NEWS: Skylark Opera’s Revival Plan Arts Music Opera Theatre by Basil Considine - October 5, 2016October 6, 2016 Cecilia Violetta Lopez and Won Whi Choi in Skylark Opera's 2015 production of Puccini's La Rondine. Photo by Matt Bellin. Last spring, Skylark Opera astonished Twin Cities opera fans with a sudden announcement that its 36th season was not to be. In a March 18 letter to subscribers, President Carrie Wesley wrote, "Skylark is
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
REVIEW: Suffused with Roses – Roméo et Juliet (Minnesota Opera) Arts Music Opera Theatre by Lydia Lunning - September 26, 2016March 11, 2017 Tempers flare and swords are drawn in Minnesota Opera's production of Roméo et Juliette. Photo by Dan Norman. Minnesota Opera kicks off the 2016-2017 season with a sparkling and stylish reimagining of Roméo et Juliette, Charles-Franҫois Gounod’s 1867 adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tale of famous star-crossed lovers caught between two feuding houses. A
PREVIEW: Renée Fleming to Give MacPhail Master Class Arts Music Opera by Twin Cities Arts Reader - September 23, 2016October 6, 2016 Update: The Renée Fleming Master Class at MacPhail is now sold out. In two weeks, Renée Fleming will sing a sold-out recital to open the Schubert Club's International Artist Series. While there is some small chance of returned tickets being available for sale immediately before the performance, a better (albeit different) chance
WEEKEND PICKS: Have a Love Affair with Avenue Q, Roméo et Juliette, or Women and Money Arts Lifestyle Music Opera Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - September 22, 2016September 23, 2016 Atim Opoka (bottom center) as Gary Coleman, surrounded by the puppet residents of Chameleon Theatre Circle's production of Avenue Q. Photo by Kari Elizabeth Godfrey. Rain may be dogging the Twin Cities until Sunday morning, but there's plenty going on to do. Here are our staff's weekend picks: Chameleon Theatre Circle presents Avenue Q Can't get
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
INTERVIEW: KT Tunstall and KIN Arts Music by Basil Considine - September 15, 2016August 23, 2017 KT Tunstall hits the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis on Saturday, September 24th. The Scottish singer-songwriter behind hits like "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree", "Hold On", and "Feel It All" released a new album, KIN, just last week. The Twin Cities Arts Reader's Basil Considine caught up with KT