Highlights from 10/21 to 10/27

If you enjoy the festivities leading up to the Day of the Dead celebration, or just enjoy watching people dress up and move about, then this week is dedicated to you. While there is both costumed ballet and nakedly honest modern dance premiering, there is also a spate of new shows including a thriller at Sunset and a cabaret at the Alchemist.
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Will Rogers Follies, Concordia University drama program at the Todd Wehr Auditorium, 10/22 to 10/25
Dr. David Eggebrecht leads his theater students in this local revival of the Tony Award-winning musical, based on the wry life and times of one of America’s quintessential humorists. Call Heidi Tupper at 262-243-4400 for more information, or visit this website for advanced tickets.

TeenWrites: Change, Milwaukee High School of the Arts and Skylight Opera Theatre, 10/23 to 10/25
Over the past five years, hundreds of MPS students have participated in this program that stages original creative writing materials from local teens. But this is the first time that it results in a cultural exchange. Students’ material will be performed on a road tour. There will be a public mini-festival of sorts, and two students will travel to Thurston Community College in Suffolk, England, to work with the Gecko Theatre. A mainstage show is scheduled for April 2010. For details on the event, visit either teenwriteschange.wordpress.com or milwaukeehighschoolofthearts.org . MHSA students are raising money to send the TeenWrites team overseas. To make a contribution, contact Ralph Janes at 414-934-7071.

Deathtrap, Sunset Playhouse in the Furlan Auditorium, 10/23 to 11/14
Murderous intentions are afoot in Ira Levin’s play, directed here by Sunset’s A.D. Mark Salentine. The story surrounds a once successful, now struggling playwright who decides to steal a novice’s unpublished play and kill the unknown writer. Visit sunsetplayhouse.com or call 262-782-4430 for ticketing and times.

Happy Now?, Milwaukee Rep at the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, 10/23 to  11/15
Kitty is in her 30s. She’s connected and has friends — she’s set. So, why are the people who surround her so troubled? This recent London hit has been called “a wryly comic play of rare intelligence on contemporary life and how to survive it.” It features many Rep standard players like Lee Ernst. Link: Milwaukee Rep. Phone 414-224-9490.

Furry Tails with a Twist, M & W Playhouse Production at Southridge Mall, 10/27 to 10/28
This is yet another example of the many children’s theater productions that we mentioned in a recent TCD article. These are 10 a.m. stagings aimed at tots. In this story, “two actors try to present three of the worlds most beloved fairy tales but they get their scripts hopelessly scrambled so ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ becomes ‘Goldisocks and the Three Wolves,'” and so on. The actors use the audience to guide them to a finish. For more information, visit mandwproductions.com or call 414-272-7701 for showtimes.

…meanwhile, back at the Sunset Playhouse’s Studio Theatre, another children’s play runs from 10/22 to 10/24 that examines what happens after the original stories of Hansel and Gretel  and Goldilocks and the Three Bears end. In this one, Hansel meets Goldie in the forest. They work together to solve a problem. For information, visit the relevant page at www.sunsetplayhouse.com or call 262-782-4430.

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Cinderella, Milwaukee Ballet at Uihlein Hall, 10/22 to 10/25
“This classic fairy tale follows a young woman’s journey from servant to princess in a story cherished by adults and children alike.” This is a full-scale production with lots of anticipation from the city’s arts watchers — and A.D. Michael Pink has been tracking the process along the way. Sergei Prokofiev’s score is played live by an orchestra, and the school’s young dancers join in. Visit milwaukeeballet.org or call 414-902-2103.

Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak, Alverno Presents at the Pitman Theater, 10/24
The folks running this innovative series are excited as Shanahan is considered a choreographer and dancer on the cusp of something great. Her current work, Stamina of Curiousity, continues a process exploring the body’s core, drawing “the most intimate thoughts through every fiber of the body until they burst forth in shockingly honest movement. This is the first time she has placed this ongoing exploration on an ensemble.” For details, visit alvernopresents.alverno.edu or call 414-382-6044.

