Danceworks Performance Company, Milwaukee Opera Theatre reunite at the Lynden Sculpture Garden for Handel’s Bestiary, June 16-17, 2017

MILWAUKEE – Danceworks Performance Company and Milwaukee Opera Theatre team up to present Handel’s Bestiary: In Search of Animals in Handel’s Operas, June 16-17, 2017. Audience members are invited to stroll the grounds of the Lynden Sculpture Garden, 2145 W. Brown Deer Rd., Milwaukee, to witness the extravagant spectacle of an intergenerational cast of 97 dancers, singers and musicians performing together.

The cast of Handel’s Bestiary will dance and sing throughout the gardens, masquerading as lions, bees, nightingales, snakes, elephants and tigers. This family friendly concert features the music of George Friedrich Handel and is inspired by Donna Leon’s book Handel’s Bestiary: In Search of Animals in Handel’s Operas.

In addition to DPC and MOT, several members of the Danceworks Studio community will take part in the concert. “It has been a joy to connect with so many aspects of the Danceworks organization on this project!” said DPC Artistic Director Dani Kuepper. “The combined rehearsals that bring together professional dancers of DPC with dancers from our youth studio classes, as well as our adult and 50+ classes, have been inspiring for all of us. The intergenerational aspect of this concert is a rare opportunity to draw on the strengths, wisdom and wonder of generations of dancers.”

To enhance the transformation of human dancers into animals of every variety, DPC turned to New York City artist Kyle Krueger, who fabricated headdresses and masks that hearken images of different animals. By simulating elemental materials – wood, metal, glass, fabric, and stone – Krueger manipulated modern lightweight materials and finished them to emulate materials found in abstract sculptures throughout the gardens.

Handel’s Bestiary marks the fourth artistic collaboration of MOT and DPC and the second time they have created performances at the Lynden Sculpture Garden, a unique home for outdoor performance in Milwaukee. While some seating will be available for those who require it, audience members will stroll the garden, encountering various sections of the production along the way. Dressing for the weather and wearing comfortable shoes for walking are recommended. Picnicking is also encouraged.

The Lynden Sculpture Garden grounds will open at 5:30 p.m., allowing guests to arrive early and enjoy the splendor of the surroundings before the concert begins. Free shuttle service to and from the grounds will be available at the I-43/Brown Deer Rd. Park and Ride lot.
 
PERFORMANCE DATES
Handel’s Bestiary runs Friday, June 16 and 17 at 7:00 pm at Lynden Sculpture Garden, 2145 W. Brown Deer Road.

Lynden Sculpture Garden will open each evening at 5:30. Free shuttle service to and from the I-43/Brown Deer Rd. Park and Ride begins at 5:20 pm.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to Handel’s Bestiary are $26 for general admission and $16 for students and seniors; children under 10 receive free admission. Box Office: 414.277.8480 x6025. Tickets are available online at http://danceworksmke.org/purchase-tickets/.

Danceworks, Inc. enhances the joy, health and creativity of our community through performances, classes and outreach activities integrating dance and other art forms. Danceworks is a member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF).

Milwaukee Opera Theatre creates dynamic, singer-centered art by exploring the beauty of the human voice, sparking the imagination of both audiences and artists and transforming the bountiful landscape of classic and contemporary lyric theatre.

The Lynden Sculpture Garden offers a unique experience of art in nature through its collection of more than 50 monumental sculptures sited across 40 acres of park, lake and woodland.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.