Danielle McClune

Recent Articles

Dance: A <i>Giselle</i> For The Ages
Dance

A Giselle For The Ages

Milwaukee Ballet resets the work in a Jewish town during WWII and the results are stunning.

Review: UWM “Winterdances” Left Me Cold
Review

UWM “Winterdances” Left Me Cold

Weak choreography and dancing undercut the impact of concert’s dedication to Trisha Brown.

Dance: So Many Splendid Dancers
Dance

So Many Splendid Dancers

Milwaukee Ballet’s Genesis offers three new works by international choreographers, and lots of great dancing.

Review: All The Fine Young Dancers
Review

All The Fine Young Dancers

Milwaukee Ballet II offers a stunning display of its up-and-coming dancers at South Milwaukee PAC.

Dance: The Nutcracker is Big and Athletic
Dance

The Nutcracker is Big and Athletic

Yes, its magical, but it’s the dancers’ unreal athleticism that makes the show go.

Dance: Lightning in a Bottle
Dance

Lightning in a Bottle

Monica Rodero and Dan Schuchart celebrated 10 years of dancing together with a memorable concert.

Dance: Fashion Through the Ages
Dance

Fashion Through the Ages

Danceworks’ latest show spanned recorded time, from dinosaurs to Victorian dresses to today’s weddings.

Dance: Don Quixote is Spectacular
Dance

Don Quixote is Spectacular

Milwaukee Ballet scores another triumph with its big, three act show.

Dance: After We Tied One On
Dance

After We Tied One On

A dreamy, evening-length concert by Molly Shanahan and her Chicago-based dance troupe captures the “Delicate Hour.”

Review: <i>Brew City Dreams</i> Impressive, Ultimately Incomplete
Review

Brew City Dreams Impressive, Ultimately Incomplete

Wild Space Dance Company’s premiere has some arresting moments, but turns out oddly disjointed.

Dance: Schlitz Brewery Becomes a Wild Space for Dance
Dance

Schlitz Brewery Becomes a Wild Space for Dance

The former brewery Stock-House plays host to a hypnotic dance premier.

Dance: Danceworks Taps Global Tastes
Dance

Danceworks Taps Global Tastes

Metal bottom shoes take audiences around the world in the latest performance by the Danceworks on Tap collective.

Dance: A Love/Hate Affair With Danceworks
Dance

A Love/Hate Affair With Danceworks

Their latest show, Art to Art, ranged from great to pretty terrible.

Dance: The Timelessness of Trisha Brown
Dance

The Timelessness of Trisha Brown

Her company’s performance at Lynden Sculpture Garden moved Manhattan minimalism to post-card pastoralism.

Review: The Fairest of Them All
Review

The Fairest of Them All

Ballet’s Mirror Mirror ingeniously retells the Snow White story in a big, magnificent production.

Review: This Is So Good
Review

This Is So Good

Why I loved Wild Space’s “All About Life.”

Dance: Up Close and Personal
Dance

Up Close and Personal

Wild Space moves indoors and gets more intimate in “All About Life.”

Review: Save the Last Dance For Us
Review

Save the Last Dance For Us

Danceworks’ season finale was a kind of party for the company’s dancers, more than for the audience.

Review: By The End I Was Bewitched
Review

By The End I Was Bewitched

Milwaukee Ballet offers varied set of three dances with a boffo ending.

Review: Weird and Wacky But It Works
Review

Weird and Wacky But It Works

Temptation’s Snare mixes dance, music and text to wittily retell The Soldier’s Tale.

Dance: A Hot Time in Dead of Winter
Dance

A Hot Time in Dead of Winter

Milwaukee Ballet’s Winter Series offers great dancing and lots of surprises.

Dance: What You See is What You Get
Dance

What You See is What You Get

Wild Space’s mysterious “Sight Readings” lets audience choose what show they want to see.

Dance: The Power of Intimacy
Dance

The Power of Intimacy

Wild Space tries a smaller venue where dancers and audience will be on a hunt for meaning.

The Magic of the Nutcracker

The Magic of the Nutcracker

It’s a wonderful family show, with some memorable moments of adult sensuality.

No More Discombobulation, Radermacher Dance Declares

No More Discombobulation, Radermacher Dance Declares

Kelly Radermacher will unveil the Radermacher Dance Company’s Milwaukee premiere, “Recombobulation Area.”

Lionel Popkin’s cultural scavenger hunt at Alverno Presents

Lionel Popkin’s cultural scavenger hunt at Alverno Presents

West Coast choreographer Lionel Popkin set out on a search for the story behind his own inspirations, and fell into a rabbit hole leading to dance pioneer Ruth St. Denis. The resulting "Ruth Doesn't Live Here Anymore" visits Pitman Theatre this Saturday.

