Madison Lyric Stage Summer Festival to Feature Manilow/Midler Tribute, Britten/Pears Celebration

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Tenor Marc Deaton and pianist Jill Brunelle will perform at Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society.

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Madison Lyric Stage , a professional theater company now entering its 14th year, will launch its 2026 Summer Festival with two concerts: Barry & Bette, a tribute concert featuring the best-known hit songs of Barry Manilow and Bette Midler ; and Outcasts & Innocents, a celebration of the musical world of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears.

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Returning to one of its original homes, Madison Lyric Stage will become the ‘theater-in-residence' at the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society, for a month-long summer festival of popular and classical music and drama. Guests will enjoy an unmissable arts experience in this temperature-controlled, intimate space with strictly limited seating.

June 27 at 7:00 pm and June 28 at 4:00 pm. Tickets: $40

The festival kicks-off with a dazzling tribute to two pop icons: Barry Manilow and Bette Midler . Tenor Marc Deaton, a cast of 6 singers and a marvelous band led by pianist, Jill Brunelle, will take the stage with soaring renditions of beloved hits including Mandy, Can't Smile Without You, Could It Be Magic, Copacabana, Looks Like We Made It, Wind Beneath My Wings, From A Distance, Do You Want To Dance, The Glory of Love and The Rose. Step back in time for an unforgettable night honoring the golden eras of the '70s, '80s, and '90s.

July 10 at 7:00 pm and July 12 at 4:00 pm Tickets: $40

Journey deep into the hauntingly beautiful realm of composer, Benjamin Britten , and his muse, tenor Peter Pears. In this semi-staged experience, tenor Marc Deaton —drawing on his four-decade international career — transforms into more than 10 of Britten's unforgettable characters, with excerpts from Britten works including: Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, War Requiem, The Turn of the Screw, Billy Budd, The Rape of Lucretia and Peter Grimes. Deaton will be supported by a company of 8 guest vocal artists and French horn player, Daniel Shapiro, with music direction by Jill Brunelle.

Madison Lyric Stage 's Summer Festival 2026 continues July 17 – 26 with a fully staged production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

“This summer, we are delighted to bring audiences three unforgettable events celebrating popular music, theatre and opera,” said Marc Deaton, artistic director of Madison Lyric Stage . “Created for lovers of beautiful music and exceptional live performance, our Summer Festival is a vibrant celebration of the arts—and we're proud to share it with our shoreline community.”

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/madison/article/BARRY-BETTE-and-OUTCASTS-INNOCENTS-to-Launch-Madison-Lyric-Stage-Summer-Festival-20260602)._