Milwaukee Artist Rediscovered

Rediscovering Ruth Grotenrath: All Things Belong to the Earth” is the first comprehensive retrospective of the Milwaukee artist’s work. One of the exhibition’s dominant images, Modern Madonna (1935), betrays the influence of Diego Rivera and other politically charged public artists of that era. The mother at the painting’s heart, grasping a screaming child to her breast, is menaced on all sides by bayonets; the hand of capitalism dispenses gold coins as a demon leers over her shoulder. It’s a Roman Catholic martyrology revised to represent the torments of humanity on the road to World War II.

Grotenrath never painted anything like that again, but Modern Madonna bears some ideological links to the work for which she is often remembered. As an employee of the New Deal WPA, she was hired by the federal government to adorn the walls of schools, post offices and other public places with murals. “Rediscovering” includes sketches for one of her murals, the charcoal outlines of heroic laborers rebuilding America in the face of the Great Depression.

Soon enough, other influences supplanted social realism. Grotenrath and her artist husband, Schomer Lichtner, often visited Taliesin where they absorbed Frank Lloyd Wright’s enthusiasm for Japanese printmaking. The couple also spent many hours at the Chicago Art Institute studying the European modernists whose influence can be seen in Grotenrath’s bold colors and rejection of Renaissance perspective.

Along one wall of “Rediscovering” a series of Grotenrath’s still lifes form a timeline of artistic development. From the careful realism of her early years, she embraced a vibrancy of vital colors and a dense layering of objects. She was a ceramicist and while only a few of her ceramics are on display, her paintings often include her distinctive tilework along with one of her cats.

Grotenrath’s landscapes mirror the Wisconsin surroundings she knew so well. One in particular is outstanding for size, color and content. Meadows (Lorrie Otto’s Garden) (1970) reflects her friendship with the environmentalist whose garden she depicts as an explosion of leaves and flowers, trunks and stems—plants of all sorts in outrageous bursts of color but arranged in different levels of density so that the eye can discern the individual components.

At the gallery’s entranceway is an exhibit within the exhibition, a wall of black-and-white photographs by the Warehouse’s codirector Jan Serr of Grotenrath and Lichtner at home in 1985. Assembled from the collections of several museums and private collectors, including many objects never exhibited before, “Rediscovering Ruth Grotenrath: All Things Belong to This Earth” runs through March 31 at the Warehouse Art Museum, 1635 W. St. Paul St. For more information, visit wammke.org. (David Luhrssen)

53212 PRESENTS 53212presents.org

5 POINTS ART GALLERY 5ptsartgallery.com

Nuestros Cuerpos, Nuestros Almas (Our Bodies, Our Spirit), through March 26

ACACIA THEATRE COMPANY acaciatheatre.com

We Will Not Be Silent, March 10–26

Playwright David Meyers’s fact-based play concerns the courageous acts of Sophie Scholl, a college student in Nazi Germany who, with a small group of friends, painted graffiti and circulated anti-Hitler flyers. Dostoevsky-like, We Will Not Be Silent presents Scholl’s debate with her Nazi interrogator, who offers to trade her life in exchange for her conscience. (David Luhrssen)

THE ALICE WILDS thealicewilds.com

ALL IN PRODUCTIONS allin-mke.com

AMERICAN PLAYERS THEATRE (APT) americanplayers.org

APERI ANIMAM aperianimam.com

Lacrimae Nostrae, May 19, Calvary Presbyterian Church

ARTS @ LARGE artsatlargeinc.org

BACH CHAMBER CHOIR bachchoirmilwaukee.com

Rutter Requiem , April 2, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church

BEL CANTO CHORUS belcanto.org

Music of our Times, March 12, St. Monica Parish

Brahms, “A German Requiem,” May 21

BLACK ARTS MKE marcuscenter.org/series/ black-arts-mke

Zuri’s Crown, April 27-29, Marcus Performing Arts Center

BLACK HOLOCAUST MUSEUM abhmuseum.org

BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS boernerbotanicalgardens.org

