Revivals, reimaginings, a New York trip

Dance

Michael Pink’s “Peter Pan” flies back into Milwaukee this week. Milwaukee Ballet photo Michael S. Levine.

The Milwaukee Ballet brings Michael Pink’s Peter Pan back to Milwaukee for the weekend. Originally staged in 2010, the family-friendly work, five years in the making, was a sold-out success then, and expectations for this year’s run are no different. Pink’s original Pan, Marc Petrocci, returns as well, adding further familiarity to the show. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 1:30 p.m. Sunday; tickets range from $28.50 to $96. Call (414) 902-2104 or visit the Milwaukee Ballet’s website to order.

Theater

For their latest show, Theatre Gigante takes Thornton Wilder’s Our Town for inspiration. Our Our Town, opening Friday, examines modern living, giving company directors Mark Anderson, Isabelle Kralj and a cast of diverse artists a chance to explore new ideas in theater. The show runs May 11 to 19, all performances at 8 p.m. Tickets are $26.50, $21.50 for seniors and $11.50 for students; order at their online box office.

The Fireside Theatre opens Legally Blonde, the musical based on the 2001 film, this Thursday. The musical follows Elle Woods, a sorority girl-turned-law student who works to exonerate her former fitness instructor on trial for murder and win back her ex-boyfriend. The show runs May 10 to July 1, and tickets are $76.97. For tickets and showtimes, call (800) 477-9505 or visit the Fireside’s website.

Music

Ruthie Foster, originally from central Texas, considers her works to be a blend of numerous genres, including blues, jazz and country. Photo credit John Carrico.

Singer-songwriter Ruthie Foster doesn’t fit well into just one genre, but that just means there’s more people who’ll like her fusion of Southern blues, rock, gospel, country and jazz when she brings it to the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center this Friday. Originally from central Texas, Foster has a style that pays tribute to those who came before without restraining her own voice. Foster will perform at the SMPAC at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $25 to $35, with discounts for seniors and students. For more information or to order tickets, call (414) 766-5049 or visit the SMPAC website.

The Master Singers of Milwaukee will perform their spring concert, Music, Melody, Magic, twice this weekend. The concert will feature songs from both operettas and musical theater, including Porgy and Bess, Candide, and the works of Stephen Sondheim. Performances are Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Wauwatosa Presbyterian Church, 2366 N. 80th St., and Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 20275 W. Davidson Rd., Brookfield. Tickets are $18, $15 for seniors and $10 for students; call (414) 364-8089 or visit their online box office to order.

a.r.t. (Artists Rallying Together) will hold its third benefit concert May 12, at The Hamilton on the East Side. For $10, you can see The Living Room, I’m Not a Pilot and The Delta Routine, and have the chance to pick up some swag (including TCD shot glasses; basically the top prize) in a silent raffle. And you’ll be helping out the 3.9 million elementary school kids without access to arts classes. Doors open at 8:30 p.m.

Missing the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra? They’ll be on the road this week, visiting Carnegie Hall for the 12th time as part of the 2012 Spring for Music Festival, and performing three previously-heard-in-Milwaukee pieces: Messiaen’s Les offrandes oubliées (“The forgotten offerings”), Debussy’s La mer (“The sea”) and Qigang Chen’s Iris dévoilée (“Iris unveiled”). You can be there in spirit, though: New York classical radio station WQXR will be streaming the concert on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CDT, and Tom Strini himself will be following the orchestra and reporting back after the show.

Visual Arts

UWM’s Inova gallery hosts an exhibition of student works from the Peck School of the Arts‘ BFA recipients beginning this week. The free exhibition will run May 8 to 19, with a closing reception on that last Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, visit Inova’s website or call (414) 229-5070.

Windfall Theatre: Assassins, through May 19

Soulstice Theatre: Goldfish, through May 19

Milwaukee Rep: Always…Patsy Cline, through May 20 (EXTENDED)

In Tandem Theatre: Veronica’s Position, through May 20

Next Act Theatre: Summer Stories with John McGivern, through May 27

Last Chance

Youngblood: Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom,through May 12

First Stage: Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly, through May 13