Danceworks’ “Intersect”: the power of collaboration
Danceworks’ “Intersect”

the power of collaboration

Danceworks invited dancers, choreographers, set designers, musicians and composers to prove that two brains (or more) are better than one. "Intersect" premieres this weekend at their Water St. studio.

Nick Sanborn and the sideman spotlight

Nick Sanborn and the sideman spotlight

Milwaukee-turned-North Carolina musician Nick Sanborn speaks with TCD about his "Lend Me Your Voice" project, premiering this weekend through Alverno Presents and featuring the talents of Sanborn's varied friends and collaborators.

The Season Ahead: Milwaukee Ballet
The Season Ahead

Milwaukee Ballet

Artistic Director Michael Pink speaks with TCD about the upcoming 2013-14 season, including the return of anticipated favorites and an exciting world premiere. First up: the iconic "Romeo & Juliet."

The Season Ahead: Renaissance Theaterworks
The Season Ahead

Renaissance Theaterworks

Milwaukee's women-founded, women-run theatre company ushers in its 2013-14 season with "The Belle of Amherst," "The Understudy," and the return of RTW favorite, "Skin Tight." TCD spoke with the ladies at the helm of the productions.

Have you heard Milwaukee’s beautiful folk music?

Have you heard Milwaukee’s beautiful folk music?

We'd like to introduce you to some of the city's indie folk bands, who have taken that "folk" sound and created stunning, complex and varied music that you should hear, now.

Milwaukee This Week: Let’s get quirky
Milwaukee This Week

Let’s get quirky

Renaissance Theaterworks depicts the eccentric Emily Dickinson, live-action graphic novel The Intergalactic Nemesis comes to the Marcus, Alverno Presents welcomes Vaudeville psychedelics The Hinterlands, Uprooted Theatre goes "Against Type."

Why you should join SkylightENSEMBLE

Why you should join SkylightENSEMBLE

Audience Development Manager Emily Vitrano speaks to TCD about Skylight Music Theatre's young professional organization, with fun, collaborative events that support the local theater community. First up: a Bollywood Bash After Party this Saturday night, celebrating the success of "Fidelio"

Milwaukee This Week: Bold openings and visual treats
Milwaukee This Week

Bold openings and visual treats

Frankly Music, Early Music Now and First Stage kick off their seasons, while the MAM unveils its newest exhibit and Radiolab Live returns with an all-new sensory overload.

Murder Mystery at the Alchemist Theatre

Murder Mystery at the Alchemist Theatre

Artistic Director Aaron Kopec has created a creepy, roam-about experience for the Alchemist's annual Halloween show, and this time you will determine who-dun-it.

Milwaukee This Week: Classic fall offerings return
Milwaukee This Week

Classic fall offerings return

The MSO does Concertos for Orchestra, while classic autumnal events like Oktoberfest, ARToberfest, the annual Film Fest and the Alchemist Halloween show round out the week.

MFF13: “Shorts: Let’s Get Animated”
MFF13

“Shorts: Let’s Get Animated”

The Milwaukee Film Festival brings you seven strange, dark and heartfelt international shorts, premiering Tuesday night at Fox Bay Cinema.

MFF13: “Ludwig II”
MFF13

“Ludwig II”

The beautiful, sprawling bio pic of Germany's "mad monarch" comes to the film fest. Friday's screening is already sold out!

Youngblood Theatre goes dramatic with “Dying City”

Youngblood Theatre goes dramatic with “Dying City”

Youngblood Theatre’s artistic director Benjamin Wilson talks their first show of the season, a post-9/11 drama about loss staged in the Lincoln Storage Warehouse.

Milwaukee This Week: Party on, MKE
Milwaukee This Week

Party on, MKE

The MKE Film Fest reels back into our lives, Milwaukee Cocktail Week ties one on, 88.9 celebrates a new studio space, and Bay View Gallery Night parades local art.

Mary MacDonald Kerr goes solo in MCT’s “The Detective’s Wife”

Mary MacDonald Kerr goes solo in MCT’s “The Detective’s Wife”

The veteran Milwaukee actress faces a new challenge in playwright Keith Huff's "ghost story" about a woman whose police officer husband is killed.

The Season Ahead: Wild Space Dance Company
The Season Ahead

Wild Space Dance Company

Artistic Director Deb Loewen shares her thoughts on the upcoming season, including this weekend's season opener, taking place in Menomonee Valley's new Three Bridges Park.

