art and entertainment - may 2007

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 are subject to change.

MUSIC

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

LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL, through May 13; Stackner Cabaret, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, 108 E. Wells St. Set late one evening in March 1959, a mere four months before Billie Holiday’s death, as the legend also known as “Lady Day” gives a swan-song performance.
224-9490.

AQUALUNG, May 3; Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St. 8 p.m. 286-3663.

STARSHIP STARRING MICKEY THOMAS, May 4; Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 1721 W. Canal St. 9 p.m. Free show. 847-7922.

KEVIN SPIRTAS, May 4-5; Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts. 19805 W. Capitol Dr. Known as Dr. Craig Wesley on “Days of Our Lives,” Spirtas presents his own cabaret show. 8 p.m. 262-781-9520.

NORAH JONES, May 5; Riverside Theater, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave. 8 p.m. 286-3663.

THE ART OF DANCE, May 6; St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1615 Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa. Concord Chamber Orchestra concludes its tribute to music's relationships with other disciplines within the fine arts. 3 p.m. 628-6018.

RICK SPRINGFIELD, May 8-12; Potawatomi Bingo Casino. 8 p.m. 847-7922, 276-4545.

MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY AT THE WILSON CENTER, May 11; Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts. Classical favorites. 8 p.m. 262-781-9520.

CHICAGO: THE MUSICAL, May 11-13; The Milwaukee Theatre, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave. 8 p.m. Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., & 7:30 p.m. Sun. 276-4545.

FRANK MORGAN, May 12; Pabst Theater. Part of the Hall Leonard Jazz Series. 8 p.m. 286-3663.

MORRISSEY, May 12; Riverside Theater. 286-3663.

MINUS THE BEAR, THE HONORARY TITLE & CHIN UP CHIN UP, May 16; Pabst Theater. 8 p.m. 286-3663.

FALL OUT BOY, May 17; Bradley Center, 1001 N. 4th St. 276-4545.

FIVE FOR FIGHTING, May 17; Pabst Theater. 8 p.m. 286-3663.

OLD BLIND DOGS, May 18; Irish Cultural and Heritage Center of Wisconsin, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave. Concert at 8 p.m., supporting act opening at 7 p.m. Part of Hallamor Concert Series. 345-8800

CALIFONE AND DECIBULLY, May 19; Pabst Theater. 8 p.m. 286-3663.

RAMSEY LEWIS, May 19; Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts. 8 p.m. 262-781-9520.

STEVE MILLER BAND, May 21; Potawatomi Bingo Casino. 8 p.m. 847-7922, 276-4545.

CHITA RIVERA-THE DANCER'S LIFE, May 22-27; Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. Direct from Broadway, two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera presents a dazzling musical that celebrate her career. Show times 7:30 p.m. Tues., Wed., Thurs.; 8 p.m. Fri.; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sat. and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sun. 273-7206 or 276-4545.

ANDRE RIEU AND THE JOHANN STRAUSS ORCHESTRA, May 23; U.S. Cellular Arena, 400 W. Kilbourn Ave. 8 p.m. 276-4545.

AMERICA, May 23; Potawatomi Bingo Casino. 8 p.m. 847-7922, 276-4545.

BO DIDDLEY AND THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS, May 24; Potawatomi Bingo Casino. 8 p.m. 847-7922, 276-4545.

STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW, May 24-June 10; Broadway Theatre Center's Studio Theater, 158 N. Broadway. Musical revue presented by In Tandem Theatre takes a fresh, yet familiar, journey of love and relationships – song by song. 444-2316.

THE FLATLANDERS, May 25; Potawatomi Bingo Casino. 9 p.m. Free show. 847-7922.

SHE, May 25; Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts. All-female ensemble of Chicago jazz musicians. 8 p.m. 262-781-9520.

THEATER

THE AMOROUS AMBASSADOR, through May 5; Sunset Playhouse, 800 Elm Grove Rd., Elm Grove. 262-872-4430.

TARTUFFE, through May 6; Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, Milwaukee Theater Center, 108 E. Wells St. Orgon, the patriarch who can’t see through Tartuffe’s scheming, nearly destroys his family. Milwaukee Repertory Theater. 224-9490.

I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, through May 6; Vogel Hall, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. Ups and downs of relationships chronicled. 273-7206.

DOWN & PERSONAL, May 10-12; Off-Broadway Theater, 342 N. Water St. Milwaukee Dance Theatre closes season with an evening of witty, entertaining, original monologues, dialogues and songs. Participating artists include nationally acclaimed performance artist Holly Hughes. 8 p.m. 278-0765.

HENRY IV, through May 20; Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. Presented by Milwaukee Shakespeare. 747-9659.

THE NERD, through May 27; Stiemke Theater, Milwaukee Theater Center, 108 E. Wells St. Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents the hilarious dilemma of a young architect who is visited by the man he’s never met but who saved his life in Vietnam-and turns out be be an incredible “nerd” who outstays his welcome with a vengeance. 224-9490.

LILY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE, May 4-June 17;  Todd Wehr Theater, Marcus  Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. First Stage Children’s Theater presents a charming story most appreciated by those ages three and older. 273-7206.