BOMBSHELL THEATRE CO. bombshelltheatre.org

Sunset Boulevard, April 21-May 7, Broadway Theatre Center

Bombshell conjures the glamor of old Hollywood to the stage of the Broadway Theatre Center as it presents Sunset Boulevard. Kara Ernst-Schalk stars as the reclusive silent film start Norma Desmond. Bombshell’s Eric Welch plays screenwriter Joe Gillis who stumbles into her life. (Russ Bickerstaff)

Annie Junior, April 24-26, Broadway Theatre Center

BOULEVARD THEATRE milwaukeeboulevardtheatre.com

THE BOX THEATRE CO. boxtheatre.co.org

Descendants: The Musical, through March 5

Once Upon a Mattress, May 19-28

BRONZEVILLE ARTS ENSEMBLE facebook.com/ BronzevilleArtsEnsemble Zuri’s Crown, April 27-29, Marcus Performing Arts Center

The tale of Rapunzel serves as the basis for Bronzeville Arts Ensemble’s world-premiere musical Zuri’s Crown The ensemble tells the story of a mysterious woman who teaches a lesson to the wife of the owner of a beauty supply store. (Russ Bickerstaff)

CABARET MILWAUKEE facebook.com/cabmke

CARROLL PLAYERS carrollplayers.weebly.com

CARTHAGE COLLEGE THEATRE carthage.edu/fine-arts

FML: How Carson McCullers Saved My Life, March 2-4

Legally Blonde: The Musical, April 28-29; May 4-6

CATEY OTT DANCE COLLECTIVE cateyott.com

CEDARBURG ART MUSEUM cedarburtartmuseum.org

Art of Charles Porteus, through April 16

Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, Sky: Climate Transformed, through May 14

Student Art Matters, through May 21

CEDARBURG CULTURAL CENTER cedarburgculturalcenter.org

The Little Show: CCC’s Annual Juried Exhibit , through March 5

CEDARBURG PERFORMING ARTS CENTER cedarburgpac.com

I Am … He Said: A Celebration of Neil Diamond, March 17

Michael Cavanaugh, May 5

CHANT CLAIRE CHAMBER CHOIR chantclaire.org

Concert with William Baker Festival Singers, April 30, St. Joseph Chapel

Spring Concert , May 13

CHARLES ALLIS ART MUSEUM charlesallis.org

The Sarah Ball Allis Art Museum , through June 11

Allis Chalmers, West Allis, the Charles Allis Art Museum—the Allis name is inseparable from Milwaukee’s history. A new exhibition hopes—among other goals—to turn the spotlight on a member of that family whose role in the community has been overlooked. Through June 11, the Charles Allis Art Museum will become the Sarah Ball Allis Art Museum in an exhibit featuring 20 contemporary artists juxtaposed with the institution’s permanent collection. (David Luhrssen)

THE CONSTRUCTIVISTS theconstructivists.org

I’m Gonna Pray for You So Hard, April 29-May 13, Interchange Theatre

Playwright Halley Feiffer is the daughter of famed cartoonist/playwright Jules Feiffer. This spring The Constructivists present her play I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard. It’s a comedy involving a playwright father and his daughter who is an actress. (Russ Bickerstaff)

CONCORD CHAMBER ORCHESTRA concordorchestra.org

Young Talent , March 25, St. Sebastian Parish

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY cuw.edu

COVERED BRIDGE ART STUDIO TOUR cedarburgartistsguild.com

DANCECIRCUS dancecircus.org

Monarchs, Mounds, Migrations, March 8-11, Next Act Theatre

DANCEWORKS PERFORMANCE MKE danceworksmke.org

DAVID BARNETT GALLERY davidbarnettgallery.com

Art is How We Live: Black Artists in Wisconsin, through April 14

DEAD MAN’S CARNIVAL facebook.com/Dead-Mans-Carnival

EARLY MUSIC NOW earlymusicnow.org

Rachel Barton Pine & Jory Vinikour, “All Bach!” March 4, St. Paul Episcopal Church

House of Time, “Angels & Demons,” April 29, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

