We are living in tough times. European nations overflowing with refugees fleeing terror. A planet on fire and drowning due to climate change. Growing inequality, ugly eruptions of racial strife. Why on earth would we bother, in the midst of all this, to see a dance concert, a play, a standup show, a classical concert?
Because sometimes the arts allow us to turn our gaze from the world’s troubles. Others look to art to shine light into dark places, to create community where there is dissent. The arts make us smarter, better collaborators. They get our neurons firing. All these reasons are legit. But art shouldn’t have to justify its existence: Art just is.
Isthmus’ fall arts preview presents an impressive array of offerings that demonstrate that Madison is no cultural backwater. From the world-class artists who bring their talents to the Overture Center and Union Theater to the rebels at Broom Street Theater, the arts are thriving in Madison.
We made a conscious choice to present events in chronological order, not distinguishing between “high” and “low” culture — a division that is debatable at best, dangerous at worst. In any case, some offerings — comedy by classical musicians Igudesman & Joo and Madison Ballet’s Dracula — defy such categorization. In this preview, our critics highlight a sampling (and it’s impossible to be comprehensive) of classical music, dance, theater and comedy taking place on Madison stages from now until the end of 2015.
And finally, we offer up a challenge: Try something new. If you tend to frequent indie rock shows, check out our world-class symphony. If Broadway’s your thing, cross over to the Bartell — or get really risqué and bring your own beer into a Broom Street Theater show. It’s allowed. Really.
— Catherine Capellaro
The Boy Friend
Bartell Theatre, through Sept. 26
Madison Theatre Guild has launched its 70th season with a remounting of Sandy Wilson’s musical comedy The Boy Friend (below). Set in the 1920s, this show is a romp through the trifles of high society life as young heiress Polly tries her hand at the dating game. Her overprotective father attempts to keep her from dating below her social order — a policy Ms. Polly is not too keen to adhere to. The Boy Friend is a charming little number that rekindles the age of carefree Broadway.
Deen van Meer
Newsies
Overture Hall, through Sept. 20
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Those singing newspaper boys who rally for social change between dance numbers have arrived at the Overture Center. Loosely based on the New York City newsboys strike of 1899, the show follows Jack Kelly, who dreams of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. When Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices, Jack finds a cause to fight for and rallies his army of newsies to strike. Produced by Disney after the movie version flopped, the musical won Tony Awards for choreography and Alan Menken’s score. It’s a charming and heartwarming performance, full of exuberant dance.
Rapture, Blister, Burn
Bartell Theatre, Sept.18-Oct. 3
In Gina Gionfriddo’s unintentional sequel to Wendy Wasserstein’s The Heidi Chronicles, two women — former college roommates — reunite after many years. One is a superstar academic who never married or had children, and the other is a stay-at-home mom. They each have a few regrets, and each wants what the other one has. The New York Times called the play “intensely smart, immensely funny” as it explores life choices in the wake of 20th-century feminist ideals. We’re excited to see this Pulitzer nominee on a Madison stage. Kudos to Mercury Players Theatre for consistently choosing pieces that might intimidate other theater groups.
Connect
Overture Center’s Playhouse, Sept. 19-20
Connectivity isn’t just the theme of this new production from Madison Contemporary Vision Dance; it shapes the group’s approach to dance. Founded in 2010 by Sara Rohs and Ashley Burkland, the troupe hosts workshops and community outreach classes for all ages, offers an annual pre-professional summer intensive and produces a monthly newsletter for the Madison dance community. Rohs believes in the power of dance, as illustrated by her description of Connect: “Collaboration creates change, promotes growth and enriches the lives of those involved. In the midst of struggle, chaos and loss, we have the potential to bring positivity and hope through our human connections.”
Lombardi
The Palace Theater in the Dells, Sept. 23-Nov. 1
What does it take to win? That question haunted iconic coach Vince Lombardi as he tried to whip the (then) failing Green Bay Packers football team into shape. When Look magazine reporter Michael McCormick spends a week following Lombardi and his family, tensions run high. McCormick’s exposé of the coach comes out right as the team is prepping for the NFL Championship. In Eric Simonson’s play, audiences get to see what determination costs a family, a man and his team.
Last Comic Standing Live Tour
Orpheum Theater, Sept. 29
“This is a night of champions, and I want to see a champion.” That’s how comedy veteran Keenen Ivory Wayans kicked off the finale of the NBC series. The final five — everyman Michael Palascak, crowd favorite Ian Bagg, storyteller Dominique, Andy “Meow” Erikson and likeable winner Clayton English — delivered. Don’t miss it when these champs bring their game to Madison.
