#5. Bombshells at the Milwaukee Rep.
Why? Because Joanna Murray-Smith is one of Australia’s most acclaimed playwrights, who has worked with great actors and directors all over the world. And her one-woman show, written for Caroline O’Connor, has played at the Edinburgh Festival, London and Sydney, where it premiered. And because O’Connor, a veritable movie star in her native Australia, is in Milwaukee to perform the show, a series of six monologues by different women who are all “on the brink.” The Rep’s artistic director Mark Clements directs.
#4. Milwaukee Symphony at Uihlein Hall.
Why? Because fire and water can mix, as Ede de Waart seems set to prove by programming Ralph Vaughan-Williams’ “A Sea Symphony” alongside Kyoko Takezawa’s take on the Tchiakovsky Violin Concerto. Takezawa’s performed with all the big ones, and her reputed intensity should serve Tchaikovsky quite well. After all, there is more to Russian music than Sugar-Plum fairies and Nutcrackers.
#3. My Son Pinocchio at First Stage.
Why? Because you shouldn’t let that big “Disney” logo in the show’s ads scare you. While Stephen Schwartz and David Stern’s holiday musical contains two of the classic songs from the Disney film, this is pure First Stage, the stage adaptation of a 2000 Disney TV movie (which starred, um, Drew Carey as Geppetto). Still not convinced? Well you might want to remember that Schwartz is the composer behind hits like Godspell, Pippin, and, of course, Pippin. And he’s a multiple Oscar winner for films like Pocahontas and Enchanted.
#2. Art Vs. Craft at Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center.
Why? Because you didn’t get up a 3 a.m. Friday to be first in line for the new Tickle-Me-Call-of-Duty-Black-Ops doll. But you’re still a giver, and you don’t want to leave a single stocking unfilled. Faythe Levine’s festival of Do-It-Yourself-ers is now in its seventh year, and her intrepid band of artists and craftspeople are prepared to wow you with their imaginative creations. Of course, if you want to engage in a philosophical-aesthetic discussion of the Art vs. Craft question, you can hang around and do that, too.
#1. Frankly Music at the Wisconsin Conservatory.
Why? Because September’s Frankly Music performance of Richard Strauss’s “Metamorphosen” was one of the most powerful concert experiences in recent memory. And Almond has gathered another impressive group of friend-musicians to celebrate bicentennials of two composers – Robert Schumann and Frederick Chopin. After William Wolfram plays some Chopin piano works, Max Mandel and Wolfram will play Schumann’s Marchenbilder for viola and piano. And then the whole crew performs Schumann’s Piano Quartet.