EX FABULA exfabula.org

StorySlam: Parenting, March 15

StorySlam: It’s About Time, April 27

ExFabula All-Stars, May 11

FALLS PATIO PLAYERS fallspatioplayers.com

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, April 21-30

FESTIVAL CITY SYMPHONY festivalcitysymphony.org

Grand Passions and Tales: The Music of Italy and France, March 4, Bradley Symphony Center

His Greatest Symphony: Music of the Ballet and Antonin Dvořák, April 25, Bradley Symphony Center

A Springtime Galop: Spring Pajama Jamboree, May 3, Marcus Performing Arts Center

FINE ARTS QUARTET fineartsquartet.com

Beethoven and Glazunov, March 11

FIRST STAGE firststage.org

The Hobbit, through March 5, Milwaukee Youth Arts Center

The engaging drama of Tolkien’s classic fantasy comes to life in a brisk 90-minute program as director Jeff Frank presents First Stage’s production of The Hobbit. The magic of Middle Earth fuses with the wonder of live theater. Frank has a talent for conjuring big adventure to small stage environments in one of the best children’s theatre programs in the country. (Russ Bickerstaff)

Little Women, March 24-April 2

The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences, March 3-April 2

The Forgotten Girl, March 30

Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds, April 21-May 21

The Gracious Sisters, May 5-21

FLORENTINE OPERA florentineopera.org

Cosi fan tutti Remix, March 17-26

Director Jill Anna Ponasik describes Cosi fan Tutte remix as”a delightfully fresh and spunky adaptation of Mozart and Da Ponte’s opera, now unfolding at a midwestern university in the 1980s (Think Big Chill or St. Elmo’s Fire), as six college friends face the prospect of graduation, and then, meet again 20 years later at their reunion.” (David Luhrssen)

FORTE THEATRE COMPANY fortetheatrecompany.org

Into the Woods, April 14-23

FRANK JUAREZ GALLERY fjgmke.com

FRANKLY MUSIC franklymusic.org

GALLERY 218 gallery218.com

GHS DRAMATIC IMPACT gsdwi.org

Legally Blonde: The Musical, March 6-8, Germantown Performing Arts Center

GREENDALE COMMUNITY THEATRE greendaletheatre.org

GROHMANN MUSEUM msoe.edu/grohmann-museum

David Plowden: The Architecture of Agriculture, April 21-Aug. 20

Photographer David Plowden, age 90, lives in Winnetka, IL. “I befriended him in 2011 when we hosted an exhibition of his railroad photographs Madison,” says the Grohmann’s director James Kieselburg. “It is in knowing and befriending Plowden that one also knows that his full impact is likely yet to be felt, as we continue to lose the features of the American landscape that he so expertly and thoughtfully captured. From the rural landscape to railroads to bridges to heavy industry, he has distilled in many ways the essence of America by portraying our too often overlooked treasures—the commonplace fabric of our familiar environment—dilapidated or dismantled today.” (David Luhrssen)

