They might have disappeared for a while, but the punk children of ten, twenty, thirty years ago are still alive and living in Milwaukee, coming out in force for the Public Image Ltd. (PIL) show this past Friday at the Pabst Theatre, 144 E. Wells.

Much of life is illusion as men and women whitewash their own memories in an attempt to renegotiate the past. But the truth cuts deep and the unseen corners of reality almost always resurface to devastating results. In theatre, that’s when it gets good.

Everyone knows a good blonde joke, whether it be the dumb blonde dabbing white out on her computer screen to correct mistakes or the two blondes who froze to death in their car after going to see Closed for the Winter at the drive-in. But have you heard the one about the blonde who went from sorority sister in Malibu to valedictorian at Harvard Law?

Elle Woods’ transformation from superficial sorority sister to dedicated Harvard law student was first documented in the 2001 movie Legally Blonde starring Reese Witherspoon. An unexpected hit for MGM, the film spawned a successful sequel and opened the door for Legally Blonde: The Musical which opened on Broadway in 2007.

Seven Keys to Slaughter Peak at The Milwaukee Repertory Theater, 108 East Wells St., manages to parody both Wisconsin and the entire crime-noir genre with a smart and refreshing script by departing Artistic Director Joe Hanreddy.

Time does not always heal all wounds. Sometimes, there are marks left by experience or injustice that people simply will not let go of, no matter how heavy the burden. Next Act’s latest offering, The Value of Names, examines the weight of injury under the distant shadow of the HUAC (House Un-American Committee) hearings of the ‘40s and ‘50s.

When Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen passed away in 1991, he left behind a legacy of powerful, flamboyant performances and timeless rock songs that endure to this day.

Bright eyes and big hair, sprayed into mind-bending shapes took the stage this weekend at the opening of “Hairspray” at the Milwaukee Theatre, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave. Dancers shook their hips and tore the house down in what was one of the most impressive flashback showcases in recent memory.
The show centers around ‘60s teen Tracy [...]

Photo by Joan Marcus
Grease began its five-day run on Feb. 23 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 920 N. Water St., to a crowd of dancing grannies, gushing teens and a wide cut of the baby boomer nation singing along. A picture of the 1950s, the show brought something for everyone—hand-jiving madness, a [...]

Nihilistic youth, painted their faces in The Crow makeup as their too-tight concert tees threatened to fall apart after two straight weeks of being worn. The pretty girls are “all that and a bag of chips” and Pogs and Magic cards made the rounds.