Feast upon yet another array of fine arts entrees around Madison this weekend The calendar includes: the return of the Tales from Planet Earth film fest; productions of Carmen, Dog Sees God, and All About Eve and a performance of Under the Big Top; live music by the George Maurer Duo, The Sounds, El Ten Eleven, The Mountain Goats, Mount Eerie, the Ancora String Quartet, Ami Saraiya, Ace Frehley, Emancipator, Cursillistas, and Old Crow Medicine Show; and for dessert, Pie Palooza.
Friday 11.6
BIRTHDAYS: Actor Ethan Hawke, 1970; actress Thandie Newton, 1972.
Downtown venues, through Sunday, Nov. 8
The UW's Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies presents its second annual festival of films and events with environmental themes. Visit Movies).
Overture Hall, 8 pm. Also Sunday, Nov. 8, 2:30 pm
Madison Opera begins its season with Georges Bizet's 1875 classic story of a volatile Gypsy girl, complete with thrilling story, vivid characters and an indelible tune every few minutes. Director and choreographer Candace Evans is a Madison native.
Dejope Gaming, 8 & 10 pm. Also Saturday, Nov. 7, 8 & 10 pm
After early dabbling in New Age, pianist Maurer has made a name for himself as a mainstay of Minnesota jazz.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
The Swedish New Wave band that formed from the ashes of the New Young Pony Club aims to join the ranks of Blondie, the Cars and Missing Persons but throws in a bit of Lykke Li-style eclecticism as well (see Tour Stop). With Foxy Shazam, Diamonds and Semi Precious Weapons.
UW Memorial Union Rathskeller, 9:30 pm
The L.A.-based post-rock duo courted graphic designers by performing on the soundtrack of 2007's Helvetica, a cinematic ode to the super sans-serif typeface. Their 2008 release, These Promises Are Being Videotaped, is more of an album for the people, featuring mathy instrumental compositions that are both daring and danceable. With Basic Physics.
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
Singer-songwriter John Darnielle is the only person to hold the title of "America's best non-hip-hop lyricist," bestowed upon him by The New Yorker. His melodies serve as an ideal frame for his words as well, especially on The Life of the World to Come, a new disc that explores almost a dozen verses of the Bible in song, something that's not easy to pull off with such grace. With Final Fantasy.
Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead
Bartell Theatre, 10:30 pm. Also Saturday (5:30 & 10:30 pm) & Sunday (5 pm), November 7 & 8
OUT!Cast Theatre is the latest company to join the Bartell Theatre fold, and this debut production is Bert V. Royal's adults-only spoof of Charles Schulz's Peanuts kids, now teens. Royal brings grownup themes like boozing and mental illness to what was, come to think of it, an already pretty grownup group of children.
Saturday 11.7
BIRTHDAY: Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, 1943.
High Noon Saloon, 6 pm
Phil Elverum's dreamy, lo-fi folk is an excellent way to ease into a chilly autumn evening, whether you're planning to drink beer at the bar all night or curl up with a book and a hot chocolate after the show. With No Kids and Tara Jane O'Neil.
Stoughton Opera House, 7:30 pm
The local ensemble, whose history dates back to 2000, hits the southern burb with a program including music by Swiss composer Joachim Raff and Beethoven's "Quartet No. 15."
Overture Center's Playhouse, 7:30 pm
For its inaugural show, the new Forward Theater Company has assembled some serious local stage firepower, including APT's Sarah Day and Madison Rep vets Colleen Burns and Richard Ganoung, for this radio-play version of the iconic Bette Davis movie. The script was assembled by another theater notable from these parts, Jack Forbes Wilson.
Mother Fool's Coffeehouse, 8 pm
The charismatic singer from the defunct Chicago ambient-folk band Radiant Darling shows off her accordion and acoustic guitar skills on songs from a new CD, Archaeologist. With Hayward Williams.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
If like certain Isthmus staffers you were a kid in the late 1970s, you might well have idolized guitarist Frehley, whose lively playing and raspy singing (and freaky "Space Ace" makeup) brought panache to the music of KISS in that band's glory days. He's promoting a new album, Anomaly, and good for him.
UW Memorial Union Rathskeller, 9:30 pm
Hip-hop beats, elegant piano and spacey guitar feedback coalesce beautifully in the down-tempo tunes of the artist's new CD, Soon It Will Be Cold Enough. With Steez.
Sunday 11.8
BIRTHDAYS: Singer-songwriter-pianist Rickie Lee Jones, 1954; actress Parker Posey, 1968.
Under the Big Top: The Amazing Fat Lady Show
A Room of One's Own, 2 pm
In this performance, Eileen Rosensteel recalls the fat ladies from circuses and sideshows of yesteryear. Rosensteel has long advocated against size discrimination.
Project Lodge, 7:30 pm
The psychedelic creations of the Maine-to-California duo don't sound like songs as much as haunted emissions from floorboards and forests. See if the spooky ambience translates live at the local DIY art space. With Julian Lynch.
Barrymore Theatre, 8 pm
With their down-home twang and covers of old-timey blues, the mountain-music aficionados sometimes sound like they just left a tar-paper shack.
Goodman Community Center, 11:30 am-1:30 pm
Paging Little Jack Horner: Chefs from more than 20 local eateries (L'Etoile, Harvest) serve up all manner of pies, both sweet and savory. Proceeds benefit REAP, the nonprofit that promotes a healthy and sustainable local food system.
