Wilson Center Announces 2023/2024 Performance Season
Photo courtesy of the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts.
Brookfield, WI (May 12, 2023) – The Wilson Center is thrilled to present its first full season of performances post-pandemic – a robust line-up of world-class performances and Milwaukee debuts. The curated and thoughtful schedule of performances showcases the Wilson Center as one of the most vibrant multi-disciplinary performing arts centers in the Midwest. Balanced programming that incorporates dance, theater and a variety of musical genres, offers audiences a broad range of arts experiences.
Our 23/24 Mainstage Series opens on September 23, 2023 with a living legend, Garrison Keillor. In his only Milwaukee appearance this season, he will be joined by singer Heather Masse of The Wailin’ Jennys, and Richard Dworsky, long-time Music Director of A Prairie Home Companion.
The Wilson Center is proud to continue our commitment to established and rising area artists. This season the Wilson Center hosts the Milwaukee Symphony, Milwaukee Jazz Institute, and the emerging singer-songwriter Genevieve Heyward.
Other highlights include the season finale with jazz pianist Aaron Diehl in a concert titled Stride & Ragtime, the folk duo Frances Luke Accord in the Studio, and a popular slate of mid-week matinee performances.
Special Event performances will be offered to audiences in addition to the regular season. Grammy-winning jazz guitar legend Lee Ritenour makes his debut at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts (Wilson Center) on Friday August 18th at 8:00pm. See the Press Release for more information on this special event. The Wilson Center is also welcoming back the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for their holiday concert on December 8, 2023. This MSO holiday concert always sells out. An evening performance of the family classic Charlotte’s Web is also on the schedule.
The 23/24 Season will include special access to the artists through pre-performance talks and post-performance receptions.
Subscriptions are available now with single tickets going on sale in Mid-June.
The Performance Season schedule: The season includes Mainstage, Matinee, Studio, Beyond the Classroom Series for Students, and Special Events
| Date | Artist |
| Friday, August 18, 2023 | Lee Ritenour – WILSON CENTER GUITAR FEST PRESENTS A SPECIAL EVENT |
| Friday, September 15, 2023 | Frances Luke Accord – STUDIO |
| Saturday, September 23, 2023 | Garrison Keillor at 80 – MAINSTAGE |
| Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | Harmonious Wail – MATINEE |
| Thursday, October 5, 2023 | Frindle – BEYOND THE CLASSROOM (SERIES FOR STUDENTS) |
| Friday, October 13, 2023 | Merz Trio – MAINSTAGE |
| Friday, October 20, 2023 | Joel Shapira & Charmin Michelle – STUDIO |
| Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | The Carp That Would Not Quit – BEYOND THE CLASSROOM (SERIES FOR STUDENTS) |
| Friday, November 10, 2023 | Jessica Vosk – My Golden Age – MAINSTAGE |
| Friday, December 8, 2023 | MSO – Christmas – WILSON CENTER SPECIAL EVENT |
| Friday, December 15, 2023 | Voctave – The Spirit of the Season – MAINSTAGE |
| Wednesday, December 20, 2023 | Milwaukee Jazz Institute – Big Band Holiday – MATINEE |
| Wednesday, December 20, 2023 | Milwaukee Jazz Institute – Big Band Holiday – MAINSTAGE |
| Thursday, January 18, 2024 | Rainbow Fish – BEYOND THE CLASSROOM (SERIES FOR STUDENTS) |
| Friday, February 9, 2024 | Rosa Parks and Friends – BEYOND THE CLASSROOM (SERIES FOR STUDENTS) |
| Friday, February 9, 2024 | Genevieve Heyward – STUDIO |
| Wednesday, February 14, 2024 | Steve March Torme – Valentine’s Show: The Glory of Love – MATINEE |
| Friday, February 23, 2024 | Body Traffic – A Million Voices – MAINSTAGE |
| Friday, March 8, 2024 | Milwaukee Jazz Institute – STUDIO |
| Thursday, March 14, 2024 | DANU – MAINSTAGE |
| Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | Musical Romance of Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee – MATINEE |
| Friday, April 5, 2024 | Myriam Gendron – STUDIO SERIES |
| Wednesday, April 10, 2024 | Hollywood Revisited – MATINEE |
| Friday, April 19, 2024 | The Westerlies – MAINSTAGE |
| Friday, May 3, 2024 | Charlotte’s Web – WILSON CENTER SPECIAL EVENT & BEYOND THE CLASSROOM (SERIES FOR STUDENTS) |
| Friday, May 10, 2024 | Aaron Diehl – Stride & Ragtime – MAINSTAGE |
The Starry Nights Free Outdoor Concert Series line-up for the 2023 season includes:
July 7: Wisconsin Philharmonic, performing patriotic melodies
July 14: Wisconsin doo-wop group Four Guyz in Dinner Jackets with a Classic Car Show
July 21: Rockin’ Robins (50s and 60s hits)
July 28: Tonight Only (classic rock)
August 4: Chicken Wire Empire (acoustic and bluegrass)
August 11: Tallymore (contemporary Irish folk music)
Classic Vehicle Night – On Friday, July 14th see hundreds of vintage, classic and custom cars during Classic Vehicle Night. The car show is free for participants. Car entry begins at 4pm and is limited to the first 300 vehicles. Children are encouraged to vote for their favorite cars!
ABOUT THE SHARON LYNNE WILSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Situated in a beautiful 400-acre park in Brookfield, Wisconsin, the Wilson Center’s vibrant outdoor artistic landscape—the Lynn Chappy ArtsPark—joins nature and art in ways that are designed to educate and inspire. Recognized as a cultural anchor in the greater Milwaukee community, the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts serves as a catalyst for lifelong discovery and exploration of the arts. This non-profit serves more than 55,000 people annually, including 10,000 students. The Wilson Center focuses on three main disciplines: performing arts, arts education and visual arts. In addition to year-round performances, the organization promotes lifelong learning through arts education programs, art classes and art exhibitions. For more information visit www.wilson-center.com.
About The Harris Theater:
A level of intimacy is achieved for concert-goers and performers alike in The Harris Theater. All seats, from boxes to balcony, have close proximity to the stage. The exceptional state-of-the-art sound and well-planned design provides the flexibility to accommodate orchestral and dance performances, plays, lectures, formal meetings, seminars and even dinner. Flock, a unique installation of hand blown glass birds by Oregon, Wisconsin artist Steve Feren, soars overhead. The Harris Theater seats 613 with 415 in the Orchestra and 198 in the balcony (accessible via stairs or elevator).
About The Dawes Studio Theater:
This theater offers a variety of seating arrangements and provides opportunity for a traditional stage performance or black box theater. The Studio Series (formerly Club Show Series), is held in this theater and set up with cabaret style seating for up to 120. Hardwood floors and an acoustically engineered room provide an elegant setting with a step-up stage, perfect for smaller recitals and performances. At 2,050 square feet, this space is also ideal for luncheons, receptions, and business meetings.
About the outdoor theater:
The Gerlach/Haack Outdoor Theater offers lawn seating only and guests may bring their own lawn chairs. To ensure good sightlines for all audience members, pop-up tents are not allowed. Audiences are welcome to pack their picnic baskets. Food and beverage vendors will also be available onsite. Concerts take place rain or shine; in the event of extreme weather, concerts may move indoors to The Harris Theater. Please call our Box Office at 262-781-9520 with any questions.
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.
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