REVIEW: If/Then = Yes/But (Orpheum Theatre) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - March 9, 2016March 11, 2016 It's entirely possible that you'll leave If/Then (now playing at the Orpheum Theatre) without any certainty about what actually went on onstage. The basic schtick of this show is to play out the "what ifs" at different decision points, but it's not always clear where one version of events begins and ends. This
REVIEW: Startling, Exciting A Man’s Requiem by SEOP Dance Company (Ordway) Arts Dance by Lydia Lunning - March 6, 2016March 7, 2016 Saturday night saw the South Korean dance ensemble SEOP Dance Company descend on Rice Park to perform at the Ordway. Stated simply, lovers of classical and modern dance should both make it a life goal to see the SEOP Dance Company perform. The show seen on Saturday, A Man’s Requiem, has been
PREVIEW: Women of Substance Festival (St. Catherine University) Arts Dance Lifestyle Music Theatre Visual Arts by Twin Cities Arts Reader - March 3, 2016March 3, 2016 The year 2016 has many milestones, but in the case of St. Catherine's University it marks the 20th anniversary of the university's celebrated Women of Substance Series. For two decades, this series has brought a brilliant succession of work by and featuring women to St. Paul, filling the O'Shaughnessy with innovative and
REVIEW: A Heart-Thrumming Chorus Line (Ordway) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - February 26, 2016February 26, 2016 The cast of the Ordway's A Chorus Line. Photo by Rich Ryan. A Chorus Line is one of a very small number of large-cast musicals still performed by major companies. It features no fewer than 17 principals, 15 of whose job is to make you care about them and root for their being
REVIEW: Gypsy Takes Pantages (Latté Da) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Lydia Lunning - February 22, 2016February 23, 2016 Mama Rose (Michelle Barber) confronts reality and the ghost light of a darkened theatre. Photo by George Byron Griffiths. Audience members at the Pantages in Downtown Minneapolis last Saturday night were absolutely enamored with Theater Latté Da and Hennepin Theatre Trust’s production of Gypsy, directed by Peter Rothstein. The 1959 musical adaptation
PREVIEW: Four Saints in Three Acts (VocalEssence) Arts Dance Music Opera by Basil Considine - February 8, 2016February 8, 2016 On March 19, 2016, VocalEssence is staging a rare performance of the opera Four Saints in Three Acts. This rarely performed work features a libretto by Gertrude Stein and music by Virgil Thomson, and is considered one of the most influential American operas of the 1930s. VocalEssence's staging brings the piece
GENERAL ADVISORY: Snow Emergency and Show Cancellations Arts Dance Lifestyle Music Opera Theatre Visual Arts by Twin Cities Arts Reader - February 2, 2016 The Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have declared snow emergencies for Tuesday, February 2. In addition to the normal travel and parking advisories, the staff of the Twin Cities Arts Reader would like to remind you to check before heading out to an evening's entertainment. Although some performing arts organizations
PREVIEW: Flourish! Resource Fair – for Artists and Creative Entrepreneurs Arts Dance Music Opera Theatre Visual Arts by Jenny Martel - January 22, 2016January 24, 2016 Tomorrow, Springboard for the Arts hosts its second Flourish! Resource Fair. This half-day event is designed as a resource forum, clinic, and networking event for artists and creative entrepreneurs. Programming includes informational sessions about artist organization resources, healthcare, funding, tax preparation, and artists' services. Staff representatives from 26 organizations will be available for
U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Town 1/15-1/24 Arts Dance Lifestyle Music by Twin Cities Arts Reader - January 15, 2016January 18, 2016 The 2016 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships begin today in St. Paul and run through Sunday, 1/24. Over the course of the next week and a half, skaters will compete in women's, men's, pairs, and ice dancing. This national championship, now in its 102nd year, includes several special events: Free ice skating
NEWS: IRS Drops Proposed Donations Rule; Nonprofits Rejoice Arts Dance Music Opera Theatre Visual Arts by Twin Cities Arts Reader - January 8, 2016January 11, 2016 The Internal Revenue Service announced today that it has formally withdrawn proposed new regulations for donations to nonprofits. The proposed regulations would have required nonprofits to retain and provide considerable new documentation for charitable, tax-deductible donations of $250 or more. The rule was opposed by a broad spectrum of nonprofit