GROVE GALLERY gallerygrove.com

HAGGERTY MUSEUM OF ART marquette.edu/haggerty-museum

Tomas Saraceno: Entangled Air, Jan. 20-May 21

HARLEY-DAVIDSON MUSEUM harley-davidson.com

Off-Road Harley-Davidson, continuing

Building a Milwaukee Icon: HD’s Juneau Ave. Factory, continuing

Tsunami Motorcycle Display, continuing

H. F. JOHNSON GALLERY OF ART carthage.edu/art-gallery

HOVER CRAFT hovercraftmke.com

HYPERLOCAL MKE hyperlocalmke.com

INSPIRATION STUDIOS ART GALLERY inspirationstudiosgallery.com

West Allis West Milwaukee Youth Art Exhibit , March

Fleeing Artists Theatre, A Raisin in the Sun, March

Broadway Bound Wisconsin, Bedtime Stories, March

Rosie Hartmann, The Brick of It, April

Fleeing Artists Theatre, Stop Kiss, April

Placeholder Players, Orion, May

Weir Nature Center Camera Club Exhibit , May

Von Trio, May

Thom Cauley Presents, The Spectrum Revisited, May

IRISH CULTURAL AND HERITAGE CENTER ichc.net

JAZZ GALLERY CENTER FOR THE ARTS jazzgallerycenterforarts.org

“Word and Image,” March 4-April 15

JEWISH MUSEUM MILWAUKEE jewishmuseummilwaukee.org

Degenerate! through June 4

JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER jmkac.org/home.html

Angela U. Drakeford: In Bloom at the End of the World,” through April 16

The exhibit by multi-disciplinary artist Angela U. Drakeford that is really like no other. Housed in JMKAC’s large glass gallery space, Drakeford’s installation is a sanctuary space, a parlor or perhaps living room filled with growing green plants, recordings of bird songs, comfortable furniture, books, pillows and other assorted domestic bric-abrac. (Michael Muckian)

KACM THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS kacmtheatrical.weebly.com

KETTLE MORAINE SYMPHONY kmsymphony.org

“Desserts, Drinks and Diversions,” March 18, Historic West Bend Theatre

Brahms: A German Requiem, May 21, location TBD

KOHLER MEMORIAL THEATER kohlerfoundation.org

Mariachi Herencia de Mexico, March 10

KO-THI DANCE COMPANY ko-thi.org

LAKE ARTS PROJECT lakeartsproject.com

LATINO ARTS, INC. latinoartsinc.org

Mama Said: A Reflection on Material Figures, March 1-June 2

Lupita Infante, March 3

LILY PAD GALLERY WEST lilypadgallery.com

In a Place of Dreams, through April 30

LYNDEN SCULPTURE GARDEN lyndensculpturegarden.org

MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER marcuscenter.org

The Spongebob Musical for Young Audiences, Mar 3 - Apr 2

Six, Mar 7-12

One Night of Queen, March 18

Hunchback Of Notre Dame, March 23-26

The Simon & Garfunkel Story, Mar 29

Late Nite Catechism, Mar 31

Dixie's Tupperware Party, Apr 13 -16

Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds, April

Zuri's Crown, April 27-29

Hadestown, May 2-7

Winnie The Pooh, May 4-7

Peter Pan, May 11-14

One Man Star Wars Trilogy, May 12

One Man Avengers, May 13

Il Barbiere Di Siviglia / The Barber Of Seville, May 19-21

MARN ART + CULTURE HUB marnarts.org

Nicole Acosta: Hoops, through April 2

MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY THEATRE marquette.edu/communication/ theatre-arts.php

Detroit `67, April 14-23

MASTER SINGERS OF MILWAUKEE mastersingersofmilwaukee.org

“Saying Our Peace,” May 13, Oak Creek Performing Arts Center

MATERIAL STUDIOS + GALLERY materialstudiosandgallery.com

MEMORIES DINNER THEATRE memoriesballroom.com

Side Kicked, March 17-26

It’s Friday, March 2, 1960, and we are at the final taping of “The Lucy/Desi Comedy Hour.” This is the final time the four beloved characters will perform together before a live audience. We find ourselves in the dressing room of Vivian Vance aka Ethel Mertz. She is reflecting on all the years of “I Love Lucy” and how she feels—the highs and lows of this epic journey—with Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz and William Frawley. A behind the scenes look at what really occurred is eye opening and jaw dropping. This one-woman show will grab your attention and hold it. A very different perspective with the greatest neighbor the world has ever known, Ethel Mertz. (Blaine Schultz)

Four Old Broads on the High Seas, April 14-23

Packing Up Polly, May12-21

MENOMONEE FALLS SYMPHONY www.mfso.net

Showcasing Showstopper, April 23, Hamilton Fine Arts Center

MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM mam.org

“2023 Scholastic Art Awards: Wisconsin Exhibition,” through March 19

After Ashcan: The 14th Street School, through March 26

Playing Favorites: Spotlight on the Petullo Collection, through April 2

A Very Strong Likeness of Her: Portraiture and Identity in the British Colonial World, through April 9

