Marcus Center Unveils Free Summer Lineup
Band concerts, dance concerts, movies and more will be offered at Marcus Center's Peck Pavilion.
John Hassig introducing Live @ Peck Pavilion
The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts will play host to a number of free concerts, movies and events this summer at its outdoor Peck Pavilion. A total of 17 events will be held at the often overlooked concert space starting July 26th and ending August 22nd. Unlike the past three years, the Live @ Peck Pavilion events will be free to the public thanks to a generous donation from MilwaukeeJobs.com.
The Marcus Center held a kickoff event to celebrate the revamped programming schedule at MilwaukeeJobs.com corporate headquarters on the 11th floor of 1000 North Water Street. Reflecting on why they made the commitment to sponsor the event, MilwaukeeJobs.com Vice President Lynn Molitor put it this way: “what better way to give back to the community than look out the window and help our neighbors.”
Marcus Center programming director John Hassig said the organization was excited to partner with MilwaukeeJobs.com. He noted how difficult it is to create summer programming that no one else in the city is doing. With a festival seemingly every weekend in Milwaukee, and so many free weekly concerts in town, the task is certainly daunting, but this varied program of events meets the challenge.
The Peck Pavilion provides a large stage and 400 covered seats, ensuring that every event will take place rain or shine. Food and beverage catering will provided at all events by Saz’s (no carry-ins). The Peck Pavilion is located along the Milwaukee RiverWalk on the north side of E. Kilbourn Ave.
Sunday Band Concerts
Described as a way to get that small town band concert feel in the heart of Downtown, these concerts will be held at 2 p.m.
- July 26th – Navy Band Great Lakes
- August 2nd – Wauwatosa Community Jazz Band
- August 9th – 123nd Army Band (1:00 p.m.)
- August 16th – Concord Chamber Orchestrat
Tuesday Dance Concerts
Set to start at 6 p.m., the Tuesday dance performances are planned as a fun way to end the work day.
- July 28th – Danceworks
- August 4th – Xalaat Africa Dance
- August 11th – Ballet Folklorico Nacional
- August 18th – Pommersche Tanzdeel Friestadt
Friday Lunch Concerts
The downtown lunch crowd can swing by the Peck Pavilion for everything from opera to polka in August. Opera performances will include explanations to introduce newcomers to the art form.
- July 31st – A Broadway Lunch with Niffer Clarke and Paul Helm
- August 7th – Florentine Opera
- August 14th – Florentine Opera
- August 21st – Mike Schneider Polka
Peck Flicks at the Marcus Center
Four family-friendly movies will be shown. Performances will begin at approximately 7:15 p.m., earlier than many other outdoor movie venues thanks to the covered stage.
- July 31st – The Mighty Ducks
- August 6th – Back to the Future
- August 14th – E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial
- August 21st – Back to the Future
Taste of the Islands
A series closing event dubbed “Taste of the Islands” will be held on August 22nd at 2 p.m. The event will be a day-long celebration complete with music, art and food from Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Free salsa dance lessons will be provided to get people dancing to De La Buena and MadiSalsa.
