"Annie" at Lakeshore Players Theatre

When I saw the Ordway's production of Annie in December of 2017, I wrote the following, and now, almost exactly eight years later, I feel a great sense of déjà vu. "'The future is female.' If the main stage at the [Lakeshore Players Theatre] is any judge of it, this statement is true, and gives one hope for the future. The story of one 11-year-old girl who changes hearts and minds with optimism and determination is an inspiring one, as is the boundless energy and talent of the young females on stage who bring this story to life. Watching Annie last night, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic for the Great Depression, when at least the president cared about the people and developed (with Annie's help of course) a New Deal that would help lift the country out of poverty. A stark contrast to today's reality, when the current resident of the White House seems to care only for the rich, and those in need get served newly crappy deals nearly every day. Maybe we need to send Annie to the Washington to get Democrats and Republicans singing together about the hopeful future of America!" This female future hasn't come to fruition in the last eight years, if anything it feels farther away, but there's always tomorrow! This show about hope, optimism, working together, and the improbable notion of billionaires and politicians giving back to help their fellow human beings is exactly what we need right now. And Lakeshore has assembled a great team to bring this hopeful story to vibrant life (continuing through December 14).

"A Nice Family Christmas" at Lyric Arts

I'm starting my 2025 #TCTheater holiday* season on the naughty side. There's plenty of nice fare out there (e.g., Guthrie's 51st production of A Christmas Carol or Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's remount of White Christmas), but if you're looking a holiday treat that's more salty than sweet, A Nice Family Christmas at Lyric Arts is a great choice. Despite the title, this family is not so nice, as they reluctantly gather for a Christmas Eve full of family dysfunction, sibling rivalry, breakups, secrets revealed, misunderstandings, arguments, and eventual reconciliation. Written by Phil Olson of the Don't Hug Me franchise, this show has a similar tone of broad comedy and Minnesota references (it's not a #TCTheater holiday season without lutefisk jokes!). And it also has a bit of a DalekoArts wacky holiday comedy feel; this show reunites the director and writer of the now closed New Prague theater's original holiday comedies and two of their regular cast members. The result is fun and wild and outrageous. Maybe don't bring anyone who's easily offended, but anyone who's ready to laugh at the antics of this wacky dysfunctional family will have a great time. The fun continues through December 21 on Lyric Arts Main Street Anoka stage.

Broadway tour of "The Notebook" at Ordway Center for Performing Arts

It took twenty years for the popular 2004 tear-jerker The Notebook, based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, to become a Broadway musical, and now the national tour is playing at the Ordway Center in St. Paul for two weeks. And on opening night, Mr. Sparks himself was there to watch his story told musically, along with producer Kevin McCollum, who used to work at the Ordway. I don't think I've ever read the book, and haven't seen the movie in at least a decade, so I went into the musical without any real attachment to the source material. I found it to be well-adapted, with a clever and effective overlapping of the three timelines in the story, exploring relevant themes of memory, time, relationships, dementia, and family, with an easy to listen to and emotionally true score by singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson. It's also the rare Broadway musical that's less than two a half hours long, and feels just the right length, not overstaying its welcome. See it in lovely downtown St. Paul, already decked out for the holidays in twinkling lights, through November 30.

"The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui" by Frank Theatre at the Ivy Building for the Arts

Frank Theatre's production of Bertolt Brecht's 1941 play The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui has been selling out for the last three weekends, with no tickets currently available for their final weekend. Turns out people are hungry for a three-hour play satirizing Chicago gangsters / 1930s Germany / 21st century America. In this 2017 adaptation by Chicago playwright Bruce Norris, the comparisons to our current political situation are not subtle, as fictional gangster Arturo Ui slowly gains control over the city of Chicago through its economic, political, and judicial systems in a way that's terrifyingly familiar. Frank Theatre, and its Artistic Director Wendy Knox, are experts at interpreting Brecht, and at holding up a mirror to our present moment, and this play may be the most timely and relevant one yet.

"My Fair Lady" by Theater Latte Da at the Ritz Theater

My Fair Lady is a classic musical that stands the test of time, and doesn't feel dated due to its evergreen themes of class and gender dynamics, especially with more attention given to Eliza's perspective in recent years. It may seem like an odd choice for Theater Latte Da, that usually choses more rare or edgy works. But like last year's Cinderella, they put their own unique spin on a beloved classic that isn't drastically different, but makes it feel fresh and modern. Everything about this production is perfectly loverly - a superstar local cast, luscious costumes, ingenious set design, and a gorgeous rendering of the beloved score with just two pianos and 11 human voices. It's playing through the end of the year so you really have no excuse not to see this yummy production of a classic that deserves the title.