Leda Hoffmann’s underworld, under the Holton Street Bridge

Leda Hoffmann’s underworld, under the Holton Street Bridge

The local director will stage a production of Margaret Atwood's "Penelopiad," a female-focused look at the characters of Homer's "Odyssey," in the pop-up park.

Art to Art delivers fresh collaborations

Art to Art delivers fresh collaborations

Danceworks' annual performance highlights the talents of Milwaukee's many creatives, with lovely results.

Milwaukee doubles down on Shakespeare this weekend

Milwaukee doubles down on Shakespeare this weekend

Both Optimist Theatre and the Alchemist Theatre open works by the Bard this Friday, the first performing "As You Like It" and the second "King Lear."

Rooftop Dance: Let’s call it reverie
Rooftop Dance

Let’s call it reverie

UWM alums Steven Moses and Jaimi Patterson opened their second performance of Rooftop Dance Thursday evening with an impressive lineup of intense and imaginative works.

In Tandem’s “Apartment 3A” delivers constant, sharp humor

In Tandem’s “Apartment 3A” delivers constant, sharp humor

In Tandem Theatre closes its season with Jeff Daniels' "Apartment 3A" and its witty answers to life's big, pesky questions.

Greek classics, Quasimondo style

Greek classics, Quasimondo style

Artistic director Brian Rott talks about the physical troupe's newest show, "Bacchanalia," inspired by Greek mythology and philosophy.

“Road to Mecca” lined with heart-wrenching performances

“Road to Mecca” lined with heart-wrenching performances

Renaissance Theaterworks' season closer beautifully tells the story of outsider artist Helen Martins' fears and struggles in 1974 apartheid South Africa.

Gig Posters at Hotel Foster: “Just Like Being There”
Gig Posters at Hotel Foster

“Just Like Being There”

Artists Francisco Ramirez and Paloma Chavez, film director Scout Shannon discuss Thursday night's art, film and music event.

Wild Space’s “Luscious”: Overwhelming in its creativity
Wild Space’s “Luscious”

Overwhelming in its creativity

A collection of dances stun and dazzle at the Rep's Steimke Studio, although they sometimes do too much in the moment.

Envisioning the Seen: Extracting Milwaukee’s quiet awesomeness
Envisioning the Seen

Extracting Milwaukee’s quiet awesomeness

A diverse group of city leaders will gather at the Pabst Theatre for an intimate and lively discussion about our dear Milwaukee's future.

Alchemist’s “Dracula,” creative theater with bite

Alchemist’s “Dracula,” creative theater with bite

Alchemist Theatre's Year of Fear continues as Aaron Kopec has a bloody good time with "Dracula."

National Players’ Animal Farm delivers creative political commentary

National Players’ Animal Farm delivers creative political commentary

Thursday night's performance at Vogel Hall used imaginative set design to drive George Orwell's allegorical story.

“Spaceholder Festival”: Mystery of the mundane
“Spaceholder Festival”

Mystery of the mundane

Morgan Thorson's latest, hosted by Alverno Presents, makes the everyday magical in the bodies and voices of five dancers.

“Robot Cabaret”: Yep. It’s what it sounds like.
“Robot Cabaret”

Yep. It’s what it sounds like.

Quasimondo director Brian Rott and producer Jessi Miller discuss developing their newest work and (a little of) its premise.

Milwaukee This Week: Robots, zombies and pretty music
Milwaukee This Week

Robots, zombies and pretty music

The Quasimondo has a new bot-show, "The Walking Dead" makes a special trip to the Riverside and tunes from Present Music, Early Music Now, and the MSO.

“The Wild Party”: Young gems, hidden in a rough story
“The Wild Party”

Young gems, hidden in a rough story

UWM's Peck School of the Arts puts on a performance with a high-energy ensemble and a hard-to-swallow plot line.

interACT and the state of Milwaukee theater

interACT and the state of Milwaukee theater

Pink Banana Theater's Matt Kemple, ART Milwaukee's Jeremy Fojut speak of their interACT evening, involving six theater groups.

Milwaukee This Week 2/5: A weekend of song and dance
Milwaukee This Week 2/5

A weekend of song and dance

Concerts at MSO, the Florentine and Milwaukee Theatre, alongside a Year of the Arts musical and the Ballet's Genesis competition.

“The Clockmaker”: Wind yourself up for a good time
“The Clockmaker”

Wind yourself up for a good time

Next Act gives Stephen Massicotte's play pitch-perfect actors and neat use of space. We'll keep its mysteries secret.

