Weekly Highlights from 1/27-2/2

Ariel Dorfman’s Purgatorio, Next Act Theatre, Off Broadway Theatre, 1/28-2/21
A woman and a man: Patient with doctor? Prisoner and interrogator? Accused before a judge? As the examination unfolds, roles are reversed and each soul gropes for understanding, forgiveness and escape to a new beginning.
Tickets  $24-$32. Showtimes vary, so visit Next Act or call 414-278-0765 for more information.

Goodnight Lulu

Goodnight Lulu, Sunset Playhouse, 1/28-1/30
Paulette Bogan’s children’s book Goodnight Lulu as adapted for the stage.
Tickets $5-$7.  Shows 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Visit Sunset Playhouse or call 262-782-4430.

Gods And Gays: One-Act Play Festival, Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, 1/29-1/31
Featuring Jimmy the Antichrist by Keith J. Powell, Come Light the Menorah by Rich Orloff and Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You by Christopher Durang.
Tickets $10-$15.  Shows on 29th and 30th at 7:30 p.m.  Matinée on 31st at 2 p.m. Call 414-383-3727 for reservations.
The Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, 703 South Second St., Walker’s Point

Mark Metcalf. Photo by Manuel Bartual.

Big Songs from the Big Screen, Sunset Playhouse, 2/1-2/2
Sunset Theatre promises “a memorable evening of classic songs from your favorite films.” The concert will also feature an insider’s look at Hollywood as actor Mark Metcalf (Animal House, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mad Men) joins Sunset regular Susan Loveridge to weave the evening’s narrative.
Tickets $15.  Showtime 7:30 p.m. Visit Sunset Playhouse or call 262-782-4430.

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America’s Songbook, Sharon Lynn Wilson Center, 1/28
Musical highlights of American opera’s brief yet colorful evolution are presented in this showcase, featuring the Florentine Opera Young Artists. The evening will also feature selections from the Florentine Opera’s upcoming Midwest premiere of Elmer Gantry.
Free and open to the public, but reservations required. Visit the Wilson Center or call 262-781-9520.

Jeans Jazz Series: Keith Watling, Gypsy Guitar, Racine Theatre Guild, 1/28
Experience the ambiance of gypsy jazz, the music of Django Reinhardt and the Paris cabaret scene of the 1930s.
Tickets $5-$14.  Showtime 7 p.m. Visit the Racine Theatre Guild or call 262-633-4218.

Ingrid Fliter, photo courtesy of website.

Fliter Plays Mozart, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Marcus Center’s Uihlein Hall, 2/29-2/30
Critically acclaimed pianist Ingrid Fliter performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. Also included in this program are Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Gambit and Wagner’s Prelude to Die Meistersinger. As always, watch for coverage of the MSO from TCD’s Tom Strini.
Tickets $25-$93. Concert begins at 8 p.m. Visit the MSO or call 414-291-7605.

Marriage of Figaro premiers at the Skylight this week.

The Marriage of Figaro, Skylight Opera Theatre, Broadway Theatre Center, 2/29-2/14
Earlier this season at Skylight in The Barber of Seville, Count Almaviva (with help from his servant, Figaro), wooed and won Rosina away from her crusty old ward and would-be husband, Bartolo. In The Marriage of Figaro, the story continues, with baritone Andrew Wilkowske returning as Figaro.
Tickets $13.50-$64. Showtimes vary, so visit the Skylight or call 414-291-7800.

Tom Strini narrates Britten for Festival City.

Happy Anniversary, Festival City Symphony, Pabst Theater, 1/31
This concert will feature Handel’s Water Music Suite, Haydn’s Symphony No. 99 and Variations on a Theme of Henry Purcell by Benjamin Britten, also known as A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra (TCD’s own Tom Strini will narrate).
Tickets $8-$14. Showtime 3 p.m. Visit  Festival City or call 414-963-9067.

Richard Hynson, musical director for the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra. Photo, courtesy of website.

