Brenda Larson, left, and the Rev. Jen Johnson of First Congregational United Church of Christ.

 For 22 years, clergy in the Boscobel area held a ceremony to honor graduating high school seniors, and all local pastors were invited to participate. All except for the Rev. Jen Johnson, that is.

The Milwaukee man accused of fatally shooting beloved Milwaukee activist Desiree Marie Harrell on Jan. 2 was set, at press time, to go on trial later this month.

Raymond Earl Baker, 35, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and faces up to life in prison if convicted.

“Summer Stories” runs through May 27 at Next Act Theatre, 255 S. Water St. Call 414-278-0765 or go to www.nextact.org.

Great storytellers are like magicians. With a twinkle of an eye and a few words, different times and places suddenly become real.

Sean Allan Krill in “Sunday in the Park with George.” Skylight Music Theatre’s production of the award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical runs May 18-June 10 at the Broadway Theatre Center. For more information, visit www.skylightmusictheatre.org.

Legend has it that Georges Seurat, the French neo-impressionist painter, may have saved the Broadway career of out superstar composer Stephen Sondheim.

Anyone who has ever made a deal with the devil knows the odds are not stacked in his favor. But a deal with Neptune, the god of sea, apparently is no picnic, either.

At least that’s what Idomeneo, the king of ancient Crete, discovers in Mozart’s opera of the same name. Sacrifices, oracles, shipwrecks and a sea monster who won’t take “no” for an answer join with the composer’s beautiful melodies in “Idomeneo,” which closes the Florentine Opera’s 2011-12 season. The opera is performed May 18 and May 20 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts’ Uihlein Hall in Milwaukee.

Judi Dench, left, in “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.”

Based on Deborah Moggach’s novel “These Foolish Things,” John Madden’s film follows seven characters from dead-end lives in England to their unexpected renewals thousands of miles from home.

Blair Mishleau

Blair Mishleau is taking an after-college adventure, but not one of the backpacking-through-Europe variety.

Social Security spokesperson George Takei tells Baby Boomers to “Boldly Go” online to register for retirement benefits. The actor-activist of “Star Trek” fame now is telling lawmakers to boldly pass legislation to extend those benefits to same-sex couples.

In late April, U.S. Rep. Linda Sánchez, a California Democrat, introduced the Social Security Equality Act of 2012, which would end the Social Security Administration policy denying same-sex couples who are married in their states the same benefits as heterosexual couples.

Chris Murrah and Jon Lindstrom in “What happens Next.”

‘What Happens Next’ is sweet but not very funny