REVIEW: David Gray & J.S. Ondara in Concert (Pantages Theatre) Arts Music by Bev Wolfe - June 1, 2017June 1, 2017 David Gray headlined at the Pantages. The Twin Cities received a double treat of solo/acoustic performers in May at the Pantages Theatre. The headliner was David Gray, a British singer-songwriter who first burst onto the international scene with a series of powerful hits in 2000 that continues today. His opening act
INTERVIEW: Sharpening La Rondine: Boston Opera Collaborative and the Swallow’s Diet Arts Music Opera Theatre by Basil Considine - May 18, 2017May 18, 2017 Reworking or remixing opera classics is one of the hot current trends in American opera circles. Skylark Opera Theatre's production of The Tragedy of Carmen certainly caught local opera fans' attention with a heavily streamlined, 90-minute version of the classic opera by Bizet, with packed houses and fans clamoring to see this up-close-and-personal treatment. Transforming
REVIEW: Jiving Sisters of Swing (History Theatre) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - May 17, 2017May 17, 2017 Cat Brindisi, Katie Hahn, and Jen Burleigh-Bentz in the History Theatre’s production of Sisters of Swing. The Andrew Sisters were the sweethearts of the World War II generation. When my mother was in nursing school during the war, the students in the girls’ dorm would congregate around the dorm piano and
REVIEW: Patchy La Bohème Shines Through (Minnesota Opera) Arts Dance Music Opera Theatre Visual Arts by Basil Considine - May 10, 2017June 24, 2018 Scott Quinn (Rodolfo) and Nicole Cabell (Mimì) in Minnesota Opera's production of La Bohème. Photo by Dan Norman. Minnesota Opera's new production of La Bohème is uneven. There are parts that are exceedingly beautiful and engaging, and there are some that are noticeably not on the same level as the others. Call it
NEWS: Chameleon Theatre Circle Creeps Towards Twin Cities Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - May 5, 2017July 11, 2017 Julia Ennen as Daisy and Anna Larranaga as Violet in The Chameleon Theatre Circle's 2017 production of Side Show, which opened to packed houses at the Ames Center for the Performing Arts shortly after a future booking controversy became public. Photo by Daniel K. McDermott for Sinséar Video + Photography. The Chameleon Theatre Circle
REVIEW: No Warts on Frog and Toad‘s Return (Children’s Theatre Company) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - May 2, 2017May 2, 2017 Autumn Ness, Matthew Rubbelke, Traci Allen Shannon, Reed Sigmund, and Bradley Greenwald try their hands at flying kites in A Year with Frog and Toad. Photo by Dan Norman. A most splendid year with Mr. Frog and Toad is offered to all who attend A Year with Frog and Toad at Children’s Theatre
INTERVIEW: American Prize Winner Geneviève Leclair on Conducting Arts Dance Music by Basil Considine - April 30, 2017May 1, 2017 Conductor Geneviève Leclair at the podium. Photo by Rosalie O’Connor, with permission from Boston Ballet. On Friday, Hat City Music Theater announced the 2016-17 American Prize winners in orchestral conducting. This national award series recognizes distinguished performances by conductors working across the United States. Geneviève Leclair, a professor at Berklee College
INTERVIEW: Composer Ketty Nez on Writing Opera – Music, Words, and All Arts Music Opera by Basil Considine - April 29, 2017April 30, 2017 Last December, the Metropolitan Opera staged Kaija Saariaho's L'Amour de Loin, its first production of an opera written by a female composer since 1903. William Robin of the New York Times took the occasion to interview 10 female composers about their experience writing opera and working as composers; the headline read,
REVIEW: Shaky but Interesting Girl Shakes Loose (Penumbra Theatre) Arts Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - April 27, 2017April 27, 2017 Alexis Sims as Girl in Girl Shakes Loose. Poet Sonia Sanchez was a unique voice in 1965-75 Black Arts Movement with her poetry ranging from Black Nationalism to her later work emphasizing family, relationships and self-empowerment. Her poetry is the center of a promising musical titled Girl Shakes Loose, which premiered last
INTERVIEW: About the Sisters of Swing (History Theatre) Arts Music Theatre by Basil Considine - April 26, 2017April 26, 2017 Cat Brindisi, Katie Hahn, and Jen Burleigh-Bentz in the History Theatre's production of Sisters of Swing. Sisters of Swing, which opens tonight at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis, tells the story of the Andrews Sisters – one of the best-selling singing groups of all time. This close harmony group of three