Claire Nowak

Recent Articles

Theater: On the Brink of Greatness
Theater

On the Brink of Greatness

Renaissance Theaterworks picks two of the best women playwrights in the Midwest for staged readings.

Classical: C’Mon Get Happy
Classical

C’Mon Get Happy

Bel Canto’s Modern American Masters concert mixes modern pop, classical and other short, fun works.

Classical: California Here They Come
Classical

California Here They Come

Florentine production of The Elixir of Love is staged in California wine country and even features a specially-made wine.

Classical: Sing Along with Disney
Classical

Sing Along with Disney

Milwaukee Symphony Pops concert is an all-Disney concert, with music from beloved films that may get the audience singing.

Theater: Jeeves Takes One Last Bow
Theater

Jeeves Takes One Last Bow

The Chamber Theatre continues its popular Jeeves comedies, as the perfect butler and star Matt Daniels return again.

Theater: Dueling Actresses in Quirky British Comedy
Theater

Dueling Actresses in Quirky British Comedy

Renaissance production of Lettice and Lovage features Laura Gordon and Carrie Hitchcock.

Classical: The Return of Rachmaninoff
Classical

The Return of Rachmaninoff

Edo de Waart has turned the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra into a wonderful interpreter of the Russian composer.

Theater: Creating An International Opera
Theater

Creating An International Opera

Theater pros will be traveling to Milwaukee to see the world premiere of The Snow Dragon.

Classical: Florentine Takes Ownership of <i>Elmer Gantry</i>
Classical

Florentine Takes Ownership of Elmer Gantry

Five years after winning Grammys for its recording, the opera company seeks to establish Gantry as an American classic.

Classical: There’s Always Room for Cello
Classical

There’s Always Room for Cello

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra principal cellist Susan Babini, featured this week, does double duty with another ensemble.

Theater: How to Find the Best Crematorium
Theater

How to Find the Best Crematorium

In Tandem’s world premiere of Come Back finds humor in a deadly serious subject.

Theater: Performing Fugard’s Greatest Play?
Theater

Performing Fugard’s Greatest Play?

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre stages The Train Driver, which the acclaimed South African writer calls his most important play.

Classical: A Little Romance Music
Classical

A Little Romance Music

Florentine Opera presents Valentine’s concert and MSO offers composer Marvin Hamlisch’s romantic tunes.

Theater: Love and Abandonment
Theater

Love and Abandonment

Splinter Group offers world premiere of 3 For The Road, all about characters who leave their loved ones.

Theater: When Bad Things Happen to Good People
Theater

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Milwaukee Rep’s Good People, set in South Boston, is a comic drama about that question.

Classical: Goode As It Gets
Classical

Goode As It Gets

Top pianist Richard Goode makes a rare appearance in Milwaukee, playing a Mozart concerto with the MSO.

Theater: “Women Can Be Just as Violent as Men”
Theater

“Women Can Be Just as Violent as Men”

Soulstice Theatre performs Shakespeare’s Macbeth with an all-female cast

Classical: A Concert for All Races and Creeds
Classical

A Concert for All Races and Creeds

Bel Canto Chorus offers a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. that tries to address segregation in Milwaukee.

Classical: Can Florentine Win Its Third Grammy?
Classical

Can Florentine Win Its Third Grammy?

Company presents Wuthering Heights and will also produce first recording of the 1958 opera.

Theater: It’s De-Lovely
Theater

It’s De-Lovely

Touring show brings Tony Award-winning revival of Anything Goes here, with a big cast of singer dancers.

Theater: George Bailey With Eggplant
Theater

George Bailey With Eggplant

A stage adaptation of It’s a Wonderful Life, set in a radio studio, is all about the right voices and sound effects.

Classical: Dance Along With “The Messiah”?
Classical

Dance Along With “The Messiah”?

Conductor Paul Goodwin promises a very fresh, dance-like version of Handel’s famous oratorio.

Theater/Dance: The Other Nutcracker Character
Theater/Dance

The Other Nutcracker Character

Ballet’s special slant on The Nutcracker. And Who Killed Santa?

Classical: Sing Along With Rick
Classical

Sing Along With Rick

Led by Richard Hynson, the Bel Canto Chorus performs at the mighty St. Josaphat Basilica. And they want you to sing, too.

