NEWS: RIP Bearded Men Improv, Long Live The Bearded Company Arts Theatre by Amy Donahue - February 8, 2018February 10, 2018 An image not reflecting the status of a Minneapolis-based improv troupe. Yesterday, the award-winning Bearded Men Improv troupe announced that it would no longer perform under its founding name. The company, which has Minneapolis and Los Angeles chapters, will henceforth be known as The Bearded Company. With typical élan, the 11-year-old company announced
REVIEW: Houston, Bohème in Space Has a Problem (Opéra de Paris) Arts Dance Music Opera Theatre Visual Arts by Amy Donahue - December 4, 2017December 6, 2017 A scene from the new production of La Bohème at the Paris Opera. Photo by Geert Goiris. Words cannot describe my feelings at getting assigned to review La Bohème at the Paris Opera. My gateway to opera was Musetta's waltz in Rent, played on a thrilling electric guitar. Then came Youtube, friends'
FEATURE: The Opera Lover’s Guide to Opera in Minnesota Arts Music Opera Theatre by Amy Donahue - October 29, 2017October 29, 2017 Baritone Jeehoon Kim in Really Spicy Opera's 2016 production of Rigoletto. New to the Twin Cities? Want to know where to go for opera? Well, you're in the right place: the Arts Reader's guide to opera in Minnesota. Where To See Opera Fargo-Moorhead The main producer of operas in the Fargo-Moorhead region is the aptly named
REVIEW: Rough but Poignant Birds Sing Differently Here (Guthrie Theater) Arts Theatre by Amy Donahue - October 29, 2017November 11, 2017 The aftershocks of war came home to the Guthrie Theater last night with the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project’s Birds Sing Differently. This collection of stories is based on the real lives of 12 Iraqi-Minnesotan refugees and immigrants and is performed as part of the Guthrie's Level Nine Series. Unusually, this performance is given
FEATURE: The Secret Life of Fringe Remounts Arts Dance Music Theatre by Amy Donahue - September 10, 2017September 10, 2017 Note: This article has been updated to include a mention of Dancing Bare Feet. Extending or reprising a show's run is every theatrical producer's dream. Evidently dreams do come true, because several shows from the 2017 Minnesota Fringe Festival are having reprises and remounts. Two of the best-selling shows of this year's
Fringe File, #22: REVIEW: Fringe Central Arts Dance Music Theatre by Amy Donahue - August 9, 2017August 10, 2017 To Fringe artists, Fringe Central is the heart and hub of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. This designated gathering place sees artists and audiences mixing, swapping show suggestions, and generally relaxing after a long day of Fringing. It's also one of the most dysfunctional parts of the festival. There is no permanent
REVIEW: Guns ‘N Roses Still Shooting (U.S. Bank Stadium) Arts Music by Amy Donahue - July 31, 2017August 2, 2017 A promotional photo for Guns 'N Roses. About 50,000 fans can testify that Guns 'N Roses are liars. After the band began a slow breakup in 2014, various members swore that they would not reunite onstage again. More than a year into their Not in This Lifetime... tour, the band is
Fringe File, #11: 5 Ridiculous Yet Wonderful-Looking Fringe Shows Arts Dance Music Theatre by Amy Donahue - July 30, 2017July 31, 2017 A promotional image for Jefferson Township Sparkling Junior Talent Pageant: A New Musical, presented by Devious Mechanics. One of the first things that our staff do when covering Fringe is to read through every show description. Counting cancellations, that's 192 or so to date for 2017! Here are some of incredibly
THE CURMUDGEON: Vol. 5 – The Five Sins of Publicity Photos Arts Dance Music Opera The Curmudgeon Theatre Visual Arts by Amy Donahue - July 15, 2017July 15, 2017 Photo by Markus Spiske. It happens to us all the time: someone submits a press kit or request for reviews, we're intrigued and thinking about possibilities – and find that the photos are just unsuitable for publication purposes. There are many different ways that this can happen, so here's a list