NEWS: Jocelyn Hagen Wins The American Prize in Composition for Test Pilot Arts Dance Music Opera Theatre by Hanne Appelbaum - April 2, 2018April 2, 2018 A rehearsal photo from the 2016 revival of Jocelyn Hagen and Penelope Freeh's dance opera Test Pilot. Composer Jocelyn Hagen's opera Test Pilot has been awarded The American Prize in Composition's First Place award in the opera/theater/film/dance category, professional division. This honor comes some three and a half years after the work
FEATURE: The Ordway’s Jesus Christ: The Walking Dead and Other Shows that Could Have Been (April Fools) Arts Dance Music Theatre 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
REVIEW: Reliable Horses in Old Log’s Guys and Dolls Arts Dance Music Theatre 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: It’s the Time for Newsies (Chanhassen Dinner Theatres) Arts Dance Music Theatre 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
REVIEW: Kids Rock Out in School of Rock (Orpheum/Hennepin Theatre Trust) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - March 10, 2018March 11, 2018 The cast of the national tour of School of Rock. Photo by Matthew Murphy. Andrew Lloyd Webber made much of his name and reputation with original – and now classic – rock operas like Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. Returning to the genre in 2013, however, Andrew Lloyd Webber surprisingly chose something quite
INTERVIEW: Grace Chermak on Playing a Doll (in Guys and Dolls) Arts Dance Music Theatre 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,
PHOTOS: Corduroy at the Children’s Theatre Company Arts Dance Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - March 6, 2018 The cover image for the classic children's book Corduroy by Don Freeman. Freeman both wrote and illustrated this classic series, which has now been adapted for the stage. The Children's Theatre Company's production of Corduroy, a stage adaptation of the classic children's novel by Don Freeman, opens today. Freeman (1908-1978), a professional
BREAKING NEWS: The End of the Ivey Awards Arts Dance Music Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - February 28, 2018February 28, 2018 Tyler Michaels and the cast of Latté Da’s Cabaret, the opening act of the 2014 Ivey Awards showcase. Photo by Dan Herenkoff. The Ivey Awards are no more. The news broke today with an email from Ivey Board President Fran Davis. "It has become increasingly difficult," Davis wrote. "To raise the money
REVIEW: New Twist on The Pirates of Penzance (Park Square Theatre) Arts Dance Music Opera Theatre by Bev Wolfe - February 26, 2018February 26, 2018 Christina Baldwin (center) as the Major General in Park Square Theatre's The Pirates of Penzance. Photo by Petronella J. Ytsma. Park Square Theatre's current production of The Pirates of Penzance is a refreshing spin on the classic comic opera. This comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and lyrics by W.S. Gilbert premiered in New York City in
NEWS: Silent Nights Return in Minnesota Opera’s 2018-2019 Season Arts Dance Music Opera Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - February 20, 2018February 26, 2018 A scene from Minnesota Opera's 2011 production of Silent Night. Photo by Michal Daniel. Minnesota Opera announced its 2018-2019 season last night. The company, one of the ten largest opera companies in the United States, will produce five mainstage operas at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN: