Jon Peterson in Song Man Dance Man. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
#5: Faust: Metropolitan Opera Simulcast at Marcus Cinemas.
If you were the type to be glued to the radio on Saturday afternoons for the Met radio broadcasts, you’ve probably discovered the HD simulcast the Met is offering for all their productions. It’s a bit strange to be seeing and hearing opera while sitting in suburban confines of a multiplex, but the rewards are great – solid sound and a chance to see the singers in close up rather than through binoculars from Orchestra Row GG. For this production of Gounod’s classic, the Met solicited Des McAnuff, famous for his Broadway Musical work – who sets the opera between the World Wars, and links the doctor’s search for truth with the quest to unlock nuclear secrets that eventually gave us the atomic bomb. Rene Pape is a thoroughly charming devil. And Jonas Kaufmann sings the title role.
#4: Sketch 22 at ComedySportz.
The folks that bring you the annual Milwaukee Comedy Festival are at it again, offering its take-no-prisoners sketch “write-off.” Patrick Schmitz and friends gather a coven of comedians, an army of actors and a drove of directors who have 22 hours to write, stage and direct 10 comedy sketches, which are then presented for your laughing pleasure. Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines.
#3: Song Man Dance Man at the Milwaukee Rep.
It’s the closing weekend of The Rep’s acclaimed tribute to the great singer-hoofers of Broadway and Hollywood, all brought to life by the charismatic and limber Jon Peterson. Moving through his list of dance greats, he’ll be singing in the rain (since we’re not on a Hollywood soundstage, you’ll have to imagine that part), as well as paying tribute to such greats as George M. Cohan, Sammy Davis, Jr., Fred Astaire and others.
#2: “Impressionism: Masterworks on Paper” at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
All good things must come to an end, and the MAM’s wonderful collection of Impressionist works is no exception. The show has been drawing big crowds, so arrive early to see works by Monet, Gauguin, van Gogh, Degas, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and Pissarro. There are revelations aplenty, so give yourself time to look closely.
#1: Present Music’s Choose at Turner Hall.
No, it’s not a musical version of a Republican Presidential debate. Our intrepid contemporary music ensemble continues its 30th anniversary season with a tribute to the taste of its audiences. For this concert, PM fans listened to and selected six of their favorites from a list of 12 compositions. And those will be the ones on the concert program. The centerpiece is Donald Erb’s Souvineer, which involves its own kind of audience participation. Read Jenna Kashou’s interview with PM Director Kevin Stalheim here.
