BREAKING NEWS: Rose Ensemble Aborts Planned Closure Arts Music by Amy Donahue - June 24, 2019June 29, 2019 The Rose Ensemble announced last June that the much-decorated vocal ensemble would fade away at the end of the present season, citing declining revenues. Today, the Rose Ensemble delighted fans by announcing that its planned sunset would not actually take place. Thanks to an outpouring of fundraising and audience support,
REVIEW: Jefferson Township Sparkling Junior Talent Pageant Kills It (Park Square Theatre) Arts Dance Music Theatre Visual Arts by Basil Considine - June 22, 2019June 22, 2019 The cast of Jefferson Township Sparkling Junior Talent Pageant, opening Friday at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul, MN. Photo by Petronella J. Ytsma. A new musical with a very wordy title opened in St. Paul last night. The show? The Jefferson Township Sparkling Junior Talent Pageant by Keith Hovis. The
REVIEW: Bad Education on Trial in Spring Awakening (Chameleon Theatre Circle) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Amy Donahue - June 21, 2019June 21, 2019 Schoolboys in Chameleon Theatre Circle's production of Spring Awakening. Photo by Kari Elizabeth Godfrey Photography LLC. It's surprising how well Spring Awakening has aged. For a show based on an 1891 stage drama by Frank Widekind, the musical's indictment of harmful education systems and nonexistent sex ed play very well in
REVIEW: Drizzle in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (Ordway) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - June 20, 2019June 21, 2019 Kristin Stokes, Chris McCarrell, and Jorrel Javier in the national tour of The Lightning Thief. Photo by Jeremy Daniel. There might be a good children's show lurking inside The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. If there is, however, it's buried pretty deep. The show's great moment of wonder is when
BREAKING NEWS: Stephen Lord Resigns From Michigan Opera Theatre, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Arts Music Opera Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - June 19, 2019June 19, 2019 Following last night's publication of an investigative feature on Stephen Lord, the American conductor has resigned from his positions at Michigan Opera Theatre and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Statements from both organizations follow. MOT's complete statement reads: Michigan Opera Theatre announced today that its Principal Conductor Stephen Lord has resigned from
INTERVIEW: Keith Hovis on Sparkling Junior Talent Pageants…for Theatrical Purposes (Park Square Theatre) Arts Music Theatre by Basil Considine - June 19, 2019June 19, 2019 The cast of Jefferson Township Sparkling Junior Talent Pageant, opening Friday at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul, MN. Photo by Petronella J. Ytsma. This Friday, a show with a surprisingly long title opens at Park Square Theatre: the Jefferson Township Sparkling Junior Talent Pageant musical. This roaring comedy – a
FEATURE: Threats, Quid Pro Quo Harassment, & Obscene Messages: Abuse on an Operatic Scale Arts Music Opera Theatre by Basil Considine - June 18, 2019June 21, 2019 Photo by Toni Maksan. [Editor's update: Following the June 18th publication of this article, Stephen Lord resigned from Michigan Opera Theatre and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.] [Warning: This article includes a detailed discussion of sexual harassment.] "If you sleep with me, you would have so many jobs." "I could cast you in so
REVIEW: The Rinky Dink Show A Literal Laughing Matter Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - June 16, 2019June 16, 2019 A promotional photo for The Rinky Dink Show! What Kind of Rinky Dink Show is This?, now playing at Bryant-Lake Bowl. The Rinky Dink Show! opened last night at Bryant-Lake Bowl & Theater in Minneapolis. This evening of sketch comedy brims with visual, spoken, and musical humor. It recalls at times
REVIEW: Stanley Clarke’s Band of Virtuosos (Dakota Jazz Club) Arts Music by Brian Bix - June 15, 2019June 15, 2019 A promotional photo of master musician Stanley Clarke. Photo by Raj Naik. Stanley Clarke gave a masterful and energetic performance at The Dakota Jazz Club last night. Clarke, who returns to the downtown Minneapolis location tonight for two additional performance, has been an important figure in contemporary music for 45 years.
REVIEW: Juice WRLD Ignites Sold-Out Minneapolis Crowd at the Armory Arts Music by David Bix - June 3, 2019June 5, 2019 Rapper Juice WRLD. The Armory is the pinnacle of rap performance and open venues in Minneapolis. As such, it plays home to gigs such as Juice WRLD's Death Race for Love tour (after his recent, eponymous album), which landed at the Armory on Saturday. Hours before the doors opened, fans were