It might be a little early for some Thanksgiving metaphors, but there really is a cornucopia of cultural fun this weekend. Let’s carve this sucker and get right to chowing down:
A potent double-header for west-siders this weekend, and anyone who wants to make the trek to the Wilson Center in Brookfield. Three groups collide and mingle for two evenings of cool stuff. The main event is Saturday, where Chicago’s Luna Negra dance ensemble presents Danzon, a program devoted to its interpretation of the traditional Cuban hip-swinger. Appropriately, they’ll be helped by two masters of musical improvisation, whirlwind saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera and the Turtle Island String Quartet, which has been stretching the boundaries of the quartet for a few decades now. And as long as the quartet is in town, they decided to do their own solo show on Friday night, a tribute to John Coltrane that features a version of his landmark recording “A Love Supreme”—yes the whole LP. The Wilson Center folks tell us that concert is already sold out, so phone ahead to be sure.
At Alverno
Presents, the inimitable Toshi Reagon (no relation to Ronald), holds forth with her ensemble. Toshi has carried forth the Sweet Honey in the Rock tradition of her mom, Honey-founder Bernice, and added her own brand of sass and chutzpah to both traditional and contemporary music. Give her a listen and you’ll likely be hooked.
It’s also a great week for 20th century classical music. Down symphony way, Edo de Waart introduces his former assistant conductor, Lawrence Renes. “Hey, Larry. I’ve got a little thing that the folks in Milwaukee might like. Come over and conduct it, yes?” “Sure!” replies the unsuspecting Renes. “Surprise! It’s Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony!”—one of the heftiest pieces in the standard repertory. I’m sure de Waart wouldn’t have asked if he didn’t think Renes had the chops.
There’s more Bruckner on the menu at Sunday’s Fine Arts Quartet concert, which features a quartet and a quintet by Anton, along with a quintet by Felix Mendelssohn. The quartet is joined by violist Guillermo Figueroa, who will sit beside the quartet’s newest member, Nicolò Eugelmi.
On a smaller scale, Frank Almond celebrates Dmitri Shostakovich in the next 
concert of his Frankly Music series. Pianist Adam Neiman starts things off with a few Preludes before Almond and cellist Joseph Johnson join him for the Piano Trio in E minor, and other Stalin-era goodies.
And finally, a thespian triple play, with three major openings this weekend. I was lucky to snag a ticket for Next Act’s 7 Stories, a comedy by Canadian Morris Panych that has been on my radar for a while. Take a suicidal apart
ment dweller, add some drama from his surrounding neighbors, put him in a bowler hat and you have some pretty great stuff. David Cescarini directs a cast that includes Mark Ulrich, Tami Workentin and Doug Jarecki.
Angela Iannone has put her Kate Hepburn accent on the shelf, and this week steps into the director’s chair at Chamber Theatre. Bruce Graham’s Moon over the Brewery features a harried single-mom, a precocious teen daughter, and an assortment of quirky friends. Set it in a rust-belt mining town and you’ve got a recipe for….comedy. You bet.
And finally, those Dog Park Musical folks are back at the Rep’s Stackner Cabaret. Only this time
they are trafficking in deerstalkers and houndstooth rather than hounds. Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner may have crafted the first Sherlock Holmes musical comedy, but we’re betting it won’t be the last.
Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m stuffed. Time to watch football and fall asleep.
