art and entertainment - april 2009

Complete address of sites is listed with first mention. Area codes of phone numbers are 414 unless shown otherwise. Please confirm events when possible; listings subject to change.

MUSIC

NOTE: At Potawatomi Bingo Casino, no one under 21 is allowed in the theater under any circumstances.

BLUES IN THE NIGHT, through April 5; Broadway Theater Center’s Cabot Theater, 158 N. Broadway. Skylight production interweaves stories of three delicious women and their relationships with the same snake of a man who’s done them wrong. Includes songs by Bessie Smith and Duke Ellington. 291-7800.

FIRE ON THE BAYOU: A MARDI GRAS MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA, through May 10; Stackner Cabaret, Milwaukee Theater Center. Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s steamy musical gumbo that traces the history of New Orleans Jazz. 224-9490.

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS, April 1; The Riverside, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave. 8 p.m. 286-3663.

LEGENDS OF FUNK FEATURING THE BARKAYS, CON FUNK SHUN & THE DAZZ BAND, April 3; Northern Lights Theater, Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 1721 W. Canal St. 8 p.m. 847-7400, 276-4545.

ATHAS, Todd Bryant Band, April 3; Trinity • Three Irish Pubs, 125 E. Juneau Ave. 6 p.m., 10 p.m. 278-7033.

MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (MSO) CLASSICAL CONCERT, April 3-4; Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. 291-7605.

COYOTE RUN, April 4; Irish Cultural & Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave. Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s treasured bard, Robert Burns, with this powerful and compelling East Coast band. Well-known for its mix of Celtic songs, legend and literature, the group will include Burns’ songs. Part of the Hallamor Concert Series. 8 p.m. 345-8800.

LA INDIA CANELA, April 4; Latino Arts Auditorium, 1028 S. 9th St. Gifted accordianist specializes in Tipico-style merengue. 7:30 p.m. 384-3100.

RANDAL HARRISON TRIO, April 4; Cedarburg Cultural Center, W62 N546 Washington Ave., Cedarburg. 8 p.m. 262-375-3676.

AMERICAN MUSIC, April 4-5; Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Mainstream Song and Dance Troupe presents reflection of history through music. 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. 273-7206.

MSO KINDERKONZERT, April 5; Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Milwaukee Symphony concert for kids. 2 p.m. 291-7605.

ROBERTA FLACK, April 8; Potawatomi Bingo Casino. CANCELLED, no makeup date.

BRANDI CARLILE, April 9; The Pabst, 144 E. Wells St. 8 p.m. 286-3663.

MARK BALLINI, April 4; Trinity • Three Irish Pubs. 10 p.m.

ATHAS, ZACH WADE, April 10; Trinity • Three Irish Pubs.
6 p.m., 10 p.m.

KANSAS W/SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, April 11; The Pabst.
8 p.m.

HOI POLLOI, April 11; Trinity • Three Irish Pubs. 10 p.m.

WILCO, April 14-15; The Pabst.

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON, April 15; Northern Lights Theater, Potawatomi Bingo Casino. 8 p.m.

PETER BAIME-FLAMENCO GUITAR & DANCERS, April 16; Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, 1584 N. Prospect Ave. 7:30 pm. 276-5760.

LEND ME A TENOR, April 16-18, 24-25; Marian Center, 3195 S. Superior St. Soulstice Theatre presents. www.soulsticetheatre.org.

CHRIS CORNELL, April 17; The Pabst. 8 p.m.

TODD BRYANT BAND, April 17; Trinity • Three Irish Pubs. 10p.m.

MUSIC IN THE DRAWING ROOM, April 17-18; Ten Chimneys Estate, Genesee Depot, Wis. KT Sullivan, one of the most celebrated and popular cabaret stars of Manhattan, London and Paris, brings the Noël Coward Piano and the Lunts’ Drawing Room back to life for one weekend only. 8:30 p.m. Fri., 6 & 8:30 p.m. Sat. All seats are $100 and seating is limited to 40 guests per performance. Reservations, 262-968-4110.

THE MAGIC FLUTE, April 17-19; Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Mozart’s work in a family-friendly production by Florentine Opera. 273-7206.