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Cabaret Q, Alchemist Theatre, 10/21-10/22
It’s a “drag and gay comedy show featuring some of Milwaukee’s favorite performers,” including Aunt Joanna, Corky Morgan, T.J. Rosbeck and Brett Gordon. The fun starts at 8 p.m., visit alchemisttheatre.com for details.

Los Cojolites, Latino Arts Auditorium and Gallery, 10/23
The musicians of their “Son Jarocho” style kick off an evening celebration that begins at 5 p.m. with an exhibition of ofrendas (altars or displays honoring the dead) from local and regional artists. The lively string band starts up at 7:30 p.m. Want to know more, see the band’s MySpace page. For further details, visit latinoartsinc.org or call 414-384-3100.

Eric Jacobson Quintet’s tribute to Freddie Hubbard, Conservatory Nights at Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, 10/22
WCM presents a tribute concert to a great trumpeter who passed away last year. It will showcase his work as a leader, composer and sideman. Mark Davis, Jeff Hamann and Dave Bayles pay their respects. For more information, visit wcmusic.org/ConservatoryNights.htm or call 414-276-5760.

Ah, Youth. Waukesha Choral Union collaboration concert at the Shattuck Auditorium, 10/25
Special guest stars from the Muskego and Waukesha South High School Choirs join in the singing. “Following their separate selections, WCU performs Eric Whitacres’ charming ‘Five Hebrew Love Songs’ and excerpts from Brahms’ ‘Liebeslieder Walzer.’” In the big finale, the three combine voices for Aaron Copland’s inspirational “The Promise of Living.” For more information, visit choralunion.org or read the evening program here.

Orpheus in England, Early Music Now at Schwan Concert Hall, 10/27
Renowned soprano Emma Kirkby and lutenist Jakob Lindberg join in celebrating the 350th anniversary of Henry Purcell’s birth and throw in some John Dowland, to boot. Kirkby’s fresh from appearing at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Lindberg may be recording another track to add to the 70-plus records he’s played on over the past 30 years. Both will give a FREE master class at UW-Milwaukee the night before. For more information, go to earlymusicnow.org or call 414-225-3113.

Abba Mania, the national tour at Milwaukee Theatre, 10/27
Movies like Mamma Mia!, Muriel’s Wedding, Miss Congeniality and about 20 others have kept the Swedish supergroup on the minds of music lovers worldwide. While Abba is not touring per se, they are sort of. Also, a call went out for a local backup choir, and reportedly a combination of Hales Corners Lutheran and Martin Luther High School choirs responded — so look for them during the show. Call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or visit milwaukeetheatre.com for details.

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Chick Singer Night, Caroline’s Jazz Club, 10/20
While this female jamfest does not technically fall under our staggered weekly schedule, we thought to give it a shout-out just in case you were looking for something to do tonight. Following the famed national program, the local one is hosted by Alaria Taylor and has a schedule featuring talents like Carley Baer, Rhonda Begos, Anna Bohn and Sara Ellsworth as well as a few male guest singers. For details, visit chicksingernight.com/CSNmilwaukee.html

…not enough great jazz for you? Check out Jane Monheit at the Wilson Center on 10/24. You won’t be disappointed.

Arlo Guthrie, Schauer Arts &  Activities Center in Hartford, 10/21
Hartford is 40 minutes northwest of Milwaukee, and we rarely make mention of a concert that far away unless it’s special. In this case, folk hero Arlo Guthrie makes an appearance ahead of a big family reunion concert on 10/24 in Waukegan (no confirmed word if the Guthrie Family Rides Again will also appear with him in Wisconsin). Expect to hear about Iranian issues, which last shoved Arlo in the spotlight. Visit schauercenter.org or call 262-670-0560, ext. 3 for ticket information.

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