The Rat Pack, Zombies and Christmas Classics

It’s not all about Christmas this week. The touring show, “The Rat Pack Is Back” revives the Sinatra and Dean Martin days, the “Mythbusters” gang comes to town to share the TV show’s secrets, and First Stage goes very un-nativity with its zombie-filled play, “Maul of the Dead.”   Still, there’s plenty of holiday fare, from a stage adaptation of the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” to the symphony’s “Holiday Pops Spectacular” to the cracked-up comedy of Second City’s ”Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue.” Here’s the full list of the week’s concerts and shows:

Theater

Travel back in time to Las Vegas circa 1960 when Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Dean Martin assembled at the Rio Hotel for the first time in The Rat Pack is Back! on Saturday, December 7 at 8 p.m. at the Milwaukee Theatre. Tickets start at $48.20, available online or call (800) 745-3000.

MythBusters Behind the Myths brings co-hosts Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of the Emmy-nominated Discovery series MythBusters to Milwaukee Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. The show will include on-stage experiments, audience participation and behind the scenes stories. Tickets start at $57.25, available online or call (800) 745-3000.

Marcus Center presents The Second City’s Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue which is sure to be festive and full of laughs from Dec. 5-15 at Vogel Hall. Tickets start at $40, available online or call (414) 273-7206.

Falls Patio Players present their original musical play Christmas Carol from Dec. 6-8 at the North Middle School Auditorium. Tickets are $10 for adults/seniors, $8 for students, available online.

First Stage gives a whole new meaning to Black Friday in Maul of the Dead, when six strangers take refuge in an abandoned mall full of zombies. Performances will be held Dec. 6-8 at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. This show is for ages 13 and older. Tickets are $12, available online.

Acacia Theatre Company presents several of their best loved touring shows and a few new contributions in Advent of Redemption on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. This event is one show only, pay what you like. For more information call (414) 744-5995.

Americlown, an original comedy that examines the fears and follies of Americans through the eyes of a clown, comes to the Quasimondo Milwaukee Physical Theatre from Dec. 5-21 at the Milwaukee Fortress. Tickets are $15, $12 for students, available online.

Sunset Playhouse presents the stage adaptation of Frank Capra’s film It’s a Wonderful Life from Dec. 5-31 at the Furlan Auditorium. Tickets are $25, $23 for students/seniors/military personnel, available online or call (262)-782-4430.

Waukesha Civic Theatre presents their annual holiday classic, Candy Cane Tales and Holiday Carols, from Dec. 6-22. Tickets are $23, $20 for students/seniors, available online or call (262)547-0708

Music

Milwaukee’s Twin Brother will perform at the Cactus Club on Saturday, Dec. 7 for their EP release show.

A slew of local folk bands will hit the stage at Cactus Club for Twin Brother‘s EP release show on Saturday, Dec. 7. Along with Twin Brother, there will be performances from Hello Death, Old Earth and Ghostnotes. The show starts at 9:30 p.m.

Concord Chamber Orchestra presents Hearts, featuring the UW-Parkside Choirs on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Basilica of St. Josaphat at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25, $20 for seniors and $15 for students, available online.

Early Music Now presents Waverly Consort performing The Christmas Story on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. and Sunday Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. at the St. Joseph Center Chapel. Tickets start at $25 for adults/seniors, $10 for students, available online or call (414) 225-3113.

Latino Arts Inc. welcomes Ñawi: Equatorial, a collaboration of musicians celebrating Ecuador’s culture on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15, $10 for seniors/students, available online.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra hosts their annual Holiday Pops Spectacular on Dec. 6 & 7 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 8 at 2:30 p.m. The performance will feature Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, Milwaukee Children’s Choir, Milwaukee Youth Chorale and Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble. Tickets start at $37, available online or call (414) 291-7605.

Wisconsin Conservatory of Music presents a Festive Soiree with Robin Pluer as part of their Conservatory Concerts on Dec. 5 & 6 at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a Prometheus Trio Concert on Dec. 9 & 10 at 7:30 p.m. featuring works by Brahms, Beethoven and more. Both shows will be held at the Helen Bader Recital Hall and tickets are $25, $15 for students, available online.

Waukesha Choral Union presents Light of the World featuring Vivaldi’s festive Gloria on Friday, Dec. 6 at St. Luke’s Church in Waukesha at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8 at St. Catherine’s Church in Oconomowoc at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15, $13 for seniors/students, and $4 for ages 12 and younger, available online.

Dance

The Radermacher Dance Company debuts with “Recombobulation Area” Dec. 5-7

Fourteen Peck School of the Arts undergraduate choreographers will show off their diverse visions of what dance is in New Dancemakers: Limitless at Mitchell Studio 254 from Dec. 9-14 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $14, $12 for seniors/UWM faculty/staff/alumni/other students, $8 or $5 for UWM students, and free for Dance majors, available online or call (414) 229-4308.

Visual Art

The Tory Folliard Gallery is hosting an artist reception for artist and Milwaukee native Jason Rohlf’s Navigational Aids exhibit on Friday, Dec. 6 from 5:30-7 p.m. Rohlf will also give an informal artist talk on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m.

Milwaukee Art Museum presents Kohl’s Art Generation Family Sundays: Fairy Tales on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. where guests can discover the Thomas Sully: Painted Performance exhibit, a ballet performance, and arts and crafts. The event is free with museum admission.

Last Chance:

Frankly Music: Words and Music, through Dec. 3

Next Act Theatre: Groucho: A Life in Revue, through Dec. 8

Ongoing:

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre: Things Being What They Are, through Dec. 15

Milwaukee Rep: Noises Off, through Dec. 22

Fireside Theatre: A Fireside Christmas, through Dec. 22

Milwaukee Rep: A Christmas Carol, through Dec. 24

Milwaukee Rep: Forever Plaid, through Dec. 29

First Stage: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, through Dec. 29

Skylight Music Theatre: Les Miserables, through Dec. 29

In Tandem Theatre: A Cudahy Caroler Christmas, through Jan. 5

MAM:  Thomas Sully: Painted Performance, through Jan. 5