REVIEW: Six Degrees of Cons (Theater Latté Da) Arts Theatre by Bev Wolfe - March 21, 2017March 21, 2017 A scene from Theater Latte Da’s production of Six Degrees of Separation. Photo by Dan Norman. Phoniness, lack of human connectedness and class distinctions are the prevalent themes in John Guare’s play Six Degrees of Separation, which opened last weekend at Theater Latte Da. The play originally debuted on Broadway in
PREVIEW: Thurgood‘s Decisive Return (Illusion Theater) Arts Theatre by Bev Wolfe - March 10, 2017March 12, 2017 James Craven in the Illusion Theater's Thurgood. Photo by Lauren B Photography. The Illusion Theater is reprising its 2015 production of George Stevens, Jr.’s play Thurgood. Thurgood shines a light on the life of Justice Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993). Marshall was a legal superstar who successfully used the law to bring social and
REVIEW: Steamy Words in Anna in the Tropics (Jungle Theater) Arts Theatre by Bev Wolfe - February 23, 2017February 23, 2017 Cristina Florencia Castro as Marela in Anna in the Tropics. Photo by William Clark. The world of Tolstoy collides with the world of Cuban-American cigar workers in Jungle Theater’s current production of Anna in the Tropics. Playwright Nilo Cruz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama transports its audience to nearly a century ago in Tampa,
REVIEW: Dr. Seuss & Sneetches + Musical = !!! (Children’s Theatre Company) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - February 14, 2017February 14, 2017 Photo by Dan Norman. Marvelous, simply marvelous. These are not just my words, they are also the words uttered by my five-year-old granddaughter when she saw Dr. Seuss’ The Sneetches: The Musical, which had its world premiere performance this weekend at the Children’s Theatre Company. The musical is based on the Dr. Seuss’ book The
REVIEW: Mamma Mia! – The Last Tour (Orpheum Theatre) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - February 12, 2017February 12, 2017 Photo by Kevin Thomas Garcia. The vivacious spirit of ABBA has returned to the Orpheum Theatre in the form of the Broadway hit Mamma Mia! This is the megamusical's eighth run in Minneapolis and is reportedly the last tour for a while. (Proving that nature abhors a vacuum, an ABBA tribute band
REVIEW: Numb with Grace (Yellow Tree Theatre) Arts Theatre by Bev Wolfe - February 11, 2017February 11, 2017 Powerful is an apt description for Yellow Tree Theatre’s new production of Grace. Playwright Craig Wright’s thought-provoking play centers on belief systems and what happens when they prove to be insufficient. Under the direction of Terry Hempleman, this production generates compelling acting by each of the four players (Hempleman also plays
REVIEW: Reborn Flower Drum Song (Mu/Park Square) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - February 4, 2017February 4, 2017 Photo by Rich Ryan. It was particularly poignant that Mu Performing Arts and Park Square Theatre chose this past weekend to open their co-production of the musical Flower Drum Song with its story of immigrants and their assimilation into American life. This updated version of the 1950s musical by Richard Rodgers
PREVIEW: Nina Simone: Four Women Returns to Park Square Arts Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - February 2, 2017February 11, 2017 Photo by Petronella J. Ytsma. Nina Simone: Four Women, which made more than one critic's Top 10 list for 2016, is returning for a limited engagement at Park Square Theater from February 7 through February 26. Christina Ham’s play "transcends a simple biopic setup into a well-crafted dialogue between women of the Civil
REVIEW: Patti LaBelle Still Has It (State Theatre) Arts Music by Bev Wolfe - January 29, 2017January 29, 2017 When Patti LaBelle burst onto the stage singing “New Attitude” at her recent concert at the State Theatre, it was evident that this 72-year-old rhythm and blues singer was not relying on her legendary past to carry her through the concert. Instead, she used energy, warmth and some great moves,
PREVIEW: Patti LaBelle and SaBeautiful, SaBountiful Voice (Hennepin Theatre Trust) Arts Music by Bev Wolfe - January 12, 2017January 12, 2017 Following an absolutely smashing concert at the Minnesota State Fair in 2015, Patti LaBelle returns to Minnesota for a one-night only concert at the Minneapolis State Theatre at 8 pm this Saturday, January 14, 2017. She has been performing for over fifty years and is a versatile performer known for