"Kiss of the Spiderwoman" by Teatro del Pueblo at the Southern Theater

The 1993 Tony-winning best musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, with music and lyrics by Kander and Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret) and book by playwright Terrance McNally, was just made into a movie starring Jennifer Lopez. What's better than seeing an acclaimed musical on the screen? Seeing it live on stage! And now finally I had the opportunity to see this rarely done musical, thanks to Teatro del Pueblo. I don't know if the timing with the movie was intentional or coincidental, but this story of two men imprisoned by a fascist regime, one of them escaping into the fantasy world of his beloved movies, couldn't come at a better time. Featuring a talented cast and impressive design in the gorgeous Southern Theater, this is a rare opportunity to see Kiss of the Spider Woman live on stage as it was meant to be, and "celebrate Latine voices, queer identity, and the power of resilience!" Continuing through November 23 only.

"Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812" at Theatre Elision

I saw the 12-time Tony nominated (and 2-time winning) Broadway musical Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, based on one small section of Tolstoy's epic novel War and Peace with music, book, and lyrics by Dave Malloy, in March of 2017. Just two months later, I witnessed the debut of a promising new #TCTheater company called Theatre Elision. Now, in a full circle moment, Elision (which has since become one of my favorite theater companies, filling the much-needed niche of small cast, one act, rarely done musicals, often with mostly female creative teams and/or casts) is producing the regional premiere of Great Comet, and it's stunning. In those intervening years I have also seen multiple productions of Elision's take on Dave Malloy's one act song cycle Ghost Quartet, and that familiarity with his work, along with Elision's all-star local cast and their intimate immersive staging, meant that I loved this show much more than the Broadway version, and even more than I expected to in the months of buildup. They have virtually sold out the entire run, which is unprecedented for Elision. For eight-plus years they have been an underrated hidden gem of #TCTheater, but that ends with this show. The larger community is finally discovering what I've known for a long time, that Theatre Elision produces work you just cannot see elsewhere, that's musically and aesthetically gorgeous, in an intimate setting. Great Comet continues through November 22, and if you can beg, borrow, or steal your way into the show - do it! Follow them on social media for potential available tickets, or contact the box office to get on the waitlist.

"Souvenir" at Gremlin Theatre

Florence Foster Jenkins was a wealthy woman in early 20th Century America who decided she wanted to sing, so she started performing recitals of classical music. And she didn't let the fact that she couldn't sing stop her! She became a bit of a phenomenon, in a The Producers "so bad it's good" kind of way. But the play Souvenir, which premiered off and then on Broadway about 20 years ago, doesn't treat her as the butt of the joke. It's actually kind of inspiring and heart-warming as it tells the story of someone who performed for the love of it, and didn't care what anyone thought. Music isn't about perfection, theater isn't about perfection, art isn't about perfection. And it isn't reserved for the select few; we're all artists, even if it's just for ourselves. Florence sums it up in this quote: "People may say I can't sing, but no one can ever say I didn't sing." She did the thing. Gremlin Theatre's production of Souvenir is excellently done; the cast and creative team stay true to Florence's spirit of love for the art, although they are objectively more talented (continuing through November 30).

"The Last Yiddish Speaker" at Six Points Theater

The new play The Last Yiddish Speaker by Deborah Zoe Lauer had a rolling world premiere just last year, and now Six Points Theater is bringing us the regional premiere. And I'm so glad they are because it's an urgent, necessary play. It feels like a warning call, like a very possible look into our future if this country, this world, keeps going in the direction it's going. The direction of fear, hate, otherism, nationalism, and division. The play is brilliantly written and expertly executed by the cast and creative team at Six Points, for a gripping 90+ minutes that's unsettling and disturbing and eerily familiar. Go see The Last Yiddish Speaker, a prime example of art holding up a mirror to the world, playing at Highland Park Community Center through November 9.

Playlabs 2025 at the Playwrights' Center

Every fall, The Playwrights' Center hosts Playlabs, a festival of new plays with free readings over two weeks. Of course, this is in addition to the work that they do year-round supporting thousand of playwrights in various ways. I attended Playlabs every year from 2016 to 2019, as well as many other readings. But for whatever reason, I'd only been back to that beloved old church in South Minneapolis once since the pandemic. This summer, they moved into their brand new home at University and Raymond in St. Paul, with more space to support playwrights, and now they're hosting their first Playlabs in this gorgeous new space. I attended just one of the readings of the festival, but it made me realize how much I've missed The Playwrights' Center. We are so lucky to have this treasure in our community, and are invited to be part of the process of developing new plays, which we need so much right now! Because a play isn't a play without an audience, when playwrights get to see and hear how audiences react to their work. Now that I've been back, I vow to become a PWC regular again! Their monthly Ruth Easton New Play Series begins in December and continues through the spring, but for right how, you can attend readings and other events in this celebration of new plays through November 1, and/or watch any of the plays virtually after the festival's conclusion.

"Dracula" by Collide Theatrical Dance Company at Luminary Arts Center

Just in time for spooky season, Collide Theatrical Dance Company is debuting a new original dance musical based on the original Dracula novel by Bram Stoker. In 2016 they did a version of Dracula set in the modern world, but this is a wholly new production that interprets the novel through the character of Mina, best friend of one of Dracula's victims Lucy. The story is told through voiceover, in which we hear Mina's thoughts and experiences (voiced by Becca Hart), but primarily through dance. A fantastic troupe of ten dancers, performing to recorded tracks of a couple dozen perfectly chosen pop songs, make this iconic story feel new and fun and thrilling. I attended their first preview performance, but the show is already very smooth and polished. Dracula continues Thursdays through Sundays until November 9, including Halloween night, and is a great way to get into the spirit of the season.