Wisconsin Wrights Play Festival
Fredric March Play Circle, Oct. 1-3
The joint venture between the Wisconsin Wrights program and Forward Theater showcases readings of new works by three up-and-coming local playwrights. In a Clearing by Karen Saari is an exploration of addiction set in rural Wisconsin. Michael Proft’s play Faithless recounts the true story of a journalist who forms a relationship with Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science. Proft, who lives in Cedarburg, makes a return to playwriting after more than 25 years, when his last play was produced off-Broadway. James DeVita, best known for his more than 20 years with American Players Theatre, will share Learning to Stay, an adaptation of a novel by Madison writer Erin Celello about a veteran returning from Iraq with a traumatic head injury.
Dan Myers
Trash
Overture Center’s Promenade Hall, Oct. 1-11
We live in a disposable society. Objects, people, relationships and feelings do not always withstand the test of time. But what does it mean to be trash? The world premiere of a new Theatre LILA invention explores cultural understandings of garbage and how letting go of certain things can affect lives. In true Theatre LILA fashion, the group will use song, movement and storytelling to embark on a treasure hunt through other people’s “trash.”
Walk with a Vampire
Encore Studio for the Performing Arts (1480 Martin Street), Oct. 2-17
Walk with a Vampire takes a serious but darkly comedic look at issues like mental illness, sexual assault and the needs of people with disabilities. This show, which was originally produced by Encore in 2003, is based on the real-life experiences of a person with a high-functioning developmental disability who involves her best friend in a bloody crime. Encore Studio is Wisconsin’s only professional theater company for people with disabilities, and their work not only entertains, it educates and encourages dialogue about the experiences of people with disabilities.
Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra: Masterworks I
Overture Center’s Capitol Theater, Oct. 2
The WCO is full of delightful surprises, including this concert’s opener, “Landfall in Unknown Seas” for narrator and string accompaniment. With music by Douglas Lilburn, “Landfall” tells the story of the discovery of New Zealand, the homeland of WCO maestro Andrew Sewell. Then Saint-Saëns’ “Symphony No. 2 in A minor” offers a glimpse of the composer’s musical thinking while he was in his early 20s. As a special treat, Madison native and violin wunderkind Ben Beilman returns to star in Beethoven’s monumental “Violin Concerto in D major.”
Kristin Chenoweth
Overture Hall, Oct. 4
Kristin Chenoweth loves being onstage. From singing in church as a young girl, to her run for the Miss America title, to her appearances in dozens of movies and TV shows (including Glee, The West Wing and Pushing Daisies), the classically trained coloratura soprano has made a name for herself as a vocal powerhouse and charming entertainer. Beloved by Broadway fans for originating the role of Glinda in the blockbuster Wicked, she won a Tony for her role as Sally in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown and was lauded for her performance in On the Twentieth Century, which closed on Broadway in July. No doubt this concert will allow Chenoweth to shine, performing show tunes and other favorites that showcase her incredible voice and bubbly personality.
Shrek the Musical
Overture Center’s Playhouse, Oct. 9-25
CTM begins its season with a family-centered musical featuring Shrek, the loveable green ogre who reluctantly takes up a quest and gets the girl. Originally voiced by Mike Myers for the 2001 Dreamworks film, Shrek is a unique hero; an ugly, antisocial character who — along with his fast-talking donkey sidekick — encounters a storybook full of childhood favorites on his mission to free Princess Fiona from the dragon’s lair. With a book by David Lindsay-Abaire (Good People) and music by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), the twist on traditional happy endings should have everyone singing “I’m a Believer” as they exit the theater.
Al Madrigal
Comedy Club on State, Oct. 9-10
This San Francisco-raised comedian has been inching toward the spotlight for more than a decade now, winning a standup award in 2004 that translated into two 2008 TV gigs, Welcome to the Captain and Gary Unmarried. But his biggest breaks came in 2011 and 2013, respectively, when he scored a correspondent position on The Daily Show and a supporting role on NBC’s About a Boy.
Whose Live Anyway?
Overture Hall, Oct. 10
Even though “everything’s made up and the points don’t matter,” the regular performers on TV’s Whose Line Is It Anyway? take the craft seriously, and they’re rightly regarded as some of the best improvisers in the world. No comedy fan should pass up this opportunity to see them onstage and in person. Featuring Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Joel Murray and Jeff B. Davis.
