Most opera fans know Madison Opera for putting on sumptuous productions of beloved operas like “La Boheme” or “The Marriage of Figaro.” But the opera has something a little different in mind this weekend, mounting on Feb. 13 and 15 the world premiere of an original new production, “Everlasting Faint,” a true crime murder mystery about a mother investigating her daughter’s untimely death.
On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin talks with composer Scott Gendel and Madison Opera general director Kathryn Smith about the thrills and challenges of bringing something totally new to the stage.
This is the time of year when many Madison theater companies are launching their first new productions of 2026 to chase away the late winter blahs. Here’s what’s happening on local stages, from big touring national productions to scrappy local theater.
Overture Center Playhouse (through Feb. 15)
This Forward Theater production tracks the life of a Polish immigrant across several decades in America. Cap Times theater critic Lindsay Christians says as the main character, Cassandra Bissell is “marvelous as Darja — frustrated at her circumstances, fiercely proud, flawed and funny.”
Overture Hall (through Feb. 15)
The five-time Tony Award-winning musical is making its debut appearance in Madison, a life-affirming show about a teenage girl with a rare genetic condition causing her to age rapidly.
Starlight Theater at MYArts (through Feb. 22)
Follow Bilbo Baggins and his merry band of dwarves on their epic quest to Mount Doom in Children Theatre of Madison’s new production.
Bartell Theatre (through Feb. 21)
Puerto Rican playwright Gretchen Suarez-Pena put together this collection of monologues and vignettes about “the little things that make us all human.”
Ann Hogan, Marcus Phillips and Jim Hogan star in the national touring production of “Kimberly Akimbo” at Overture Hall this week. (Photo by Joan Marcus)
Broom Street Theater (Feb. 20-22)
True to form, Madison’s iconoclastic black box theater breaks traditions and forms with a variety show that “may include experimental music, comedy, theater art, improvisation, and other shenanigans.”
Bartell Theater (Feb. 12-14)
For the eighth year, Madison Shakespeare Company presents a compendium of love-focused vignettes from classic plays in honor of Valentine’s Day, including excerpts from “Cyrano de Bergerac,” “Much Ado About Nothing” and, of course, “Romeo & Juliet.”
Art House 360 (through Feb. 15)
Theater LILA and Barrio Dance look at the many facets of love through an immersive theater-dance experience in the round featuring singing, dancing, and poetry.
“Sandra”
Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret in Spring Green (Feb. 26 - March 8)
Is there anything more Wisconsin than seeing great live theater in a bar? Two Crows Theatre Company presents this show about a woman searching Mexico for a missing friend. American Players Theatre ace Colleen Madden plays all the roles.
Overture Center (Feb. 28- March 1)
Live theater is a big part of Overture’s annual celebration of the irreverent arts, including the improvised musical “Shamilton” in which the troupe Baby Wants Candy makes up a biopic on the spot of a famous figure.
UW-Madison Ronald E. Mitchell Theatre (Feb. 26-March 8)
The clean water crisis in Flint, Michigan raises tensions between an autoworker and her activist sister in this intense drama.