"Primary Trust" at the Guthrie Theater

According to American Theatre magazine, the two most produced plays in America this season are Come From Away, which the Guthrie is producing next summer, and the 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Primary Trust, currently playing in the proscenium theater. I'm so glad that these two pieces will have the most productions this season, because both are such beautiful stories of connection, kindness, generosity, and community. It seems obvious from the fact that they're so popular that we are craving these kinds of stories right now, when the real world feels so harsh, ugly, fearful, and divisive. Stories of people coming together to help each other, either on the grand scale of thousands of strangers unexpectedly landing in a small town on 9/11, in need of food and shelter, or on the smaller scale of one lost and scared person searching for home. I didn't really know much about Primary Trust, by NYC-based playwright Eboni Booth, before I saw it, but I absolutely fell in love with it. It's so sweet, so tender, so achingly raw, so hopeful about humanity in a time when we need that. And it's also funny and brilliantly written. There's really nothing better than a piece of art that makes me laugh, cry, and think deep thoughts, and this play does it expertly and effortlessly. I'm sure the other 20 productions of this play around the country this season are good, but I really can't imagine they have a better cast, better direction, or better design than the one at our own Guthrie Theater (continuing through November 16).

"Magic Girl" by Emily Michaels King at Red Eye Theater

One year after multi-hyphenate #TCTheater artist Emily Michaels King's stunning solo piece Star Keeper, which I called "her greatest work yet," she returns to her 2019 Minnesota Fringe show Magic Girl, the show that she says "started it all." In some ways Magic Girl is a more innocent show than Star Keeper; she merely alludes to the childhood trauma that the latter show dives deep into. But we still see the bright bubbly child learn to hide her light in response to the darkness of the world, until she comes back again at the end. The show is funny, heart-breaking, relatable, and joyful, and will make you want to hug your inner child. As with all of Emily's work, the show is very thoughtfully constructed, very detailed, very carefully choreographed not just in the movement and dance but also in the structure of the show, including sound and lights (the former by Emily herself, the latter by Karin Olsen). The night I attended, there was a technical issue that stopped the show for several minutes near its conclusion, but when it resolved, she very gracefully brought us back to where we were and picked up where she left off. As an audience member, you feel safe in her hands, as she is in ours. Emily is truly a one-of-a-kind performer, so raw and vulnerable and honest and fearless. There's really no one like her. Just three more performances remain at Red Eye Theater!

"White Rabbit Red Rabbit" at Lyric Arts

White Rabbit Red Rabbit is a theatrical experiment unlike anything I've ever seen. The conceit of the show, written by Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour, is that it's meant to be performed by a different actor every time, with no rehearsal or even read-through of the script, and no director. Just an actor, reading the playwright's words, and doing what he asks of them. Theater is always this ephemeral experience that can never be repeated exactly, but that's never been more true than in White Rabbit Red Rabbit. For Lyric Arts regional premiere, they've enlisted a veritable Who's Who of diverse talent in #TCTheater, each performing one night only, and they'll never be able to perform the show again. It's truly a one and done kind of thing. I can't think of much that's more exciting and adventurous (this season's buzz word) than that. I did not know what to expect walking into Lyric Arts' Main Street theater with my popcorn, but I did expect it to be fun and unique. It definitely was, but I was not expecting to be so moved by this ridiculously silly yet deeply profound exploration of art, theater, connection, time, and humanity. The experiment continues through November 2, and you may choose to see it more than once, as I did. Pick your favorite from the list of talented performers, or maybe the date that works best in your schedule - you really can't go wrong with any of them. Note: Lyric Arts offers $20 rush tickets to every show.

2025 Twin Cities Horror Festival at the Crane Theater

The leaves are turning and the weather is finally cooler, which means it's time for the 14th Twin Cities Horror Festival! And even though October is notoriously the busiest month in #TCTheater, I managed to carve out a couple of days to see almost half of this year's 14 shows in the 15-day festival. I'm not in general a fan of horror or even Halloween (except for the candy), but I am a fan of the talented artists behind these shows, whom you will know from the Minnesota Fringe Festival or other theaters around town. In fact, TCHF is like a mini-Fringe, except that all of the less-than-an-hour shows are all horror-themed and presented in one venue, which makes scheduling easier. For full coverage of the festival, please visit fellow Twin Cities Theater Bloggers and horror fanatics The Stages of MN and Minnesota Theater Love. For my reviews, scroll down. I saw three very strong shows yesterday, with a few more scheduled for this week, so check back. You can find the full schedule of events and show details here, with the festival continuing through October 30.

Update October 26: I've added reviews of the shows I saw yesterday, bringing my total up to six. All of them are great, so either I chose well, or it's a strong year at TCHF. You still have a few more days to catch some great shows!

