🎭 It’s Theater-a-Palooza!
September means that local theater companies are kicking off their 2025-26 seasons, including a couple of world premieres. In the Overture Center Playhouse, Forward Theater Company has the world premiere of the lost-at-sea musical “Steady She Goes” (Sept. 10-27).
Forward Theater, who’s sponsoring our monthly guide this September, is giving City Cast Madison readers the chance to win free tickets to see “Steady She Goes”! Just head over to our Instagram page and enter!
Capital City Theatre brings “Where We Are” (Sept. 17-20), a musical inspired by the collection the Hand Drawn Map Association, to Overture’s Promenade Hall. The Bartell Theatre’s production of “Marjorie Prime,” (Sept. 18-26) about a woman who buys a robot version of her late husband, couldn’t be more timely in the age of AI angst. Edgewood University revives Moliere’s French comedy of manners “The Misanthrope” (Sept. 23-27) on its outdoor stage.
🎪 Everybody Is Invited to the Circus
It’s been a hard summer in Madison, and on the east side especially. But the neighborhood’s iconic and eccentric Willy Street Fair (Sept. 19-20) is a chance for the community to get together and get weird. In addition to several stages of live music and lots of food and drink, everybody is invited to dress up and march in the Sunday morning parade.
🍕 Hungry For a Festival?
Good things come in small packages (or small plates) at Taste of Madison on the Capitol Square (Sept. 5-6) with over 90 food vendors. True North Food & Music Festival (Sept. 26) at Warner Park will feature 17 restaurants and eight bands, including Nashville’s Langhorne Slim headlining.
🏮 Lanterns Light the Way
The Madison Water Lantern Festival (Sept. 12) features live music, food, and drink. But what sets it apart is the opportunity to decorate and personalize a lantern, either to remember a loved one or set an intention for the future, and release it on the water in a healing ceremony. Editor’s note: Water Lantern Festival is also a sponsor of City Cast.
IRONMAN Wisconsin returns to Madison on Sept. 13. (Rob Thomas / City Cast Madison)
💪 You Are Ironman
Push yourself to the limit (and support someone who is) at IRONMAN Wisconsin (Sept. 13). Athletes love coming to Madison not just because of the beautiful and challenging course that includes a downtown run, a hilly bike ride, and a swim in the lake, but because of the crowds cheering them on.
🎸 Because the Night Belongs to Patti
Rock icon Patti Smith has been in Madison before, but never like this. On Sept. 22 at the Orpheum Theater, Smith will tell stories and play songs inspired by her new memoir “Bread of Angels.” Ticketholders will get a free paperback copy of the book courtesy of A Room of One’s Own.
