The Milwaukee Film Festival, which kicks off this weekend, may be getting a lot of buzz (keep track of it all on Moviegoers). But there are plenty of live events to keep you busy this week. Namely…
#5: Bronzeville Arts Ensemble Playwrights Showcase at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.
Why? Because some of the city’s best actors and theater people have gathered into a new group, and one of its first projects is devoted to nurturing playwrights. Founding member Sheri Williams Pannell conducted a 12-week playwright workshop with Don Pannell, Josie Hymes and Michelle Dobbs, and the three one- acts here are the result of that work. The casts include Williams Pannell, Chike Johnson, Malkia Stampley and La’Ketta Caldwell.
#4: Boulevard Theatre’s Pal Joey at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.
Why? Because the Boulevard Theatre is dead. Long live the Boulevard Theatre! While Mark Bucher’s venerable KK Avenue theater building is no more, the people behind Boulevard continue to make theater. They’ll kick off their new nomadic status with this concert staging of Rodgers and Hart’s quintessential New York musical, Pal Joey. Marty McNamee is the coolly opportunistic nightclub performer, Joey Evans. And Diane Lane is the object of his “affection,” Vera Simpson. David Flores directs and Donna Kummer handles the music behind glorious songs, including “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” and “I Could Write a Book.”
#3: Frankly Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Why? Because Frank Almond’s excellent chamber music series enters its 11th year with some changes. New venues–bigger ensembles. While bigger is not necessarily better, we’re looking forward to this opening concert, which features two of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti, played “chamber style”—with the small ensemble for which they were originally written. Almond is joined by several of his colleagues from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, along with guests from Chicago and New York. Frequent collaborator Nicolas Cords, who plays with the Brooklyn Rider quartet and with Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project, gets a bit of the concert’s spotlight along with Almond, playing music by Mozart and Bohuslav Martinu.
#2: The Glass Menagerie at In Tandem Theatre.
Why? Because Tennessee Williams’ iconic American play is staged frequently enough in Milwaukee (many will remember the Rep’s African-American version in 2007, and perhaps even James Pickering’s stint as Tom in 1982), but it’s a play worth revisiting. And In Tandem has put together a great ensemble to bring Williams’ American family to life. While Angela Iannone (fresh off her star turn as Maria Callas in Master Class) deserves top billing as Amanda, she is part of a great ensemble—Grace DeWolff, John Glowacki, and Rick Pendzich. Directed by the talented Mary MacDonald Kerr.
#1: The Color Purple at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
Why? Because the Rep’s season-opening musical has become the “must-see event” of the theater season, and for good reason. Director Mark Clements assembles Broadway-caliber talent and turns them loose in the intimate space of the Quadracci 
Powerhouse Theatre. As he proved with last year’s Ragtime, Clements can use the Powerhouse stage in dazzling ways, and this time, he’ll be joined by award winning choreographer Amy Hall Garner. The inspirational story is familiar to many through Alice Walker’s book and Steven Spielberg’s movie. But you haven’t experienced Celie’s liberation until you’ve heard it sung by Zonya Love and Christina Acosta Robinson (as Shug Avery).
The Glass Menagerie photos by Mark Frohna Photography.