"Two Gents" by Ten Thousand Things at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church

Ten Thousand Things' new Artistic Director Caitlin Lowans is making their directorial debut with the company, and I'm happy to report that TTT is in good hands that will continue the tradition of making theater for everyone. I'm not surprised; Caitlin has been with TTT for a little while and delivered charming and endearing pre-show speeches, but it's a thrill to see their work on stage. Or rather, in a square on the floor surrounded by a few rows of chairs in a room with All the Lights On where TTT performs, replicating their community performances in treatment facilities, shelters, prisons, and other spaces that don't have regular access to theater. As Caitlin notes in the program, Two Gentleman of Verona, affectionately called Two Gents here, is an appropriate choice for this first - it's believed to be the first play  that Shakespeare ever wrote, and it's the first time TTT is doing it in their 30+ year history. I've seen this play a couple of times before, but there's no one I'd rather see do any Shakespeare play than TTT, and this production continues in making these 400+ year old plays clear and understandable, modern and relatable. Two Gents is an effervescent romcom that's also about friendship, loyalty, and accountability, with an impossibly talented cast of just five actors playing all of the roles in the play. It continues at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church through the 26th (across from the Walker with a large free parking lot), with one performance at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis, and concludes the run at 825 Arts in St. Paul on University. You can find the full schedule and ticketing details here.

"Cost of Living" by Full Circle Theater at 825 Arts

Frank Theatre introduced #TCTheater to Polish-American playwright Martyna Majok's work with their excellent production of Ironbound in 2024 (a nominee for a Twin Cities Theater Bloggers Award for best play), followed by Sanctuary City earlier this year, which Theatre in the Round also produced a few months later. Now, thanks to Full Circle Theater, we finally get to see her 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Cost of Living. All of her plays (at least those I've seen) deal with the immigrant experience, classism, the struggles of average Americans, and the failure of the American Dream. Cost of Living does this through the stories of two disabled characters and their caregivers, with a raw and unflinching look at the lives that they lead. The good news is Full Circle's production, in the intimate 825 Arts on University in St. Paul, is excellent; the bad news is they only have eight performances (after a week of community performances), half of which are over. So if you would like to see the excellent regional premiere of this funny, moving, surprising, thought-provoking play - act fast!

"The Cherry Orchard" at Jungle Theater, a Co-Production with The Moving Company

After seeing The Cherry Orchard last night at the Jungle Theater, in partnership with The Moving Company (aka MoCo), I have now seen all four of late 19th Century Russian playwright Anton Chekhov's major plays (which also include The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, and The Three Sisters). And I find that I appreciate his work more each time I see it. All four plays share a few common themes - large and complicated families, social commentary on the Russia of the day that somehow is still relevant today, and a mix of humor and sadness. Chekhov famously referred to The Cherry Orchard as a comedy, but the first director thought of it as a tragedy. In short, it's both - like life. Maybe that's the reason for my growing appreciation; Chekhov so beautifully depicts the joys and the sorrows of being human in a changing and challenging world. This production of The Cherry Orchard, with the combined talents of MoCo and the Jungle, is so lovely, so thoughtfully constructed with every attention to detail, so beautifully performed by the seven-person cast, and so gorgeously sad. See it at Jungle Theater in Uptown through November 2.

"For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday" by Prime Productions at Mixed Blood Theatre

Now in their 8th season of telling stories about women in their prime (at a time when we start to become invisible in society), Prime Productions is bringing us the regional premiere of Sarah Ruhl's For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday. Playwright Sarah Ruhl wrote this play for and about her mother, Chicago theater actor Kathleen Ruhl, who, like the character Ann in the play, played Peter Pan in an Iowa production and met Mary Martin (read more about that here). In this fictionalized version of her mother's life, Sarah explores ideas of family relationships, grief, loss, religion, faith, politics, and what it means to grow up (and do we have to?). It's an engaging and relatable 90 minutes. See it at Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis' Cedar-Riverside neighborhood now through October 26.

Cherry and Spoon 15th Anniversary Fundraiser for #TCTheater!

This summer marked 15 years of being a Twin Cities Theater blogger. My very first post on July 27, 2010, titled Origins, is very nerdy and idealistic. (Go ahead and read it; I'll wait here with my hands covering my eyes.) I've changed since then, my writing has improved (I hope), my worldview has broadened, and most importantly my experiences with #TCTheater have increased by leaps and bounds. When I started this blog in the summer of 2010, it was for the purpose of recording my experiences as a theater-going, and sharing them with others who might be interested (hear more of Cherry and Spoon's origin story on this episode of The Stages of MN YouTube show). I never imagined that 15 years later I would be at the theater 3-5 nights a week, receiving press comps to every theater in town, meeting my favorite artists, and being part of a theater blogging community (follow the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers here). I would like to celebrate this milestone by giving back to the #TCTheater community that's given me so much, and I need your help.

