By Jessica Steinhoff
LIVE MUSIC
WISCONSIN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA’S “BANFIELD & BEETHOVEN”
May 12, Overture Center
Guest soloist Michael Mizrahi shows off his chops in Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 1,” after which the orchestra presents the composer’s “Pastoral” Symphony, which depicts singing birds, a dramatic thunder- storm and other scenes from a countryside ramble. Want more WCO in your summer? Gear up for the 40th season of Concerts on the Square, which begins in June. wcoconcerts.org
THEO KATZMAN
May 14, Barrymore Theatre
Katzman is one-quarter of the acclaimed funk band Vulfpeck, a producer for Carly Rae Jepsen and a master at creating songs that illuminate his instrumental talents and soulful vocals. His brand-new album, “Be the Wheel,” is the focus of this show. barrymorelive.com
SHANIA TWAIN
May 16, Kohl Center
The Canadian country-pop queen brings Madison her latest album, “Queen of Me,” which features the nostalgic seasonal single “Last Day of Summer.” uwbadgers.evenue.net
QUINN XCII
June 9, The Sylvee
This Detroit-raised artist fashions bangers out of hip-hop, reggae and electronic dance music. For a sense of his vibe, check out “Let Me Down,” a duet with Chelsea Cutler on his new album, “The People’s Champ.” thesylvee.com
MILKY CHANCE
June 26, The Sylvee
This German duo’s track “Stolen Dance” has been in heavy rotation on local radio stations for a full decade, and newer material like “Colorado” is just as likely to haunt your dreams. thesylvee.com
THEATER AND DANCE
DISNEY’S “THE LION KING”
May 12-14, 16-20 & 23-28, Overture Center
With giant puppets, vivid sets and Elton John’s unforgettable anthems, this Tony Award-winner is the perfect show for introducing kids to Broadway. overture.org
MADISON THEATRE GUILD’S “MOON OVER BUFFALO”
May 12 & 13, 18-21 & 25-27, Bartell Theatre
In this screwball comedy set in the 1950s, a pair of washed-up Broadway stars have one last shot at their Hollywood dreams when Frank Capra buys tickets to the production they’re preparing. bartelltheatre.org
FORWARD THEATER COMPANY’S “OUT IN THIS WORLD”
May 18-20, Overture Center
A dozen storytellers share original tales of discovery, redemption and more at the local theater company’s annual monologue festival. forwardtheater.com
KANOPY DANCE’S “THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCE”
May 20, Overture Center
Witness the talents of Kanopy’s pre- professional program, Kanopy 2, which has launched a number of professional dancers, as they perform iconic works by Robert E. Cleary and Lisa Thurrell, the Kanopy’s artistic co-directors. kanopydance.org
VISUAL ART, FESTIVALS AND MORE
“FLOYD NEWSUM: EVOLUTION OF SIGHT”
May 20-Oct. 8, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
Layers of color and texture combine with family photos and symbols in this Memphis-born artist’s evocative work, which ranges from paintings to public art. To learn more, attend a talk by the artist on Friday, May 19, at 6 p.m. mmoca.org
WISCON
May 29-29, Madison Concourse Hotel and online
Presentations by guests of honor Rivers Solomon and Martha Wells are the highlight of this feminist sci-fi convention, which also offers writing workshops, readings, themed celebrations and an art show. wiscon.net
JOE DOMBROWSKI
June 15-17, Comedy on State
Known as Mr. D to his fans, Dombrowski isn’t just a podcaster and YouTube sensation. He’s also a grade-school teacher, which provides all sorts of great material for his stand-up sets. madisoncomedy.com
SONGS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AT MCPIKE PARK
McPike Park is a hotbed of artistic activity this summer, with a growing slate of performers gearing up to entertain and inspire in June. Don’t miss these standouts from The Sessions at McPike Park lineup, taking place June 16-18. The performances will raise money for Centro Hispano, the Urban League and other community organizations. sessionsatmcpike.org
AARON LEE TASJAN
June 16, 8:30 p.m.
Tasjan has serious musical skills and a Grammy Award to prove it, but he doesn’t take himself too seriously.
“He’s whimsical and wails on guitar,” says Bob Queen, the Sessions’ volun- teer concert booker. “He reminds me of a rock ’n’ roll Arlo Guthrie.”
XIOMARA LAUGART
June 17, 8:30 p.m.
This Havana-born singer specializes in nueva trova, a type of Cuban music that emerged in the 1960s after the Cuban Revolution, which is infused with modern social- justice themes.
“She’s one of Cuba’s finest vocalists and portrayed Celia Cruz in the New York City theater world,” Queen says, adding that some concert-goers may also recognize Laugart from the Afro-Latin band Yerba Buena.
THE OSHIMA BROTHERS
June 18, 8:15 p.m.
Raised by American folk musician parents, brothers Sean and Jamie Oshima were destined for the stage. The duo plays multiple instruments, with a sound described as contempo- rary folk, acoustic pop and Americana. With an easy-listening vibe, they’re the perfect act to listen to on a warm summer night.