Native America: In Translation , through June 23

MILWAUKEE BALLET milwaukeeballet.org

Momentum, through March 4

Baumgartner Center for Dance

Momentum is the title of the annual show by Milwaukee Ballet’s Second Company, the 20 emerging professionals, aged 17-22, who fill out the casts of the main season shows. This year, under Artistic Director Mireille Favarel, they’ll recreate the classical Marius Petipa choreography for the climactic wedding scene of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, and premiere three works: MBII Rehearsal Director Calvin Hilpert’s Grief and Rage, guest choreographer and composer Kristopher Estes-Brown’s Light, Dark, and In Between, and second year MBII dancer Amanda Lewis’ Unspoken with live accompaniment by Milwaukee composer/ violinist Allen Russell. Most of the First Company’s dancers came through MBII. (John Schneider)

MILWAUKEE CHAMBER THEATER milwaukeechambertheatre.org

Hoops, March 10-April 2

The Mountaintop, April 21-May 7

The life of Martin Luther King Jr. is explored in Katori Hall’s drama. It’s a conversation between the man and a hotel maid the evening before his assassination. Milwaukee Chamber Theatre presents a staging of the play at the Broadway Theatre Center’s Cabot Theatre. (Russ Bickerstaff)

MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S CHOIR milwaukeechildrenschoir.org

Brilliant Earth , May 6, Crossroads Presbyterian Church

MILWAUKEE COMEDY milwaukeecomedy.com

MILWAUKEE FESTIVAL BRASS mfbrass.org

Spring Concert , May 6, St. John’s Lutheran Church

MILWAUKEE INSTITUTE OF ART & DESIGN miad.edu

Art Against the Odds: Wisconsin Prison Art Exhibition , through March 11

Beyond being a powerful art show, the exhibit has much to say about our criminal justice system and mass incarceration. Presenting the expressive work of 65 prison artists and examining the penal system within which they create, the exhibition aims to pierce prison walls and counter the invisibility which those walls otherwise impose on so many in our society. (Peter Goldberg)

MILWAUKEE IRISH ARTS milirisharts.wordpress.com

Faith Healer, March 24-26, Sunstone Studio

MILWAUKEE JAZZ INSTITUTE milwaukeejazzinstitute.org

MJI Night , March 18, bar centro

MJI Night , April 15, bar centro

International Jazz Day Celebration, April 30, Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel

Educational Jazz Festival, May 15-16, Hilton Milwaukee City Center

MJI Night , May 20, bar centro

MILWAUKEE MAKERS MARKET milwaukeemakersmarket.com

April 16, Discovery World

May 14, Ivy House

The Milwaukee Makers Market features over 50 artisans, bakers and makers candles selling coffee, clothing, jewelry, art and much more. (Frank Grey)

MILWAUKEE MUSAIK milwaukeemusaik.org

Springtacular, April 25, Wisconsin Lutheran College Center for Arts and Performance

MILWAUKEE OPERA THEATRE milwaukeeoperatheatre.org

Impossible Operas (with Quasimondo Physical Theatre), May 19-28, Broadway Theatre Center Studio Theatre

MILWAUKEE REPERTORY THEATER milwaukeerep.com

Dino! An Evening with Dean Martin , through March 19; Stackner Cabaret

The production by Armen Padola is directed with a keen eye for detail and pacing by The Rep’s Jonathan Hetler who creatively maximizes the intimate stage with scenic designer Sydney Lynne’s retro “home” and “work” settings. But this is, after all, all about Dino ... and what a Dino this is in the extraordinary characterization by the multi-talented Tally Sessions. Sessions excels as Martin himself did at performing, singing and making the audience laugh. (Harry Cherkinian)

The Heart Sellers, Feb. 7-March 19, Stiemke Studio

August Wilson’s Seven Guitars, March 7-April 2

The Greatest Love for Whitney: A Whitney Houston Tribute, March 24-May 8

God of Carnage, April 18-May 14

MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA mso.org

Music of Montgomery and Dvořák, March 3-4

Jessie Montgomery’s Records from a Vanishing City is a tone poem based on memories of the music that suffused Manhattan’s Lower East Side, her neighborhood in the ‘80s. Every open window was a portal to a sonic universe. Latin jazz, straight-ahead jazz, alt rock and folk music from a dozen nations inspired her creative process. This work by a contemporary American will be programmed with Prokofiev and Dvořák under conductor Jonathon Heyward. (David Luhrssen)