Tea
UW Mitchell Theatre, Oct. 15-Nov.1
During the U.S. occupation of Japan at the end of World War II, more than 100,000 Japanese women married American soldiers. Between 1946 and 1960, they came to the United States with their husbands and were stationed in remote Army posts such as Fort Riley, Kan. These war brides formed a unique and uneasy community, a world away from their traditions, language, family and culture. This University Theatre production of Velina Hasu Houston’s play takes up this fascinating story, examining the lives of five Japanese women transplanted to the Western plains. Directed by theater professor David Furumoto, this should be a lovely, if disquieting, production.
Kyle Kinane
Comedy Club on State, Oct. 15-17
Although this Illinois-raised standup has performed his comedy everywhere from Conan to Jimmy Fallon, he’s still best known for his voice. As a frequent podcast contributor and the on-air announcer for Comedy Central since 2011, he’s honed his signature delivery into a can’t-miss show.
John Urban
Madison Ballet’s Dracula
Overture Center’s Capitol Theater, Oct. 16-17
Madison Ballet’s rock ’n’ roll adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic vampire tale premiered in 2013 and easily could have been too campy. But this sexy production showcases the company’s technical prowess, highlighting the strong choreography of artistic director W. Earle Smith. It also features an excellent and hard-driving score by Michael Massey, played live by a rock band, and Karen Brown-Larimore steampunk costumes. All the marvelousness plays out on the late Jen Trieloff’s handsome set. The performances are scheduled right before Halloween, which is perfect timing. Fingers crossed that they axed a silly air guitar sequence.
Wicked
Overture Hall, Oct. 21-Nov. 1
Flying in for its second go-round in Madison is Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before houses fell and ruby slippers were hot commodities, two young women — a bookish girl with green skin and a peppy blond — were enrolled in Shiz University. Elphaba is desperate to keep a low profile, while Glinda wants nothing of the sort. The unlikely friends embark on a journey of self-discovery, love and understanding. See for yourself why this high-flying Broadway blockbuster is so “Popular.”
Julia Wesely
Igudesman & Joo
Overture Center’s Capitol Theater, Oct. 23
Classical musicians Aleksey Igudesman (violin) and Hyung-ki Joo (piano) know how to have a good time (pictured above). And, as part of the Overture Center season, they will share some of those good times with us in And Now Mozart. The show is a series of comedy skits that combine music of classical composers like Bach, Chopin and maybe Mozart with rap, heavy metal and other musical forms. Luminaries like Emanuel Ax and Gidon Kremer have participated in the duo’s hysterical mash-ups.
Big Expectations
Broom Street Theater, Oct. 23-Nov. 14
Written and directed by Ray Olderman, a stalwart of Madison’s theater community and former professor of English at the UW, Big Expectations riffs on Charles Dickens’ classic novel Great Expectations. The bones of the story are similar: A poor boy from the edges of society has his life changed by a benefactor. But Dickens likely wouldn’t recognize this revisioning of his tale. Set mostly in the near future, Big Expectations opens in the complaint department of “The Universal Everything Corporation” and involves time travel. We predict this show will reinforce Broom Street’s reputation for experimental and innovative theater.
Bryan Morris
Comedy Club on State, Oct. 29-30
Bryan Morris (below) spent a decade honing his improv and comedic skills in Madison before shipping off to New York City last fall. The standup’s witty, sometimes absurd observational humor won him the title of Madison’s Funniest Comic in 2012 and is sure to be on full display here.
The Game of Love and Chance
American Players Theatre, Oct. 30-Nov. 22
Former artistic director David Frank returns to APT to direct Pierre Carlet de Marivaux’s 18th-century French comedy about switching identities and falling in love with the “wrong” people. Prior to her arranged marriage, an apprehensive Silvia switches places with her maid Lisette to learn more about her intended husband. Coincidentally, her husband-to-be, Dorante, has the same idea, trading places with his valet, Harlequin. While “the help” have fun aping the behavior of the upper classes, the disguised couple falls in love. But there are plenty of issues of money and class to resolve before the wedding. A perfect excuse to visit APT in the fall, the production features the talented Kelsey Brennan, James DeVita, Melisa Pereyra and Marcus Truschinski.
Shaping Sound
Overture Hall, Nov. 4
Choreographers Travis Wall, Nick Lazzarini, Teddy Forance and Kyle Robinson are known for their involvement with dance reality television shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars (and now their own Oxygen show, All the Right Moves). They are making a stop in Madison on their national tour, promising “an electrifying mash-up of dance styles and musical genres brought fully to life on stage by a dynamic company of contemporary dancers.” The young cast members all have impressive dance pedigrees and are self-described “visual musicians.”
