During the performing arts season, arts editor Jim Higgins recommends promising music, dance and theater productions to see in the coming month. Look for these stories in the newspaper the final Sunday of the month. They will post online the preceding Thursday at jsonline.com/entertainment/arts.
May brings a flowering of music and dance on Milwaukee stages, including two distinctly different versions of “Carmen” the same weekend (with schedules that would allow a person to see both productions).
Here’s a list of 13 theater, music and dance performances you can enjoy here in May, including some top touring productions. I would never tell you that these are the only shows worth seeing here during that time period.
These are listed in chronological order by date of first performance.
‘Esperanza Rising,’ First Stage
It’s the world premiere of Alvaro Saar Rios’ adaptation of Pam Muñoz Ryan’s award-winning historical novel for middle-grade readers, set in the 1930s. Crisis in Mexico sends privileged Esperanza to a challenging new life as a farmworker in the United States. Michelle Lopez-Rios directs this production for people 7 and older. May 2-18, Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Todd Wehr Theater, 929 N. Water St. Visit firststage.org or call (414) 267-2961.
‘Dog Man: The Musical,’ Marcus Performing Arts Center
MPAC and First Stage are teaming up to co-present the national touring company of the musical based on Dav Pilkey’s popular book series about an intrepid crime fighter with the head of a dog. MPAC recommends this show for people 6 and older. 2 and 6 p.m. May 3, 1 p.m. May 4, Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Uihlein Hall, 929 N. Water St. Visit firststage.org or call (414) 267-2961.
Fine Arts Quartet
The chamber-music titans will perform three free concerts this month as part of the group’s May Festival. At 7 p.m. May 5, the core quartet will play music by Arriaga, Shostakovich and Mendelssohn at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 914 E. Knapp St. At 7:30 p.m. May 9, violist Razvan Popovici will join the FAQ for quintets composed by Beethoven and Mendelssohn at the UWM Recital Hall, 2400 E. Kenwood Blvd. And at 3 p.m. May 11, Popovici, pianist Fabio Witkowski and pianist Gisele Witkowski will be part of an FAQ program featuring music by Mozart, Robert Schumann and Dvořák at the UWM Zelazo Center, 2419 E. Kenwood Blvd. Info: fineartsquartet.com.
‘Pines of Rome,’ Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Music director Ken-David Masur leads the MSO in a program that includes Respighi’s “Pines of Rome,” Richard Strauss’ “Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks” and contemporary Cuban-American composer Tania Leon’s “Ácana.” 11:15 a.m. May 9, 7:30 p.m. May 10, Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. Visit mso.org or call (414) 291-7605.
Paul Taylor Dance Company, Wilson Center
The renowned modern dance company visits Brookfield to perform a new work, “ECHO” by Lauren Lovette, and two of its classics — “Company B” (to music by the Andrews Sisters) and “Esplanade.” 7:30 p.m. May 10, Wilson Center for the Arts, 3270 Mitchell Park Drive, Brookfield. Visit wilson-center.com or call (262) 781-9520.
‘Carmen,’ Florentine Opera
The Florentine performs one of the most popular of all operas, which gave the world “Habanera” and the “Toreador Song,” with music director Francesco Milioto conducting the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in Bizet’s score. As though that were not sufficiently exciting in itself, this production also features the return of Kathryn Henry, the Sheboygan native and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduate who was a national finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions competition in 2015. 7:30 p.m. May 16 and 2:30 p.m. May 18, Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Uihlein Hall, 929 N. Water St. Visit florentineopera.org or call (414) 291-5700 ext. 224.
‘Carmen,’ Milwaukee Ballet
Meanwhile, down the street, the Milwaukee Ballet will perform choreographer Mark Godden’s ballet version of the “Carmen” story at the Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St. These performances also will feature “In the Dark,” a new work by choreographer Tsai Hsi Hung, who won MB’s 2024 Genesis International Choreographic Competition. 7:30 p.m. May 16, 2 and 7:30 p.m. May 17 and 2 p.m. May 18. Visit milwaukeeballet.org or call (414) 902-2103.
‘Camille’s Rainbow,’ Milwaukee Opera Theatre
It’s an opera for babies. Co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall and Minnesota Opera, “Camille’s Rainbow” is for people 0 to 4 years old and their families. Everyone, including the singers, sits on the floor around a large circle rug, with babies free to crawl. The songs, in several languages and gibberish, are about colors. MOT has created a comfortable space for this show at Suite #100B of Expansive Cathedral Square, 790 N. Milwaukee St. There will be 14 performances at midmorning and early afternoon times May 21-June 1. Seating is limited. Visit milwaukeeoperatheatre.org.
‘Let’s Groove Tonight: Motown & the Philly Sound,’ MSO
Principal Pops Conductor Byron Stripling leads the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and guest vocalists in soulful hits of the ’60s and ’70s from the likes of Marvin Gaye, Gamble and Huff, The Spinners and The Temptations. 7:30 p.m. May 23-24, 2:30 p.m. May 25, Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. Visit mso.org or call (414) 291-7605.
‘Baroque Pop! With Julia Holter,’ Present Music
Singer Julia Holter, a Milwaukee native, returns to her hometown for a concert that the ever-protean Present Music describes as fusing pop, classical and the avant-garde. The program includes composer Alex Temple’s “Behind the Wallpaper” for voice and string quartet. PM has programmed this concert to fit with Milwaukee Art Museum’s new exhibit, “The Brilliance of the Spanish World: El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán.” 7:30 p.m. May 25, 700 N. Art Museum Drive. Visit presentmusic.org.
‘MJ,’ Marcus Performing Arts Center
This jukebox musical uses three different performers to sing (and dance) Michael Jackson’s hits at various ages throughout his life. It won Tony Awards for best choreography, best sound design and best light design, so expect a spectacle. May 27-June 1, Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Broadway. Visit marcuscenter.org or call (414) 273-7206.
Tai Murray, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Guest violinist Tai Murray joins the MSO as featured soloist in Leonard Bernstein’s Serenade (after Plato’s “Symposium”), a concerto he finished in the golden 1950s between “Candide” and “West Side Story.” This concert program also includes “Symphonic Dances” from the latter, plus music by Smetana and Bartók. 7:30 p.m. May 30-31, Bradley Symphony Center. Visit mso.org or call (414) 291-7605.
‘Henry V,’ Wisconsin Classic Stage
Kailey Azure Green plays the title role in this newly formed company’s take on Shakespeare’s history play about the young king who won the Battle of Agincourt. By positioning the dynamic Henry as transmasculine, this production goes right at the play’s conflict over Salic law, which bars women from inheriting the throne, director Josh Pohja wrote in an email about the show. Bonus fun: Each performance will be preceded by a 90-minute Renaissance fair with activities and food. 7 p.m. May 30, 31 and June 1, Calvary Presbyterian Church, 935 W. Wisconsin Ave. Visit eventbrite.com and search for “Henry V.”