Prince's shocking and sudden death last week was a globally felt punch to the gut. But after a weekend to heal, to remember and to soak in the sweet, sexy sounds of Prince ... we still haven't been able to move on one bit. We're still all broken up about it. We're mourning him when we should've had at least another 20 years of Prince.
Thankfully, several Milwaukee venues are offering opportunities to continue the Prince mourning process this week and take in the glory that was The High Priest of Pop, both on the screen and on the dance floor.
1. "Purple Rain" on the big screen
The apex of Prince's reign on top of the pop cultural world, director Albert Magoli's "Purple Rain" – featuring the pop icon as a small-town rising star fighting personal woes and kindling romances – is like mainlining His Royal Badness, his music and aura in all of its peak '80s wonder. So what better way to pay once's respects?
The Times Cinema will screen the 1984 music movie classic on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:30 p.m. However, if you can't make it out to the Times for a late show this week, two local Marcus Theatres – the Marcus Menomonee Falls and the Marcus South Shore – will also be showing "Purple Rain" nightly this week through Thursday, and for just $5. The times vary each night at the two locations, so check Marcus Theaters' website to confirm when the movie shows before you go.
2. "When Doves Cry" at Mad Planet
You'd hope Milwaukee's best dance club would have an event planed to pay its respects to The Artist Formerly Known as Prince – and indeed it does. Mad Planet, located at 533 E. Center St., will transform its usual weekly Friday Retro Night Dance Party into "When Doves Cry: A Tribute to Prince" on Thursday, April 28. Starting at 9 p.m., host DJs Frank Straka and Kid Millions will be spinning Prince's music through the entire night. Put on your finest purple garb, bring $5 for the cover charge and prepare to party like it's 1999.
3. "Purple Rain" tribute show at The Artist Factory
Several of Milwaukee's own musicians – including Shonn Hinton, Taurus "Bird" Adams and Afton Johnson – will pay tribute to Prince at The Artist Factory, located at 228 S. 1st St., at 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 28. The doors open for the free tribute show at 8 p.m., which will feature the entire "Purple Rain" album, as well as an exclusive mix of several other memorable Prince hits spun by DJ Homer Blow.
As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.
When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.
