Jim Cryns

Recent Articles

Book Excerpt: Those Crazy Days At County Stadium
Book Excerpt

Those Crazy Days At County Stadium

New book remembers a beloved home for the Brewers, Packers and rock’n’roll.

Milwaukee Author Seeks Your Memories of County Stadium
Comedy: Paula Poundstone Loves Audience Interaction
Comedy

Paula Poundstone Loves Audience Interaction

So you can expect that at her Pabst show. Along with lots of laughs.

Music: 40 Years On, Squeeze Can Still Rock
Music

40 Years On, Squeeze Can Still Rock

It was a love fest for the venerable British pop-rock band at the Pabst.

Music: Guitar Festival Is Truly International
Music

Guitar Festival Is Truly International

With guitarists from around the world, led by superstar John Scofield, Wilson Center festival is unique.

Comedy: Mad About Paul Reiser
Comedy

Mad About Paul Reiser

The ultimate nice guy, but funny, does his new standup act at the Pabst on Saturday.

Democrats Speak at Latino Convention

Democrats Speak at Latino Convention

Sanders, Warren, O’Rourke and Castro offer tough words to attendees at packed Wisconsin Center.

Music: The Rise of Ian Ash
Music

The Rise of Ian Ash

He’s writing songs with Grammy winner Jim Peterik and his band, The Last Bees, is touring widely.

Dance: Bango Defeated But Puck Lives On
Dance

Bango Defeated But Puck Lives On

Milwaukee Ballet presents ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’. No Greek freak but lots of fairies.

Theater: A Little Baudy, A Bit Risque
Theater

A Little Baudy, A Bit Risque

Skylight’s ‘Kiss Me, Kate’ presents the greatest show Cole Porter ever wrote.

Classical: New Florentine Leader Hit the Ground Running
Classical

New Florentine Leader Hit the Ground Running

Maggey Oplinger combines business and artistic skills and knows the city well.

Dance: ‘Unboxed’ Mixes Dance, Text, Teen Spirit
Dance

‘Unboxed’ Mixes Dance, Text, Teen Spirit

Choreographer Cedric Gardner's new work comes to South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.

Theater: Carmina Burana Becomes Big Little Show
Theater

Carmina Burana Becomes Big Little Show

Carl Orff’s musical setting of medieval monks’ poems gets a dramatic staging with dancers.

Dance: Ballet Presents Three American Premieres
Dance

Ballet Presents Three American Premieres

By young international choreographers. And you get to pick the winner.

Classical: It’s All About Love
Classical

It’s All About Love

Florentine’s Valentines concert features great singers performing with a jazz quartet.

Music: Great Music from Milwaukee
Music

Great Music from Milwaukee

South Milwaukee Performing Arts presents Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra, Robin Pluer and Stas Venglevski.

Classical: Florentine’s Gender Bender Opera
Classical

Florentine’s Gender Bender Opera

‘Prince of Players’ is a Midwest premiere with a very timely theme. And some laughs, too.

Music: A Life Playing the Blues
Music

A Life Playing the Blues

Elvin Bishop, guest artist at Wilson Center Guitar Festival, has been a big name in music for half a century.

Comedy: The Return of Colin Quinn
Comedy

The Return of Colin Quinn

Star of SNL and other TV shows hasn’t done stand-up in seven years, performs at Turner Hall.

Rock: Why Chrissie Hynde Endures
Rock

Why Chrissie Hynde Endures

Hynde and The Pretenders tore up the Riverside in a memorable show.

Comedy: Colin Jost Comes to Town
Comedy

Colin Jost Comes to Town

“Saturday Night Live” writer and performer does his standup act at Turner Hall Sunday night.

Classical: Audra McDonald Will Uplift Your Soul
Classical

Audra McDonald Will Uplift Your Soul

Conductor Andy Einhorn admits he is spoiled by the amazing talents he works with, including McDonald.

Why Jazz in the Park Endures

Why Jazz in the Park Endures

Now 27, it offers a great venue, great music and a music booker who looks for variety.

Movies: ‘Airplane!’ Creator Returns for Fundraiser
Movies

‘Airplane!’ Creator Returns for Fundraiser

Shorewood native David Zucker will be joined by actor Robert Hays, who starred in movie.

The Church of Baseball: Making Bull Durham
Press Release

The Church of Baseball: Making Bull Durham

Author Jim Cryns believes the book will appeal to film students, movie fans, as well as those who just fell in love with the film.

Music: Golden Age of Latin Music?
Music

Golden Age of Latin Music?

GlobalFEST at Wilson Center is a celebration of Latin culture -- and great music.

Dance: Let Us Now Praise Young Creators
Dance

Let Us Now Praise Young Creators

Milwaukee Ballet partners young choreographers and dancers with local musicians.

