"1987 was an especially rewarding year for Madison culture," critic Paul Gerard writes. "Here are the highlights from an aisle-seat perspective." He starts by citing Madison Civic Center director Ralph Sandler for booking such important shows as Nureyev, Baryshnikov, Sankai Juku and Twyla Tharp to yield a season Gerard hails as "the best in the state, even eclipsing that of the larger Milwaukee Performing Arts Center." Gerard goes on to praise Madison Art Center's "African Masterpieces from Munich" and "Wisconsin Triennial" shows; Elvehjem exhibitions works by photographer Alvin Langdon Coburn and Chilean painter Claudio Bravo; and steady improvement of local theater. Gerard cites Joseph Hanreddy's direction of The Fox for the Madison Rep, Randall Duk Kim's portrayal of Hamlet at American Players Theatre, and two new plays by Joel Gersmann at Broom Street Theater, Midnight in Moscow and Martian Time Slip. The Madison Civic Center and Madison Art Center have since metamorphosed into the Overture Center and Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Sandler is now an acclaimed photographer. The Elvehjem is now named the Chazen. Hanreddy is now artistic director of Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Since leaving APT, Kim has amassed an impressive list of movie, TV and theater credits. Gersmann died in 2005. Broom Street Theater lives on.
So long, 1987
From the Isthmus archives, Jan. 1, 1988