FEATURE: On the Launch of The Book of Mormon Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - November 13, 2018November 13, 2018 The cast of the National Tour of The Book of Mormon. Photo by Julieta Cervantes. In New York City, there is rarely a better theatre recommendation to be had than at the TKTS Booth. In a city of 8.6 million, hundreds of theatre organizations, and innumerable shows opening and closing all
INTERVIEW: Mill City Summer Opera’s New Artistic Director Arts Music Opera Theatre by Basil Considine - October 17, 2018November 4, 2018 Crystal Manich, the recently named Artistic Director of Mill City Summer Opera. Photo by Laura Marie Duncan. Next summer, Mill City Summer Opera will open its festival season under new leadership: Crystal Manich, the company's recently named artistic director. Manich has directed operas across the United States and in far-off cities
REVIEW: Nostalgic, Light-Hearted Holiday Inn Hits the Spot (Chanhassen Dinner Theatres) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - October 15, 2018October 22, 2018 A scene from Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' production of Holiday Inn. Photo by Tom Wallace. Is your idea of a good night at the theatre a light-hearted tale, pleasant music, interesting dance, and no weighty thoughts at the end of the day? If so, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' new production of Holiday Inn is
REVIEW: Long La Rondine Worth the Wait (Minnesota Opera) Arts Music Opera Theatre Visual Arts by Basil Considine - October 14, 2018November 17, 2018 Celine Bryne as Magda, Leonardo Capalbo as Ruggero, and the Minnesota Opera Chorus in Minnesota Opera’s new production of La Rondine. Photo by Cory Weaver. There is a temptation that directors and designers face to re-encapsulate or reframe an old stage work for today's audience. Sometimes it is about trying to highlight
NEWS: Crystal Manich to Take Reins at Mill City Summer Opera Arts Dance Music Opera Theatre by Basil Considine - September 26, 2018September 26, 2018 Today, Mill City Summer Opera announced the appointment of Crystal Manich as its new artistic director. Manich, a lauded stage director, will take the artistic reins for the company's 2019 season and direct its production of Mozart's Così fan Tutte. Read an interview with Crystal Manich on directing. Manich takes over
INTERVIEW: Cantus on Lorelei and Cross-Country Concertizing Arts Music by Basil Considine - September 17, 2018September 18, 2018 The Boston-based Lorelei Ensemble, which joins Cantus for a concert this Thursday at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. This Thursday will witness a rare choral event: the Twin Cities-based, all-male vocal ensemble Cantus sharing a program with the celebrated, Boston-based, all-female Lorelei Ensemble. The two ensembles will join forces
REVIEW: Stunning Hamilton Erupts on Hennepin (Orpheum/Hennepin Theatre Trust) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - September 1, 2018September 10, 2018 Joseph Morales and Nik Walker as Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, in the second national tour of Hamilton. Photo by Joan Marcus. The most remarkable thing about Hamilton is not that each song is so good. The most remarkable thing is that each element – the striking choreography, the immense variety
Fringe File 2018 #26 – Official Numbers; MN Fringe No Longer Largest in United States Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - August 23, 2018September 1, 2019 A scene from Lions and Peacocks and Snakes – OH MY! by CAAM Chinese Dance Theater, one of several shows at the inaugural Family Fringe festival. Photo by Dan Norman. The numbers are in for the 2018 Minnesota Fringe festivals: this year's Fringe fests were a heck of a lot smaller
NEWS: Fallout from Classical Music’s Sexual Misconduct Disclosures Arts Music Opera Theatre by Basil Considine - July 29, 2018July 29, 2018 The Covent Garden Theatre in London burns in 1856. The day after the Arts Reader ran its feature on sexual misconduct in opera, the Star Tribune ran its own feature on lapses in sexual assault and rape investigations in the State of Minnesota. Four days later, the Washington Post published the
Fringe File 2018 #16 – A View from the Set with Joshua Barnd Arts Music Theatre by Basil Considine - July 27, 2018July 28, 2018 An example of River Bottom Productions' industrial work. Joshua Barnd is the owner and operator of River Bottom Productions, a Jordan, MN-based production company that has provided multifaceted production services to the greater Twin Cities area since 2008. On any given day, Joshua might be working on scenic design, lighting, sound,