The Day Ahead, April 17: Madison Children’s Museum Adult Swim, Midwest Horse Show, William Elliott Whitmore

The Capital Times
April 17, 2015

Freak out

Go ahead: freak out. Let your former English major flag fly at Adult Swim: Word Freaks at the Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton St., from 6-10 p.m. on Friday night. Play in word game tournaments, channel Nigel Hayes and try to “Stump the Stenographer,” and enjoy a game of Giant Bananagrams or attack the Magnetic Poetry wall. Music from Flowpoetry and a performance of “Mom Returns from the Horse Races,” a short one-act play entirely composed of palindromes, will provide diversions in between word battles. There will be food and drink available for purchase on site. Tickets are $12. The event is open to ages 18 and up.

madisonchildrensmuseum.org

More Whitmore

Americana artist William Elliott Whitmore will bring his banjo and retro-inspired folk vocals to the Majestic Theatre, 115 King St., at 9 p.m. on Friday. Whitmore, who fails from Iowa, plays unapologetically folky tunes. In Pitchfork’s review of his last album, “Field Songs,” they said, “it’s embarrassingly easy to picture him attacking log with an old, rusted ax.” Well, “lumbersexuals” are in, after all. Esme Patterson and Christopher Gold will open. Tickets are $12 ($15 day of show).

majesticmadison.com

Rise up and dance

Kanopy Dance’s spring performances, called “Emergence: Gaia Rising,” feature a mix of new and previously seen works, including premieres by Kiro Kopulos, Juan Carlos Diaz Velez and Tiana Ching Maslanka. Tickets cost $14-29 for performances in Promenade Hall in Overture Center, 201 State St., set for Friday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 18, at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

kanopydance.org | 258-4141

Balanchine gems

Madison Ballet’s Spring Repertory II program will include two ballets by the acclaimed choreographer George Balanchine. “Elégie” and “Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux” are iconic works, and will join 2011 pieces from Madison Ballet artistic director W. Earle Smith, including one set to jazz standards like “Stormy Weather” and “Almost Like Being in Love.” Tickets cost $30 for adults and $25 for children and seniors, with $10 student rush tickets available the day of the performance (two per ID). Performances are set for Friday, April 17, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Bartell Theatre, 113 E. Mifflin St.

madisonballet.org | 278-7990

Galloping into the future

The Midwest Horse Show runs Friday-Sunday at the Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way. Hundreds of clinics, seminars and educational events are planned by some of the top horse professionals from around the country. More than 500 vendor booths will offer shopping opportunities and entertainment is planned each night. Advance ticket prices are $12 per day or $30 for all three days; and $17 per day and $45 for all three days at the gate. Parking is included. Children age 7 and under are free. Schedules and times are available online.

midwesthorsefair.com | 267-3995

Leaf mulch sales

Leaf mulch, made from leaves collected by the city of Madison and composted at Olbrich Botanical Gardens is now on sale at Olbrich, 3330 Atwood Ave. Bagged mulch is available daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. while supplies last. Bulk sales are available from 1 to 5 p.m. each Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday through May 23. Mulch is beneficial for annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees and gardens and cuts down on watering and weeding needs. Bagged mulch is $6.50 per bag and bulk mulch is $40 per tractor scoop (about 8-10 bags) .

olbrich.org | 246-4550

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