Mendelssohn’s Elijah, March 24-26

Don Juan & Beethoven Piano, April 14-15

Joyce Yang Plays Mozart , May 5-6

The Zodiac and the Planets, May 26-28

MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA myso.org

Chamber Ensemble, March 12

Fanfare and Finale Concert , April 30

MILWAUKEE YOUTH THEATRE milwaukeeyouththeatre.org

Morning Star Productions

morningstarproductions.org

The Resurrection of Father Brown, Feb.-March

Museum Of Wisconsin Art

wisconsinart.org

Ten at Ten , through April 9

Has it been 10 years since MOWA opened its gleaming white modernist gallery in the heart of West Bend? To mark the anniversary, the museum is exhibiting 10 emerging Wisconsin artists. “We believe these are the artists to watch in 2023 and beyond. Expect great things from them over the next 10 years,” says MOWA Executive Director Laurie Winters. The diverse media includes oil on canvas and video installation as well as experiments with calcium carbonate and papier-mâché. (David Luhrssen)

Social Realism to Surrealism: The James and Karen Hyde Collection , through April 89

MOWA | DTN (SAINT KATE-THE ARTS HOTEL)

Leslie Vansen: The Typography of Line, through April 2

In Leslie Vansen’s work, the simple line has definition, depth, weight, and history. It represents life’s natural order, while at the same time disrupting the way we see and understand life. The line defines the nature of Vansen’s paintings and drawings, while struggling against the restrictions the artist has placed on its own stubborn expressiveness. (Michael Muckian)

MOWA ON THE LAKE (ST. JOHN’S ON THE LAKE)

Pat Hidson: Compositions, through May 21

Next Act Theatre

nextact.org

There is a Happiness that Morning Is, through March 19

God's Spies, April 27-May 21

Shakespeare wrote King Lear in quarantine. Everything was closed. During COVID lockdown, modern playwright Bill Cain imagined Shakespeare waiting out the plague in the company of a prostitute and a Puritan in God’s Spies, which makes its. Wisconsin debut in a production with Next Act. (Russ Bickerstaff)

NŌ STUDIOS nostudios.com

NORTH SHORE

ACADEMY OF THE ARTS facebook.com/ northshoreacademyofthearts

NORTHERN SKY THEATER northernskytheater.com

OCONOMOWOC ARTS CENTER oasd.k12.wi.us

Rock’n’Roll Tribute from Elvis to The Beatles Featuring The Neverly Brothers, March 11

ComedySportz , March 18

Cabaret Café Series: Barley Jacks, March 25

OHS Players, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, April 29

Wisconsin Philharmonic: The Glory of Spring, May 11

Lake Country Film Festival, May 19

Main Stage Series: Doobie Others, May 20

OIL GALLERY MILWAUKEE oilmilwaukee.com

Human/Nature, through March

OPTIMIST THEATRE optimisttheatre.org

OUTSKIRTS THEATRE facebook.com/outskirtstheatre

OVER OUR HEAD PLAYERS overourheadplayers.org

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, March 24

PENINSULA PLAYERS peninsulaplayers.com

Changing Channels , March 6 i, April 3

PIANOARTS pianoarts.org

PORTRAIT SOCIETY GALLERY portraitsocietygallery.com

“Can't Stand the Rain: Phoenix S Brown and Ashley Lusietto,” through March 11

PRESENT MUSIC presentmusic.org

Northern Lights, April 6, Milwaukee Art Museum

In conjunction with the museum’s exhibit “Scandinavian Design and the United States 1890-1980.” The concert includes a world premiere by Dan Trueman performed by Irish fiddler Caoimhin O Raghallaigh playing the hardanger d’amore, a 10-stringed instrument from Norway. The concert will feature a wide variety of Scandinavian music, as well as impromptu performances by Trueman and guest composer Clarice Assad. (David Luhrssen)

