15 Milwaukee performing arts shows we're excited about this fall 2023

Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·6 min read
Richard Thomas and Yaegel T. Welch perform in the national touring company of "To Kill a Mockingbird," which comes to the Marcus Performing Arts Center in November.
Richard Thomas and Yaegel T. Welch perform in the national touring company of "To Kill a Mockingbird," which comes to the Marcus Performing Arts Center in November.

With several world premieres, great jazz musicians, the final role of a leading dancer and a courtroom appearance by Atticus Finch, the opening months of Milwaukee's performing arts season promise variety and punch for local audiences.

Here are some enticing shows in Milwaukee between now and Thanksgiving. These are listed in chronological order by date of first performance.

"Run Bambi Run": In staging a world-premiere rock musical about the saga of Lawrencia Bembenek, Milwaukee Repertory Theater is taking a substantial artistic and commercial risk. That should not go unappreciated. The creative team is strong: playwright Eric Simonson ("Lombardi"), songwriter Gordon Gano (Violent Femmes), director Mark Clements and music director Dan Kazemi. Through Oct. 22, Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, 108 E. Wells St. Visit milwaukeerep.com or call (414) 224-9490.

Sarah Gliko, Erika Olson and Jessica Kantorowitz perform in "Run Bambi Run," staged by Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
Sarah Gliko, Erika Olson and Jessica Kantorowitz perform in "Run Bambi Run," staged by Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

"Splash Hatch on the E Going Down": In Kia Corthron's drama, a pregnant Harlem teen faces her husband's unexpected illness. Next Act Theatre artistic director Cody Estle called Corthron's 1997 play "way ahead of its time" in its treatment of environmental racism (lead and other contaminants, hazardous building materials). Broadway veteran Cheryl Lynn Bruce directs the production. Sept. 20-Oct. 15, 255 S. Water St. Visit nextact.org or call (414) 278-0765.

Dashon Burton: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra opens its season with a program featuring its new artistic partner, bass-baritone Dashon Burton. He'll sing both a set of Schubert songs and contemporary composer Eleanor Alberga's "The Soul's Expression," a musical setting of words by George Eliot, Emily Brontë and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Oh, by the way, the program also includes Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. Sept. 22-24, Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. Visit mso.org or call (414) 291-7605. (Burton will return for other MSO concerts in March and June.)

Rána Roman will perform in "Laughs in Spanish" by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. She is seen here in a past production of "Mala."
Rána Roman will perform in "Laughs in Spanish" by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. She is seen here in a past production of "Mala."

"Laughs in Spanish": A beyond-stressed-out gallery owner tries to cope with everything falling apart and the arrival of her diva mother in Alexis Scheer's comedy, featuring local favorites Ashley Oviedo and Rána Roman. If you liked the remake of "One Day at a Time" with Rita Moreno and Justina Machado, this comedy from Milwaukee Chamber Theatre could be for you. Sept. 22-Oct. 8, Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. Visit milwaukeechambertheatre.org or call (414) 291-7800.

"Parental Advisory: a breakbeat play": In the world premiere production of Idris Goodwin's play, a 40-something rapper and a younger turntablist ponder an important cultural and philosophical question: What is the appropriate age to play Wu-Tang for your child? This hip-hop dialog thinks hard about the intersection of life with beats. Sept. 26-Oct. 29,  Stiemke Studio, 108 E. Wells St. Visit milwaukeerep.com or call (414) 224-9490.

Pat Metheny will perform on the Marcus Performing Arts Center's Jazz series.
Pat Metheny will perform on the Marcus Performing Arts Center's Jazz series.

Pat Metheny: The great jazz guitarist, who's performed in many different contexts, is coming to the Marcus Performing Arts Center for a solo concert at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5. Metheny's set list will reflect his recent "Dream Box" album, a collection of quiet electric guitar pieces he worked on after listening to a folder of solo guitar explorations he rediscovered. 929 N. Water St. Visit marcuscenter.org or call (414) 273-7206.

