The time is right for new shows

Theater

Race and real estate at the Rep

The Milwaukee Rep will stage 2011 Pulitzer- and Tony-winner Clybourne Park, a comic drama that tackles issues of race. A white couple sells their home to the Younger family (from A Raisin in the Sun) in 1959, causing tension in their neighborhood. Jump ahead to 2009 and the home changes ownership again, with the same issues taking place, challenging the “change” we think we’ve wrought in modern race relations. Clybourne Park opens Fri. Feb. 1 (previews begin tonight) and runs through Feb. 24. See the list of showtimes and purchase tickets ($15 to $50) online, or call (414) 224-9490.

Next Act Theatre presents Stephen Massicotte’s The Clockmaker, following cosmic clockmaker Heinrich Mann and his friend Frieda. While being questioned by mysterious visitor Monsieur Pierre, the play moves through time to show us the nature of Heinrich and Frieda’s relationship. The Clockmaker premieres Fri. Feb. 1 and runs through Feb. 24. Tickets are $30 online (full schedule listed) or call (414) 278-0765.

Dance

Serendipitous dancing from Danceworks. Photo by Dan Bishop courtesy DPC website.

Danceworks returns with their new show Serendipity, encouraging choreographers to “follow their instincts, create whatever inspires them, and embrace accidental discoveries.” See the spontaneity Fri. Feb. 1 through Feb. 10 at Danceworks Studio Theatre. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 2:30 p.m. Sun., with one 8:30 p.m. performance Thurs. Feb. 7. Tickets are $22, $16 student/senior online or call (414) 227-8480.

Music

Join Alverno Presents for a very special concert that reimagines Stephen Foster’s iconic American music. Classics like “Oh! Susannah” and “Hard Times Come Again No More” will be performed by some of Milwaukee’s best folk artists (led by Ryan Schleicher of Juniper Tar) in Beautiful Dreamer: The Foster Project. The concert is at 8 p.m. Fri. Feb. 2. Tickets are $15 online or call (414) 382-6044.

In Pabst/Turner/Riverside news, techno-pop duo Daft Punk will be honored with One More Time: A Daft Punk Tribute at 8:30 p.m. Fri. Feb. 1 at Turner Hall. Tickets are $12.50 online or $14 at the door. Get your chrome helmets on, this will be a fun one. And speaking of music legends, Yo La Tengo will perform the following night at Turner Hall, wooing the crowd with their dreamy indie-pop. The show is at 8 p.m. Sat. Feb. 2. Tickets are $18.50 online or call (414) 286-3663.

All-Beethoven from the MSO, with Edo de Waart conducting

The MSO presents the season’s only All-Beethoven concert, conducted by MSO’s music director Edo de Waart. The program includes Overture to Coriolan, Symphony No. 2 in D major, Overture to Egmont, and Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fri. Feb. 1 and Sat. Feb. 2, with a 2:30 p.m. matinee Sun. Feb. 3. Tickets are $22 to $102 online or call (414) 291-7605.

The South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center hosts string quartet Sybarite5, specializing in everything from Mozart to Radiohead. The Shuffle Effect concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. Sat. Feb. 2. Tickets are $11 to $33 online or call (414) 766-5049.

Ongoing

Soulstice Theatre: Completely Hollywood (abridged), through Feb. 9

Skylight Music Theatre: Edith Piaf Onstage, through Feb. 10

First Stage: To the Promised Land, through Feb. 10

Renaissance Theaterworks: Educating Rita, through Feb. 10

Sunset Playhouse: Lumberjacks in Love, through Feb. 17

Milwaukee Rep: How the World Began, through Feb. 24

Milwaukee Rep: Mind Over Milwaukee, through Feb. 24

The Alchemist Theatre: The Canonical Five of Jack the Ripper, through Feb. 29

Last Chance

The World’s Stage Theatre Company: The McDonagh Cycle:

The Lieutenant of Inishmore, final show Jan. 31 at Tenth Street Theatre

The Pillowman, final show Feb. 2 at the Underground Collaborative

A Behanding in Spokane, Feb. 1 and 3 at the Milwaukee Fortress

Morning Star Productions: Sleep Walking, through Feb. 3