REVIEW: Thrilling A Bronx Tale Opens (Orpheum/Hennepin Theatre Trust) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - February 20, 2019February 20, 2019 The cast of the national touring company of A Bronx Tale, which opened at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, MN on Tuesday. Photo by Joan Marcus. The real crime in A Bronx Tale is that child actor Frankie Leoni isn't featured after the first several scenes. Sure, there's violence, gambling, and outright murder
REVIEW: Endearing Animals, Story in Biggest Little House (Children’s Theatre Company) Arts Theatre by Dan Reiva - February 16, 2019February 16, 2019 A mouse moves into The Biggest Little House in the Forest at the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis. Pictured: Autumn Ness. Photo by Dan Norman. A joyful, immersive experience awaits children attending The Biggest Little House in the Forest, a Children’s Theatre Company’s original adapting the novel by Djemma Bider. The show
REVIEW: Potted Potter Not Just for Harry Potter Buffs (Pantages Theatre/Hennepin Theatre Trust) Arts Theatre by Basil Considine - February 14, 2019February 14, 2019 Harry Potter (left) and Professor Albus Dumbledore (right) prepare to battle dark wizardry in the Harry Potter mashup parody Potted Potter. Photo by Dahlia Katz. If you ever wondered how broadly Harry Potter cuts across demographics, look no further than the spread of ages at Potted Potter's opening night at the Pantages Theatre. The
NEWS: The Grammy Award Winners and Nominees (Complete List) Arts Music by Twin Cities Arts Reader - February 11, 2019February 12, 2019 The 61st Annual Grammy Awards celebration took place last night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by Alicia Keys, the music industry awards featured a massive performing lineup, and winners ranging from Jimmy Carter (!) to Lady Gaga and Childish Gambino. Here is the complete list of nominees
REVIEW: Tongue-in-Cheek Rock of Ages Opens Loud (Orpheum/HTT) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - February 9, 2019February 9, 2019 Sam Harvey (center) and the cast of the Rock of Ages National Tour. Photo by Jeremy Daniel. It's been ten years since Rock of Ages opened on Broadway for what became a 2,328-performance run. This jukebox musical, now playing at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, features numerous rock hits from the 1980s, a
REVIEW: The Wolves Comes Howling Back (Jungle Theater) Arts Theatre by Amy Donahue - February 4, 2019February 5, 2019 The cast of the Jungle Theater's reunited cast of The Wolves, now playing at the Southern Theater. A city wrapped in ice, haunted by a pack of wolves. Not normal wolves on the edge of human society, preying on the occasional sheep and staying in the shadows – these wolves defy the normal
REVIEW: Older Humor in The Italian Straw Hat (Minnesota Opera) Arts Dance Music Opera Theatre by Amy Donahue - January 31, 2019January 31, 2019 Wedding planning runs into some snags in Minnesota Opera's production of The Italian Straw Hat. Photo by Cory Weaver. Alignment is key. Whether it's about car wheels, shakras, or humor, it's essential that elements designed to work together be arranged so that they complement and build upon individual virtues and needs, rather
INTERVIEW: Visualizing Unexploded Ordnances (UXO) and Nuclear War: A Chat with Claire Nolan (Guthrie Theater) Arts Theatre Visual Arts by Basil Considine - January 31, 2019July 10, 2019 Peggy Shaw in the Split Britches production of Unexploded Ordnances (UXO), now playing at the Guthrie Theater. Photo by Matt Delbridge. When Joseph Haj started at the Guthrie Theater, he announced plans to reach and move audiences through the ambitious Level Nine Initiative. Three seasons later, the initiative has manifested in
PREVIEW: Potted Potter – The Unauthorized Harry Experience (Pantages/Hennepin Theatre Trust) Arts Theatre by Basil Considine - January 30, 2019January 30, 2019 A promotional photo for Potted Potter. Photo by Dahlia Katz. Twelve and a half years ago, a little parody show called Potted Potter premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. There must have been something substantial in that pot, because this one-time Fringe show moved up sold-out runs in London's West End
REVIEW: Joy and Tuxes in Mr. Popper’s Penguins (Pins and Needles/Children’s Theatre Company) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - January 24, 2019January 24, 2019 Susanna Jennings, Monica Nash, Richard Holt and Christopher Finn in the Pins and Needles-Children's Theatre Company co-production of Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Photo by Dan Norman. A sweet and sentimental tale of realizing one’s dreams as well as the joy of raising penguins is currently gracing the stage at Children’s Theatre. Mr. Popper's