By Jessica Steinhoff | Photo by Mark Seliger
THEATER AND DANCE
“A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL”
March 18-23, Overture Center
If there were a “city with the most ‘Sweet Caroline’ fans” award, Madison would be a shoo-in. Join this elite club for a Broadway show about the anthem’s singer — and prime sing-along opportunity — starring “American Idol” winner Nick Fradiani. overture.org
“A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM”
April 4-6, Overture Center
Madison Ballet presents a new one-act rendition of Shakespeare’s enchanted, dreamy romance, which features choreography by artistic director Ja’ Malik and a score by Felix Mendelssohn. madisonballet.org
“INNER PASSAGES”
April 24-26, Overture Center
Kanopy Dance presents the crème de la crème of guest stars for this program, including Blakeley White-McGuire, former principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company. She’ll premiere two new pieces of choreography, including an introspective piece inspired by Missy Mazzoli’s “These Worlds in Us.” Audiences can also marvel at the final segment of “Renascence,” an ode to rhythm and the natural world’s wonders by the company’s artistic directors, Robert E. Cleary and Lisa Thurrell. kanopydance.org
TWYLA THARP DANCE
April 15, Overture Center
The legendary troupe celebrates 60 years of melding modern dance and ballet with a new take on Philip Glass’ “Aguas da Amazonia,” which was arranged by musicians from Third Coast Percussion. overture.org
LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY
“ROOMFUL OF TEETH”
April 9, UW Memorial Union
Technically, this is a concert of a cappella vocal music, but don’t expect a scene from “Pitch Perfect.” This ensemble’s wildly experimental spirit helped them win a Grammy Award in 2024. artsticketing.wisc.edu
“YEARNINGS”
April 11-13, Overture Center
The Madison Symphony Orchestra is doing all kinds of splendid things this spring, from a presentation of Mozart’s “Requiem” with the Madison Symphony Chorus (March 14-16) to an exploration of the music from the seventh “Harry Potter” film (April 5), but don’t miss this concert featuring guest conductor Joseph Young, Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Kevin Puts’ pandemic-inspired Grammy winner “Contact,” performed by the Time for Three string trio. madisonsymphony.org
ZIWE’S AMERICA
April 18, Barrymore Theatre
Writer, comedian and television host Ziwe Fumudoh has been the queen of lists lately, landing on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” and Time’s “100 Next Gen Leaders” rundowns. Her saucy takes on race and politics, plus satirical songs such as “Stop Being Poor,” are full of heart, but not for the faint of heart. barrymorelive.com
TOM SEGURA: COME TOGETHER
April 19, Alliant Energy Center
Few acts can fill the Alliant Energy Center’s giant Coliseum, but Segura, star of five Netflix stand-up comedy specials, has a good shot. “Sledgehammer,” his latest special, debuted in the streamer’s top slot in 2023, and “Your Mom’s House,” the podcast he hosts with wife and fellow comedian Christina Pazsitzky, is one of the brightest in the biz. alliantenergycenter.com
DEHD
April 24, Majestic Theatre
This Chicago trio proves that indie rock is still relevant, merging garage rock, post-punk and wall-of-sound pop in poetic ways on their latest album, the aptly titled “Poetry.” majesticmadison.com
VISUAL ART AND FILM
WISCONSIN FILM FESTIVAL
April 3-10, Various locations
Thrilling dramas? Check. Envelope- pushing comedies? Check. Documentaries that make your blood boil? Check. There are even special screenings for K-12 students, all of which showcase the power of storytelling. wifilmfest.org
“WHATEVER HOME IS”
Through April 13, Overture Center
Curated by Fanana Banana’s Amal Azzam and Nayfa Naji, who highlight work by Muslim, Middle Eastern and North African artists, this exhibition explores how places, culture and memory shape our sense of home. wisconsinacademy.org/gallery
NEW ART GALLERY CELEBRATES A MILESTONE
Bringing an independent exhibition space to downtown Madison — and keeping it there — is no small feat, but King Street’s Carnelian Art Gallery has survived the first year in style. Evan Bradbury, who also launched Bright Red Studios in 2012, started this venture to help local and regional artists grow their careers while nurturing Madison’s creative spirit.
More than 30 artists have exhibited work in the King Street gallery since its doors opened in March 2024, primarily at group shows. This year Bradbury’s working toward mounting more solo shows and offering representation for a small set of artists.
“They’d essentially be our house artists, with their work on display here all the time,” he says, noting that having the artists’ work on hand makes it easier to sell.
Bradbury also wants artists to pitch ideas for shows, classes and more, and for anyone who’s curious about art to hang out in the gallery. Passersby can walk in after nearby events like the
Dane County Farmers’ Market or attend exhibition openings such as Carnelian’s second anniversary fête on March 14, which will feature live painting and ekphrasis, a type of poetry that responds to visual art.
“We’ve made Carnelian a relaxed and welcoming place because we want people to realize that art is for everybody,” he says. carnelianart.com
