By Jessica Steinhoff
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
DANE COUNTY FAIR
July 18-21, Alliant Energy Center
With a carnival, roller derby and cream puffs, the fair has entertainment aplenty this year. The concert lineup includes local country act Madison County and the Wisconsin Singers, UW-Madison’s elite touring pop- music ensemble. danecountyfair.com
SESSIONS AT MCPIKE PARK
Aug. 8-11, McPike Park
This little music fest makes lots of joyful noise. Roster highlights include multilingual Afropop group Mokoomba (Aug. 8), guitar goddess Rosie Flores (Aug. 9) and transatlantic rap act Sidi Wacho (Aug. 11), whose social-justice anthems are as hot as their dance-ready bangers. sessionsatmcpike.org
LIVE MUSIC
WISCONSIN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA’S CONCERTS ON THE SQUARE
July 17, Capitol Square, King Street corner
Madison native Andrew Balio, the Baltimore Symphony’s principal trumpeter, shares the spotlight with Matthew Onstad, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra’s top-seated trumpeter, for Vivaldi’s double trumpet concerto and more. wcoconcerts.org
JESSICA PRATT
July 19, Majestic Theatre
After taking her tour to Barcelona and Brussels, Pratt will hit Madison to share “Here in the Pitch,” a new album influenced by orchestral and psychedelic music from the 1960s. majesticmadison.com
OPERA IN THE PARK
July 20, Garner Park
Grab a glow stick and join the Madison Opera Chorus, Madison Symphony Orchestra and their guest soloists for an al fresco presentation of opera and musical theater numbers. madisonopera.org
WAXAHATCHEE
Aug. 24, The Sylvee
Katie Crutchfield’s poetic, Americana- infused indie rock honors her Alabama roots while making fans weak at the knees. For proof, check out her excellent new album, “Tigers Blood.” thesylvee.com
THEATER, DANCE, COMEDY AND VISUAL ART
“MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL”
Through July 21, Overture Center
Bohemians and aristocrats mingle in a glitzy Parisian nightclub in 1899. Will the smitten-for-each-other dancer and writer get to be together, or will the club’s patron ruin their romance? There’s only one way to know for sure. overture.org
ZANE LAMPREY
July 27, Lone Girl Brewing Company, Waunakee
The brewery morphs into a comedy club for this appearance by the beer- loving funnyman who hosts the travel show “Three Sheets.” thelonegirl.com
“MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM”
Through Sept. 7, American Players Theatre, Spring Green
Set in 1920s Chicago and filled with hard-hitting blues performances, this August Wilson musical is a must-see. americanplayers.org
“KING LEAR”
Aug. 9-Sept. 28, American Players Theatre, Spring Green
American Players Theatre has tapped some of its most seasoned talent, including Brian Mani, LaShawn Banks and Jim DeVita, for the Bard’s gripping tragedy about vanity and betrayal. americanplayers.org
“LOOK WHAT HARVEY DID”
Through Aug. 6, Chazen Museum of Art
The aforementioned Harvey is Harvey K. Littleton, father of the studio glass movement who founded UW-Madison’s groundbreaking studio art-glass program in 1962, and forged a successful career as a glass artist. The show explores his legacy, which shapes the Simona and Jerome Chazen Studio Glass Collection. chazen.wisc.edu
