#5: Bel Canto Chorus’s Basilica Christmas at St. Josaphat’s Basilica
Why? Because Christmas is for singing. Not ironic Bill Murray-in-a-leisure-suite-style karaoke singing, but full-throated, lung filling, know-all-the-verses singing. And Richard Hynson and his accomplished chorus plan to do just that, letting its collective voice fill the huge St. Josaphats space and set its mosaics aquiver. There are sure to be some sing-a-longs, but first you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy the chorus, along with the Stained Glass Brass and Bel Canto Boy Choir.
#4: World’s Stage Theatre Company’s Going Dark: Short Plays of Samuel Beckett at Pius XI High School
Why? Because into every holiday season, a little rain must fall. Or perhaps a bone-chilling, mortality-affirming downpour of human futility and desperate silences. Just kidding. Good ol’ Sam isn’t all about gloom and doom, and we’re positive that the impressive roster of directors assembled by World’s Stage–Erin Nicole Eggers, Kirk Thomsen, Posy Knight, David Rothrock, and Gretchen Mahkorn– will find the humor and flashes of insight in these gem-like little plays by one of the modern masters of theater. A collaboration between World’s Stage and Pius XI High School.
#3: Dianne Reeves at The Wilson Center
Why? Because she is one of the greats, heiress to the like of Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald, but she doesn’t traffic in mere nostalgia. Rather, Reeves nimbly embraces and draws together disparate elements of varied traditions—reggae, salsa, swing, crooning—and makes the resulting style her own. She’s worked with some of the greats—including Esperanza Spalding and Robert Glaspell—but her house band is nothing to sneeze at. And she’ll surely enlist them to play some of the cuts from her most recent recording, including covers of Fleetwood Mac, Bob Marley and Ani DeFranco.
#2: Black Nativity at the Marcus Center
Why? Because it’s a Christmas tradition in the making. One of the first productions under the auspices of the recently formed Black Arts Think Tank, director Azeeza Islam leads a cast and chorus from The African American Children’s Theatre and Ko-Thi Dance Company and local performers in this retelling of the Christmas Story penned by Langston Hughes. As with many performances of this 55-year-old classic, the highlight is bound to be the stirring gospel renditions of traditional carols.
#1: Milwaukee Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Marcus Center
Why? Because it’s a great holiday tradition, and Michael Pink and our home-town team serve it up with both style and depth, offering delights for everyone from tutu clad ballerinas-in-training to seasoned dance fans reared on Twyla Tharp and Balanchine. Pink’s yearly production gets a special “pop” this year with a guest star: Arionel Vargas, the Cuban-born star who is currently a principal with the English National Ballet. Vargas will dance the Prince in most performances. And, of course, the rest of the talented MB company will shine right alongside him.
