NEWS: Jungle Theater Cancels Rest of Cambodian Rock Band Run Arts Music Theatre by Amy Donahue - July 29, 2022July 30, 2022 The cast of the Jungle Theater's production of Cambodian Rock Band, which closed a week early due to illness in the cast. Photo by Rich Ryan. There is a saying, often used ironically: "This is why we can't have nice things." Un-ironically, it accurately describes COVID-19. Even when it is not directly
REVIEW: “Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues” Buddy Guy and John Hiatt & the Goners (Mystic Lake) Arts Music by Brian Bix - July 25, 2022July 25, 2022 Clockwise from upper-left: musicians Sonny Landreth, Buddy Guy, John Hiatt, and Marty Sammon were part of the lineups for a double-bill concert at Mystic Lake on Sunday evening. It was an amazing night at Mystic Lake to appreciate the under-appreciated, as John Hiatt shared the bill with Buddy Guy. Hiatt is a
PREVIEW: Opera on the Lake Returns with The Merry Widow Arts Music Opera Theatre by Amy Donahue - July 24, 2022July 25, 2022 Opera singer, director, and arts visionary Anne Wieben (standing) performing with the Opera on the Lake company at an outdoor concert at the Lake Harriet Bandshell in July 2021. COVID-19 has barely slowed Anne Wieben down. As theatres around the world shuttered, the Minnesota native and opera singer went about finding
INTERVIEW: On Collide’s Class of ’85 Return (x2) Arts Dance Theatre by Basil Considine - July 17, 2022July 18, 2022 Lifts, leans, and arm-raises in COLLIDE Theatrical's Class of '85, which returns for a 4-show revival at the Gremlin Theater in St. Paul from July 21-24. Photo by Alexis Lund. COLLIDE Theatrical is nine years' old. For a child to be going to high school at this tender age would be
REVIEW: Soultastic Booker T. Jones (The Dakota) Arts Music by Brian Bix - July 8, 2022July 8, 2022 Soul legend Booker T. Jones performed last night at The Dakota in Minneapolis, MN. The label "living legend" is often just a cliché or a vast overstatement, but this was not the case last night at The Dakota. After all, the featured performer, Booker T. Jones, was inducted into the Rock
INTERVIEW: Composer-Pianist Michael Cain and the Sounds of Summer Arts Music by Basil Considine - July 8, 2022July 8, 2022 Pianist-composer Michael Cain with bassist Anthony Cox and drummer Kevin Washington. As the Michael Cain Trio, the ensemble performs at the Water Works in Minneapolis this Saturday, July 9 at 3 PM. It's summer time in the Twin Cities, which means freely flowing local brews, endless barbecue, and outdoor music concerts.
INTERVIEW: Gary Briggle on G&S, Interim Leadership, and Murder Arts Music Opera Theatre by Basil Considine - July 6, 2022July 6, 2022 Some of the many faces of singer, actor, director, playwright, and arts leader Gary Briggle. Except for a penchant for murder (on-stage, that is), Gary Briggle keeps reinventing himself. Glance at his resume, though, and a few trends emerge. Opera director and principal tenor in Ohio. Television actor in the 1980s. Long-time
INTERVIEW: Carin Bratlie Wethern of Theatre Pro Rata Arts Theatre by Basil Considine - July 4, 2022July 4, 2022 Some of Artistic Director Carin Bratlie Wethern's notes for Theatre Pro Rata's 2022 hit production of Sarah Ruhl's Orlando. In a 2011 article for The Guardian, Lyn Gardner asked, "Why do some arts organizations survive and thrive while others wither and die?" This was not idle speculation: coming in the aftermath
REVIEW: Ain’t Too Proud: What Becomes of the Brokenhearted? Arts Dance Music Theatre by Brian Bix - June 29, 2022June 30, 2022 Harrell Holmes Jr., Elijah Ahmad Lewis, Jalen Harris, Marcus Paul James, and James T. Lane star as The Temptations in the musical Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations, which opened Tuesday night at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, MN. When measuring records sold and overall artistic influence, The
INTERVIEW: The Temptations and Questions With Harrel Holmes Jr Arts Dance Music Theatre by Basil Considine - June 28, 2022June 28, 2022 Harrell Holmes Jr., Elijah Ahmad Lewis, Jalen Harris, Marcus Paul James, and James T. Lane in the National Touring Company of Ain’t Too Proud, opening tonight at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo by Emilio Madrid. The touring Broadway musical Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The