Fringe File #4: INTERVIEW: Hannah Bakke and Escape THIS (TheatreX) Arts Theatre by Basil Considine - July 17, 2019July 20, 2019 The cast of TheatreX's upcoming Fringe show Escape THIS in rehearsal. Pictured: Ryan Vanasse, Christy Johnson, Kyle Doherty, and Hannah Bakke. Photo by Joe Hendren. When Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Egypt in 1798, he had no idea that his most enduring legacy would be Egyptomania. The French military expedition included historians and
REVIEW: La Serva Padrona Ascends at Icehouse (Mill City Summer Opera) Arts Music Opera Theatre by Basil Considine - July 16, 2019July 17, 2019 Rodolfo Nieto (center) and Madison Holtze (right) in Mill City Summer Opera's production of the opera La serva padrona. Photo by Jasmin Kemp. Mill City Summer Opera leaped onto its first-ever second stage last night. The company's compact production of La serva padrona is a light-hearted, entertaining gem staged at the
Fringe File #3: INTERVIEW: Kevin T. Houle on Star Trek, Being Stuck in an Elevator, and Fandom Plays Arts Theatre by Basil Considine - July 10, 2019July 10, 2019 George M. Calger, Travis Bedard, Ali Daniels, and Tanya E. Walker rehearse The Theatre Cosmic's production of Stuck in an Elevator with Patrick Stewart II: The Wrath of Fandom, opening August 1 at the Minnesota Fringe Festival. The religiosity of Star Trek fans is not just a joking matter – it's
NEWS: Patrick Scully’s Leaves of Grass – Illuminated Sells Out (Guthrie Theater) Arts Dance Theatre by Basil Considine - July 10, 2019July 26, 2019 If you want to see Patrick Scully's Leaves of Grass and haven't bought tickets, you might want to put the Guthrie's box office on your speed dial. The show's July 12-14 limited run at the Guthrie Theater sold out before the 4th of July fireworks even had a chance to
Fringe File #1: INTERVIEW: Andrew Erskine Wheeler on Becoming Booth’s Ghost Arts Theatre by Basil Considine - July 7, 2019July 7, 2019 A promotional photo for Booth's Ghost. Photo by Nathan Kornelis. He's played a Disneyland Genie, a Green Bay Packers Super Fan, Hubert H. Humphrey (twice), and assorted police officers over the years – so it's natural that Andrew Erskine Wheeler should eventually come around to playing a ghost. This ghost's beef?
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: 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
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