Spring in Madison crests this May Day weekend with the Capital City Jazz Fest, Crazylegs Classic, and the Mifflin Street Block Party. The calendar also includes: a visit by the Found Footage Festival; an exhibit of Amy Chaloupka's Unruly Territories; a talk by Paulette George and A Room of One's Own anniversary party; productions of Moonlight and Magnolias, La Traviata, Say Goodnight, Gracie, The Tenth Planet, Pero, or the Mysteries of the Night, and If the Shoe Fits: A Cinderella Story; the National Dance Week finale and a show by the Post Natyam Collective; performances by the UW Choral Union and Chamber Orchestra; the Dayglow and New Music Everywhere parties and benefits for La FEM Coffee Co-op and Friends of the Waisman Center; and, more live music from F. Stokes, Zola Jesus, Generationals, The Von Ehrics, The Midwesterners, Oro, Chris Pureka, and Femi Kuti & the Positive Force.
Friday 4.29
BIRTHDAYS: Oscar-winning dreamboat Daniel Day-Lewis, 1957; actress Uma Thurman, 1970.
UW Memorial Union Terrace, 4 pm
The university's Hip-Hop as a Movement Conference concludes with a lakeside performance by the globetrotting, Madison-raised rapper F. Stokes, who can be aggressive or reflective but rarely laidback.
Amy Chaloupka: Unruly Territories
Overture Center's James Watrous Gallery, through June 12
Adell, Wis.-based artist Chaloupka made the works in this exhibition out of maps -- cutting them up, transforming them, repurposing them. Chill with her and learn about a new sense of place at tonight's reception, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Quality Inn & Suites, Fitchburg, 7-11 pm. Also Saturday (6-11 pm) & Sunday (11:30 am-3:30 pm), April 30 & May 1
The Madison Jazz Society's trad-leaning fest serves up tunes by the Blue Street Jazz Band, Capital City All Stars, Queen City Jazz Band and the Midiri Brothers Jazz Sextet. There's a special jazz worship celebration at 9 Sunday morning.
Overture Center's Playhouse, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday (8 pm) & Sunday (2 pm), April 30 & May 1
Forward Theater Company concludes its season with Ron Hutchinson's comedy, based on real events, about the desperate effort to write a new screenplay for Gone With the Wind.
Alliant Energy Center's Exhibition Hall, 8 pm
At this touring dance party, the watchword is pulsing music, freaky lights, and grown men and women getting messy with fluorescent paint. With DJs Funkagenda, Devil From Acapulco and Nick Nice.
Orpheum Theatre, 8 & 10 pm
Former Stoughtonites Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett, now veteran writers with comedy outlets like The Colbert Report and The Onion, stop by with another touring show of laughably awful video footage. On the agenda: ventriloquism how-to tapes.
Overture Hall, 8 pm. Also Sunday, May 1, 2:30 pm
Madison Opera presents the last production of the season, Verdi's tragic masterpiece about a courtesan in love. Elizabeth Caballero stars as Violetta, a role she performed with Opera New Jersey.
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
The hardworking purveyor of dark, lo-fi indie pop got her start at UW-Madison and recently set up shop in L.A., where she plots her next moves when she's not touring with folks like Fever Ray and The xx. Welcome her back to where it all began at this show. With Naked on the Vague, Wet Hair and Max Elliott.
Saturday 4.30
NOTEWORTHY: Saigon falls as last helicopter leaves U.S. embassy, 1975.
BIRTHDAYS: Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Willie Nelson, 1933.
Capitol Square, 9:45 am
The eight-kilometer run/wheelchair race and two-mile walk benefits the UW athletic department. The course finishes at Camp Randall, where you can dance, maybe, at a post-race party featuring the UW Marching Band and the Eddie Butts Band.
400-500 blocks of Mifflin Street
The annual party began as a political rite back in the Vietnam era and is now just an excuse to have fun. Live music options (11 am-7 pm) include Steez, Dirty Disco Kids, Star Persons and much more.
Barnes & Noble-East Towne, 11 am. Also Barnes & Noble West Towne, 2 pm
The Wisconsin-based author discusses her book Good Morning Beautiful, about her family's dealings with epilepsy and autism.
