On Stage

McGivern finds hilarity in summer rituals

Written by Kat Murrell,
Contributing writer May 18, 2012

“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.

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Belinda Carlisle
From the Go-Go's to PrideFest Milwaukee

Written by Gregg Shapiro,
Staff writer May 17, 2012

Belinda Carlisle is the opening night headliner on June 8 at PrideFest Milwaukee 2012. For more information about the nation’s largest LGBT music festival, go to www.pridefest.com.

Rocker and equality advocate Belinda Carlisle opens PrideFest Milwaukee’s 25th anniversary weekend with an 8 p.m. performance on Friday, June 8. Other event headliners include Taylor Dane, Berlin and GOD-DES & She.

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Milwaukee native hits 'Heights' in touring musical

Written by Mike Muckian,
Contributing writer Apr 19, 2012

Actor Kyle Taylor Parker, a cast member of the national tour of “In the Heights,” says the play reminds him a lot of his native Milwaukee.

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Three acts, connected by love

Written by MIke Muckian,
Contributing writer Apr 5, 2012

Colleen Madden and Jim Ridge in Forward Theater Co.’s production of “Love Stories” runs April 12-29 at The Playhouse at Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts. For more information, visit www.forwardtheater.com.

Effective communication is the heartbeat of any relationship, and its absence can extinguish even the most passionate coupling. The connection among couples – and its lack – thread together the three one-act plays that comprise “Love Stories,” the final 2011-2012 seasonal offering of Madison’s Forward Theater Company. The three-plays-as-one runs April 12 to 29 in The Playhouse at Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts.

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'Ideomeneo' is the best Mozart people don't know

Written by Mike Muckian,
Contributing writer May 18, 2012

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.

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‘Peter Pan’ makes a return flight with the Milwaukee Ballet

Written by Michael Muckian,
Contributing writer May 3, 2012

Dance fans who will never grow up should be delighted by the return of Milwaukee Ballet’s high-flying production of “Peter Pan.” The work, which premiered in 2010, returns to Marcus Center for the Performing Arts for four performances from May 10 to May 13.

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In 'One Time,' memories shape the story

Written by Mike Muckian,
Contributing writer Apr 19, 2012

Two people, one park bench and a lifetime of stories form the narrative of Next Act Theatre’s premiere of “One Time,” by Chicago playwright Richard Lyons Conlon. It’s a story of secrets shared as two people meet again after years of separation and discover how past decisions affected their lives.

The production runs April 5-29 at Next Act’s new performance space, 255 S.Water St., Milwaukee.

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Brinberg is ‘Simply Barbra’ in Overture performance that benefits OutReach

Written by Michael Muckian,
Contributing writer Mar 22, 2012

Steven Brinberg as Streisand. - Photo: Mark Rupp

If Steven Brinberg ever has the chance to meet Barbra Streisand, the performer he’s been impersonating for nearly 20 years, his first question for the superstar would be about Chinese food.

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Art isn't easy when it comes to staging 'Sunday in the Park'

Written by MIke Muckian,
Contributing writer May 18, 2012

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.

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'Veronica' looks at love from different positions

Written by Mike Muckian,
Contributing writer May 3, 2012

T. Stacy Hicks and Joe Fransee

Politics, as the saying goes, makes for strange bedfellows. In the case of “Veronica’s Position,” the season-closing production for Milwaukee’s In Tandem Theatre Co., the phrase is explored literally as well as figuratively, often with hilarious results.

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'Tomato' shows humor can save a relationship

Written by Mike Muckian,
Contributing writer Apr 19, 2012

Whether the relationship is same-sex or opposite-sex, the course of true love never runs smoothly. But can you laugh your way through the hardships?

Writer Jeff Kahn and actress/writer Annabelle Gurwitch originally took what Kahn says was a typical approach to couples counseling. The results were questionable.

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In Tandem Theatre seeks salvation with "Jesus Christ Superstar"

Written by Michael Muckian,
Contributing writer Mar 22, 2012

Scene from the 2010 concert version.

In mounting its concert version of “Jesus Christ Superstar” later this month, In Tandem Theatre Company is seeking economic salvation. That’s what the Milwaukee theater troupe received in 2010 when it staged a successful fundraiser using the same material.

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