"Journey On: A 100th Show Cabaret Celebration" by Theater Latte Da at the Ritz Theater

To begin their 28th season of doing theater musically, Theater Latte Da is celebrating their 100th show with a wonderful cabaret that highlights many of the previous 99 shows. They did not offer tickets to review this production since it's such a short run, but I've loved Theater Latte Da for nearly 20 years and I wasn't going to not see this show. I bought a ticket for myself, and I'm writing this for myself. Checking my show spreadsheet, I have seen over 100 performances by Theater Latte Da, but that includes readings, concerts in the park, and repeat performances (it's rare for me to go back and see a show a second time, but it happens more often with this company than any other). And I'm not sure how they're counting their shows, e.g., is All is Calm, which they've done many productions of, counted as one show or eleven? But I think it's safe to say I've seen three-quarters of Theater Latte Da's 100 shows. There's something truly special about this company and the way that they tell stories, and the stories they choose to tell. Nothing cracks the hard shell I've built around myself like the intersection of music and theater, and Latte Da has cracked me open countless times, as well as made me laugh, surprised me, made me think about the world differently, and moved me (literally and figuratively). I had a smile on my face and tears in my eyes throughout the Journey On cabaret, filled with lovely memories and exciting plans for the future (continuing through October 19). If you'd like to enter for a chance to win two tickets to any Theater Latte Da show this season (or the Guthrie Theater), all you need to do is donate $15 to your favorite theater and fill out this form.

"Lizzie: The Rock Musical" at Open Eye Theatre

A rock musical about the infamous Lizzie Borden, who was charged with and acquitted of killing her parents with an ax in 1892, why not?! It premiered in 2009, and Open Eye Theatre is finally bringing this super fun girl power rock musical to #TCTheater (Minneapolis Musical Theatre was planning to do it in 2020, but we know how that story goes). It's really more of a song cycle than a musical, it's almost entirely sung-through in 90 minutes or so (with an intermission, because these actors are singing their faces off and deserve a break). It feels more like a rock concert, like a visceral experience that you feel in your bones. If you sit in the front row (like I did because that's where you sit when you see a show with The Stages of MN) you'll experience, fog, smoke, bright lights flashing and shining directly into your eyes, and blaring music (ear plugs available at the box office). The design, direction, and performances are just spot on for what this show should be - wild and feminist and bright and loud. But underneath all that the show deals with some serious issues of women's rights, incest, abuse, sisterhood, complex family dynamics, and love. Opening weekend is already entirely sold out, so don't wait to long too get your tickets to this show that is sure to become a phenomenon (continuing through November 8 - extended!).

"Marisol" at Penumbra Theatre

Although it premiered over 30 years ago, the play Marisol by Puerto Rican playwright José Rivera feels like it was written for today. It's an absurd and surreal look at a dystopian society in which, among other things, people are dragged from their beds in the middle of the night and hauled away in handcuffs. Something that is actually happening in our country right now with ICE raids in schools, business, and even homes. Theatre Coup d'Etat produced this play back in 2018, but it's even more relevant today, scarily so. Kudos to Penumbra Theatre Company for programming this play this season, in partnership with Teatro del Pueblo, even though they couldn't have known how relevant it would be today when they chose it some months ago. This play requires some effort from the audience as it's not straight-forward or even entirely sensical, but it's beautifully designed, directed, and acted by the team at Penumbra and Teatro del Pueblo. See it at Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul's historic Rondo neighborhood now through November 2.

"Once on This Island" at Artistry

It feels like last week's very late summer heat wave was just to usher in the warm breezes of Artistry's production of Once on this Island, the first regional production since it won the Tony in 2018 for Best Revival. That too-warm-for-fall weather has thankfully left us, but you can still feel the joy and warmth of the island inside Bloomington Center for the Arts for the next few weeks. Based on a book that's based on The Little Mermaid, it tells the familiar story of a young woman who falls in love with a man she rescues on the beach, giving up her life for him, only to be rejected. But here the twist is that this young woman's love changed the world for the better. The beautiful thing about Once on this Island is the storytelling employed; it starts with a community gathered around a common space and telling a story to a frightened little girl. The musical (by the creators of Ragtime) has a score with fabulous Caribbean and African sounds, and features an uber talented local African American cast. Get your tickets now to see this excellent 90-minute show, continuing through October 26.

"Nobody, No Time" by Illusion Theater at Center for the Performing Arts

In History Theatre's new original musical Whoa, Nellie! this spring, I was introduced to the Black Vaudevillian Bert Williams, one of the most popular and successful performers of his time. And now he deservedly gets a show of his own, the new play with music Nobody, No Time (named after his most well-known song) written and directed by Illusion Theater's playwright-in-residence Carlyle Brown. It's a multi-layered story of a Black man from the Bahamas achieving huge success in early 20th Century America, while dealing with racism off-stage and leaning into racial stereotypes on-stage performing to White audiences. Set at the end of his life with flashback performances, the play gives us a full picture of the man and the artist. The talented cast brings Bert and his contemporaries to life, and perform over a dozen songs of the era. Head to Center for Performing Arts now through October 25 to experience this important part of entertainment history, of American history.