Not Your Grandpa’s Conservatory

Not Your Grandpa’s Conservatory

The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music is rebranding itself. All it needs is the right theme song.

Theater: Skylight’s “Annie” Is Already a Hit
Theater

Skylight’s “Annie” Is Already a Hit

Tickets went so fast they’ve added six performances. What makes the musical so popular?

The World’s Most Unique Guitar Festival

The World’s Most Unique Guitar Festival

Wilson Center festival boasts big names, 76 contestants and all four genres of guitar music.

Music: The Least Known Great British Musician
Music

The Least Known Great British Musician

Peter Asher, of the old Peter & Gordon group, performs with famed guitarist Albert Lee.

Music: Elvis Costello Can Still Rock a Crowd
Music

Elvis Costello Can Still Rock a Crowd

62-year-old star offers an energetic, really varied show at Riverside.

Music: Wilco Rides Again
Music

Wilco Rides Again

If not the best American band, they're surely the most fun.

Music: Still Going Strong After 50 Years
Music

Still Going Strong After 50 Years

Chicago, somehow still underrated, plays the Riverside.

Classical: A Couple Regular Guys Do Opera
Classical

A Couple Regular Guys Do Opera

The two stars of Florentine’s ‘Barber of Seville’ are as down-to- earth as you can get.

Theater: Why Jane Eyre Still Matters
Theater

Why Jane Eyre Still Matters

Rep stages the famous novel with black actress, veteran director.

Music: The Other Taylor Comes to Town
Music

The Other Taylor Comes to Town

Livingston Taylor, James’ brother and Tom Chapin, Harry’s brother, perform Saturday.

Classical: Florentine Goes Big Next Season
Classical

Florentine Goes Big Next Season

Expanding to four productions with a very unusual mix of shows.

Caputo Channels the Dead. Maybe.

Caputo Channels the Dead. Maybe.

TLC’s “Long Island Medium” leaves fans at Riverside in tears, but comforted.

Theater: A Short Play About Planet Earth
Theater

A Short Play About Planet Earth

Grand Avenue Club premieres collaborative play created by people with mental illness.

Dance: World’s Greatest Young Choreographers?
Dance

World’s Greatest Young Choreographers?

Michael Pink’s world-wide search sees results in Ballet’s “Genesis” concert.

Classical: World’s Greatest Guitarists
Classical

World’s Greatest Guitarists

UWM series boasts some of greatest finger-style guitarists on the globe.

Theater: “Book of Mormon” is Funny, But…
Theater

“Book of Mormon” is Funny, But…

It left me wondering 'is that all there is to a fire?’

Green Luminaries: St. Francis Leads the Way
Green Luminaries

St. Francis Leads the Way

Suburb along lake embraces water conservation and rain barrels.

Classical: How to Make ‘Sister Carrie’ Come Alive
Classical

How to Make ‘Sister Carrie’ Come Alive

World-class soprano Adriana Zabala undaunted by star role in Florentine’s world premiere.

Green Luminaries: Victory Garden Initiative Values Rainwater
Green Luminaries

Victory Garden Initiative Values Rainwater

It’s captured thousands of gallons to help grow food for local residents.

Green Luminaries: Butterfly Supporters Help Environment
Green Luminaries

Butterfly Supporters Help Environment

Tosa group, Friends of the Monarch Trail, reduce flooding with plants that attract butterflies.

Green Luminaries: MillerCoors a Leader in Water Conservation
Green Luminaries

MillerCoors a Leader in Water Conservation

MMSD salutes company for installing a green roof and rain garden.

Music: Steely Dan Reels in the Years
Music

Steely Dan Reels in the Years

Along with opener Steve Winwood, the musicians made time stand still.

Photo Gallery: Def Leppard Fans Throng Summerfest
Photo Gallery

Def Leppard Fans Throng Summerfest

Fans of all ages showed up in their Leppard garb, captured in our photos. 

Music: Garbage Brings Home Cooking to Summerfest
Music

Garbage Brings Home Cooking to Summerfest

One of state’s all-time bands is hot off an acclaimed new album.

Green Luminaries: Neighborhood Group Battles Pollution
Green Luminaries

Neighborhood Group Battles Pollution

Century City Triangle Neighborhood Association wins award for rain barrels, rain gardens.

Music: Am I Just One
Music

Am I Just One

Singer songwriter Carey Ott comes to town, en route to maybe changing the world.

Comedy: Oh, You Stupid Intelligent People
Comedy

Oh, You Stupid Intelligent People

Bill Maher roasts everyone he can think of at his Riverside show.

Green Luminaries: Fund for Lake Michigan Invests in Future
Green Luminaries

Fund for Lake Michigan Invests in Future

Better smelling Bradford Beach? More sturgeon in the rivers? FLM helps make it happen.

