Summary
The Wisconsin Union Theater's World Stage is the surprising exception - it's the year's top saoco spot. Se puede bailar in the aisles, and there's usually a dance party in the Rathskeller after the show so you can work off more steam. The second annual Madison World Music Festival (Sept. 15-17) launched a sizzling fall season. For three nights the Union Terrace overflowed with bopping crowds. My favorite acts: Los Gauchos de Roldan, from Uruguay; [Sidi Goma], the Black Sufis of Gujarat; Lila Downs' bicultural, bilingual Chicana rock 'n' roll for the 21st century. ¡¡Ay ay ay!!
During the regular season, the UW School of Music presented its usual rich offerings, notably the UW Opera's enterprising production of Barber's Vanessa (April) and its bubbly Die Fledermaus (October). And Beverly Taylor gave us two magnificent choral evenings, with Bach's "St. John Passion" in April and Bach's "Magnificat" paired with Telemann's "Day of Judgment" in December.Local acting virtuoso [James DeVita] displayed his accomplished, shape-shifting talents in a range of roles, from the broken, rapidly rotting James Tyrone Jr. in the Rep's production of Eugene O'[Neill]'s A Moon for the Misbegotten, to the strapping arrogance of the warrior king in American Players Theatre's Macbeth. In the University Theatre's energetic production of Charles Ludlam's The Mystery of Irma Vep, all seven characters were given life by the amazingly versatile comic duo Ryan Winkles and Jim Stauffer. Another UW actor, [Carrie Coon], shone with lovely, nuanced performances in Quake and 'Tis Pity She's a Whore.See the full content of this document
Extract
Arts 2005
2005 was a typical year for the Madison arts scene.
Overture president Bob D'Angelo abruptly resigned after being accused of sexual harassment. Broom Street Theater's Joel Gersmann unexpectedly died. Mary Carbine resigned as the head of the Wisconsin Film Festival. Luther's Blues closed. The Elvehjem Museum of Art suddenly changed its name to the Chazen Museum of Art. Madison recoiled in horror at the Donald Lipski sculpture installed outside Camp Randall. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz tried-and failed - to wrest control of the Overture Center for the city of Madison. The Orpheum Theatre caught on fire.Okay, scratch that - 2005 wasn't a typical year at all. It was a strange, unsettling, almost apocalyptic year.To be fair, lots of good stuff happened too, including national recognition for Madison artists and groups. Children's author Kevin Henkes won a Caldecott Medal for his enchanting Kitten's First Full Moon. Short-story writer Lorrie Moore won a PEN/Malamud Award. Wisc...See the full content of this document
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