Stravinsky’s A Soldier’s Tale, Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, Calvary Presbyterian Church, 1/31
Igor Stravinsky wrote A Soldier’s Tale (“L’Histoire du Soldat”) in 1918. This retelling of the story of Faust describes a soldier heading home from the war, eager to start a new life and family. On the way, he strikes a bargain with the devil, trading a violin for a book that will show him how to obtain all that he can desire. As usual with Faust, the soldier gets what he asks for, but loses everything he wants. In collaboration with In Tandem Theatre, seven musicians and three actors tell the tale.
Tickets $10-$25. Concert begins at 3 p.m. Visit the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra or call 262-901-5325.
Calvary Presbyterian Church, 935 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Eric Morones. Photo, courtesy MYSO.

MYSO Jazz Heritage Festival, Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 1/31, 1-7 p.m.
Live jazz combo performances by the young musicians in the MYSO Jazz Studies program as well as area high school and middle school jazz ensembles in combo performances. Clinics by professional jazz musicians on a variety of instruments will be offered during the middle portion of the day. Stay for the highlight of the event, performances by special guest artist L.A.-based saxophonist (and Racine native) Eric Morones, lead alto saxophonist with the Brian Setzer Orchestra, at 5:15 p.m.
Tickets $5-$8. Visit MYSO or call 414-267-2950.

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By Accident and Necessity, Wild Space Dance Company, Oregon Street Warehouse, 1/29-1/30
This innovative collaboration integrates dance with video projections of “time-based” still photography by critically acclaimed Milwaukee photographer, Tom Bamberger. Milwaukee Ballet’s Yuki Clark will join the cast of Wild Space Dance choreographers for this meditation on dance and movement.
Tickets $12-$20. Showtime 8 p.m. Visit Wild Space or call 414-271-0712.
Oregon Street Warehouse, Walker’s Point (enter from 235 E. Pittsburgh)

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Snowdance Comedy Festival, Over Our Head Players, Sixth Street Theatre, 1/29-2/28
The Snowdance 10 Minute Comedy Festival is a competition of original short comedies. Audience members can vote for the production they enjoyed the most, and the votes will be tallied throughout the festival run. The Snowdance “Best in Snow” will be awarded after the final performance on February 28th. A cash award of $300 goes to “Best in Snow,” with a $100 award going to both second and third place.
Tickets $12-$15. Visit Over Our Head Players or call 262-632-6802.
All performances are at Sixth Street Theatre, 318 Sixth St., Downtown Racine.

Whose Line Is It Anyway? with Brad Sherwood & Colin Mochrie, Pabst Theater, 1/30
Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood bring their wit and improv ability to the Pabst Theater for an interactive show of favorite Whose Line games.
Tickets $29.50-$49.50. Shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Visit the Pabst or call 414-286-3663.

Patrick Combs: Man 1, Bank 0, South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, 1/30
Patrick Combs, a former TV personality for Paramount’s Real TV and Hard Copy, tells the true story of how he deposited a $95,093.35 junk-mail check marked “non-negotiable” hoping to spread a little banking cheer to tellers. It erupted into a David vs. Goliath-like situation that received worldwide media coverage, including by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Good Morning America.
Tickets $10-$27. Showtime 7:30 p.m. Visit SMPAC or call 414-766-5049.

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Notice from Milwaukee Public Theatre:
Milwaukee Public Theatre is looking for teen and adult actors, dancers, singers, gymnasts and variety artists etc. for One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure and for ongoing or summer work.
Auditions are scheduled Saturday, February 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Housing Authority Community Building, 650 W. Reservoir, Milwaukee.
Please bring a photo and resume, and prepare a two-minute audition piece. MPT will provide a tape/cassette player. Rehearsals begin March 1 and run into May, with the production scheduled for performances on May 6 and 7.
Call Milwaukee Public Theatre at 414-347-1685 for additional information or consult the website.

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