PREVIEW: The Fiddler on the Roof National Tour (Orpheum/Hennepin Theatre Trust) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - July 17, 2019July 17, 2019 The cast of the Fiddler on the Roof national tour, which comes to the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis July 30-August 4. Photo by Joan Marcus. How iconic is Fiddler on the Roof? So much that, reviewing its film adaptation, the New Yorker's notoriously picky Pauline Kael called it "the most powerful
REVIEW: Inspired Readings in Leaves of Grass (Guthrie Theater) Arts Dance Theatre by Amy Donahue - July 16, 2019July 26, 2019 An illustration by Margaret C. Cook for a 1913 edition of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, the subject of a recent play of the same name by Patrick Scully at the Guthrie Theater. 2019 marks the bicentennial of Walt Whitman's birth. The American poet's long shadow still tinges much of American
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 #2: The Overachiever’s Plan for Day 1 of the Minnesota Fringe Festival Arts Dance Music Theatre by Amy Donahue - July 9, 2019July 10, 2019 A collage of show images from the 2019 Minnesota Fringe Festival. There are many different ways to approach to the Minnesota Fringe Festival, the Twin Cities' annual performing arts binge extravaganza. Mine has two rules. The first? Park once, move never. The second? Variety. Rule 1 means that, once I've parked my
REVIEW: Spectacular Summer Spectacular Take on Guys and Dolls (Guthrie Theater) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - July 1, 2019July 10, 2019 The cast of the Guthrie Theater’s summer musical production of Guys and Dolls, which opened Friday. Photo by T Charles Erickson. A robust and hilarious production of Guys and Dolls awaits audiences at the Guthrie Theater. This musical made its Broadway debut in 1950, adapting tales and characters from stories by
2019 Minnesota Fringe Festival – Coverage Round-up Arts Comedy Dance Music Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - July 1, 2019July 20, 2019 A collage made from promotional show images from the 2019 Minnesota Fringe Festival. This landing page consolidates all of the Arts Reader's coverage for the 2019 Minnesota Fringe Festival. New interviews, features, previews, and reviews will appear here automatically when published.
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: Bad Education on Trial in Spring Awakening (Chameleon Theatre Circle) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Amy Donahue - June 21, 2019June 21, 2019 Schoolboys in Chameleon Theatre Circle's production of Spring Awakening. Photo by Kari Elizabeth Godfrey Photography LLC. It's surprising how well Spring Awakening has aged. For a show based on an 1891 stage drama by Frank Widekind, the musical's indictment of harmful education systems and nonexistent sex ed play very well in
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
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