"One in the Chamber" by Three Saints Theater Company at the Hive Collaborative

New theater company Three Saints Theater Company is coming out of the gate with a brutal play that's tough to watch, but so relevant to our world today. One in the Chamber by L.A.-based playwright and screenwriter Marja-Lewis Ryan tells the story of one fictional family dealing with the aftermath of gun violence, at a time when so many real families in America are dealing with this. The play doesn't have an overtly political message, it just lets the devastating grief of this family speak for itself. This is a really powerful production, and an impressive and bold start for a new theater company. If you're looking for theater that is not an escape from our dark reality, but a reflection of it, check out One in the Chamber at The Hive Collaborative through October 25.

"Misery" at Yellow Tree Theatre

Yellow Tree Theatre is remounting their 2023 production of Misery, but with an all new cast, and it's just as thrilling as before! The stage adaptation of Stephen King's 1987 novel is relatively new, written by William Goldman, screenwriter of the 1990 movie. This story of a popular novelist's "number one fan" and the lengths she goes to is set in 1987, but it's themes of unhealthy obsession, mental illness, and violence are very timely. As returning director John Catron says in a note in the program, "This is not a story about monsters. This is a story about people pushed to their narrative breaking points. It's a sloppy beautiful mess of love, insecurity, fanaticism, co-dependence and addition. It's a story about the violence that is all around us and within us. If it's 1987. If it's 2025." What follows is my review of the 2023 production, updated to reflect the new cast, who absolutely make this worth seeing again. Or if you missed it last time, this is your chance to enjoy this tight thriller on Yellow Tree's cozy and intimate stage (continuing through October 19).

"The Book of Will" by Theatre Pro Rata at the Crane Theater

We all just take for granted that Shakespeare's 30+ plays have always been available - to put on a play, to read in school, to make a parody of. But it turns out that like many playwrights from centuries past, his plays might have been lost to us forever. A theater world without Shakespeare is unimaginable, and we have his good friends and actors in his company to thank for it. And we have this season's most produced playwright Lauren Gunderson to thank for giving us this story, and Theatre Pro Rata for bringing us the regional premiere of The Book of Will. It's a compelling and dynamic tale about 17th century publishing, as shocking as that may sound, and Pro Rata gives it fine treatment, with a great cast and simple yet effective design. See it the Crane Theater through October 11, and find out how Shakespeare's First Folio came to be.

"It's Only a Play" at Park Square Theatre

If you love theater (and if you don't, why are you reading this), you must get to downtown St. Paul ASAP to see Park Square Theatre's production of It's Only a Play, the first show in their 50th season. Written by great American playwright Terrance McNally, this is a play about theater and theater artists. It hilariously makes fun of theater and everyone and everything surrounding it (including too many celebrity references to count), but in the end it's a real love letter to theater that would have brought tears to my eyes in the way it speaks to what theater means to us, if I weren't laughing so much. It premiered Off-Broadway in the '80s but was updated to bring it into the 21st century for its 2014 Broadway debut, and feels as if it may have been updated even since then, so current are the references. Park Square is putting on a superb production in every way, including an impeccable local cast. This feels like a play that was made just for me, and every theater-lover (continuing through October 19).

"Red" at Lakeshore Players Theatre

I first learned about Russian-American abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko when I saw the regional premiere of the 2010 Tony-winning play Red at Park Square Theatre in 2012. I really loved this play, and have not seen it since then. But I have been lucky enough to see several Rothko paintings in person in museums in New York and/or Chicago; in fact I seek them out whenever I'm at a museum that houses modern art. At first glance, they're simple blocks of color, usually dark rich reds. But when you look deeper, they're so layered and endlessly mesmerizing. So is the play - just a simple two-hander, i.e., two people sitting in a room talking, but so layered in the way it explores the life of an artist and the meaning of art, and in a broader sense ideas of legacy, grief, friendship, purpose. I was so thrilled to see it announced as part of Lakeshore Players Theatre's 73rd season, and even more thrilled to report that it's a fantastic production with wonderful performances and gorgeously, messily detailed designed observed up close in the intimate space of Lakeshore's black box theater. Friends, it's only playing for three weekends, and seating is very limited with performances already beginning to sell out, so don't snooze on this one.

"A Lesson in Love" at Pillsbury House + Theatre

The new play A Lesson in Love is a really sweet and funny (and a little bit heartbreaking) romcom that ultimately is not about the love between two specific people, but about being open to love in general, in all its forms. It's beautifully and cleverly written by #TCTheater artist Nubia Monks, whom I know primarily as an incredibly talented singer and actor, in a way that feels real and grounded. With complete, complex, and lived-in performances by the two-person cast, and simple yet elegant design, A Lesson in Love feels like a little bit of a balm to a weary world. It may make you forget about all of the hate and fear that pervades our world, and remember what is possible with love. At least for 75 minutes or so. See it at Pillsbury House + Theatre now through October 19.

"A Doll's House" at Guthrie Theater

Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's class1879 play A Doll's House was ahead of its time in its exploration of gender roles and societal expectations, with its famous (or infamous) ending in which a wife walks away from her husband and children in order to save her own humanity. In 1879, can you imagine?! 146 years later we're still dealing with those very same issues; even though things have changed and women can now get a loan without a man co-signing (at least in this country we can, for now), women's place in society and in the family is still very much debated and talked about. The Guthrie is producing the regional premiere of Amy Herzog's new and very modern adaptation, which premiered on Broadway in 2023. It's riveting and stunning and so relevant, with fantastic performances from the six-person cast and gorgeous design. See it on the Guthrie's thrust stage now through October 12.

"The Ruins" at Guthrie Theater

For the first time since the pandemic, Guthrie Theater is doing a show in the 9th floor Dowling Studio. This is very exciting news, and feels like a continuation of the slow return to normal. Even more exciting is that the piece they have chosen to bring back this intimate black box space is nothing short of exquisite, and could not exist anywhere else in the building. The world premiere new play with music The Ruins, by Broadway actor George Abud who was in the original cast of The Band's Visit, a uniquely special musical that I loved, is simply everything I want theater to be: original, philosophical, musical, funny, eye-opening, thought-provoking, moving, intimate, epic, and profound. No doubt my words will come up short in attempting to describe why this piece is so special, but if you trust me, just go see it (now through October 12), and thank me later.*

"Don't Miss Doris Hines" at History Theatre

Once again, the History Theatre has introduced me to a local historical figure I'd never heard of. Singer Doris Hines performed in Minneapolis and around the world for decades, interacting with stars like Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Della Reese but never rising to their level of fame and name recognition. She was one of those hardworking journeyWOman performers who loved to entertain people, and never stopped pursuing her dreams. The new play with music Don't Miss Doris Hines, written by The Playwrights' Center Affiliated Writer Tylie Shider, covers over three decades of her life, through which we get to know the artist and the human. See it at History Theatre in downtown St. Paul through October 12.

"Pride and Prejudice" at Theatre in the Round

Perhaps best known for her modern, feminist, and funny Jane Austen adaptations, Kate Hamill was the most produced playwright in America last season. For some reason, we can't get enough of strong and relatable female heroines right now. Theatre in the Round is continuing this trend with the first show of their 74th season, Pride and Prejudice, everyone's favorite Jane Austen story by everyone's Jane Austen interpreter. Park Square Theatre produced the regional premiere of this play in 2019, and while I appreciated the fun and fresh look at the story, I felt it went a bit too far into over-the-top slapsticky territory for me. But I'm pleased to report that this production strikes just the perfect balance between comedy, modernity, and the traditional story we all love. So while I stated that I loved about 75% of Park Square's version, I love 100% of this show. It's so much fun, with a huge and talented cast portraying the endearing Bennet sisters and their charming beaux, and a really great use of music and movement, well staged in the unique in-the-round space. Pride and Prejudice continues for two more weekends, but this beloved story is already selling out shows so don't wait too long to get your tickets!

"Only Ugly Guys" by Running Errands at Gremlin Theatre

The "funny, clever, inventive, and very modern" new play Only Ugly Guys, written by up-and-coming #TCTheater artist Kurt Engh, is back for another round. But this is no mere remount, it's an expansion and rewrite of what he calls an "anti-romcom" about four young gay men. The version staged at Open Eye Theater last summer as part of their Guest Artist Series was 90 minutes long and used projections of videos, texts, and social media. This new version (with two of the four original cast members returning) is about two and a half hours including intermission, staged on the thrust stage at Gremlin Theatre. So there's 30-40 additional minutes of story, with a new structure and style as well. It's the same four characters and similar relationships and story, but told in a fresh new way. And it's still "funny, clever, inventive, and very modern," continuing through September 27.

"Treasure Island" at Children's Theatre Company

For high stakes adventure on the open sea, head to Children's Theatre Company in South Minneapolis. Their production of Scottish playwright Stuart Paterson's adaptation of the 1883 novel Treasure Island is a high energy tale filled with music, magic, thrilling fight scenes, and admirable heroism. Surprisingly, this was my first experience with the classic tale, having never read the book or seen any of the many movie adaptations. There are a lot of pirates and bad guys to keep track of, but the trajectory of our young hero Jim is clear as he risks life, limb, and reputation to do what's right and stand up to the bullies who will stop at nothing to get what they want. The kind of heroism that seems to be lacking in the real world right now, but maybe Jim will inspire us to be heroes in our own stories. CTC recommends this show for age 8 and up, and I observed some little ones getting a little squirrelly as the story and accents might have gone over their heads, and there's quite a bit of violence, including gunfights and murder. But for the older kids and the grown-ups, this show is treasure indeed.

"Maybe You Could Love Me" by Theater Mu at Mixed Blood Theatre

The world premiere new play Maybe You Could Love Me by L.A.-based Muslim playwright Samah Meghjee is a gem of a two-hander. The story of two Muslim girls growing up in Florida, in love but unable to be together because of the expectations of their culture, is sweet, funny, sad, and lovely. And Theater Mu has cast the perfect two actors to bring these two endearing characters and their precious relationship to life. It's playing for two more weekends only at Mixed Blood Theatre, highly recommended if you're looking for adventurous, new, original theater.