Next Act winds up for “The Clockmaker”

Next Act winds up for “The Clockmaker”

Director Mary MacDonald Kerr's play, about a clockmaker trying to save an unhappily married woman, is a "sort of" love story.

Milwaukee This Week 1/29: The time is right for new shows
Milwaukee This Week 1/29

The time is right for new shows

The Rep and Next Act present time-jumping dramas, Alverno pays tribute to a master from the past, and Danceworks performs pieces yet to exist.

“Completely Hollywood” full of stars, some extra bright

“Completely Hollywood” full of stars, some extra bright

Soulstice Theatre's rendition of the Reduced Shakespeare Comedy inspired show hits the right notes, especially in Act II.

First Stage takes a serious look at racial conflict

First Stage takes a serious look at racial conflict

"To the Promised Land" interweaves the lives of a young Golda Meir and an African-American girl amid the civil rights movement.

Milwaukee This Week 1/22: Too much art not to brave the cold
Milwaukee This Week 1/22

Too much art not to brave the cold

Edith Piaf revived at the Skylight, First Stage honors Milwaukee history, UWM performs Winterdances, and so much music hits the city.

“Fair Play, Good Will and Justice”: MKE honors Dr. King
“Fair Play, Good Will and Justice”

MKE honors Dr. King

Two concerts Sunday pay tribute to MLK: one by the Marcus Center and the other by Bel Canto Chorus.

Milwaukee This Week 1/15: Theater and Gallery Night return
Milwaukee This Week 1/15

Theater and Gallery Night return

Cream City stages get busy with productions from the Rep, Renaissance, Sunset and more, while winter's Gallery Night launches several exhibits.

Milwaukee This Week: Local artists and “Memphis,” too
Milwaukee This Week

Local artists and “Memphis,” too

Milwaukee artists from cellist Peter Thomas to an All-State Choir at the Pabst dominate, but the Marcus gets a taste of "Memphis."

Milwaukee This Week: Cheers to an artsy new year
Milwaukee This Week

Cheers to an artsy new year

Support the Milwaukee arts as your New Year's resolution. Formerly known as On Stage, Milwaukee This Week is your weekly guide to the arts in our fine city.

TCD’s 2013 New Year’s Hangover Guide

TCD’s 2013 New Year’s Hangover Guide

Here at ThirdCoast, we want you to enjoy that fresh, new-year feeling. So we've put together a list of remedies to help keep that New Year's Day hangover at bay.

UPDATED! On Stage 12/25: Milwaukee arts ring in 2013
UPDATED! On Stage 12/25

Milwaukee arts ring in 2013

Ring in 2013 with Jim Gaffigan, Andreas Delfs or Dustin Diamond, or catch a holiday show before it's too late.

The Rep’s “Sense and Sensibility”: Silly girls
The Rep’s “Sense and Sensibility”

Silly girls

The Rep stages Jane Austen's classic; eloquence and humor yes, passion no.

On Stage 12/11: Aaron Rodgers Day not all worth celebrating
On Stage 12/11

Aaron Rodgers Day not all worth celebrating

Handel's Messiah arrives for the holidays; Jane Austen gets sensible at the Rep; Who Killed Santa returns; and pirates at the Public Museum.

The MSO helps deliver some killer Queen

The MSO helps deliver some killer Queen

Backed by the MSO, lead singer Brody Dolyniuk and his Queen tribute band symphonically resurrected Freddie Mercury's music at the Riverside.

Ex Fabula: Stories, community, Milwaukee
Ex Fabula

Stories, community, Milwaukee

Ex Fabula Spectacular at Turner Hall this Thursday brings the group's favorite storytellers to the stage for a night of human connection and Milwaukee culture.

On Stage 12/4: An abundance of the arts
On Stage 12/4

An abundance of the arts

Christmas in the Basilica, indie-pop at Turner, the return of the Nutcracker, Ex Fabula storytelling, and everything in between.

The powerful return of Alabama Shakes

The powerful return of Alabama Shakes

Brittany Howard and her band returned to Milwaukee for a sold-out show at the Riverside Theater, packing the venue with soul-blazing southern rock.

On Stage 11/27: Lots to do as Christmas looms
On Stage 11/27

Lots to do as Christmas looms

Choices range from the classic (Rep's Christmas Carol, Doc at the MSO) to the quirky (In Tandem's Cudahy carolers, Brady Street Festivus).

MCT’s “Collected Stories”: emotional and deep
MCT’s “Collected Stories”

emotional and deep

Sarah Day and Laura Frye are outstanding as mentor and student in Donald Marguiles' probing play about the writing life.