Theater: The Day the Elves Went on Strike
Theater

The Day the Elves Went on Strike

A new play at Alchemist Theatre offers a Marx Brothers-like take on Santa’s workshop.

Classical: Holiday Fare for Kids From One to 92
Classical

Holiday Fare for Kids From One to 92

Three diverse MSO performances capture spirit of the season

Theater: A Christmas Trinity
Theater

A Christmas Trinity

The Rep’s Christmas Carol is one of three new holiday shows.

Classical: All Singing on the Western Front
Classical

All Singing on the Western Front

Concert by Cantus ensemble performs carols sung by WWI troops who called a surprise truce in 1914.

Theater: Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Theater

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

The Skylight’s Wizard of Oz is a show for the child in all of us.

Classical: Bing Crosby Begone
Classical

Bing Crosby Begone

Present Music’s annual Thanksgiving concert packs in crowds for its warm, but untraditional holiday fare.

Classical: A Russian Romantic Version of Arabian Nights
Classical

A Russian Romantic Version of Arabian Nights

Brazilian-born conductor leads symphony in performance of sinuous “Scheherazade.”

Theater: The Gospel of A.R. Gurney
Theater

The Gospel of A.R. Gurney

His play, Heresy, calls out America with biblical language. Yet Next Act Theatre promises it’s funny, too.

Theater: Singing Songs About War
Theater

Singing Songs About War

Keep the Home Fires Burning uses 100 years of war-time songs as a theatrical hook -- and a way to make us think.

Classical: All Hail the Bold Bassoon
Classical

All Hail the Bold Bassoon

Sure, the Milwaukee Symphony will perform “Pictures at an Exhibition.” But what about that brand-new bassoon concerto?

Theater: Far Off Broadway, But Successful
Theater

Far Off Broadway, But Successful

Soulstice Theatre presents Moon Over Buffalo in St. Francis.

Classical: Monkey Business
Classical

Monkey Business

Milwaukee Opera Theatre’s Lucy is an opera about a psychologist who adopts a chimpanzee.

Theater: The Swan Song of John McGivern
Theater

The Swan Song of John McGivern

26 years after he first performed in it, McGivern is again the lead in Shear Madness, and loving every minute of it.

Classical: Why The Flying Dutchman Endures
Classical

Why The Flying Dutchman Endures

Wagner’s powerful score and ghostly tale will boost a strong cast in Florentine production.

Theater: On Stage, the Scandal at TKE Fraternity…
Theater

On Stage, the Scandal at TKE Fraternity…

UWM Theater Dept’s Milwonky Too! (Sex, Drugs, and D2L) explores the recent, real-life campus drama.

Classical: Sins of His Old Age
Classical

Sins of His Old Age

Bel Canto performs a mass by Rossini that’s spiritual, but written in the style of his popular operas.

Classical: The Joys of Performing a Requiem
Classical

The Joys of Performing a Requiem

World class soprano Jessica Rivera, guest soloist with MSO in Brahms’ “Requiem,” loves the music.

Classical: Classical Mystery Tour Comes Together With Beatles Hits
Classical

Classical Mystery Tour Comes Together With Beatles Hits

Symphony orchestra confronts British Invasion at the Marcus Center.

Classical: ‘La Cenderentola’ Fuses Fashion and Fairytale Fantasy
Classical

‘La Cenderentola’ Fuses Fashion and Fairytale Fantasy

Skylight puts modern flair in Rossini’s comic opera.

Classical: MSO Opens Season With ‘Don Giovanni’
Classical

MSO Opens Season With ‘Don Giovanni’

Production of Mozart’s opera to emphasize music over theatricality.

Classical: From Turkey With Love
Classical

From Turkey With Love

Turkish-American composer Kamran Ince has a long association with Milwaukee. Present Music presents an all-Ince show Saturday.

Classical: Ending the Season With a Bang
Classical

Ending the Season With a Bang

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s final three concerts feature top guests and varied music.

Classical: The Florentine Opera Welcomes a New “Sister”
Classical

The Florentine Opera Welcomes a New “Sister”

Opera will workshop "Sister Carrie" by Aldridge and Garfein this weekend

Classical: The 99-Year-Old Piano Whiz
Classical

The 99-Year-Old Piano Whiz

Milwaukee native and internationally-known pianist Frank Glazer made his New York debut in 1936.