Irishmen, Greek women, & Leonard Cohen

Dance

Wild Space Dance Company presents Luscious this weekend at the Milwaukee Rep’s Stiemke Studio (108 E. Wells St.). As the name suggests, the performance premieres dreamy, tempting, and chocolatey sweet emotional movements presented by artistic director Deb Loewen. The show also features vocals by Amanda Schoofs and musical improvisation by Tim Russell. Shows run March 14-16; tickets are $16-28 and can be purchased by calling 414-224-9490. More information on Wild Space’s website.

Theater

A Raisin in the Sun opens at The Rep’s Quadracci Powerhouse on Friday, with previews starting Tuesday. The original play opened on Broadway in 1959, and has been an American classic ever since. Set in Chicago’s South Side, the plot revolves around a young black family struggling with their identities, goals, and the beginnings of the civil rights movement. The show runs through April 14.  Tickets are $10-50 and are available online or at the box office: 414-224-9490.

Fools For Tragedy debuts their version of Lysistrata at Carte Blanche Studios beginning on Thursday. This version, by director Jordan Gwiazdowski, reinvents Aristophanes’ ancient comedy in a smart, modern sense. The bawdy Greek play might even remind you a bit of today’s real-life political theater. The show runs March 14-16 and March 22-23. Tickets are $10 and are available online or at the box office.

Robert Shaw’s The Man In The Glass Booth opens Thursday at Off The Wall Theatre. The play is a heavy whodunit set in the era of political and social uprise in 1964 and is based around an intelligent yet erratic Jewish death camp survivor living in Manhattan. The show boasts several plot twists and a captivating dialogue, and runs March 14-24. Tickets are $23-26 and are available online or via the box office at 414-327-3552.

Emmy Award-winning Ed Asner visits Milwaukee on March 16 as the beloved Depression-era president FDR, in a compelling one-man-show at the Milwaukee Theatre. CANCELLATION NOTICE: The Milwaukee Theatre is saddened to announce that the solo performance of Ed Asner as FDR scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled at the recommendations of Asner’s doctors. Refunds are available at the place of purchase. Please contact Ticketmaster for a refund on tickets purchased at milwaukeetheatre.org via ticketmaster.com or visit the Milwaukee Theatre box office for a refund on tickets purchased at that location. The box office, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave., is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (414) 908-6001.

Music

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra brings back Bluebeard’s Castle on Friday, March 15-17 at the Marcus Center’s Uihlein Hall, complete with breathtaking oversized set designs by the famous glass blower Dale Chihuly. The program starts with Mozart’s Second Horn Concerto before moving to the Bartok work, last performed to rave reviews in 2009. Tickets are $22-102 and are available online or by phone: 414-291-7605.

The Milwaukee Theatre presents the long-awaited return of the uplifting and macabre poet and crooner Leonard Cohen on Friday as part of his Old Ideas World Tour. The iconic 78-year-old Canadian musician, most famous for his powerful “Hallelujah,” will grace Milwaukee for the first time in 38 years. Tickets are $55-250 and are available online or at the box office: 1-800-745-3000.

Early Music Now presents Ellen Hargis & Paul O’Dette’s Wait! I’m Singing Now… at UWM’s Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts on March 16. The matinee of 17th century Roman and Venetian cantatas and works for solo chitarrone includes arrangements by Alessandro Piccinini, Barbara Strozzi and other period composers. This unique Baroque vocal and string duo brings a fun, lighthearted performance appropriate for all ages. Tickets are $10-40 and are available online or by phone: 414-225-3113.

At the end of Water Street lies a little safe haven called the Pabst Theater, absent of green beer and stupid hats. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Festival City Symphony will perform a one-day-only show appropriately titled Not An Irish Concert as part of the Pabst’s Symphony Sundays. The group will perform “Leonore Overture No. 3” and “Symphony No. 8” by Beethoven, as well as Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.” Tickets are available online or at the Pabst box office: 414-286-3663.

For a slightly different St. Patrick’s Day experience, The Riverside Theater will host an Irish-charged concert courtesy of Celtic inspired rock band Gaelic Storm and sponsored by Guinness and Irish Fest. Tickets are $27.50 and are available online or at the box office: 414-286-3663.

Waukesha Choral Union will perform Handel’s Messiah on March 17 at Carroll University’s Shattuck Auditorium, conducted by Ernest Brusubardis III. The choir is made up of Waukesha Choral Union members as well as volunteer community singers. The concert is free and begins at 3 p.m.

Special Events

Ex Fabula gets into the St. Pat’s spirit with their “Green”-themed Story Slam event at Club Garibaldi (2501 S. Superior St.) on March 12 (tonight). Show up early for your chance to throw your name in the hat and participate on stage! Tickets are $5 at the door.

As a side note, if you go out this Sunday for St. Patrick’s Day, be smart and take advantage of the Miller Lite Free Rides on all MCTS buses. Free rides start at 6 p.m. on the 17th, and continue until the end of normal service.

Last Chance

Redeemer Lutheran Church (631 N. 19th St.): Work In Progress, through March 16

Alchemist Theatre: Dracula, through March 16

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre: Underneath The Lintel, through March 17

Acacia Theatre: Heaven Sent, through March 17

Florentine Opera Company: Albert Herring, through March 17

Ongoing

In Tandem Theatre: Beast on the Moon, through March 24

Skylight Music Theatre: Pump Boys & Dinettes, through March 24

Sunset Playhouse: Over the Tavern, through March 24

First Stage: Pinkalicious, extended through March 27

Milwaukee Rep: Ring of Fire, through May 5

Milwaukee Art Museum: Color Rush, through May 19