THE TEMPTATIONS, April 18; The Riverside. 8 p.m.

MARC BALLINI, April 18; Trinity • Three Irish Pubs. 10 p.m.

ROBIN PLUER, April 18; Cedarburg Cultural Center. French cabaret. Tickets include Fri. night movie, Sat. dinner and performance.

RAY LAMONTAGNE, April 21; The Riverside. 8 p.m.

PETER, BJORN AND JOHN, April 22; The Pabst.

BOBBY VINTON, April 23; Northern Lights Theater, Potawatomi Bingo Casino. 8 p.m.

THE INDIGO GIRLS, April 23; The Pabst. 8 p.m.

WE SIX, April 23; Sharon Lynne Wilson Center, 19805 W. Capitol Dr., Brookfield, inside Mitchell Park. The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music's resident jazz sextet. 7:30 p.m.

ANNE KERRY FORD & JOHN BOSWELL, April 24-25; Sharon Lynne Wilson Center. Some of the greatest songs from Broadway and the Great American Songbook. 8 p.m. 262-781-9520.

M. WARD, April 24; The Pabst. 8 p.m.

ZACH?WADE, April 24; Trinity • Three Irish Pubs. 10 p.m.

MSO CLASSICAL CONCERT, April 24-26; Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. 273-7206.

NEKO CASE, April 25; The Riverside. 8 p.m.

MICAH OLSAN, April 25; Trinity • Three Irish Pubs. 10 p.m.

FESTIVAL CITY SYMPHONY: I’M OK, EURO K, April 26; The Pabst. Children’s program notes at 2:45 p.m., concert at 3 p.m. 963-9067.

JEANYI KIM, April 28; The Pabst. 7 p.m.

GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA, April 29; Cedarburg Cultural Center, 7 p.m.

MEL TILLIS, April 29; Northern Lights Theater, Potawatomi Bingo Casino. With special guest Ray Price. 8 p.m.

MATT SCHROEDER-FINGERSTYLE GUITAR, April 30; Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. 7:30 p.m.

MSO: RENEE FLEMING, April 30; Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Milwaukee Symphony and Renee Fleming, a celebrated soprano.

QUEENSRYCHE, April 30-May 1; Northern Lights Theater, Potawatomi Bingo Casino. Performing Extended Suites: Rage For Order / American Soldier / Empire. 8 p.m.

COMEDY

COMEDY SPORTZ, 420 S. 1st St. Milwaukee’s longest
running improv comedy show is designed for all ages. Based on audience suggestions. Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 3, 7:30, 10 p.m. & Midnight. Reservations rec. 272-8888.

BONKERZ COMEDY NIGHT, Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 1721 W. Canal St. Saturday nights, Seating is on a first come first serve basis. Free to Fire Keeper’s Club members (free membership). Shows at 8 & 10 p.m.

BLACK COLLAR COMEDY TOUR, April 4; The Milwaukee Theatre, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave. bringing together The Queen of Comedy herself, Sommore; The Tom Joyner Morning Show's J. Anthony Brown; Comedy Central's Hottest Young Comedian, Damon Williams; and special guest, Pierre! 908-6001.

DAVID SEDARIS, April 9; The Riverside, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave.
8 p.m. 286-3663.

RODNEY CARRINGTON, April 17; The Riverside. 7 p.m.

LOUIS CK, April 18; The Pabst. 8 p.m.

MCMANN & TATE-TOMATO DODGEBALL, April 25; Cedarburg Cultural Center, W62N546 Washington Ave. 8 p.m. 262-375-3676.

SINBAD, April 25; The Pabst. 8 p.m.

DANCE

THE WIDE SKY IS FALLING! April 24-26; Danceworks Studio Theatre, 1661 N. Water St. Life experience and fiction will be collected collaboratively from DPC and the participants of Danceworks Intergenerational Multi-Arts Project (IMAP) to fuel this athletically charged collection of dances that trip, topple and plunge through a range of human experience. 277-8480.

THEATER

THE NEVERENDING STORY, through April 5; Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. First Stage Children’s Theater presents story of a young boy who steals the book Neverending Story and becomes drawn into the book and the dying land of Fantastica. Best appreciated by children 6 and up and adults. 273-7206.

DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD, through April 11; Sixth Street Theater, 318 Sixth St., Racine. Darkly comic, unauthorized parody of the Peanuts characters. Presented by Over Our Heads Players. 262-632-6802.

BARNEY & BEE, through April 12; Broadway Theater Center, Studio Theater, 158 N. Broadway. Production by Renaissance Theaterworks. Jo and Stephen host an ill-fated dinner party to which Stephen asked Barney, the husband of a newly separated couple, and Joe invited the wife (Bee) and boyfriend. 291-7800.

THE PAVILION, April 2-May 3; Off-Broadway Theatre, 342 N. Water St., 2nd Fl. The Class of 1980 is together for the 20-year reunion and Peter is out to win Kari back. Presented by Next Act Theatre. 278-0765.

I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN, April 8-May 3; Stiemke Theater. Milwaukee Theater Center, 108. E. Wells St. Set in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, a passionate and political ode to the power and truth of the blues. 224-9490.

THE CHERRY ORCHARD, April 14-May 10; Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, Milwaukee Theater Center, 108. E. Wells St. Set in 1904 on the edge of the Russian Revolution, this bittersweet and haunting comedy performed by the Milwaukee Repertory Theater is Chekhov’s final play and masterpiece about a rapidly changing world and a way of life on the brink of destruction. 224-9490.

ALTAR BOYZ, April 15-26; Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. Musical-comedy spoof about a fictitious Christian boy-band of five ultra-talented heartthrobs from Ohio, on the last night of their national "Raise the Praise" tour. 7:30 p.m. 273-7206.

BROOKLYN BOY, April 16-May 3; Broadway Theater Center, Cabot Theater, 158 N. Broadway. Milwaukee Chamber Theater presents the story of.Eric Weiss, who seems to have it all. With a very successful novel and a screenplay in the works, he’s on the talk show and book signing circuit. But Eric is also experiencing a midlife crisis, as he struggles with his aging father, his failing marriage, the LA scene, and ultimately, his lost roots. 224-9490.

HOW I BECAME A PIRATE, April 17-May 17; Todd Wehr Stage of Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. When young Jeremy Jacobs and his exceptional digging skills are recruited by Captain Braid Beard for treasure burying purposes, Jeremy thinks the pirate life is for him. First Stage Children’s Theater presents this story of adventure and finding one's own heart - a path that can't be found on a treasure map. 273-7206.

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, April 24-25; The Milwaukee Theatre, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave. The 30th Anniversary Tour of the 1978 Tony Award®-winning Best Musical Ain't Misbehavin' starring 2003 American Idol Winner Ruben Studdard and Frenchie Davis, 2003 American Idol contestant and star of RENT on Broadway. 276-4545, 908-6001.

ROMANTIC FOOLS, April 30-May 17; Tenth Street Theater, 628 N. 10th St. In Tandem Theatre Company presents. a comic collection of dating dos and don’ts. 271-1371.

EXHIBITS

LES PAUL’S HOUSE OF SOUND, continuing; Discovery World, 500 N. Harbor Dr. A tribute to the accomplishments of Wisconsin guitarist Les Paul features personal items from the musician.

MILWAUKEE MUSCLE, continuing; Discovery World. Exhibit sponsored by Briggs & Stratton.

ENERGY & INGENUITY: HARNESSING THE POWER OF YOU, continuing; Discovery World. Wisconsin Energy Foundation supported exhibit challenges visitors to consider new energy sources for the future.

CITY OF FRESHWATER, continuing; Discovery World. Focuses on Milwaukee’s leadership role in use of its water supply.

ARTISTS OF PILSEN: RENÉ HUGO ARCEO & GABRIEL VILLA, through April 25; Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, 911 W. National Ave. Located on the Lower West Side of Chicago, Pilsen is a vibrant neighborhood of rich ethnic heritage that since the 1970s has been a heart of Mexican Chicago.

JAN LIEVENS, A DUTCH MASTER REDISCOVERED, through April 26; Milwaukee Art Museum. Dutch artist Jan Lievens (1607-1674) created a number of memorable character studies, genre scenes, landscapes, formal portraits, and religious and allegorical images. Forty-five of his finest paintings and a select group of his drawings and prints are on display in an exhibit organized by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam.