Green Luminaries: Mequon Nature Preserve Battles Water Pollution
Green Luminaries

Mequon Nature Preserve Battles Water Pollution

MMSD gives group its Green Luminary award in recognition of these efforts.

Classical: Up Close and Personal
Classical

Up Close and Personal

Florentine After Dark features a final performance by its four young resident artists.

Music: Sounds of Brazil, Haiti, Jamaica
Music

Sounds of Brazil, Haiti, Jamaica

Wilson Center brings three world music performers in one show.

Classical: The Family That Sings Together
Classical

The Family That Sings Together

Florentine Opera’s “Three Decembers” is heartfelt look at a family with an absent dad.

Theater: Star Performer Visits High School
Theater

Star Performer Visits High School

Marcus Center arranges visit to MPS school by star of ‘Cabaret.’

Theater: Whole World In a Hat
Theater

Whole World In a Hat

Skylight musical, ‘Crowns’ is dramatic musical about the role of hats in African American culture.

Dance: All About Music, Poetry, Architecture
Dance

All About Music, Poetry, Architecture

Danceworks’ latest concert springs from one pithy quote. Crazy, huh?

Theater: Character Clash in Costa Rica
Theater

Character Clash in Costa Rica

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s “Slowgirl” brings an edgy new play to Milwaukee.

Classical: From Appleton With Love
Classical

From Appleton With Love

State native Ariana Douglas hopes to become an opera star. She performs this weekend with Florentine Opera.

Classical: Sex, Lies and Opera Arias
Classical

Sex, Lies and Opera Arias

The Skylight presents steamy opera about the “dirty duchess” of Argyle.

Theater: The Mystery of “Agnes of God”
Theater

The Mystery of “Agnes of God”

Renaissance Theater’s “dream cast” takes on ‘80s play about strange nun with a dead child.

Milwaukee Has Dismal Credit Card Scores

Milwaukee Has Dismal Credit Card Scores

City ranks far below most cities, while suburbs here beat most in America.

Will TV Series Help Free Steven Avery?

Will TV Series Help Free Steven Avery?

Popular Netflix series probing Manitowoc murder case causes national furor.

Riverwest Organizes a Credit Union

Riverwest Organizes a Credit Union

The credit union, also serving the Harambee neighborhood, already has $500,000 in pledges.

Comedy: Catch Second City for Christmas
Comedy

Catch Second City for Christmas

Famed improv troupe performs through Sunday at Marcus Center.

Classical: New Home for the Holidays
Classical

New Home for the Holidays

New Yorker Leroy Davis, a Florentine resident artist, is among four rising stars performing in holiday show.

Music: Audience Loves Tony Bennett
Music

Audience Loves Tony Bennett

The 89-year-old sang 26 songs, with less energy perhaps, but still with impeccable phrasing.

Will Any DA Appeal High Court John Doe Ruling?

Will Any DA Appeal High Court John Doe Ruling?

Court “fires” chief prosecutor, Democracy Campaign calls on other prosecutors to appeal decision

Theater: Not Quite Ebenezer Scrooge
Theater

Not Quite Ebenezer Scrooge

In Tandem’s ‘A Twisted Carol’ takes a fresh look at the old skinflint.

Christmas Shopping at the Pfister

Christmas Shopping at the Pfister

Month-long marketplace features 80 artists and many hand-made items.

Theater: Three Kinds of Love
Theater

Three Kinds of Love

Chamber Theatre offers a real-life couple performing three different one acts about love.

Riemer’s Bill Would Welcome Syrian Refugees

Riemer’s Bill Would Welcome Syrian Refugees

Despite opposition from Republicans, Milwaukee lawmaker still pushing idea.

Review: Jackson Browne Takes His Time
Review

Jackson Browne Takes His Time

The result was a lovely, easy-paced concert that connected to the audience.

Art: “The Hotel Is a Creative Force”
Art

“The Hotel Is a Creative Force”

Painter Todd Mrozinski loves his post as Pfister Artist-in-Residence

Theater: Rare Staging of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
Theater

Rare Staging of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

MU stage version comes amid controversy as to who is the real Atticus Finch.

Review: ‘Wicked’, the Greatest Show on Earth?
Review

‘Wicked’, the Greatest Show on Earth?

Touring production at the Marcus is one of the best shows I’ve seen on stage.

Theater: The Killing of Emmett Till
Theater

The Killing of Emmett Till

Shocking murder in 1955, which ignited the civil rights movement, becomes moving drama.

Preview: Why I Love John Hiatt
Preview

Why I Love John Hiatt

He performs Sunday with Lyle Lovett. Should be a great time.