The First Days of May and More

Almost everything opens the first week in May. (Almost Everything.) Even The Third Week in August opens the first week in May. (And then there's love and operatic impossibility a little later on.) May's going to be cool, though: a generous mix of different elements including ancient romantic comedy, ancient romance an insightful evening of monologues and more. Here’s a look.

THE RIVALS
UWM Theatre closes-out its season with the late 18th century romantic comedy by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It’s the story of Captain Absolute and Lydia Languish. Absolute has been somewhat dishonest,,,presenting himself as “Ensign Beverly.” Things get complicated when it is revealed that Languis has two other suitors: Bob Acres and Sir Lucious O’Trigger. Of course...all of this is tangential to the one character who the play is most remembered for: Lydia’s guardian Mrs. Malaprop. The show runs May 3 - 7 at the Mainstage Theatre on 2400 E. Kenwood Blvd. For ticket reservations, visit UWM online.

STORIES LEFT TO TELL 
Theatre Gigante returns to an appealing glance into the intellectual life of a man who was best-known for some truly insightful monologues. The storyteller Spalding Gray’s craft is celebrated in an intimate evening brought to the stage by a cast of performers including Mark Anderson, Isabelle Kralj, David Flores and Shawn Smith. It’s hard to believe that it’s already been nearly two decades since Gray’s untimely passing...and it’s nice to see him still remembered all these years later. The show runs one weekend only May 5 - 7 at Kenilworth 508 Theater on 1925 East Kenilworth Place. For more information, visit Theatre Gigante online.

THE GRACIOUS SISTERS
Ancient Greek legend serves as the foundation for an intriguing new play by Alice Austen, The playwright draws on Aeschylus' The Eumenides to tell the tale of three goddesses of vengeance. Their divine retribution is posed with a bit of a challenge as Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, suggests a trial-by-jury for the accused. What happens when the jury can’t decide guilt or innocence? First Stage presents the story at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center May 5 - 21. The talented Matt Daniels directs. For ticket reservations and more, visit First Stage online.

THIRD WEEK IN AUGUST 
Kettle Morraine Playhouse presents a contemporary British comedy bty Peter Gordon. It’s a caravan--a camping vacation in late summer with a colorful cast of characters. Three mismatched families are trying to get along on vacation. With any luck, there’s a little peace and quiat. With any luck there isn’t. The caravan from hell visits a cozy performance space in Slinger, WI May 5 - 14 at the Kettle Morraine Playhouse on 204 Kettle Moraine Drive South. For more information, visit Kettle Morraine Playhouse online.

Not many people know that William Shakespeare wrote a play about Merlin. (Honestly, though....it might have been news to him as well.) Boozy Bard continues its irreverent exploration into Shakespearian drama with The Birth of Merlin--a play that had been credited to him which...he honestly might not have written. The Arthurian mage is likely to inhabit a different actor every performance as roles for the entire ensemble are pulled from a strange and powerful artifact that bears a strong resemblance to a perfectly ordinary hat. The show runs May 8 - 10 at the Best Place Tavern on 917 W. Juneau Avenue. For more information, visit the show's Facebook page.

Romeo & Juliet
Voices Found Repertory brings the Montagues and the Capulets to the cozy stage of The Interchange Theater Co-Operative. Emerging talents Max Pink and Amber Weissert play the title roles. The show runs May 18 - 28 at the Interchange on 628 N 10th Street, For more information, visit the shows Facebook page.

Impossible Operas
According the Lewis Carrol, the White Queen had been so whimsically disciplined that she could believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast. Milwaukee Opera Theatre and Quasimondo Physical Theatre attempt to outdo her by performing SEVEN impossible operas in 75 minutes. (Without intermission.) Composers featured on the show include ​​Handel, Mozart, Bellini, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Bartók, Prokofiev, and Poulenc. (That's...eight composers, though. I'm sure there's some sort of an explanation...) Opera is accompanied by shadow puppetry courtesy of Quasimondo. The show runs May 25 - 28 at the Broadway Theatre Center Studio Theatre. For more information, visit Milwaukee Opera Theatre online.