses her brushstrokes to trace hundreds of twisting paths, forming meticulously layered acrylic paintings. saintkatearts.com 

5. Degenerate! 

FEB. 23-JUNE 4 | JEWISH MUSEUM MILWAUKEE 

Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime deemed modern art to be the result of genetic inferiority, labeling new works as “degenerate.” This exhibition explores those pieces and how their removal contributed to Nazi ideology. jewishmuseummilwaukee.org 

6. Scandinavian Design and the United States, 1890-1980 

MARCH 24-JULY 23 | MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM 

This exhibit challenges the prevailing narrative that Germany and central Europe were the primary influences of modern American style by showing off the designs of Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway during the 20th century. mam.org 


MUSIC


7. Ana Vidović in Partnership With the Milwaukee Classical Guitar Society

FEB. 11 | SHARON LYNNE WILSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS 

Anna Vidović, a former child guitar prodigy and current classical music force, shows off her tone, technique and artistry in concert. wilson-center.com 

 8. Northern Lights 

APRIL 6 | MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM 

One night, two world premieres. Present Music’s multi-genre concert shows off music from composer Dan Trueman, featuring Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh on Irish fiddle; and Clarice Assad, a Brazilian American composer, singer and pianist. presentmusic.org 

9. Impossible Operas 

MAY 19-28 | STUDIO THEATRE AT THE BROADWAY THEATRE CENTER 

Some operas are so difficult, they get a rep for being “impossible.” This show presents seven such operas – all performed in a row. Expect music from ​Mozart, Wagner, Bartók, Handel and more. milwaukeeoperatheatre.org 


DANCE


10. Rusalka 

FEB. 9-12 | DANCEWORKS STUDIO THEATRE 

Picture The Little Mermaid with the main character as a water nymph seeking humanity. Danceworks tells this Czech fairytale through movement to folk music. danceworksmke.org 

11. Shen Yun 

FEB. 17-19 | MILLER HIGH LIFE THEATRE 

Travel back to ancient China and experience the country’s classical dance style writ large. The costuming, live orchestra and high-tech backdrops bring the show to life. pabsttheatergroup.com 

12. Springdances 

MAY 10-14 | JAN SERR STUDIOS 

UW-Milwaukee’s dance school faculty premiere new work alongside guest artist Alfonso Cervera. It’s a night for “kineticism, imagination and hope.” uwm.edu/arts


Want more great Milwaukee events? Check out our calendar


 

 

This story is part of Milwaukee Magazine‘s February issue.

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Alli Watters is the digital and culture editor at Milwaukee Magazine. That means that in addition to running this website, she covers art, entertainment, style, home and more for the magazine. It also means she doesn't sleep much.