Celebrate the 26th Annual TELLABRATION, a celebration of the art of storytelling which links storytelling enthusiasts around the globe on the same weekend. Professional adult “tellers” from Southeastern Wisconsin join to tell their best stories to audiences of all ages. For people who have never experienced a traditional storytelling performance and those who are loyal fans of tales well told, this is an opportunity not to be missed. TELLABRATION is a worldwide storytelling event coordinated by the National Storytelling Network and produced locally by Milwaukee Area Story Tellers (M.A.S.T.) and Organic Arts.

Early Music Now presents Sequentia. Led by Benjamin Bagby and dedicated to the performance of music from before 1300, this innovative ensemble explores monastic manuscripts from the 9th to 12th centuries, revealing that many monks were singing (not just Gregorian chant, but also) songs that were sometimes anything but Christian!

A Chicago-based quartet of some of America's most talented young musicians, Bua brings the beauty and power of their critically acclaimed traditional Irish music in a return visit to the ICHC. "(Bua) can ... raise the rafters with their playing, charm with their singing and delight with their contemporary energy." -Dirty Linen

After 20 years of unwedded bliss, Georges and Albin prepare to meet the straight-laced parents of the fiancée of Georges’ son. It’s a hilarious night of complications, chaos and a tender triumph of love. This comedic and heartfelt Tony Award winner features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, composer of Broadway hits Hello, Dolly! and Mame. “It’s a family show, a glittering, fast stepping extravaganza.” - New York Daily News on 2010 Broadway Revival Winner of multiple Tony Awards, including Best Musical (1984) and Best Revival of a Musical (2005, 2010) Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Holiday Folk Fair International will be held Fri., Nov. 18 – Sun., Nov. 20, 2016 at the State Fair Park Exposition Center in West Allis, Wis. A program of the International Institute of Wisconsin, Holiday Folk Fair International celebrates the cultural heritage of the people living in southeastern Wisconsin. This year’s theme, “Celebrate the Culture of the Water,” will allow Fair-goers the opportunity to learn the ways in which water and its symbolism is incorporated into the music, food, dance, art, and crafts of those that participate in Folk Fair. Special attractions in 2016 include invited international performers and artisans, a Japanese photographic exhibit, the Sisters Cities International 2016 Young Artist and Authors Showcase, the Artisan corner sponsored by Debra Stefl and Katherine Kral, Financial Advisors with Morgan Stanley, the Kohl’s Color Wheels display, the Wisconsin Woodturners, and a bonsai exhibit. The three-day event features the All Nations Theater with traditional music and dance, the World Café offering traditional dishes, the International Stage where young people perform their ethnic dances, the Tanzhauz (Music Pavilion) where attendees dance and sing along with a variety of musical styling’s, the Coffee House where patrons enjoy a beverage and baked goods while listening to talented musicians, Heritage Lane, presented by Weather Tight Corporation, with unique traditions and customs through interactive exhibits, the International Bazaar, sponsored by Leaf Filter, where cultural artifacts create a unique shopping experience, and the Callen Construction Chef’s Stage featuring local chefs preparing traditional cuisine. Hours on Fri., Nov. 18 are 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.; 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 19; and 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 20. Advance tickets will be sold for $10 each, with family four-packs for $36, and available for purchase on-line at www.folkfair.org. Admission at the gate will be $12 for adults; $8 for children ages 6 to 12; children under the age of five will be admitted at no charge. Those 62 and over will be admitted for $10, and all military personnel with a military ID card will be admitted free. For more information on the 2016 Holiday Folk Fair International, visit www.folkfair.org or call the International Institute of Wisconsin at 414-225-6225.

After 20 years of unwedded bliss, Georges and Albin prepare to meet the straight-laced parents of the fiancée of Georges’ son. It’s a hilarious night of complications, chaos and a tender triumph of love. This comedic and heartfelt Tony Award winner features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, composer of Broadway hits Hello, Dolly! and Mame. “It’s a family show, a glittering, fast stepping extravaganza.” - New York Daily News on 2010 Broadway Revival Winner of multiple Tony Awards, including Best Musical (1984) and Best Revival of a Musical (2005, 2010) Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Rick is a folksinger/songwriter from Franklin, WI, performs a blend of traditional folk ballads and tunes along with his own original songs and favorites by others including Bill Staines, John Denver, Joel Mabus and Stan Rogers. An accomplished autoharp player, he is the 2009 Mountain Laurel Autoharp Champion, widely considered to be the world’s premier autoharp competition. His CDs entitled “Crossing the Water” and “Living Up to a Dream” tell tales of love, humor and hope from the oceans & Great Lakes to the High Plains.

ELF The Musical is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF.