REVIEW: Retro Hit Parade in Smokey Joe’s Cafe Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - September 17, 2019September 18, 2019 The company of the Ordway's new production of Smokey Joe's Cafe. Photo by Dan Norman. Smokey Joe's Cafe is an unabashed jukebox musical revue. It has no plot, no throughlines worth reporting, and no dialogue. If these things were at all missed, the audiences at the Ordway Center for the Performing
PREVIEW: Donna Grantis at the Dakota Jazz Club, 9/24 Arts Music by Brian Bix - September 17, 2019September 17, 2019 Donna Grantis in concert at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis, MN. Photo by Joe Lemke. As a young Canadian guitarist, Donna Grantis dreamed of jamming with Prince. This dream actually came true: one day, out of the blue, a call came from Hannah Welton – Prince’s drummer – asking Grantis
PREVIEW: The Old Log’s Plan to Get Away With Murder Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - September 12, 2019September 12, 2019 A promotional image for the musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, which begins previews October 18 at the Old Log Theatre in Excelsior, MN. It's not every day that a theatre plans to commit mass murder and get away with it. However, the Old Log Theatre – a longtime
REVIEW: Journey North Opera Company Bounds Back with Powerful Rape of Lucretia Arts Music Opera Theatre by Basil Considine - September 7, 2019September 11, 2019 A promotional photo for Journey North Opera Company's production of The Rape of Lucretia. Photo by Justin Sims Photography. Journey North Opera Company's been in hibernation for a long time. Not since 2015 has the company produced in the Twin Cities, back when it was still called Twin Cities Fringe Opera.
INTERVIEW: Grayson DeJesus on Playing the Gentleman Caller in The Glass Menagerie Arts Theatre by Basil Considine - September 6, 2019September 9, 2019 An excerpt from the New York Times' April 2, 1945 review of The Glass Menagerie's opening on Broadway. In two weeks, the Guthrie Theater opens its new production of The Glass Menagerie on the Wurtele Thrust Stage in Minneapolis. This classic chamber drama is no stranger to the Guthrie Theater, for whom
NEWS: Rocky Horror Claims Life of Park Square Shop Saw Arts Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - September 6, 2019September 6, 2019 Photo by scott1346. St. Paul, MN-based Park Square Theatre announced the death of a long-time company worker yesterday. Bessie, the company's 65-year-old table saw, passed out while building sets for the company's upcoming production of The Rocky Horror Show. She was pronounced dead on the scene by Dave PEterson. Bessie, who joined
REVIEW: Pat Metheny’s Amazing Breadth at the Dakota Arts Music by Brian Bix - September 5, 2019September 7, 2019 A publicity photo of Pat Metheny. Photo by J. Peden. Pat Metheny has won nearly every honor there is for a musician to win. His 44 recordings have sold over 20 million records sold worldwide, and have included three gold records. Those recordings have earned him an amazing 34
NEWS: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres to Bring Trouble, Pool to River City Arts Dance Music Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - September 4, 2019September 4, 2019 There's going to trouble in River City. (Well, technically, Chanhassen.) And pool. And singing in the library. "What's that?" you say – is this a flash mob invasion? No, far from it – although there'll certainly be singers and dancers showing up out of nowhere and prancing down the aisles. It's
MUSIC VIDEO: Under the Same Ceiling by James Rone Arts Music by Twin Cities Arts Reader - August 25, 2019August 25, 2019 A still from the music video to Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter James Rone's new music video, "Under the Same Ceiling". Humans' relationship with technology is complicated, to say the least. As people spend increasing amount of time using electronic devices – speaking, playing, and sleeping – what happens when lines get crossed? That's
NEWS: Minnesota Theater Awards Out, Twin Cities Theater Celebration In Arts Theatre by Hanne Appelbaum - August 23, 2019August 23, 2019 Photo by Karen Arnold. Wanted: Photos and videos of theatre people being awesome for end-of-season party. That is, if not the exact words, the tagline essence of the 2019 Twin Cities Theater Celebration. What celebration, now? If you haven't heard of the Twin Cities Theater Celebration, don't be surprised. The September 23