Birds of a Feather, May 31-June 1, Jan Serr Studio

QUASIMONDO PHYSICAL THEATRE quasimondo.org

RACINE ART MUSEUM ramart.org

RAM Showcase: Focus on Glass, through May 27

On Fire: Surveying Women in Glass, through July

RACINE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA racinesymphony.org

Masterworks: Seven Last Words, April 7, First Presbyterian Church

Masterworks: Pictures of a Sound, May 21, Memorial Hall

Racine

THEATRE GUILD racinetheatre.org

The Tin Woman, through March 12

The Cat in the Hat, March 17-19

Brad Upton , March 18

Tony Castaneda Latin Jazz Band, March 25

Rico Vibes, April 8

Stand and Deliver, April 14-23

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, May 19-June 4

Sweeney Todd began as a gory 19th century British melodrama of a serial killer on the loose. Director Tim Burton turned it into a 2007 film starring Johnny Depp in the title role. However, the tale will probably live on longest in Stephen Sondheim’s musical. In searching for a musical language appropriate for the material, Sondheim remembered a scary movie of fog-bound London from his youth, Hangover Square, with music by Bernard Herrmann. Sondheim composed Sweeney Todd with unresolved dissonances, leaving the audience in suspense. (David Luhrssen)

REAL TINSEL GALLERY realtinsel.com

RENAISSANCE THEATERWORKS r-t-w.com

Tidy, March 24-April 16, 255 S. Water St.

A struggling novelist excavates her own life, lost memories and the history of the world as she cleans her house in playwright Kristin Idaszak’s one-woman drama Tidy, a charming, intimate journey of self-discovery. (Russ Bickerstaff)

SACRA NOVA CHORALE sacranovacathedrale.com

SAINT KATE - THE ARTS HOTEL saintkatearts.com

External Strife, Internal Peace, Eternal Love by Nehemiah Edwards, through March 12

Locating Private Spaces by Jan Wohlner, through April 9

SEAT OF OUR PANTS READER THEATRE mkereaderstheatre.com

SHARON LYNNE WILSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS wilson-center.com

Frank Almond & Emi Ferguson , March 11

Club Show Series: Athas, March 17

Milwaukee Musaik, March 19

Tony Desare: Song Diaries Live, April 16

Club Show Series: Donna Woodall Group, April 21

Joan Curto: The Songs of Sondheim , May 17

Club Show Series: The Contenders, May 19

SKYLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE skylightmusictheatre.org

Noises Off, March 17-April 2

British playwright Michael Frayn’s Noises Off was a hit on Broadway and the West End for its loving, insider’s spoof of theater and theater people. The fast-paced comedy includes a beleaguered stage manager and a production that unravels before the audience’s eyes. Artistic Director Michael Unger will direct Skylight’s version with a live singer and lounge band on stage. (David Luhrssen)

SOUTH MILWAUKEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER southmilwaukeepac.org