Charles Lloyd with Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland: Venerable saxophonist-flutist Lloyd, whose music often has a spiritual orientation, teams with Indian tabla star Hussain and drummer Harland for a world-music-meets-jazz concert. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11. Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. Visit pabsttheatergroup.com or (414) 242-8200.

"Candide": Director James Ortiz is transposing Skylight Music Theatre's production of the Leonard Bernstein operetta, based on Voltaire's sardonic novel, to the eminently lampoonable 1950s. In addition to local favorites including Andrew Varela, there will be puppets. Oct. 13-29. Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. Visit skylightmusictheatre.org or call (414) 291-7800.

Soprano Marie-Eve Munger leads the cast of Florentine Opera's "Elixir of Love."
Soprano Marie-Eve Munger leads the cast of Florentine Opera's "Elixir of Love."

"Elixir of Love": Red wine is the magic love potion a medical con artist purveys in Donizetti's comic opera, so Florentine Opera has playfully moved the setting of its staging to Sonoma wine country. This production features soprano Marie-Eve Munger from Lyric Opera of Chicago. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 15. Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St. For tickets, visit florentineopera.org or call (414) 291-5700 x224.

"Witch": Renaissance Theaterworks artistic leader Suzan Fete directs Jen Silverman's dark comedy, a re-envisioning of a Jacobean drama about what happens when an attractive devil visits a small village to bargain for souls. Oct. 20-Nov. 12. 255 S. Water St. Visit r-t-w.com or call (414) 278-0765.

"The Forgotten Girl": First Stage performs Idris Goodwin's adaptation of India Hill Brown's novel about two young people who discover a girl's gravestone, then learn about their town's history of segregation. (Yes, the playwright is the same Goodwin who wrote "Parental Advisory" for Milwaukee Rep.) For people 10 years and older. A bonus: First Stage is performing this show in its intimate theater in the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. Oct. 20-Nov. 12. 325 W. Walnut St. Visit firststage.org or call (414) 267-2961.

"Dracula": Milwaukee Ballet artistic director Michael Pink brings back one of his most mesmerizing story ballets, adapted from Bram Stoker's famous horror novel. It's also a star vehicle for veteran dancer Davit Hovhannisyan in the title role; it will be his final production as a leading artist with the company. Oct. 26-29. Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St. Visit milwaukeeballet.org or call (414) 902-2103.

Davit Hovhannisyan performing the role of "Dracula" in 2015 at the Milwaukee Ballet.
Davit Hovhannisyan performing the role of "Dracula" in 2015 at the Milwaukee Ballet.

"To Kill a Mockingbird": Richard Thomas ("The Waltons") stars in the national touring company of Aaron Sorkin's adaptation of Harper Lee's famed novel about racial injustice. "It's emotional, uplifting and tragic, all at the same time," wrote Kelli Arseneau of the Appleton Post-Crescent when she saw this production in February. Nov. 7-12. Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St. Visit marcuscenter.org or call (414) 273-7206.

"Liberace!": Milwaukee Chamber Theatre restages Brent Hazelton's drama with music about the flashy pianist and entertainer who was born in West Allis and grew up in West Milwaukee. This tour de force had two wildly successful runs at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater in 2010 and 2014. This time around, homegrown keyboardist Brett Ryback will be the man in the cape. Nov. 15-Dec. 10. Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. Visit milwaukeechambertheatre.org or call (414) 291-7800.

Brett Ryback portrays a famous entertainer from Milwaukee County in "Liberace!"
Brett Ryback portrays a famous entertainer from Milwaukee County in "Liberace!"

"Simple Songs": It looks like many happy returns for Present Music's annual pre-Thanksgiving concert. After a year elsewhere, this event is back at its signature location, the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, 812 N. Jackson St. And composer Raven Chacon is back on the program, with "Owl Song." The music Chacon composed for a Present Music commission in 2021, "Voiceless Mass," won the Pulitzer Prize in music. This concert's title work, by Aaron Jay Kernis, draws on texts from the Psalms, Hildegarde von Bingen, Rumi and Ryokan. 5 p.m. Nov. 19. Visit presentmusic.org or call (414) 229-4308.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 15 Milwaukee performing arts shows we're excited about this fall 2023