City of Madison
Holiday Fantasy in Lights
Friday 11.23
Holiday Fantasy in Lights
Olin-Turville Park, dusk until dawn. Through Jan. 1
Thanksgiving's over, so it's time to start thinking about you-know-what. You can get into the spirit by driving through Olin-Turville Park to ogle the brilliantly lit-up seasonal sculptures, courtesy of area electrical contractors.
Oakwood Chamber Players
Oakwood Village West Auditorium, 2, 5:30 & 8 pm
In a concert called "Lights in Winter," the local chamber ensemble performs Adolphus Hailstork's "Songs of the Magi." Guest artists include baritone tenor Paul Rowe and mezzo-soprano Cheryl Rowe.
Lombardi/The Only Thing
Overture Center Playhouse, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday (4 & 8 pm), Sunday (2 pm), Wednesday & Thursday (7:30 pm), Nov. 23-25, 28 & 29
The Madison Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Eric Simonson's play, a meditation on legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi. The excellent cast makes up for an inconsistent script; the play works best in its many humorous exchanges and moments of emotional intensity.
Uncle Vanya
Bartell Theatre, 8 pm. Also Thursday (7:30 pm) & Saturday (4 & 8 pm), Nov. 22 & 24
Strollers Theatre presents a satisfying version of Anton Chekhov's bittersweet masterpiece, whose title character runs an estate and clashes with his pompous brother-in-law. The cast is stellar, and David Mamet's reworking of Chekhov's dialogue is vivid and imaginative.
Foxy Veronica's Peach Pies
MercLab, 930 Fair Oaks Ave., 8 pm. Also Saturday, Nov. 24, 8 pm
The fun-loving hotties of this local "caburlesque" group -- including Miss Behavin', Kitty LaRue and the Reverend Jim Nasty -- shake their groove thangs in a fund-raiser for Mercury Players Theatre's "Keep Us in Space" fund and their own "Sexy Lingerie Fund." The show takes place in Mercury's new warehouse space.
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult
Annex, 9 pm
The long-running industrial/dance unit does the nasty live on its current audiovisual carnival, the aptly named "The Filthiest Show on Tour." Fans of transgressive behavior (and black leather) should be out in force. Project .44, Flat Atom and Mr. Gnome open.
Spanksgiving
Inferno, 9 pm
Hey, some us just don't get off on turkey legs. Mr. Lucky spins retro lounge sounds while Mistress Jade freshens the flesh in the spanking booth. Video mixer Miss Nix provides additional eye candy. Guests are encouraged to dress up in togs from the 1920s to '50s.
Blamm-O
High Noon Saloon, 10 pm
Can't figure out what to do to escape the relatives? Blamm-O's energizing mix of pop, hard rock and punk is an excellent excuse for getting off the couch. Y Lab opens.
Saturday 11.24
Christmas Craftacular
High Noon Saloon, 10 am-4 pm. Also Sunday, Nov. 25, 10 am-4 pm
The Craftacular showcases the wares of 20 local artists who emphasize the nontraditional. Here's the place (maybe the only one) to pick up a hand towel embroidered with a skull for your Aunt Edna.
Kids in the Rotunda
Overture Center Rotunda, 9:30 am, 11 am & 1 pm
The young'uns can work off some of that Thanksgiving turkey dancing to the old-timey cowboy songs and square-dance tunes of guitarist Bob Bovee and violinist Gail Heil. And it's free, pardner.
Against Me!
Majestic Theatre, 7:30 pm
Tom Gabel's potent, politically aware punk received a polishing from Butch Vig on this year's New Wave, but that didn't blunt its power. This cozy theater bill packs a two-fisted wallop thanks to the presence of witty, ruminative MC Sage Francis. World Inferno Friendship Society also appears.
Solas
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 8 pm
The Celtic band plays its traditional jigs and reels with gusto, and even infusing the occasional pop cover with Irish spirit. They swing through town on their 10th anniversary tour.
Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
Madison Marriott West in Middleton, 8 pm. Also Sunday, Nov. 25, 1 pm
Irish folksinger Kathy Cowan joins the WCO for the annual Middleton Holiday Pops concert. The performance includes Krogstad's "Christmas Snow," Anderson's "A Christmas Festival" and other selections that should jingle your bells.
Alex Wilson Band
Harmony Bar, 9:45 pm
In his varied sets, photogenic Milwaukee blues phenom Wilson travels from Chicago to Mississippi and beyond. He's a comer.
Clyde Stubblefield Band
High Noon Saloon, 10 pm
The one and only "Funky Drummer" celebrates Black 'n Tan's Birthday Bash with a big, dance-floor-directed band that features a pair of singers and a febrile horn section. Rock/reggae vets Reason for Leaving get the groove going early.
Sunday 11.25
James DeVita
A Room of One's Own, 2 pm
The star actor at American Players Theatre is also a writer. He'll discuss his new young-adult novel, The Silenced, in which a teenage girl (inspired by Nazi resister Sophie Scholl) fights for freedom in a repressive society.
