May 19 – 25

This week on ThirdCoast Digest’s weekly look at highlights in the world of local stage and music: the opening of Skylight Opera’s staging of Gilbert and Sullivan’s best known comic opera, right before the Florentine Opera concludes a 75th Diamond Anniversary year with a huge concert celebration. Also, Stonefly Brewery plays host for one night to an unusual traveling comedy examining surrealism, and a international pop star of sorts is coming to the Milwaukee Theatre.

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Theater

Winnie The Pooh, Milwaukee Youth Theatre at Studio Theatre 208 (Lincoln Center of the Arts), 5/21 and 5/22
7 pm

Dramatized by Kristin Sergel from the stories of A. A. Milne Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin’s chubby little bear would like to go through life peacefully humming tunes.  Unfortunately, this is not the case as he stumbles across all types of frantic adventures. His intentions are always the best, but his passion for honey and condensed milk keeps getting him in trouble. Join Pooh’s friends Eeyore, Piglet and Rabbit as they help him bumble through one mishap after another. (414)390-3900 or Milwaukee Youth Theatre’s website for more information.

Pirates of Penzance, Skylight Opera Company , 5/22
7:30 pm

It’s February 29 “on a rocky seashore on the coast of Cornwall, England. The pirates of Penzance are holding a party to celebrate their apprentice Frederic’s promotion to the status of full-blown pirate on his 21st birthday. But being born on the extra day of leap year does have its difficulties.” Skylight’s stable of performers promise to bring a bouncy, swashbuckling version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s tale of one man’s comic slave to duty and a girl named Ruth. (Watch TCD next week for a full review of the performance.) 414.291.7800 or visit Skylight’s website for more information and tickets.

75th Diamond Anniversary Concert and Celebration, Florentine Opera Company, 5/23
7:30 pm

It was back in 1933 that the Florentine Opera began a course of world-class productions in Milwaukee stage. This will be commemorated with a one-night-only special concert performed by world-renowned guest artists Cynthia Lawrence, Robynne Redmon, Jonathan Boyd and Mark Doss. Maestro Joseph Rescigno will lead the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in an evening of acclaimed arias and ensembles including Carmen, The Flying Dutchman, The Pearl Fishers, Norma, The Abduction from the Seraglio and others. Concert tickets start at $28 a person, unless you want to make a big night of the whole affair in which “valet parking, a pre-concert cocktail party, premium concert seats, a dinner reminiscent of the best 1930s supper club, plus dancing and mingling with the four guest performers” can be had starting at $250. Find out more by calling 414.888.8888 or visit Florentine’s site.

Bedlam Theatre’s Dali’s Liquid Ladies, Stonefly Brewery, 5/24
9 pm

In what promises to be a bizarre and lovely affair in a town that loves its quirk and surrealism, a traveling troupe of theatre artists from the Bedlam Theatre out of Minneapolis bring a surreal tale of mermaids with murder in mind for a one-night comedy in Riverwest’s premier microbrewery/restaurant venue. Guest stars scheduled to appear include Eat the Mystery and Dead Man’s Carnival. For more on the show, visit Bedlam Theatre or call Stonefly at 414.261.3630.

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Music

Rachimanov and Friends, Waukesha Symphony Orchestra at Shattuck Auditorium, Carroll College, 5/19
7:30 pm

The WSO finds there is no better way to end a season than in tribute to Sergei Rachmaninov with his most beloved work: the Symphony No. 2 in its complete form. The concert is being presented in conjunction with the American Guild of Organists in celebration of the International Year of the Organ. So now you know something new today. Contact 262.547.1858 or visit UPAF’s site for details.

Andre Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra, Milwaukee Theatre, 5/22
8 pm

The “global phenomena rivaling some of the top pop stars on the planet” makes a return to visit to Milwaukee, back in the theatre where they made their local debut three years ago. Dutch violinist and conductor Rieu and a 40-piece company are currently on a 30th anniversary tour highlighting some ‘greatest hits’ from three decades of recording and appearances. Expect to hear numbers from his latest CD, You’ll Never Walk Alone, which is billed as the violinist’s “songbook” of hopeful and inspirational music. In Milwaukee, you can even combine this night of classical and pops music with a package of fine dining as Bacchus will be offering an exclusive pre-show dinner for ticket holders. More information on the event: call Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000 or visit Milwaukee Theatre’s website. See Bacchus’s site for details on dinner prices or call 414.765.1166.

Janiva Magness, Cedarburg Cultural Center, 5/23
8 pm

Winner of the 2006 and 2007 Blues Music Awards for Best Contemporary Female Artist Of The Year, Magness has seven solo recordings to her credit. She possesses a rich, soulful voice and absolute command over her material, and can lead her audience through a range of emotions, from the deepest sorrow to overwhelming joy. For ticketing info., call 262.375.3676 or see CCC’s web calendar of events.

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Other Events

Insurgent Theatre presents:  A screening of Play in a Day 2, Alchemist Theatre, 5/23 at 7:30 p.m.
Bay View’s DIY radical troupe is offering a free (or pay as you can donation) showing of the results of Milwaukee’s experimental theater project before the 4th live go-round starting May 30. Contact 414.271.1371 or visit Alchemist’s page.

For venue, tickets, showtimes and more, visit Footlights Milwaukee online.