Wyatt Cenac
Comedy Club on State, Nov. 5-7
Well known for his role as a correspondent and writer on The Daily Show, New York-based comedian Wyatt Cenac has developed an enviable career beyond satirical news. He’s appeared in acclaimed indie films like Sleepwalk with Me and Medicine for Melancholy, and his most recent comedy special, Brooklyn, premiered on Netflix last year.
The Clean House
Bartell Theater, Nov. 6-21
Matilde, a Brazilian housekeeper who dreams of becoming a standup comedian is at the center of The Clean House, produced by Madison Theatre Guild. A finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize, this play by Sarah Ruhl tackles issues of class, identity and love. Ruhl’s plays are famously quirky, and The Clean House is another imaginative, character-driven work with plenty of charming idiosyncrasies.
Silent Sky
Overture Center’s Playhouse, Nov. 5-22
Forward Theatre Company deserves a round of applause for producing the Midwestern premiere of Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky. This play explores the realities of women making great strides in the world of science during a time when they were expected to stay home and raise children. Pursuing a career far away from home, Henrietta Leavitt takes a job as one of Harvard’s astronomy “computers” (a data-entry clerk). Realizing that her interests lie among the stars she has been recording, Leavitt is determined to unlock the mysteries of the night sky. It is only then that she discovers the hardships of being female in a male-dominated field of study.
Craig Ferguson
Overture Center’s Capitol Theater, Nov. 11
Since vacating his seat as host of The Late Late Show last year, Scottish comic Craig Ferguson has found himself with a lot more time on his hands. And what better way to use it than to return to his standup comedy roots? On his “New Deal” tour, there will be just one man, one mic and an audience in stitches.
Finding Human
Bartell Theatre, Nov. 13-28
Following its inaugural production at Broom Street Theater in January, StageQ is remounting Finding Human, Madison playwright Dan Myers’ chilling look at incarceration. Featuring the original cast and director, this candid production speaks frankly about the realities of prison life. After spending a decade on Florida’s death row, James is faced with his final week of life. But a question remains. Why did he kill that priest? In a manner befitting Hannibal Lecter, James never gives a solid answer. Recommended for mature audiences only.
La Bohème
Overture Hall, Nov. 13-15
La Bohème, presented by Madison Opera, is one of the world’s most beloved and oft-performed operas. Fans of opera likely know the tale well — an account of the tribulations of two young couples living la vie bohème in the Latin quarter of 1830s Paris. Opera newbies may also recognize this story, as it was loosely reinterpreted in the 1996 musical. Set to a famously lush score, Puccini’s classic is a tragic love story that has been moving audiences for more than a century.
Cheryl Mann
Juxtaposed
Overture Center’s Promenade Hall, Nov. 13-15
Before Martha Graham created her own technique and company, she performed and studied with modern dance pioneers Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. Kanopy Dance Company goes back to these important roots by presenting Weidman’s classic Lynchtown from 1936. The excellent Chicago-based company Winifred Haun & Dancers will also perform excerpts from Promise, which is inspired by Steinbeck’s East of Eden. Kanopy co-directors Robert E. Cleary and Lisa Thurrell will stage their own works, This Is Not America and Come Months Come Away.
The Crucible
Edgewood’s Diane Ballweg Theatre, Nov. 13-21
Edgewood College presents Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, which is as relevant today as it was when it debuted in 1953. The plot is based on the Salem witch trials, but Miller meant it to be an allegory of the McCarthyism of the 1950s. The story revolves around a farmer defending his wife, who is accused of witchcraft. The Crucible takes a hard look at what happens when suspicion and hysteria take over a community. The play’s themes — mob mentality, personal freedom and identity — still resonate deeply with today’s audiences.
Cirque Mechanics
Overture Center’s Capitol Theater, Nov. 14-15
Acrobatics, clowning and bicycles make up the heart of Cirque Mechanics’ Pedal Punk. Enter the weird and wonderful world of a bicycle mechanic who doesn’t just fix broken bikes, but creates magical machines, delighting his onstage patrons and the audience. This whimsical show with a steampunk aesthetic celebrates the intersection of humans and machines. Known for dynamic storytelling and innovative staging, Cirque Mechanics is modern circus at its best.
