“Resurrection” ends one season, China opens another

Music

Gustav Mahler

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concludes their season this week, but the emphasis is not endings, but on resurrections — Gustav Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony, to be precise. Conducted by Edo de Waart and featuring the Lee Erickson-directed MSO Chorus with soloists Twyla Robinson (soprano) and Kelley O’Connor (alto), Mahler’s symphony asks nothing less than “What is life — and, now, death?” Resurrection Symphony will be performed June 10-12, with 8 p.m. concerts on Friday and Saturday and a 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinee. Tickets are $23-$93 Friday and Saturday and $23-$77 Sunday. Call the MSO ticket line, (414) 291-7605, visit the MSO website or call the Marcus Center box office, (414) 273-7206.

Visual Arts

It’s not every day the Milwaukee Art Museum can offer a traveling exhibit that may literally never return to the United States, much less Cream City itself. The Emperor’s Private Paradise is just such an exhibit. The exhibition is just one of the many in the MAM’s Summer of China series, which also includes Warriors, Beasts, and Spirits, a collection of early Chinese tomb artifacts; Emerald Mountains, a series of 20^th-century Chinese ink paintings; Way of the Dragon, a collection of Asian-influenced wares revealing Western interpretations of China; and On Site: Zhan Wang, featuring examples of Wang’s Scholar Rock series. What makes The Emperor’s Private Paradise unique is its backstory: The 90 works come from the “Forbidden City” of Beijing, commissioned by a former emperor, and this exhibition marks the first time these exquisite paintings, furniture, jades and other works are being seen by the public. After it closes, though, the artworks return to China, likely to never again cross the Pacific. MAM’s Summer of China series begins Saturday, June 11, although the Way of the Dragon exhibit won’t open until June 30. All exhibits are free with museum admission, $14 for adults, and $12 for students and seniors. For more information, visit the MAM website.

Theater

Theatre Gigante closes its season this weekend with The Good Thief, written by Conor McPherson, one of Ireland’s greatest modern playwrights. Directed and performed by Theatre Gigante regular Malcolm Tulip, the dark comedy delves into the mind of a “paid thug” and the Dublin underworld he inhabits. If the show doesn’t sound Irish enough yet, consider it’s being performed at Paddy’s Pub, 2339 N. Murray Ave., and a pint comes free with admission. The show starts at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and tickets are $25 at the door. For reservations or more information, call (414) 961-6119.

It may be summertime, but school is still on the brain at Pink Banana Theatre, where “Higher Education” is the theme of their 2011 Spring One-Acts. The event’s six plays, covering topics as varied as grade disputes, Facebook friending and your average adolescent angst, will be performed at In Tandem’s Tenth Street Theatre, 628 N. Tenth St. Shows start at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. Monday (a pay-what-you-can show), 7 p.m. Thursday, June 16, and 8 p.m. June 17 and 18. Tickets can be purchased online for $12 or $15 at the door.

Alchemist Theatre: Fool for Love, through June 18

Carte Blanche: Titus Andronicus, through June 19

Youngblood Theatre: An Apology, through June 21

Fireside Dinner Theatre: A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, through June 26.

Last Chance

Skylight Opera Theatre: The Adding Machine, closes June 12.

Note: On Stage is not comprehensive. For more events, please check the TCD performance calendar listings.