Musical Fantasy In a Sculpture Garden

As everyone knows, Milwaukee really comes alive in the summer. A case in point: a unique and very live arts event combining dance, sculpture and music in a beautiful, outdoor setting, staged this weekend.

A two-day performance, called Fairy Queen Fantasy, will be presented at Lynden Sculpture Garden this Friday and Saturday. Local organizations Danceworks and Milwaukee Opera Theatre have created a unique rendition of Henry Purcell‘s 1692 masterpiece The Fairy Queen. The music is original to the opera, but the story is shaken up and re-written in a way that promises to entertain in a very summery way.

As show-goers stroll the grounds, they should expect to see characters Oberon, Titania, and a drunken poet amongst the sculptures. Dani Kuepper, artistic director at Danceworks and choreographer of the show, says this performance is “like nothing I’ve seen or done before.” Fairy Queen Fantasy is a collaborative project comprised of entertainers of all ages and levels of experience. The cast, made up of 53 dancers, 12 singers, six instrumentalists, and two actors, will embody mythical fairies and other whimsical woodland creatures. You’ll see tutus, ruffles, and lace in the fun, over-the-top costumes made by Kuepper herself and other volunteers.

Showgoers should be aware this is an outdoor performance and also a walking concert so dress accordingly. As the live opera moves among the grounds viewers will be following, so comfortable footwear is a must. Lynden will open at 5:30 p.m., and prior to the show, guests are encouraged to bring their own picnic to enjoy. For those of you 21 and over, alcohol is okay, in artistic moderation of course.

Lynden Sculpture Garden is located at 2145 W. Brown Deer Rd. in Milwaukee. Performances will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 19th and Saturday, June 20th. If necessary, a rain date is set for Sunday, June 21st, but performances will not be canceled in advance and the show may continue in light rain.

Due to limited parking spaces, drivers should park at the Park & Ride just west of the Brown Deer Road exit of Interstate 43. A bus will shuttle showgoers to Lynden Sculpture Garden for free. The courtesy bus starts shuttling at 5:20 PM. Drivers with disabilities may park in the Lynden parking lot.

While there are no food or beverages available for purchase at the Gardens, there are several nearby stores to pick up your snacks before jumping on the shuttle:

The Fresh Market

Riverpoint Village Shopping Center
8705 N. Port Washington Rd.
Fox Point, WI 53217

Sendik’s Fresh2Go Bayside

340 W. Brown Deer Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53217

Larry’s Market

8737 N. Deerwood Dr.
Milwaukee, WI 53209
(closes at 5pm Saturday)

Tickets on sale now: fairyqueen.brownpapertickets.com or 1-800-838-3006

$25 General admission

$15 Seniors/Students (62+/ students with ID)

FREE for children under 10