REVIEW: Fanciful Camelot Rides Again (Chanhassen Dinner Theatres) Arts Dance Music Theatre Visual Arts by Basil Considine - October 8, 2016October 8, 2016 Photo by Heidi Bohnenkamp. First the original, then the dark and edgy, now the whimsical. The Camelot that opened last night at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is several steps removed from the original version that opened on Broadway in 1960, winning 4 Tony Awards and running for a then-stellar 873 performances. It is not at
BREAKING NEWS: Executive Director of the Minnesota Fringe Festival Steps Down Arts Dance Music Opera Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - October 5, 2016 Last Friday, the New York International Fringe Festival announced that it was closing for a year to re-evaluate its institutional priorities and directions. The Minnesota Fringe Festival's riposte today was less seismic, but still a significant change for one of the anchors of the Twin Cities performing arts scene. Executive
REVIEW: Still Resonant Ragtime (Latté Da) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - October 3, 2016October 3, 2016 A police action and protest turn violent in Latté Da's production of Ragtime. Photo by Dan Norman. Is musical theatre relevant or mere entertainment? The musical Ragtime deals with immigration, economic disparity, and the killing of unarmed blacks by police. Although Ragtime is a period drama set in the United States near the start of
REVIEW: Toruk: The First Flight (Cirque du Soleil / Target Center) Arts Dance Music Theatre Visual Arts by Basil Considine - September 29, 2016September 29, 2016 Photo by Lawrence Erisson. TORUK - The First Flight opened last night at Target Center in Minneapolis. The latest show from Cirque du Soleil is a tour de force of visual design paired with elaborate acrobatics, dancing, and magical transformation after magical transformation. It's also a brilliant showcase of the world from James
PHOTOS: The Look of MN Opera’s Roméo et Juliette Arts Dance Music Opera Theatre Visual Arts by Twin Cities Arts Reader - September 28, 2016March 11, 2017 Minnesota Opera's Roméo et Juliette, now playing through October 2nd, features a set design by William Boles, costumes by Sarah Bahr, and lighting by Paul Whitaker. Here's a look at the opera's visual feel, which mixes contrasting color palettes for the rival houses with a dominant rose motif. Read Lydia Lunning's review
NEWS: Nimbus Rides on into The Kalevala Arts Dance Theatre by Basil Considine - September 27, 2016September 27, 2016 A promotional photo for The Kalevala. Pictured: Jim Ahrens. Photo by Mathieu Lindquist. Last November, Nimbus Theatre announced that it was shutting its doors at 1517 Central Ave NE in Minneapolis. The reason? A rent increase that pushed past the company's means, forcing it pack up and leave its home since 2011. The
NEWS: 2015 National Endowment for the Humanities Medal Recipients Arts Dance Lifestyle Music Visual Arts by Twin Cities Arts Reader - September 20, 2016September 26, 2016 Today, President Obama awarded the 2015 National Humanities Medal to 12 distinguished individuals and organizations: Rudolfo Anaya, Author José Andrés, Chef & Entrepreneur Ron Chernow, Author Louise Glück, Poet Terry Gross, Radio Host & Producer Wynton Marsalis, Composer & Musician James McBride, Author Louis Menand, Author Elaine Pagels, Historian & Author Prison
NEWS: Ivey Awards Roundup Arts Dance Music Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - September 20, 2016 The Ivey Awards ceremony at the State Theatre in Minneapolis last night brought a sold-out house of actors, designers, and other theatre professionals and aficionados together to celebrate theatre in the greater Twin Cities region. Designers were especially well-represented this year, a recognition that some interpreted as a conscious rejection
PREVIEW: Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play! (Children’s Theatre Company) Arts Dance Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - September 18, 2016 The cast of Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play! Photo by Dan Norman. If you haven't heard of Elephant & Piggie, it might surprise you to learn that this bestselling series of children's books by Mo Willems has won at least two sackfuls of awards. From 2008-2015, the series won
PREVIEW: The Cabaret National Tour (Hennepin Theatre Trust) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - September 6, 2016September 8, 2016 The cast of the national tour of Cabaret. Photo by Joan Marcus. Summer may have another two weeks on the calendar, meteorologically speaking, but the mild temperatures and rain this week are already giving a taste of fall. With the fall comes a new round of programming at area theaters and a new