A hearty helping of the arts for Thanksgiving

Theater

First Stage adapts the classic Christmas favorite “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

First Stage brings the beloved stop-motion holiday classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to life on the Todd Wehr stage. Always a seasonal favorite, Rudolph shows that being a misfit is something to celebrate. The play runs Friday, Nov. 23 through Dec. 30. View the full performance schedule and purchase tickets ($12 to $37) online or call 414-267-2929.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre has collaborated with Forward Theater Company of Madison to present Donald Marguiles’ Collected Stories. Directed by MCT’s C. Michael Wright, the play follows successful short story writer Ruth Steiner and her relationship with a young protégée, Lisa Morrison. A character study plays out, raising questions of artistic ownership and the role of being a mentor. Collected Stories runs Friday, Nov. 23 through Dec. 16, with a preview performance on Wed. Nov. 21. See the full schedule and purchase tickets online or call 414-276-8842.

Carte Blanche Studios opens Neil Simon’s Rumors, depicting a chaotic dinner party at which the guests of honor are nowhere to be found. Charley, the deputy mayor of New York City, attempted suicide unsuccessfully. His wife Myra isn’t present, leaving the guests to conjecture and figure out a way to conceal the evening’s events from the media. The play runs at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays Fri. Nov. 23 through Dec. 9. Tickets are $20 online or call 414-688-7313.

Music

The MSO accompanies Leonard Bernstein’s classic film this weekend at Uihlein Hall.

Celebrating West Side Story‘s 50th anniversary, the MSO will accompany the newly-remastered film at Uihlein Hall this weekend. Sarah Hicks, principal conductor of pops and presentations with the Minnesota Orchestra, will lead the MSO through Leonard Bernstein’s classic. The orchestra will sync with the film’s original vocals and dialogue. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fri. Nov. 23 and Sat. Nov. 24. Tickets range from $25 to $105 online or call 414-291-7605.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis storms into the Milwaukee Theatre with its signature sound. Multimedia effects will accompany this holiday tradition, a celebration that’s been around over 25 years. Tickets are $30, $40, $65 and $75 available online or call 800-745-3000.

The Irish Tenors–Wright, Kearns and Tynan

The Irish Tenors visit the Marcus Center for The Premiere Irish Holiday Celebration Tour. Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns, and Ronan Tynan have been touring together since 1998, scooping up fans worldwide and performing popular specials for PBS. The concert is at 6 p.m. Sun. Nov. 25. Tickets range from $38 to $78 available online or call 414-273-7206.

Comedy

Broadminded Comedy, self-described as “Sketch comedy. By women. For everyone” presents its newest show Participation Prize at the Arcade Theatre inside Grand Avenue Mall. Mixing live sketches and original video performances, Broadminded Comedy finds the humor in everyday life. The shows are at 7:30 p.m. Fri. Nov. 23 and Sat. Nov. 24, and Fri. Nov. 30 and Sat. Dec. 1. Tickets are $10 online. You may bring your own beer or wine to enjoy at the show.

Special Events

Art vs. Craft’s 8th annual event. Image courtesy of AvC’s blogspot

If you’re not into the whole black-friday-door-busters-at-4 a.m.-I-would-rather-be-anywhere-but-Wal-Mart-right-now thing, consider a local alternative to your holiday shopping. Art vs. Craft will host nearly 100 local vendors at The Harley Davidson Museum from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat. Nov. 24. Admission is $4 and free for kids under 13. Check out Carly Rubach’s local holiday shopping guide for similar opportunities.

Ongoing

Boulevard Theatre: Don Juan in Hell, through Dec. 2

Milwaukee Rep: The Diary of Anne Frank, through Dec. 2

Next Act Theatre: It’s a Wonderful Life Live Radio Show, through Dec. 9

Milwaukee Rep: Blues in the Night, through Dec. 23

Fireside Theatre: Scrooge the Musical, through Dec. 23

Skylight Music Theatre: The Sound of Music, through Dec. 31

VIA Downer & Transfer: side work, through Jan. 11

Milwaukee Art Museum: Rembrandt, Van Dyck and Gainsborough, The Treasures of Kenwood House, London,through Jan. 13.