UW Library Mall, 11:30 am-5 pm
A week's worth of citywide movement and instruction culminates in this bonanza, at which more than 20 local dance groups will show off their stuff, from Kanopy Dance Company to Salsa Rueda to WADOMA Africa Dance.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 7 pm
New York-based actor Alan Safier performs the one-man play based on comedian George Burns' long career in vaudeville, radio, movies and TV with wife Gracie Allen. It ran on Broadway and was written by Rupert Holmes, who also wrote "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)." Remember that?
Plan B, 8 pm
A mash-up of classical music, dance and cabaret, this event hosted by local drag personality Davina DeVille will feature works by William Bolcom, Travis Garrison and Scott Gendel, plus the North American premiere of Guillermo Lago's "Strong Ties" for piano and sax.
UW Lathrop Hall's H'Doubler Performance Space, 8 pm
The UW dance department's venue hosts the collective's SUNOH! Tell Me, Sister, a program of contemporary Indian dance works that touch on women's stories. The dances were mostly choreographed long-distance, via the Internet.
UW Choral Union and Chamber Orchestra
UW Humanities Building's Mills Hall, 8 pm. Also Sunday, May 1, 7:30 pm
The combined units give the deluxe treatment to Mendelssohn's 1846 Elijah. How many prophets get their very own oratorio?
UW Memorial Union Terrace, 9:30 pm
Con Law, the debut album by this indie-rock pair with New Orleans beginnings, won accolades from The New York Times Magazine, Pitchfork, and Allmusic. Check out their sophomore release, Actor-Caster, as the Terrace gears up for its summer season. With Crane Your Swan Neck.
High Noon Saloon, 10 pm
These four Texans whip country, gospel, punk, metal and more into a gritty punkabilly hoedown like no one else does. They'll show off their brand-new album, Two Foot Stomp at this performance. With Whisky Pig and Systemic Torment.
Sunday 5.1
MAY DAY/INTERNATIONAL LABOR DAY
BIRTHDAYS: Black Crowes bassist Johnny Colt, 1966; filmmaker Wes Anderson, 1969.
High Noon Saloon, 1 pm
Two Madison institutions, the High Noon Saloon and the Just Coffee Cooperative, join forces to help a Nicaraguan coffee-growers' co-op that was buried in a landslide. The charming Americana of Count This Penny, Katie Powderly and Winn Dixie will fill the room and, if all goes well, inspire countless acts of kindness.
A Room of One's Own Anniversary
A Room of One's Own, 2 pm
The feminist bookstore celebrates sweet 36 with refreshments and a reception for "Madison Women Who Have Made a Difference": Sue Goldwomon, Arlene Zaucha, Marian Thompson and Susan Friedman.
Masonic Center, 2 pm
Radio Active, a theater troupe devoted to reproducing old-time radio broadcasts, presents a science-fiction story that aired on NBC's Hollywood Star Playhouse in 1952.
Pero, or the Mysteries of the Night
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 3 pm
Imported from the Netherlands, this kids' play is about a baker and washerwoman who may or may not find true love.
Harmony Bar, 4 pm
With Richard Wiegel out front, Madison's Midwesterners pick some fiery old-time rock 'n' roll and honky-tonkin' Americana. They have a new album, Live! at the Cuda Café.
Friends of the Waisman Center benefit
Waisman Center Auditorium, 6 pm
The Tony Castañeda Latin Jazz Sextet headlines this year's fundraiser for UW-Madison's research on intellectual and developmental disabilities.
If the Shoe Fits: A Cinderella Story
Barrymore Theatre, 6 pm
PlayTime Productions presents a contemporary, all-youth staging of the familiar tale about a maiden, a shoe and a difficult home life.
Project Lodge, 7 pm
This art-punk band with roots in hard-rocking Chicago trio Quatre Tete will dazzle ProLo with tons of heart and a bumper crop of brains. With the United Sons of Toil and Queening.
High Noon Saloon, 7:30 pm
The singer-songwriter cites Ani DiFranco and Peter Mulvey as influences, but she's also been likened to Ryan Adams, Patty Griffin and a young Bruce Springsteen. With Joe Pug and Strand of Oaks.
Femi Kuti & the Positive Force
Majestic Theatre, 8:30 pm
The son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti has blazed his own trail, receiving a Grammy nomination in 2009 for his album Day by Day. Learn more in this week's Tour Stop. With Tani Diakite & the AfroFunkstars and DJ Phil Money.