The Beaux’ Stratagem
UW Mitchell Theatre, Nov. 19-Dec.13
Looking for more period comedy about mistaken identities and love stories? Check out George Farquhar’s The Beaux’ Strategem, originally produced in 1707 (adapted by Thornton Wilder and Ken Ludwig). In this comic romp, two penniless cads from London, Archer and Aimwell, flee to the country to escape their debts. They decide that to return to the high life, one of them must marry for money. Throw in a scheming landlord, a band of highwaymen, a French Count, a duplicitous maid, a brutish husband and a suspicious priest, and hilarity naturally ensues. This University Theatre production should give a large cast of students the opportunity to have a lot of fun with a classic.
Chris Walker
UW Lathrop Hall, Nov. 19-21
Chris Walker, associate professor in the UW dance department, was the recipient this spring of a prestigious Romnes Faculty Fellowship, recognizing the important work that this Jamaican-born dancer and choreographer is doing in his field. Known for his leadership with the UW’s First Wave Hip Hop Theater Ensemble, his own modern dance works often explore his Afro-Caribbean heritage and the African diaspora. The concert features Walker’s collaborations with Kevin Ormsby of Toronto-based KasheDance and UW dance students.
Madison Symphony Orchestra
Overture Hall, Nov. 20-22
The MSO, under the direction of John DeMain, has gained a sizable reputation for its rich, warm soundscapes. But this concert will feature its light touch in Ravel’s “Valses Nobles et Sentimentales.” Saint-Saëns’ “Cello Concert No. 1” features virtuoso Sara Sant’Ambrogio, and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique will offer darker, stormier fare laced with levity and dance.
Joe Rogan
Orpheum Theater, Nov. 20
If you only know Joe Rogan as the former host of Fear Factor, well, that’s frightening. A successful standup comedian for more than two decades, Rogan has released four hour-long specials, hosts the Joe Rogan Experience podcast and is a commentator for Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Dwayne Kennedy
Comedy Club on State, Nov. 27-28
He may not be a household name (yet), but Chicago native Dwayne Kennedy (below) has one of the most impressive resumes in comedy. He’s done guest spots on Seinfeld and Martin, performed on Letterman and Conan, and in 2002, won the Jury Award for Best Standup at the Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. Most recently Kennedy served as a writer and actor on the dearly departed FX series Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell.
Cameron Esposito
Comedy Club on State, Dec. 3-5
Esposito is a much-lauded comedian whose sophomore album, Same Sex Symbol, earned a spot on many critics’ best-of-2014 lists. She also hosts a weekly standup show at L.A.’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and counts Jay Leno among her fans, especially since he called her “the future of comedy.”
The Light in the Piazza
Overture Center’s Playhouse, Dec. 4-13
After a summer hit with Guys and Dolls, Four Seasons Theatre is taking on a quieter, less traditional musical for the fall. The Light in the Piazza has a book from Craig Lucas (Longtime Companion, Prelude to a Kiss), a score by Adam Guettel (Floyd Collins) and a slew of Tony awards, but it didn’t get consistent critical praise when it ran on Broadway in 2005. The story begins in the summer of 1953 when the wife of a well-heeled American businessman is traveling with her mentally challenged adult daughter Clara. While sightseeing in a piazza, Clara loses her hat in a wind, and it lands at the feet of Fabrizio Naccarelli, a handsome Florentine. If anyone can revive this quirky gem, it’s Four Seasons.
Kat Cameron
Kloepper Concert (Student Concert)
UW Lathrop Hall, Dec. 5-6
Louise Kloepper came to UW Madison to study dance in 1942 after a successful career as a dancer. This influential professor, producer and program chair is honored in the concert named for her, which features choreographic works from current dance students. The performance, held in the studio at Lathrop bearing her name, is an excellent chance to get acquainted with the diverse breadth of talent in the UW dance department. Confident young dancers and choreographers show why this department is known for helping to mold “thinking dancers,” as they present solo and group works.
Jackie Kashian
Comedy Club on State, Dec. 17-19
It’s a homecoming of sorts for Wisconsin comic Jackie Kashian, who got her start heckling Sam Kinison right here in Madison (seriously — it was an offhand comment about open mics by management that inspired her to become a standup). In the decades since, Kashian has become one of the nation’s premier touring comics and has hosted the twice-weekly podcast The Dork Forest, which she records in her living room, since 2005.
Previews by Andrew Brandt, Amelia Fontella Cook, Amanda Finn, Katie Reiser, Gwendolyn Rice, Sandy Tabachnick, Gretchen Tracy and Tom Whitcomb.
Editor's note: This article was updated to correct the title of Karen Saari's play in the Wisconsin Wrights Festival. The correct title is "In a Clearing."
