#5: Hair at the Marcus Center.
Why? Because you grooved to The Fifth Dimension’s “Let the Sun Shine In” and bopped to the Cowsills’ version of “Hair” (yes, we remember The Cowsills, don’t you?). But you’ve never really experienced “The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” until you’ve seen it live. And since you might have had other things on your mind in 1967, when the musical debuted in New York, Diane Paulus’s high-energy 2008 Broadway revival is just where you want to be. Don’t forget your love beads.
#4: Milwaukee Choral Artists at North Shore Congregational Church.
Why? Because that $2 box of candy hearts from Walgreens just didn’t cut it as a Valentine’s gift, and you’re struggling to make amends (sleeping on the sofa is getting to be a little uncomfortable). “The Languages of Love,” the cupid-themed concert by the terrific Choral Artists, will cover all your bases: Renaissance music (think Romeo & Juliet), soaring harmonies, and even a piece about chocolate (by MCA resident composer Paula Tillen). A couple of tickets and a red rose should get you back in good graces.
#3: Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra at Calvary Presbyterian Church.
Why? Because you know that Arnold Schoenberg is a significant 20th Century composer, but he scares the overtones out of you. But he’s really not as scary as all that. There’s no better place to discover the gorgeous, lush sound of Schoenberg’s “Verklärte Nacht” than in the resonant space of Calvary, with Richard Hynson leading his fine ensemble. And because not only do you get Schoenberg, but you get Swedish composer Rolf Martinsson’s tribute, “A. S. In Memoriam,” which celebrates the vocabulary of Verklärte Nacht in a fresh, modern way.
#2: Mauritius at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre.
Why? Because no contemporary playwright has got more snap and crackle than Theresa Rebeck. And she’s not just about Bad Dates (her hit play that played at the Milwaukee Rep a few years ago). You’ve heard her snappy dialogue on your favorite TV shows (including NYPD Blue and L.A. Law). And you can’t wait to see what she does in this story about stamp collectors gone bad, which was her Broadway debut. And because MCT will offer a terrific cast, including C. Michael Wright, Drew Brhel and Jonathan Wainwright. Let the games begin.
#1: Vaudeville at Danceworks.
Why? Because your favorite scene in Singing in the Rain is the montage of dance numbers from the vaudeville years. Because you’ve been to a dance concert and thought, “What this needs is a few good knock-knock jokes!” You might just hear a few in Kelly Anderson’s evening-length work that celebrates show biz in all its crowd-pleasing glory. We’ve been promised acrobats, comedy, magic and….Ed Burgess! (He’ll choreograph a solo for Anderson.) Did you hear the one about the ….?