AN INSPECTOR CALLS, May 7; Broadway Theatre Centre, Studio Theater, 158 N. Broadway. Play reading by Renaissance Theaterworks. 7:30 p.m. 291-7800.

DANCE

SPRING FEIS, May 5-6; Midwest Airlines Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave.; Irish dance competition that is open to the public. 908-6001.

ROMEO & JULIET, May 10-13; Marcus Center, 929 N. Water St. Presented by Milwaukee Ballet, featuring the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra.  902-2103.
Comedy

COMEDY

COMEDYSPORTZ, 420 S. 1st St. Milwaukee’s longest-running improv comedy show is designed for all ages. Based on audience suggestions. Reservations recommended. 272-8888.

Explosion 2007, May 4; Milwauke Theatre, 500 W. Kilbourn. Some of the country’s established and up-and-coming urban comedians. 8 p.m. 276-4545.

BONKERZ COMEDY CLUB, May 5, 19, 26; Potawatomi Bingo Casino. Free, with first-come seating. & 10 p.m. 847-7922.

GEORGE CARLIN, May 17; Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 1721 W. Canal St. 7 & 9:30 p.m. 847-7922, 276-4545.

EXHIBITS

SAMSON REMEMBERED, through most of 2007; Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St. Samson, the iconic gorilla who held court at the Milwaukee County Zoo is featured in an exhibit that also includes fascinating gorillas from zoos, the wild and the movies. 278-2728.

BRAIN TEASERS 2, through May 6; Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, 929 E. Wisconsin Ave.  390-5437.

CURRENTS 33: GREGOR SCHNEIDER, through May 6; Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Dr. 224-3200.

CRAFTWAYS: ENGLISH ARTISANS IN SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY NEW ENGLAND, through May 27; Milwaukee Art Museum, Decorative Arts Gallery. Thirty of the most important surviving furniture forms made by early English settlers in the North American colonies. 224-3200.

SPRING SHOW, through May 28; Mitchell Park Domes.

LONG MAY SHE REIGN, through June 10; Capt. Frederick Pabst Mansion, 2000 W. Wisconsin Ave. In-depth look at how one woman’s life influenced social etiquette in England and America to the degree an Era was named for her.  931-0808.

NOCTURNAL NATURE: WORKS BY ELIZABETH AUSTIN, through June 10; Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, 2220 N. Terrace Ave. .271-3656.

WISCONSIN ARTISTS BIENNIAL, 2007; through July 15; Marquette University’s Haggerty Museum of Art, 13th & Clybourn Sts. (parking lot is entered from 11th St., one block south of Wisconsin Ave). 288-1669.

HOKUSAI, HIROSHIGE AND THE UTAGAWA SCHOOL, through July 17; Marquette University’s Haggerty Museum of Art. Japanese prints. 288-1669.

STATIONS, through Aug. 31; Latino Arts, Inc., 1028 S. 9th St. Large-scale charcoal drawings depicting the life of a boxer by Vincent Valdez. 384-3100.

GARRY KNOX BENNETT: CALL ME CHAIRMAKER, through Sept. 23; Racine Art Museum, 441 Main St., Racine. Fifty-two, one-of-a-kind, humorous, sculptural chairs created by Gary Knox Bennett. 262-638-8300.

TARGET PRESENTS CHICANO NOW: AMERICAN EXPRESSIONS; through Sept. 23; Milwaukee Public Museum. Developed by actor/entertainer and art collector Cheech Marin, this interactive exhibit is a multimedia expression of the lives and contributions of Chicanos to American culture. 278-2728.

NOEL COWARD IN TEN, through Nov. 10; Ten Chimneys, Genesee Depot, Wis. Ten views of the life and career of Sir Noel Coward are complimented by music, video clips and a handful of personal artifacts. Developed in collaboration with the Noel Coward Foundation in England. 262-968-4110.

ALFRED LUNT and LYNN FONTANNE: A LIFE ON STAGE, through Nov. 10; Ten Chimneys, Genesee Depot, Wis. Interactive exhibition spotlighting the theatrical idols and a bygone era of drama and sophistication. 262-968-4110.

FORWARD: SURVEY OF WISCONSIN ART NOW, May 9-July 29; Charles Allis Art Museum, 1801 N. Prospect Ave. Survey of contemporary art from Wisconsin artists. 287-8295.

IMAX

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:

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, through June 10. This Ben Stiller box office hit is great at IMAX.

ROVING MARS, through June 14. Experience the reality of the Mars surface as seen by the Mars Rovers.

DEEP SEA, through Sept. 6. Magical underwater adventure transports viewers below the ocean surface.

Current DANIEL M. SOREF PLANETARIUM shows:

STARS OF THE PHARAOHS, through June 14, 2007: Watch Milwaukee’s sunset, twilight and evening sky, then travel to Egypt to visit temples and tombs of the ancient world.

WONDERS OF THE UNIVERSE, through June 14: See the wonders visible in the Milwaukee sky. Then, embark on an odyssey of discovery deep into space.

SONICVISION, through Nov. 23: With a mix by Moby and featuring tracks from Radiohead, U2, Coldplay, and others, this is a one-of-a-kind computer-generated experience.