#5: La Nef at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Why? Because St. Patrick’s Day is still a few months away, but that’s no reason not to be enchanted by this Early Music Now-sponsored visit from this Canadian ensemble, fronted by American tenor Michael Slattery. The program focuses on the English lute player and composer John Dowland, and asks the provocative question: Was he really Irish?
#4: Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s The Inside Boy at the Broadway Theatre Center.
Why? Because it’s time we saw more of UW-Oshkosh-based playwright Richard Kalinoski. His play, Beast on the Moon, has been produced around the world, most recently at the legendary Moscow Art Theatre. Now, his most recent work, The Boy Inside, comes to MCT in a staged reading, with possibilities for future productions down the road. The timing is good—the play concerns the battle between a successful football coach and a college president over the violence of the sport. Leda Hoffmann directs an excellent cast that includes Ryan Schabach, Deborah Staples, Dan Katula and Tami Workentin.
#3: Comedy Craziness at various venues.
Why? Because it’s a smorgasbord of satire and slapstick around the city this week, all due to serendipity. Two leading lights of standup–Jerry Seinfeld and Lewis Black—are in town. And YouTube and Vines sensation and television up-and-comer Chris D’Elia arrives as the week closes. Closer to home, Chicago’s renowned Second City collective brings its 55th anniversary tour to the Marcus Center. And don’t forget the local folks at Milwaukee Comedy!, which features several nights of improv and stand-up at its theater in the Grand Avenue Mall.
#2: Alcestis at American Players Theatre.
Why? Because the leaves are turning, and it’s a great time to take one of those long country drives. So why not add what’s sure to be one of the theater events of the year to the trip. For his last gesture as outgoing artistic director of American Players Theatre, David Frank turns again to The Greeks, which provided him with terrific material for The Cure at Troy, which he directed a few years ago. This production features an A-List of APT performers, and everyone should be at their best for Frank’s swan song.
#1: The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at the Marcus Center.
Why? Because you’ve perhaps already been to one of the MSO’s public listening parties, part of its Symphony 360. Or perhaps you’ve visited the MSO’s website, and heard the versions of Brahms German Requiem performed by the MSO and Chorus under four different conductors over the last 33 years. Even if you haven’t, you shouldn’t miss one of the highlights of the concert season, the transcendently beautiful German Requiem, here conducted by Robert Spano, current music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He’ll open the concert with a contemporary piece by award winning composer Jennifer Higdon, “river sings a song to trees.”