Leo Kottke, March 4

Paddygrass, March 5

Sam Bush , March 8 Knightwind Ensemble, April 2

Animal: A Farm Story, April 6

SUNSET PLAYHOUSE sunsetplayhouse.com

The Cemetery Club, March 2-19

Young Frankenstein-West End Version, April 20-May 7

5 Women Wearing The Same Dress, April 28-30

Descendants: The Musical, April 30-May 8

Little Red Riding Hoodie, May 3-6

101 Dalmatians Kids, May 20-21

SUNSTONE STUDIOS sunstonestudios.mke

THEATRE GIGANTE theatregigante.org

In the Belly of the Beast, May 5-20

THEATRICAL TENDENCIES theatricaltendencies.com

THIRD AVENUE PLAYHOUSE, STURGEON BAY thirdavenueplayworks.org

THRASHER OPERA HOUSE, GREEN LAKE thrasheroperahouse.com

Lunasa, March 3

Dirty Dozen Brass Band, March 11

Skerryvor, April 1

Session Americana, April 22

Kyshona, April 29

Mike Farris, May 5

Iris Dement , May 12

TORY FOLLIARD GALLERY toryfolliard.com

Amy Fletcher & Katie Musolff, March 3-April 15

Anna Kunz: New Paintings, April 21-May 27

UW-PARKSIDE THEATRE uwp.edu/the rita/ theatreperformances.cfm

The Aliens, March 3-12 reasons to be pretty, April 14-15

Spring Awakening, April 29-May 7

UW-MILWAUKEE PECK SCHOOL OF THE ARTS uwm.edu/arts/events

New Music MKE: Hub New Music , March 1, Music Recital Hall

Chamber Music Milwaukee, March 2, Music Recital Hall

Concert Chorale Spring Concert , March 3, Helen Bader Concert Hall

Sing into Spring Choral Concert, March 4, Helen Bader Concert Hall

All Night Strut , March 8-12, Mainstage Theatre

Jazz Ensemble, March 9, Jan Serr Studio

Wind Ensemble and Symphony Band, March 16, Helen Bader Concert Hall

UWM Piano Studio Recital, March 16, Music Recital Hall

Spring Opera Production, March 31-April 1, Helen Bader Concert Hall

New Music MKE: Student Premiers, April 5, Music Recital Hall

Makers! Student Exhibition, April 7-21, Kenilworth Square East

2023 BA/BFA Spring Exhibition, April 8-May 20, Kenilworth Square East

Jack Thorpe, April 10, Music Recital Hall

Jazz Ensemble, April 13, Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts

Cicchillitti-Cowan Duo Classical Guitar Concert , April 14, Music Recital Hall

Elena Abend and John Daugherty, April 15, Music Recital Hall

Sweat , April 19-23, Kenilworth Five-0-Eight

University Community Orchestra, April 23, Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts

The Rivals, May 3-7, Mainstage Theatre

Springdances 2023 , May 10-14, Jan Serr Studio

UWM UNION ART GALLERY agallery@studentinvolvement.uwm.edu

UW-WHITEWATER CROSSMAN GALLERY uww.edu

UW-WHITEWATER THEATRE uww.edu

VAR GALLERY & STUDIOS vargallery.com

VILLA TERRACE DECORATIVE ARTS MUSEUM villaterrace.org

Grounded, through March 5

Mestiere 2023 , April 6 - Aug. 13

The Villa Terrace's first biennial exhibition honoring and celebrating craft in the Greater Milwaukee Region.

VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE villageplayhouse.org

Death Takes a Role, March 10-11, Interchange Theater voicesfoundrep.com

WALKER'S POINT CENTER FOR THE ARTS wpca-milwaukee.org

WAREHOUSE ART MUSEUM wammke.org

Rediscover Ruth Grothenrath: All Things Belong to this Earth , through March 31

WATER STREET DANCE MILWAUKEE waterstreetdancemke.com

WAUKESHA CIVIC THEATRE waukeshacivictheatre.org

RENT, March 10-26

Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, April 21-May 7

W.O.M.A.N - A Cabaret, April 27

ACAP PlayMakers Back and Forth to the Future, May 11

WEST ALLIS PLAYERS westallisplayers.org

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged, April 21-30, West Milwaukee Intermediate School Liberace Theater

WEST BEND THEATRE COMPANY westbendtheatreco.com

Calendar Girls , May 5-14

WEST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER nbexcellence.org/ community/westpac.cfm

WILD SPACE DANCE COMPANY wildspacedance.org

WINDFALL THEATRE windfalltheatre.com

WISCONSIN CENTER wisconsincenter.com

WISCONSIN CRAFT wisconsincraft.org

WISCONSIN LUTHERAN COLLEGE CENTER FOR ARTS AND PERFORMANCE wlc.edu

Milwaukee Musaik, April 4

WISCONSIN MUSEUM OF QUILTS & FIBER ART wiquiltmuseum.com

Fabulous Fads, through May 14

WISCONSIN PHILHARMONIC wisphil.org

The Glory of Spring, May 11, Oconomowoc Arts Center

WOODLAND PATTERN BOOK CENTER woodlandpattern.org

WUSTUM MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS ramart.org

Focus on Glass, through May 2023

The exhibition is a celebration of four unique glass artists from diverse backgrounds: Jose Chardiet, Brett Kee Young, Acquaetta Williams and Etsuko Nishi. According to museum organizer Lena Vigna, the exhibit aims to not only “reflect the variety of artists making contemporary work” but also display the “different components of working with the material and how artists appreciate it.” (Jenny Maurer)