Amanda Finn - Page 2

In the early 20th century, women were barred from many fields of study - even pondering the wonders of the night sky. But that did not stop Leavitt from making discoveries that lead to establishing a measurement standard for astronomers all over the world. She left behind the familiar world of her father's pulpit in Wisconsin, ventured off to Harvard, and uncovered a way to use the brightness of stars to determine their distance from one another.

Will you look back on your life fondly or regretfully? For Stoogie Lucotch or "Stuart Lucas" it's a dilemma for the ages. Combining personal reflections with Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, Ray Olderman's Big Expectations (first performed in 1983) at Broom Street Theater examines the correlation between happiness and success.

This isn't Madison's first Wicked rodeo. The show has come to town three times since 2010, yet, Overture Hall was still filled to the brim with eager audience members last night. Why? Because Wicked is visually spectacular, musically varied, and has relevant lessons to be learned.

Agatha Christie's Mousetrap has been running non-stop since it opened in 1952 on the West End. The film can't be made until the show runs its course, mystery lovers continue to see it long after the criminal has been found out, and those who have seen it already are sworn to absolute secrecy.

It's racist and homophobic. Mart Crowley's The Boys in the Band is full of gay stereotypes and cringe worthy slang. It is politically incorrect in nearly every way. But, it's history. Boys is a snapshot into the past. A comedic, albeit bleak, look back to 1968 - before Stonewall and the major turning points in the gay rights movement. An amalgamation of nearly every negative connotation of what it meant to be a part of the gay community, Boys throws everything out like a spread of packages on the table.

It's Romeo and Juliet with dancing, knives, and a taste for Americana. West Side Story, the nearly 60 year old Broadway musical, is deeply rooted in the musical theatre canon. A tale of two young lovers, separated by opposing street gangs explores dated (though still incredibly relevant) social stigmas outlined by ethnicity and socioeconomic status. The show is well known, beloved, and has several incredibly memorable musical numbers. So when a theatre company takes on this particular production, they also take on the reputation that precedes it - which is often more of a challenge than the show itself.

Can a woman achieve undeniable professional success and be a mother? Can she and her husband share an equal amount of achievement or is one always bound to be at least one step behind the other? Such are questions that Gina Gionfriddo's Rapture, Blister, Burn ponders while toeing the line between provocative and conciliatory. Creating humor from the adage about the grass being greener while not entirely making light of it. After all, can anyone truly say that they have never had to sacrifice something for happiness?

Overture Center Makes the Headlines with NEWSIES

Marriage can be a foreign language. To some, the language comes easily. But, with time, the words can become meaningless as the motivation behind them lessens. The longer the relationship goes on, the more difficult it can become to comprehend the other person and know exactly what to say.

I don't often stay for the post show discussion. Ordinarily, the show stands on its own and I am content with that. Every once in a while, however, a show stirs something within me that insists I stay to hear what the cast or the directors have to say. American Players Theatre's latest production of Athol Fugard's The Island is one such show.

Do you believe in fate? Some people do and some don't. Ordinarily, that belief does not make a bit of difference in the grand scheme of the world around them. In the world of Proper, however, not only is the concept of fate understood to be true, it is followed by almost religious devotion. Infants are briefly seen by a Magi and their future is determined by a single glance. For the unlucky, however, the cards are not dealt in their favor. Those that do not fit the ideals of the Magi are deemed 'fateless' and sent away into exile.

Luisa's husband makes movies. That is the simplest way to describe NINE (the musical based on the 1963 film 8 ½ by Federico Fellini) which follows the story of Guido Contini an Italian director who tries desperately to overcome his recent failings as a filmmaker. Overwhelmed by his desire to have it all, Guido finds himself tormented as well as inspired by the women in his life. Raised in the staunch Catholic way, Guido is well acquainted in the concept of morality, but can't seem to keep himself from straying from the women who love him.

Colorful light bulbs hang from the stairwell beside the home of Stanley and Stella Kowalski - an omnipresent sign that New Orleans is a colorful city alight with parties. When those bulbs are off, however, they stand as an even more daunting reminder that life isn't always Mardi Gras.

One little swish of her tail and they were smitten. The girls who grew up admiring Ariel and humming her tunes can now have the same giddy feeling they used to get when that well-worn VHS slid into the machine. With the incomparable success of The Lion King, Disney set out to create its fair share of Broadway blockbusters. The Little Mermaid had a short lived run on the Great White Way, but that hasn't stopped other companies from having their go at a show with a lot to give.

When the lights went out, there was no sound.  No applause, no cheering, and no uncomfortable laughing. Jim DeVita had silenced the audience in the Touchstone Theatre. That is the power of Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare's An Iliad.

There are quite a few things that out-of-towners don't understand about our great Dairy State: bubblers, cheese curds, cow tipping, and (probably) ice fishing. For many Wisconsinites, ice fishing is more than just a wintertime hobby - it's a way to reaffirm friendships and escape from the wider world. At least, that's what Lloyd and Marvin do in Fred Alley's homegrown Guys on Ice - a musical comedy about ice fishing

Violet is new in town and so is Capital City Theatre. Although the faces behind the company are not newcomers, they are setting out on a journey to bring accessible, professional, musical theatre to our fair city to further Madison's artistic prowess.

A long, long time ago, in a land far, far away…a man named George Fredric Handel crafted an opera entitled Rinaldo. A few hundred years later, an opera company that prides itself in bringing a fresh perspective to the art form added their own charms to the libretto. Under the guise of the Star Wars franchise, Fresco Opera Theater, under the direction of Melanie Cain, has created a nerd haven in The Overture's cozy Playhouse Theater entitled Rinaldo and the Galactic Crusades.

The greater Madison area has a host of summer theatrical offerings that provide entertainment for every member of the family. From all out Wisconsin Dells excursions, to evenings under the stars in Spring Green, or simply an evening out on the town in our state's capital, the summer heat does not stop these area artists. If you need a recommendation for some festivities, here are five shows that are sure to delight in the coming months.

Following their intial production a few months ago - Beta Blockers, a show composed of vignettes that outlined the triumphs and pitfalls of modern day relationships both with oneself as well as others - Left of Left Center is presenting another show with just as many quirks hoping for another positive response from the community. With the primary goal of defying the stereotypes of community theatre, the company is determined to make their mark on the Madison stage. Their newest production, Spirits to Enforce, is a comedic tale that follows a group of superheroes who are ferociously fundraising to put on a production of Shakespeare's The Tempest.