Skylight Music Theatre, Present Music are staging online shows
Coronavirus shmoronavirus, the show must go on. That’s what Skylight Music Theatre and Present Music have decided as they prepare for virtual concerts this week.
Skylight artistic director Michael Unger’s Rolodex is still smoldering after all the calls he made to organize “Skylight Sings: A Virtual Concert,” which begins 7 p.m. May 21. Dennis DeYoung of Styx and two-time Tony nominee Kate Baldwin headline a long roster of Skylight performers past, present and future, including former artistic director Ray Jivoff, Krystal Drake, Andrew Varela, Doug Clemons, Samantha Sostarich, Raven Dockery, Rachael Zientek and Mayra Castrejon.
“Skylight Sings” is a fundraiser. Current donors who have given $100 or more this season and new donors at that level will receive a link to access the virtual event. For info visit skylightmusictheatre.org.
The following night, Present Music will give a free “Take-Out Concert” at 7:30 p.m. May 22, streamed live from the homes of co-artistic director David Bloom and other musicians, interspersed with recorded videos.
A Present Music concert is by definition eclectic, so this lineup includes venerable minimalist Steve Reich’s “Radio Rewrite,” his reworking of Radiohead’s “Jigsaw Falling into Place” and “Everything in Its Right Place,” and music that composer Angélica Negrón generates by attaching electrodes to plants.
In between performances, Bloom and co-artistic director Eric Segnitz will interview composers, including local rapper Klassik and Milwaukee native Michael Torke.
This free streaming concert will be available through Present Music’s Facebook page or via Zoom. To receive a Zoom link, register for the event at eventbrite.com/e/take-out-concertregistration-105017965562.
For other Present Music information, visit presentmusic.org.