Kelsey Lawler - Page 6

Happily for the national tour of Rogers and Hammerstein's 'The King and I,'  the cast holds their own and the story stays, for the most part, as compelling as ever.

When the Milwaukee Ballet presents a trio of works in one mixed program, odds are something will resonate — if not the haunting music of one piece, then the vibrant rush of costumes in another. Aesthetics aside, one can always appreciate the power and poise of the Milwaukee Ballet Company dancers and the skill and grace with which they execute such a range of choreography. This weekend's selections feature world premieres by choreographers Enrico Morelli and George Williamson, plus the much-buzzed-about Lambarena, choreographed by Val Caniparoli.

In the days leading up to Lambarena, the Milwaukee Ballet has taken great care to educate its own dance company and the Milwaukee community in the art of African dance. Roxy Kess and Yaya Kambaye of local ensemble Xalaat Africa Drum and Dance for Life taught a class to the Company and Milwaukee Ballet II (MBII), as well as all Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy locations. Kess and Kambaye also attended two of the rehearsals for Lambarena to offer feedback.  Last weekend, a free class was held for the public: 'No previous African dance experience is necessary,' claimed the Facebook event. Well sign me up!

Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven is the story of titular character Annie Jump, a 13-year-old science prodigy living in the small town of Strawberry, Kansas, with her alien-hunting dad. He's kind of the town crackpot. Extraordinary things begin to happen when the skeptical Annie is visited by the out-of-this-world Althea, an intergalactic supercomputer manifesting as a teenage mean girl with killer hair. Althea alleges that Annie is "the chosen one" of Earth, destined to guide humanity to link up with other intelligent beings in the universe.

To not give away too much, To Fall In Love is, in short, about psychologist Arthur Aron's famous study that suggested a couple might ask each other 36 questions in order to fall in love. The questions grow increasingly intimate, beginning with "Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?" The exercise ends not with a question, but with four full minutes of direct eye contact with your partner. And yes, To Fall In Love goes there. All the way there. Right down to those four full minutes.

This weekend, Renaissance Theaterworks will open a new play called 'Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven.' The title alone had my ears perked and curious to learn more. What I discovered got me even more jazzed. Here are five reasons to jump up for Annie Jump.

17 Skylight artists. Seven Danceworks dancers. 25 Chant Claire Chamber Choir members, plus four Chant Claire guest artists. Six percussionists. Two pianists. One conductor. One visionary artistic team. One stage. It all adds up to Skylight's exhilarating Carmina Burana, an experience dubbed ''total theatre, in which music, dance, and text are inseparable.'

'It wasn't supposed to be like this. I thought they'd be like us. But better than us. Better versions of us.'

Michael 'Ding' Lorenz boasts crazy talent alongside an outrageous instrument collection that warrants awe-inspired sighs and, as the Skylight Music Theatre proves, a show all its own. Things That Go Ding! played to sold-out audiences in 2012, and now it's back and bigger than ever in the Cabot Theatre. 

Curiosity is part of our humanity. It is also 'human nature to forget,' writes playwright Lloyd Suh. Thanks to the Milwaukee Repertory Theater's New Play Development Program, the World Premiere of Suh's 'The Chinese Lady' imparts an utterly unforgettable piece of theater, while also embedding the fascinating and extraordinarily troubling story of Afong Moy into hearts and minds.

'Genesis' is a world-class choreographic competition, offering dancers and audiences alike the chance to break from tradition, experience something more contemporary, and discover new talent that will shape the Milwaukee ballet scene in the year to come.

From a score that transcends time to the iconic bottle dance to Tevye's wit, Fiddler on the Roof remains a sensational, spirited tradition.

It's the talk of rhythm town, ya dig? Five Guys Named Moe at the Skylight brings crazy energy, big voices, and hot moves to the Cabot Theatre.

From the first chords they strum, the terrific trio of Harvy Blanks, David Lutken, and Spiff Wiegand plant smiles on faces and set toes a-tappin'.

What are women to men? Nurturers, temptresses, muses? In chatting with Marcee Doherty-Elst of Theater RED, I've learned that this weekend's staging of the musical NINE will dive into that very question. Here, Marcee and fellow actress Jennifer Larsen share 9 things to know about NINE.

Ahktar has a knack for writing real people with real flaws, and for taking a hard look at tough, often-uncomfortable issues in our society. Per a WUWM interview, Akhtar asserts that Junk is not pessimistic, just real. "It's bleak but it's realistic, unfortunately," he says. "If you're coming to the play and you're expecting something uplifting, just be prepared."

Director Jeff Frank's team of all-star creatives and actors is serving up a Broadway-caliber production, made all the more special with First Stage's signature small-scale intimacy and kid-friendly flair.

Ebenezer Scrooge's story is ever familiar and warms the soul, and the Rep consistently delivers production value you can count on. Yet even knowing that this is a Christmas Carol steadfast and true, there's always something new to glean - whether it's actually new or just new to your memory.

Twelve (largely-failed) meet-cutes, four performers, two backup singers, and one very chatty partridge in a pear tree suffering from a year of aloneness. It's a different kind of Christmas show, to be sure. Simple in its premise and more of an introspective snapshot of one woman's life, rather than the sweeping "good will toward men" sentimentality that often accompanies such holiday fare.

'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever' sets a merry tone for the holiday season - a season that, in the world of this Christmas pageant, challenges kids to focus on something other than just Santa and presents. The holiday season is all about renewed faith and finding something good and peace-willing to believe in. 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever' reminds us of that, and such reminders are always a gift for kids young and old.