Classic American theater leads a busy week

On Stage, in which we overview the next seven days of performances, is just the beginning of TCD’s coverage. We will follow up on almost all of the the events mentioned here with interviews, features and reviews. To keep up, come back often.

Theater

Lee Ernst, foreground, and Michael Kroeker in “Death of a Salesman.” Michael Brosilow photo for the Milwaukee Rep.

Lee Ernst as Willy Loman makes the Rep’s Death of a Salesman look like a hot ticket to end the company’s Quadracci Powerhouse season. The Arthur Miller classic is in preview through Thursday, opens at 8 p.m. Friday (April 15) and runs through May 8. More to come from TCD on this show. Meanwhile, follow the link to grab a seat or call the Rep box office, 414 224-9490.

The Milwaukee Chamber Theatre and 20 Marquette University’s drama students are getting together in The Lion in Winter, James Goldman’s 1966 play about King Henry II of England, Eleanor of Aquitaine, their sons, and their not so merry Christmas of 1183. Lion previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, opens at 8 p.m. Friday (April 15) and runs through May 1 in the Broadway Theatre Center Cabot Theater. Marquette students, faculty and staff get a deal: $15 tickets. Otherwise, tickets are $16.50-$39.50 at the BTC box office, 414 291-7800 or at the MCT website.

Dance

We’re accustomed to seeing Debra Loewen’s Wild Space Dancers hanging from smokestacks, dancing on bridges, cavorting in parks and dashing up and down stairways in old building. Every now and then, they land in a proper theater. Thursday through Saturday (April 14-16), Wild Space will settle into the Stiemke Theater in the Milwaukee Rep’s Downtown complex. Loewen and artistic associates Monica Rodero and Dan Schuchart put together an evening-length program called How to Get from Here to There. 8 p.m., $25 and $20, $15 for students. For tickets call the Rep’s box office, 414 224-9490. For more information, visit the Wild Space website — or come back to TCD, as an interview with the co-creators is on the way.

Stefano Barone, an Italian guitarist in the tradition of Michael Hedges, will perform on the UWM guitar series at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, in the Peck School of the Arts Recital Hall. Tickets are $12, $10 for UWM personnel and alums, and $8 for students, at the UWM Peck School box office, 414 229-4308.

Christopher Burns, the ever-industrious composer, UWM professor and impresario, will launch the second Unruly Music Festival of the season on Thursday. Four different programs will unfold over four nights at Marcus Center Vogel Hall. TCD’s Michael Barndt is writing an advance on the festival; meanwhile, you can follow the link to get the particulars. 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, April 14-17. $12, $10 for seniors and UWM faculty, $8 for students, at the Marcus Center box office, 414 273-7206 and the UWM Peck School of the Arts box office.

The Milwaukee Symphony keeps bringing back guest conductor Gilbert Varga, and that’s good: His technique is a beacon of clarity and his taste is impeccable. Varga returns for an 11:15 a.m. matinee Friday and an 8 p.m. concert Saturday (April 15-16) at Marcus Center Uihlein Hall. (Assuming Uihlein is back together again, after a stage machinery failure.) Varga will lead the MSO in Steven Mackey’s Turn the Key, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1. The soloist will be Kirill Gerstein, a rising young Russian pianist. Tickets are $25-$95 at the MSO website, the MSO ticket line (414 291-7605) and the Marcus Center box office (414 273-7206).

Those same numbers and website apply to the MSO Kinderkonzert set for 2 p.m. Sunday at Uihlein. Stuart Chafetz will conduct a program that features the Platypus Theater. Preconcert activites begin at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Violinist and MSO concertmaster Frank Almond will be the guest soloist with the Festival City Symphony Orchestra at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 17, at the Pabst Theater. Music director Monte Perkins will conduct. Almond will play Bruch’s Violin Concerto in G minor. Beethoven’s The Creatures of Prometheus and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 (“Italian”) complete this season-finale program. Festival City concerts are family-friendly. Jayne Perkins will lead a Children’s Program Notes session at 2:45 p.m. Tickets are $14, $8 for children, at the Pabst Theater box office, 414 286-3663.

Film

A husband-wife team will mix lecture, film and multimedia to discuss disabilities at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, at the UWM Union Theatre. Maureen Keyes, of the School of Education’s Exceptional Education Department, presents a multimedia lecture at 4:30 p.m. on Shifting Perspectives on Disability, illustrated by clips of “teachable moments” from films. Following a reception (6-6:45 p.m.), at 7 p.m. the Union Theatre will present three documentaries by  filmmaker Ron Taylor, who is married to Keyes. Among them are Skip Walking, Let’s Dance, the story of son Micah, who was born with cerebral palsy and significant disabilities in 1985. The film documents Micah’s life through last year. Taylor and son will attend.

Ongoing

Milwaukee Repertory Theater: The Bomb-itty of Errors, through May 8 (Stackner).
Carte Blanche Studios: The Great American Trailer Park Musical, through May 1.

Last Chance

Renaissance Theaterworks: James DeVita’s On Acting Shakespeare, closes April 17.
Next Act Theatre: A Sleeping Country, closes April 17.
First Stage Milwaukee: The Hundred Dresses, closes April 17.

NOTE: On Stage is not comprehensive. Please consult our events calendar for more listings.