BRAVA Magazine

"La Fille mal Gardée" presented by Dance Wisconsin
2026-04-11 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Madison College, 1701 Wright Street, Madison, Wisconsin, 53704, United States
Dance Wisconsin, a Madison area pre-professional dance company, brings the beloved classical ballet La Fille mal Gardée back to the stage on Saturday, April 11 at 2 p.m. in Madison College’s Mitby Theater. This lively comedy brings together dancers from all over south and central Wisconsin, including guest artists from the local professional company Madison Ballet.
La Fille mal Gardée, or The Unguarded Daughter, is bursting with charm, comedy, and joy. This lighthearted love story follows a spirited young girl named Lise, who has her heart set on the handsome farm boy Colas. However, her larger-than-life mother, Widow Simone, has other plans and promises Lise to the awkward Alain, the son of a wealthy winemaker. Laugh along with her over-the-top antics as she tries, and hilariously fails, to keep Lise and Colas apart. Mischief, mistaken plans, and iconic dance sequences such as the Ribbon Pas De Deux and the thrilling Storm scene lead to a heartwarming finale that will delight all ages. The performance features guest artists Sarah Martin, Benjamin Rose, and Gabriel Aguilar of Madison Ballet as Lise, Colas, and Alain respectively.
Dance Wisconsin is a non-profit pre-professional dance company composed of dancers ages twelve and up led by artistic director JoJean Retrum. Founded in 1977, the company prides itself as a nurturing environment for tomorrow’s leaders. Dance Wisconsin has been a part of Regional Dance America’s MidStates Region for over thirty years and is Wisconsin’s only Honor Company within RDA. Sponsored by Lucie and Norman Arendt, North Central Utility of Wisconsin, LLC, Kramer Madison, Dupaco Community Credit Union, Cardinal Heating, Air, Plumbing and Electric, the Batterman Charitable Trust, the Herald Independent (Lake Mills, Cambridge, Deerfield, Waterloo, Monona, McFarland and Cottage Grove), RBC Wealth Foundation, Gorilla Movers of Wisconsin, Bank of Sun Prairie, Brava Magazine, Reinhart Law, Anaala Salon and Spa and Maria Antoinette Real Estate. This project is also supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Further supported by Dane Arts with additional funds from the Frautschi and Rowland Foundations, Diane Ballweg, and the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation.
Tickets are available through the Dance Wisconsin website at https://www.dancewisconsin.org/ for $8-$20.

Central Midwest Ballet's Spring Showcase
2026-05-02 13:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | River Arts Center, 105 Ninth St. , Prairie du Sac, WI, 53578, United States
Featuring selections from classical ballet standards and new works created by local and regional artists. This family friendly production highlights the dancers of Central Midwest Ballet Academy performing in a mixed repertoire showcase.
1:00 & 6:00pm
Sponsored by: One Community Bank, Middleton Endowment, WI Arts Board, Madison Investments, Jason Thomas Homes, Dane Arts

Disney's Newsies: The Musical
2026-05-02 14:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-03 13:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-09 14:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-10 13:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-15 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-16 14:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-17 13:00 - 20:00 UTC | Starlight Theater at MYArts, 1055 E Mifflin St, Madison, WI, 53703, United States
When powerful New York newspaper publishers raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack Kelly rallies his ragtag group of “newsies” to fight back. Inspired by true events, this high-energy musical tells the story of young people discovering their voice and proving that courage and determination can change the world.
Recommended for ages 7+
Happens on the following Dates:
May 2, 2026, 2:00pm to 4:00pm Timezone: CDT
May 2, 2026, 7:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: CDT
May 3, 2026, 1:00pm to 3:00pm Timezone: CDT
May 3, 2026, 6:00pm to 8:00pm Timezone: CDT
May 9, 2026, 2:00pm to 4:00pm Timezone: CDT
May 9, 2026, 7:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: CDT
May 10, 2026, 1:00pm to 3:00pm Timezone: CDT
May 10, 2026, 6:00pm to 8:00pm Timezone: CDT
May 15, 2026, 7:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: CDT
May 16, 2026, 2:00pm to 4:00pm Timezone: CDT
May 16, 2026, 7:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: CDT
May 17, 2026, 1:00pm to 3:00pm Timezone: CDT
May 17, 2026, 6:00pm to 8:00pm Timezone: CDT

MEDI Cycle 1: Now – new Madison dance incubator performance series launch
2026-05-03 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Ballet U, 411 Prairie Heights Dr, Verona, Wisconsin, 53593, United States
Madison Experimental Dance Incubator (MEDI) launches its inaugural performance event, MEDI Cycle 1: Now, a new platform supporting emerging and experimental choreography in the Madison area. The program features works by Bri Lucey, Christopher Coffman, Bhavani Dinakaran’s Soulful Dancers, Evan Stoll and Jen Costillo exploring themes of athleticism, identity, empathy, and the evolving life of a dancer. The evening concludes with an audience Q&A panel with the artists hosted by Robin Pettersen.
MEDI connects dance, technology, and interdisciplinary performance while creating new opportunities for regional creators to share work in progress.

Listen to Your Mother Show
2026-05-10 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | Peace Lutheran Church, 701 S Century Ave, Waunakee, WI, 53597, United States
After a 9 year hiatus, Listen to Your Mother returns to the Madison area. With a focus on motherhood, twelve local cast members will read their original stories during this live event in Waunakee, WI. We’re giving motherhood a microphone on Mother’s Day 2026.
What is LTYM, anyway? The goal of every LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER production is to take the audience on a well-crafted 90-minute journey of diverse true stories about motherhood—being a mom, having a mom, losing a mom, finding a mom—as many interpretations on the theme of mothering as you can imagine. From hilarious and heartwarming, to emotionally intense and profound, LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER entertains, energizes, brings community together and leaves everyone feeling a little less alone and a little more understood.

Ensemble Dal Niente in Concert and Discussion: Hillside Theater at Taliesin
2026-05-31 13:30 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | Hillside Theater, Taliesin, Spring Green, 5481 County Road C, Spring Green, WI, 53588, United States
Join us for a special Sunday afternoon concert featuring Ensemble Dal Niente in the historic Hillside Theater at Taliesin. Featuring works by works by Igor Santos, Misato Mochizuki, Fausto Romitelli, and more, this performance offers an opportunity to experience the ensemble’s distinctive and boundary-pushing musical voice within one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most acoustically and architecturally compelling spaces. Following the concert, an open conversation will explore the intersections of music and architecture—structure, rhythm, improvisation, and space. Audience members are invited to engage with the panel through questions, reflections, and observations, making this an interactive and thoughtful afternoon of art and dialogue.

Cellist Mike Block: Hillside Theater at Taliesin
2026-06-20 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Hillside Theater, Taliesin, Spring Green, 5481 County Road C, Spring Green, WI, 53588, United States
Mike Block is a Grammy® Award-Winning multi-style cello player, composer, singer, and educator, with a passion for cross-cultural collaborations. Hailed as “one of the bravest, most intriguing musicians on the American fusion scene” by Gramophone, he was acclaimed by the New York Times for his “vital rich-hued solo playing”, and “a true artist… a sight to behold” by Salt Lake City Desert News. Mike Block’s solo show offers a rich mixture of classical repertoire, folk music, original compositions and songs that draw inspiration from his diverse collaborations. An admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture since childhood, this performance will include works directly inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and Taliesin.
