St. Patrick’s Day, the return of spring and other March madness
Going green
If you’re looking for a party in Milwaukee Saturday, you won’t have far to go. That’s how it goes on St. Patrick’s Day — especially when it falls on a Saturday, when the bars open early and the Milwaukee County Transit System buses are free (after 6 p.m.). There’ll be more green (and green beer) in Milwaukee than you can shake a shillelagh at, but here are a few St. Patrick’s Day options to get you started.
❚ County Clare Inn & Pub: County Clare, 1234 N. Astor St., opens its doors at 6 a.m. for an Irish blessing, Celtic entertainment starting at 10 a.m., and a “Blessing of the Shamrock” at 10:30 a.m., for a $5 donation for local charities at the door. Info: countyclare-inn.com.
❚ Trinity Three Irish Pubs and The Harp Irish Pub: The owners of Trinity Three and The Harp call the strip along Juneau Ave. “Milwaukee’s Irish Intersection,” and they’re doing their best to hold their end up Saturday. There’ll be two stages of live entertainment beginning at 11 a.m. and Irish pub food served all day. Doors open at Trinity, 125 E. Juneau Ave., and The Harp, 113 E. Juneau Ave., at 6 a.m. Info: theharpirishpub.
com and trinitythreeirishpubs.com.
❚ Pabst Milwaukee Brewery and Tap Room: The Pabst brewery at 1037 W. Juneau Ave. celebrates “St. Pabst” Day with its first Green Ham Bowl from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. It’s just like it sounds: You toss frozen green hams at bowling pins. Info: 1st Annual Green Ham Bowl Facebook page.
❚ Nomad World Pub and Club Brady: Nomad, 1401 E. Brady St., and Club Brady, 1339 E. Brady St., occupy part of Warren Ave. (the cross-street in front of Nomad) for one of the year’s earliest street festivals. Corned beef, live music and a DJ are part of the festivities, which go on from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Info: St. Paddy’s Street Party Facebook page.
Chinese dance returns
Shen Yun, the traditional Chinese dance and theater company, returns to Milwaukee for a weekend of performances reflecting 5,000 years of history and art at the Miller High Life Theatre, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave. Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $83.00 to $160. Info: shenyunperformingarts.org
Spring has sprung at Domes
So what if the vernal equinox isn’t till Tuesday? The Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd., gets a jump on the calendar with its Spring Equinox Celebration Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Everything from sky-gazing (courtesy of the Wehr Astronomical Society) to animal-watching and gardening will be on the agenda. (It’s also the final day of “Railroad to Wonderland,” the modelrailroad-centric display at the Show Dome.) It’s all included with regular Domes admission: $8; $6 for students, kids ages 6 to 7, and people with diabilities; and free for children 5 and younger. Info: milwaukeedomes.org
New on stage
“Until the Flood”: Writer-actress Dael Orlandersmith tells the story of the tragedy of Ferguson, Mo., through eight characters — playing all of them all — in this new Milwaukee Repertory Theater production opening Friday. The show runs through April 22 at the Stiemke Studio, 108 E. Wells St. Info: milwaukeerep.com.
“The Tales of Hoffmann”: Jacques Offenbach’s beloved opera of love, loss and art takes the stage of the Cabot Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway starting Friday. The Skylight Music Theatre production, in cooperation with the Milwaukee Opera Theatre, runs through March 29. Info: skylight musictheatre.org.
“The Hiding Place”: The Acacia Theatre again takes on the story of the ten Boom family, who opened their home to hide Jewish people fleeing the Nazis in occupied Netherlands during World War II in a production opening Friday and running through March 25 at Concordia University’s Todd Wehr Auditorium, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon. Info: acaciatheatre.com.
“Viva Opera!”: The Florentine Opera stages classic moments from operas from “Carmen” to “La Bohème” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Uihlein Hall in the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. Info: florentineopera.org.
“Tarzan”: This is not your father’s Tarzan; in the U.S. premiere being staged by Theatre Gigante, Tarzan, Jane and friends deal with big issues like love and middle age. It opens Friday and runs through March 24 at Kenilworth 508 Theatre, 1925 E. Kenilworth Place. Info: theatregigante.org.
Last call
It’s the last weekend to catch these productions.
“Black Pearl Sings!”: The Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s song-filled drama, about an imprisoned African-American woman and a musicologist out to preserve her rich song history, concludes its run Sunday at the Stackner Cabaret, 108 E. Wells St. Info: milwaukeerep.com.
“The Brothers Size”: Tarell Alvin McCraney’s drama about two brothers seemingly heading in different directions concludes its run Sunday in the Studio Theater at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway, in a production by the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. Info: milwaukeechambertheatre.com.
“The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus”: Off the Wall Theatre’s staging of Christopher Marlowe’s cautionary tale of power and corruption wraps up its run Sunday at 127 E. Wells St. Info: offthewalltheatre.com.
“The Outgoing Tide”: In Tandem Theatre’s drama about an aging man grappling with Alzheimer’s concludes its run at 10th Street Theatre, 682 N. 10th St., on Sunday. Info: intandemtheatre.org.