BY CARMELLA D’ACQUISTO AND ALLI WATTERS

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READ MORE BEST OF MILWAUKEE 2023

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The Art of It  

BY ALLI WATTERS

Last February, when I went to buy tickets to see Evita at the Skylight Music Theatre, I feared that I’d end up with the worst seats in the house. It was a week before the performance and the show was selling out night after night. Turns out, I didn’t get a seat at all – I had to settle for standing room, which was all that was left.   

Until that curtain rose, I didn’t realize how much I had missed the feeling of a properly packed theater: Hundreds of people sitting together, laughing, smiling, clapping, crying all in the same moments because of what’s happening on stage. It was wonderful. And after years of half-empty theaters, I’m happy to report arts events aren’t just half-full, they’re full-full. Even the 1,000-plus seat Oriental Theatre sold out for the Milwaukee Film Festival’s closing night screening of A Disturbance in the Force.  

There were other exciting developments, too, like the launch of the Milwaukee Theater District and major international artists HYBYCOZO and Atelier Sisu putting up massive art installations in local parks. But perhaps the best thing that happened this year was World Premiere Wisconsin. All of the best shows I saw this season were a part of this festival, which spotlighted new plays and musicals. Consequently​​​ it at least felt like Milwaukee’s slate of shows was stacked with more debuts and original works than ever before.    

So get out there and start enjoying Milwaukee’s blossoming arts and culture scene. But please, dear reader, buy your tickets early. Because as nice as it is to see these sold-out shows – it’s even nicer to have a cushy seat with a good view. 

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Editors’ Picks 

Deep Lake Future  

Milwaukee’s past immersive experiences – of the “Beyond Van Gogh” variety – have involved a lot of projections and screens on their international tours. While cool, these experiences have nothing on FuzzPop Workshops’ Deep Lake Future. The creative minds of 25 local artists collaborated to create an interactive expedition that takes you under the Great Lakes to discover sculptures, hidden passageways and vibrant art. And lucky for you, it’s running through the end of the year at Small Works Gallery, 700 S. Fifth St.  

Nicole Acosta and Her Many Iterations of HOOPS  

HOOPS started as Nicole Acosta’s portrait photography project with the goal of sharing the stories of people who wear hoop earrings while charting their cultural and historic significance. But it grew from there, tacking on video components and a live-production musical with Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. For three wonderful weeks, the show was running in a theater just blocks away from Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN) where the gallery and video was on display – a multidisciplinary artistic triumph!  

40 Years of Violent Femmes  

It’s now been four decades since Milwaukee’s biggest punk band released their self-titled debut album. Mayor Cavalier Johnson declared April 13 “Violent Femmes Day” in honor of the occasion, and in October the Femmes are performing a sold-out (dang it!) show with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.   

Milwaukee’s Unexpected Role in “Succession”  

As the HBO critical darling “Succession” careened toward its electric conclusion this spring, its back-stabbing billionaires suddenly began arguing over … Milwaukee? Yes, Wisconsin’s electoral votes were thrown into flux after an election night fire at Milwaukee’s ballot-counting center. MKE’s critical moment in an amazing show made us smile.  

Kelsey Robinson  

It’s a pretty big honor for an illustrator to be commissioned by the design world’s premier tool, Adobe Illustrator, and this ​​​​Milwaukee-based artist was chosen to show off a new feature of the software. You may have seen his work around town, since he also designed the super cool Sculpture Milwaukee posters, maps and tote bags.  

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​​​Alli’s Favorites  

THEATER

Cost of Living  

Renaissance Theaterworks’ small but mighty cast put on a powerful performance in this Pulitzer Prize-winning play that grapples with the challenges in the relationships between people with disabilities and their caretakers. The show was both heartwarming and heart-wrenching.  

SuperYou   

Skylight Music Theatre’s entry into the World Premiere Wisconsin festival wasn’t just a world premiere here – it was one of the most highly anticipated musicals of the year. The Lourds Lane production (and TikTok sensation) made its developmental debut in the Cabot Theatre. The show about a comic book writer who draws inspiration from her crime-fighting heroes was tremendous and obviously has a bright future. It will be pretty cool for Milwaukeeans to say they saw it here first.   

FILM

RIP  

Set at a stunningly stylized photo shoot with fresh florals and chic outfits, this short includes no dialogue – only a voiceover comparing love to grief as a photographer and model flirt their way to the ​​​​ripping (hence the title) off of clothes. Director Carol Brandt and screenwriter Erika Sorenson captured with style the thrill of falling for someone new.   

Friday Night Blind  

Directors Scott Krahn and Robb Fischer brought the true and beautiful story of Milwaukee’s blind bowling league to the screen in this 14-minute short. The friendships among the featured bowlers is inspiring, and their trash talk and endearingly terrible bowling skills are unforgettable.   

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BY CARMELLA D’ACQUISTO

ALBUM

Undeniably Ground-Breakingly Excellent by Emmitt James 

The 14-track amalgam of jazz, hip-hop and rap features some distinctively vintage accents set against a wildly creative and tightly produced soundscape.   

SINGLE

“Corduroy Road” by Long Mama  

This is a beautiful piece of country Americana. The serene musicianship, emotive lyrics and honeyed vocals of lead singer Kat Wodtke coalesce in an intimate, profound ballad that has a timeless quality.   

PERFORMANCE

The Hecks/Dogs in Ecstasy/Sex Scenes at Cactus Club  

​​​​​This killer Midwest lineup featuring local mainstays Dogs in Ecstasy and Sex Scenes, and the seminal Chicago duo The Hecks packed Bay View’s beloved Cactus Club in May for a night of indie, punk and noise rock. The immersive night featured new lineups, new songs and new presentations, an unexpectedly fresh switch up for three well-established regional favorites.  

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Readers’ Choice 

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