Author: Basil Considine

Basil Considine was the Editor of the Twin Cities Arts Reader from 2018-2022. He served as Performing Arts Editor and Senior Classical Music and Drama Critic for the Arts Reader's first five years, before succeeding Hanne Appelbaum. He was previously the Resident Classical Music and Drama Critic at the Twin Cities Daily Planet and remains an occasional contributing writer for The Boston Musical Intelligencer and The Chattanoogan. He holds a PhD in Music and Drama from Boston University, an MTS in Sacred Music from the BU School of Theology, and a BA in Music and Theatre from the University of San Diego. Basil was named one of Musical America's 30 Professionals of the Year in 2017. He was previously the Regional Governor for the National Opera Association's North Central Region and the 2021-2022 U.S. Fulbright Faculty Scholar to Madagascar.

NEWS: Four Humors to Host New MN Theater Awards

by Basil Considine - April 17, 2018April 17, 2018

A medieval medical manuscript describing the four humors of the body. One of the big questions on the mind when the Ivey Awards announced their closure in February was, "Will anyone step up and take their place?" The answer, it turns out, is yes – and, at least to start, it's Four

FEATURE: The Ordway’s Jesus Christ: The Walking Dead and Other Shows that Could Have Been (April Fools)

by Basil Considine - April 1, 2018April 1, 2018

The Walking Dead close in on Dieter Bierbrauer as he mourns the death of Jesus (Jesse Nager) to Walker bite in Jesus Christ: The Walking Dead. Photo by Rich Ryan. Planning on a musical theatre zombie apocalypse? Don't hire a focus group. That's one of several lessons gleaned from a review

PREVIEW: Sex, War, and Syphilis (and More) Come to Minneapolis

Arts
Theatre

by Basil Considine - March 27, 2018March 28, 2018

Sex, War, and Syphilis are coming to Minneapolis. Technically, that should read is coming to, but really – do you want to debate grammar, or do you want to say, "WTF, mate – syphilis?" WTF, indeed: it turns out that St. Paul is to blame for giving Minneapolis Syphilis. This is clearly playwright Katherine

NEWS: Met Opera Auditions – Minnesota District Results

by Basil Considine - March 24, 2018March 25, 2018

The five winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions' Minnesota District round (L-R): Lauren Decker, Andrea Lott, Katherine Rose DeYoung, Jessica Faselt, and Kayleigh Decker. Photo courtesy of the MONC Upper Midwest Region. The Minnesota District phase of the Metropolitan Opera's National Council Auditions concluded today. Five singers will advance

PREVIEW: The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions

by Basil Considine - March 23, 2018March 23, 2018

Soprano Jessica Faselt singing at Bethel University in the 2017 round of the Metropolitan Opera National Council – Upper Midwest Region Auditions. Faselt won the Regional audition and competed in New York City in the Semi-Final Round of the auditions. Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera National Council – Upper Midwest

REVIEW: Reliable Horses in Old Log’s Guys and Dolls

by Basil Considine - March 18, 2018June 24, 2018

The famous "Fugue for Tinhorns" in the Old Log Theatre's production of Guys and Dolls. Pictured: Jordan Oxborough, Aaron Booth, and Austin Stole. Photo courtesy of the Old Log Theatre. You won't find any surprises in the Old Log Theatre's new production of Guys and Dolls, but that's not why you

REVIEW: Princess Ida‘s Steampunk Bursts (GSVLOC)

by Basil Considine - March 17, 2018March 17, 2018

The women of Castle Adamant preparing for war in the Gilbert and Sullivan Very Light Opera Company's new production of Princess Ida. Photo by Stephen Hage. Some of the jokes in Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operas have stood the test of time better than others. This is one of the reasons

REVIEW: Designing Laughter in Corduroy (Children’s Theatre Company)

Arts
Theatre

by Basil Considine - March 16, 2018March 29, 2018

Ileri Okikiolu as Lisa in the Children's Theatre Company production of Corduroy. Photo by Dan Norman. I grew up with Don Freeman's classic children's picture book Corduroy. It's a story so simple, endearing, and timeless that it seems odd to learn that the book dates back to 1968 – fifty years' old, to

REVIEW: It’s the Time for Newsies (Chanhassen Dinner Theatres)

by Basil Considine - March 14, 2018March 14, 2018

Aleks Knezevich (center) leads a ragtag group of newspaper boys (and one girl) in sticking it to the man in Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' production of Newsies. Photo by Rich Ryan Photography. There is a moment in Newsies when Aleks Knezevich (as lead newsboy Jack Kelly) gives a speech about standing together. "All across this

INTERVIEW: Grace Chermak on Playing a Doll (in Guys and Dolls)

by Basil Considine - March 10, 2018June 24, 2018

Grace Chermak (second from the left) stars in the Old Log Theatre's upcoming production of Guys and Dolls. Also pictured: Eric Sargent, Charlie Clark, and Kym Chambers Otto. Photo courtesy of the Old Log Theatre. The Old Log Theatre's production of the classic musical Guys and Dolls opens today in Excelsior,