NATURAL MOTIF: NEW DRAWINGS BY NATALIE SETTLES,through May 3; Charles Allis Art Museum, 1801 N. Prospect Ave. Natalie Settles, a 2008 Wisconsin Arts Board fellow, has exhibited internationally since 1999. Her works synthesize the diverse worlds of 19th century botanical motifs and modern biological science. 278-8295.
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TITANIC: THE ARTIFACT EXHIBITION, through May 25; Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 N. Wells St. Authentic artifacts and room re-creations tell the story of the 2,228 passengers aboard the Titanic during her ill-fated maiden voyage. Learn haunting tales of lives abruptly ended or forever altered when the Titanic collided with an iceberg on April 14, 1912. Advance reservations strongly recommended. 223-3676 or purchase online at www.mpm.edu.

SMOKEY BEAR AND WOODSY OWL: HOME SWEET HOME, through May 31; Betty Brinn Children’s Museum. Encourages families to spend time together outdoors and inspires children to discover and care for the natural resources that sustain the world. See cover feature this month.

19TH & EARLY 20TH CENTURY MECHANICAL OBJECTS, through June 7; Pabst Mansion, 2000 W. Wisconsin Ave. The turn of the 20th century saw an explosion of mechanical inventions: elaborate clocks, intricate music boxes and amazing toys. Live demonstrations of select items will be available to the public on scheduled days. 931-0808.

REMAINS: CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND THE MATERIAL PAST, through June 7; Milwaukee Art Museum. Features new work by three Midwestern artists, Beth Lipman, Sarah Lindley, and BA Harrington, who draw inspiration from the decorative arts of the past. Their works raise important questions about the lifecycle of the things in our homes, and about the dreams, fantasies, and memories people project onto material objects. 224-3200.

ENAMELIST JAMIE BENNETT, through Sept. 6; Racine Art Museum, 441 Main St. Explores the artist's creative use and development of a variety of enameling and metalworking techniques to produce signature broaches, necklaces and pendants.

WHATEVER IS THERE IS A TRUTH, through Oct. 4; Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University. Robert Rauschenberg’s prints. 288-7290.

SPRING IN YORKSHIRE: AN ENGLISH GARDEN, April 4-May 25; Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (The Domes), 524 S. Layton Blvd. 649-9830.

MERENGUE: VISUAL RHYTHMS / RITMOS VISUALES, April 4-June 5; Latino Arts Auditorium and Gallery, 1028 S. 9th St. The energy and precision of merengue music comes alive in this expansive exhibition of numerous mediums, including photographs, sculpture, paintings, and videos. 384-3100.

DAWOUD BEY: CLASS PICTURES, April 16-July 12; Milwaukee Art Museum. Words and faces of 40 students provide a penetrating view into contemporary American youth. Bey visited schools on both coasts and the Midwest, taking portraits linked with each student’s autobiographical statement. Artist talk and reception April 23.

IMAX, PLANETARIUM

The Humphrey IMAX Dome Theater is in the Museum Center, 800 W. Wisconsin Ave. It doubles as the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium. Visit www.mpm.edu for times.

Current IMAX shows:

GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS, through June 11; Academy Award® winning director and master storyteller James Cameron journeys back to the site of his greatest inspiration – the legendary wreck of the Titanic. Explore the entire ship with Cameron.

SEA MONSTERS: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE, through Oct. 1; Marine reptiles of the dinosaur age come to life in a journey into the world of reptiles that lived beneath the water.

Current DANIEL M. SOREF PLANETARIUM shows:

NIGHT OF THE TITANIC, through June11; Discover how a complex series of natural, but unlikely, events sank the “unsinkable” ship.

ROCK STARS 2, through June 11; A cosmic light show featuring classic rock selections from the late '60s through the early '90s.

ASTRONAUT, through Oct. 1; What does it take to become an astronaut? What do astronauts do? This planetarium show answers these questions and gives a firsthand look at the lives of the men and women brave enough to travel through space.