Theatrical Previews

NUNSENSE
Dan Goggins’ skewering of growing up Catholic is highly durable fun. Faeretale Productions presents its staging of the modern classic July 6 –August 31 at Monk’s at the Wilderness in Wisconsin Dells. 608-254-6665 or madstage.com.

STUCK
The UW-Whitewater Theatre and Dance Department presents the world premiere of a work by UW graduate Neil Haven – a comedy set in an old Milwaukee hotel involving an agoraphobic elevator operator and a cavalcade of offbeat characters. July 8 – 12 at the Hicklin Studio Theatre in Whitewater. 262-472-2222 or academics.uww.edu.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Door Shakespeare presents one of Shakespeare’s most popular works in the intimacy of its cozy outdoor theatre July 10 – August 23 in Bailey’s Harbor, Door County. 920-839-1500 or my.pclink.com/~gomis/doorshakespeare.

PAINT THE TOWN
This drama about revolution and red paint stars Kate Pleuss, Jason Hames and writer/director Rex Winsome. Before hitting the national DIY theatre circuit in August, Insurgent Theatre stages an extended run July 10 – 27 at the Alchemist Theatre. 414-426-4169 or insurgenttheatre.org.

SYSTEMS
Destined for the Minnesota Fringe Festival in August, Peter J. Woods’ concise, literal interpretation of the fourth wall is joined by similar works from John Manno and yours truly, Russ Bickerstaff, in an Insurgent Theatre program running in alternation with Paint the Town July 10 – 27 at the Alchemist Theatre. 414-426-4169 or insurgenttheatre.org.

BLITZ IX
The Mercury Players Theatre in Madison presents its 9th annual 24-hour page-to-stage extravaganza. It’s a little crazy, but who are we to judge? July 11 and 12 at the Bartell Theatre. 608-661-9696 or mercuryplayerstheatre.com.

THE ROCK AND THE RABBI
The name alone tells you what you need to know about this modern gospel musical about the story of Peter and Jesus. The Gary Richardson/Danny Hamilton musical runs July 10 – August 17 at the Fireside Dinner Theatre in Fort Atkinson. 800-477-9505 or firesidetheatre.com.

CYRANO DE BERGERAC
The classic adventure/romance gets an outdoor staging in northern Wisconsin as Door Shakespeare launches its second production of the season. July 11 – August 24 in Bailey’s Harbor, Door County. 920-839-1500 or
my.pclink.com/~gomis/doorshakespeare.

DAMN YANKEES
The classic Adler and Ross musical closes Sunset Playhouse’s season with a Faustian tale set in the 1950s. A man sells his soul to the devil to improve the chances of his favorite baseball team. July 11 – August 3. 262-782-4430 or sunsetplayhouse.org.

YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU
The Summerset Theatre on the campus of University of Wisconsin - Baraboo/Sauk County presents the classic Kaufmann and Hart comedy July 11 – 26. 608-355-5300 or baraboo.uwc.edu/summerset.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Elizabeth Bennet meets the awkwardly mysterious Mr. Darcy as Acacia Theatre stages the classic Jane Austen story in an adaptation by Jon Jory. July 11 – 20 at Concordia University’s Todd Wehr Auditorium. 414-744-5995 or acaciatheatre.com.

WAIT UNTIL DARK
Spiral Theatre presents the 1966 Frederick Knott thriller about a blind woman who is terrorized by the burglars who enter her home looking for a stash of heroin. July 11 – 26 at Bucketworks. 414-429-9540 or spiraltheatre.com.

THE HORSE AND HIS BOY
Madison’s Lamppost Players Children’s Theatre continues its ongoing mission to stage works exclusively by C.S. Lewis with this production July 16 and 17 at Bethany Church. 608-256-6282 or madstage.com/Companies/lamppost.html.

THE FROGS
Off The Wall Productions extends its previously announced season with a production of the Stephen Sondheim musical based on a 2000 year-old play by Aristophanes. The book was written by Burt Shevelove and Nathan Lane. July 17 – 27. 414-327-3552 or offthewalltheatre.com.

SPINNING INTO BUTTER
Racial tensions explode at a college in Vermont in this 1999 drama by Rebecca Gilman. Pink Banana Theatre presents the controversial play July 17 – 26 at the 10th Street Theatre.
414-271-1371 or pinkbananatheatre.com.

THE ADVENTURES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN
So the big-budget movie adaptation of the classic C.S. Lewis’ novel wasn’t the big hit that Walden Media expected? Perhaps this smaller-budget stage adaptation by Madison’s First Act Children’s Theatre will have a bit more human appeal. July 18 and 19. 608-358-9572 or firstactchildrenstheatre.com.

MACBETH
Madison’s MadCAP Theatre stages a production of Shakespeare’s bloody classic designed to appeal to its target demographic of young theatergoers. July 18 and 19 at the Bartell Theatre. 608-219-7515 or madcap.org.

MESHUGGAH-NUNS!
Dan Goggis’ little-known sequel to Nunsense pairs the sisters on a cruise ship with Tevye from The Fiddler On The Roof. Fort Atkinson Community Theatre presents its production of the comedy July 18 – 27. 920-568-1271 or fortfact.org.

THE MIKADO
The Madison Savoyards present the Gilbert and Sullivan classic July 18 -27 at the UW Music Hall. 608-231-9005 or madisonsavoyards.org.

YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN
UW Whitewater Theater/Dance Department presents the classic Clark Gesner musical July 22 – 27. 262-472-2222 or academics.uww.edu/CAC/Theatre/Season.htm.

THE 385 POUND SMOKER
Alley Stage in Mineral Point, Wisconsin presents the world premiere comedy by New York playwright Paul Cohen about the bizarre death of a man who cost an insurance company $8.5 million. July 24 – August 9. 800-838-3006 or
alleystage.com.

INTO THE WOODS
Community Players of Southwestern Wisconsin presents the witty Steven Sondheim re-imagining of fairy tales like Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. July 25 – August 2. 608-604-0343 or madstage.com/Companies/communityplayers.html.

WONDERLAND
MadCAP Theatre presents James DeVita’s children’s stage adaptation of Lewis Carrol’s Through The Looking Glass July 25 and 26 at the Bartell Theatre. 608-219-7515 or madcap.org.