On Stage 11/20: A hearty helping of the arts for Thanksgiving
On Stage 11/20

A hearty helping of the arts for Thanksgiving

Rudolph comes to First Stage, the MSO presents West Side Story and The Irish Tenors celebrate the pending holiday.

“It’s a Wonderful Life Live Radio Show” sparkles

“It’s a Wonderful Life Live Radio Show” sparkles

Next Act Theatre uses the Foley sound-effects tradition and layered performances for a "wonderful" show.

On Stage 11/13: The season blows wide open
On Stage 11/13

The season blows wide open

A busy Milwaukee arts week culminates in an epic Friday pile-up, from MSO at the Basilica to David Parsons Dance at the Wilson Center.

Next Act’s live radio holiday show

Next Act’s live radio holiday show

David Cescarini: "It's a Wonderful Life Live Radio Show" combines George Bailey's iconic story with old-time radio charm.

On Stage 11/6: A Week for Music
On Stage 11/6

A Week for Music

The Wisconsin Philharmonic, The MSO and The Fine Arts Quartet get busy.

Soulstice offers a leaden “Blithe Spirit”

Soulstice offers a leaden “Blithe Spirit”

The company's production of Noel Coward's 1941 comedy is more creaky than classic.

The Quasimondo stakes its claim in Milwaukee

The Quasimondo stakes its claim in Milwaukee

With "Halloween Tree," the new physical theater troupe continues mixing unconventional ideas with traditional forms.

Frank Sinatra, Jr. kicks off the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign

Frank Sinatra, Jr. kicks off the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign

Packer great LeRoy Butler is honorary chair of the benefit concert, to be held this Friday.

On Stage 10/30: A quiet week, with charitable options
On Stage 10/30

A quiet week, with charitable options

As the holiday season draws nearer, fundraisers, benefits and pay-what-you-can performances take center stage.

Off the Wall’s “Trainspotting”: disturbing, amazing
Off the Wall’s “Trainspotting”

disturbing, amazing

Off the Wall Theatre stages Harry Gibson's adaptation with unnerving, incredible results.

Sleigh Bells shred Milwaukee a new one

Sleigh Bells shred Milwaukee a new one

Sleigh Bells dropped an absurd level of noise, talent and crazy at Turner Hall on Wednesday night.

On Stage 10/23: Musical gems, unsettling theater, and falling dancers
On Stage 10/23

Musical gems, unsettling theater, and falling dancers

Present Music, Natalie Merchant and Siberian Virtuosi power up, while the theater re-visits disturbing history.

On Stage 10/16: Favorites returning, or reimagined
On Stage 10/16

Favorites returning, or reimagined

Opera La Boheme becomes ballet; the LGBT Film Fest celebrates a 2nd annual 25th anniversary; First Stage adapts "Big."

“Titanic” flows beautifully, but a little broad

“Titanic” flows beautifully, but a little broad

The touring show at the Milwaukee Theatre lacks deep emotion or a compelling score, despite some talented performances.

“The Alchemist Eye” a little foggy

“The Alchemist Eye” a little foggy

Aaron Kopec's fifth annual Halloween show is long on exposition and short on thrills.

“Titanic: the Musical” steams to the Milwaukee Theatre
“Titanic

the Musical” steams to the Milwaukee Theatre

Wisconsinite Geoff Karnish provides a preview to "Titanic," an emotionally charged Broadway musical.

Halloween Horror from “The Alchemist Eye”

Halloween Horror from “The Alchemist Eye”

Aaron Kopec brings scares to the Alchemist Theatre's cozy space.

On Stage 10/9: No time to lounge around. Go out.
On Stage 10/9

No time to lounge around. Go out.

Rembrandt at MAM, Alchemist Halloween, "Titanic" anniversary, photos at Via/Transfer, lots of Last Chances.

On Stage 10/2: Dark Theater, Light Music
On Stage 10/2

Dark Theater, Light Music

Theater goes Halloween, music bubbles over, and the Milwaukee Film Festival marches on.

On Stage 9/25: Crowding the stage
On Stage 9/25

Crowding the stage

An arts avalanche hits Milwaukee this week, with an epic pileup of music, dance and theater on Sept. 28.

‘Avenue Q’s’ uncensored take on life

‘Avenue Q’s’ uncensored take on life

The Skylight's production, using the same puppets as the original Broadway show, opens Friday, Sept. 21.

On Stage 9/18: Doors Open for Roof Access
On Stage 9/18

Doors Open for Roof Access

Doors Open MKE takes you inside, Wild Space takes you outside, MSO and Mahler address your inner child.