American Players Theatre 2025

"This world is complicated, sometimes difficult. We hope that your visit to APT is a bit of a refuge for you. We hope it brings you joy, maybe lets you breathe easier. For a few hours, you can lean into a story, together in community with the rest of the audience. The people sitting around you may have different perspectives, beliefs or even politics (yeah, we said it). But we can share this common experience and maybe understand ourselves, and each other, a little bit better. That's the beauty of Theater, and of this place in the woods." This program note from American Players Theatre Artistic Director Brenda DeVita and Managing Director Sara Young so beautifully expresses why I love theater, and why I write about it to share it with others. At this moment, the world feels very complicated, difficult, and scary, so my weekend in Spring Green with my friends from Minnesota Theater Love and Ernest Goes to the Theatre was a welcome retreat. I like to refer to APT as a theater oasis in the middle of the woods of Wisconsin. And it is that, it is a place to take a break from the scary world and enjoy storytelling at its finest. But APT, and theater, is more than that. Some of the plays this season are a fun escape, but some are a brutal reflection of our harsh reality. And all of them are experienced in community with friends, strangers, and this beautiful acting company and creative team. This was just the third trip across the Wisconsin border to APT for this Twin Cities Theater Blogger, but I look forward to many more to come. The summer season of eight plays in rep (although more will be closing each week) continues through October 5, with one play presented in their indoor theater in late October through November, so there is still time for the best theater vacay in the Midwest this year. Or start making plans for the 2026 season, because American Players Theatre is a magical and wonderful experience, just a four-hour drive from the Twin Cities, that every #TCTheater fan needs to experience.

"Nudge" at Open Eye Theatre

As part of their Guest Artist Series, Open Eye Theatre is hosting the long-form improv show Nudge once a month through December. I caught the show last night, before the #TCTheater season gets too busy. A small but enthusiastic crowd enjoyed one continuous story that played out in under an hour, completely made up on the spot. This talented troupe of some of our best improvisors (Tim Hellendrung, Katy Kessler, Taj Ruler, and Jen Scott performed last night, with Rita Boersma and/or Butch Roy joining them at some performances) created believable characters and situations that were funny, and awkward, and real. Since HUGE Theater closed last year, we need to go to different venues to see improv (including but not limited Strike Theater, Jungle Theater, and the Hive Collaborative), and Nudge is one that's definitely worth checking out in Open Eye's sweet intimate space in South Minneapolis. Their next show is October 20, followed by shows in November and December, with tickets just $12 in advance! Click here for all the details.

"Big Fish" at Lyric Arts

Lyric Arts is opening their exciting 2025-2026 season with yet another regional premiere musical - Big Fish, an adaptation of the 2003 Tim Burton film and 1998 novel. While the musical only ran for a few months on Broadway in 2013, earning zero Tony nominations, it seems to have sort of a cult following, and I can see why. It's a big-hearted feel-good story about parents and children, and what happens when children grow up and realize they don't know their parents as well as they thought they did. And there are a bunch of fantasy sequences that allow for fun little stories within the story. Lyric Arts has assembled a talented cast who are putting their whole hearts into the show, with some charming effects to create the fantasy sequences. See it on their Main Street Anoka stage now through September 28 October 5.

"Anyone Can Whistle" by Minneapolis Musical Theatre at the Conn Theater

It's time to check another Stephen Sondheim musical off my list - the rarely done Anyone Can Whistle. For just six performances over two weekends, Minneapolis Musical Theatre (whose motto "rare musicals, well done" really applies here) is presenting a concert version of this musical that famously flopped when it premiered on Broadway in 1964. This is a smart way to do a lesser known and less successful work by one of the best composer/lyricists in musical theater history. For musicals that are hard to stage or challenging in other ways, a concert version still allows us to appreciate the music and get a gist of the story and characters, highlighting the good parts and jettisoning the bad. Anyone Can Whistle is a weird musical for sure, satirical and absurd in ways that work and ways that don't. But it's a lot of fun to watch in this concert version with a super talented (and mostly new-to-me) cast under the direction of Max Wojtanowicz, with a small but mighty on-stage band. If you're a Sondheim fan, don't miss your chance to see this rare and oddly charming show!

"The Mother" by Black Label Movement and Sod House Theater at Sokol Hall

My first show of the 2025-2026 #TCTheater season is a new work by two companies I've never seen before, and it set the bar pretty high for the season. Black Label Movement (a dance theater company) and Sod House Theater (specializing in site-specific theater) are combining forces on a music-dance-theater piece based on the 1906 Russian novel Mother by Maxim Gorky. This "punk rock dance musical" tells the story of striking workers in early 20th Century Russian in a way that feels modern and relevant. The intimate and immersive space at the historic Sokol Hall in St. Paul's West 7th neighborhood, a center for Czech and Slovak culture, makes you feel like you're part of the revolution, and the original music by Annie Enneking, who also plays the title role, is so inspiring. The Mother is a fusion of theater companies, artists, and art forms that really makes you feel the emotions of the story viscerally in a captivating 90 minutes. But it's playing for one weekend only - click here for info and tickets to the remaining shows (through Sunday).

"Pickup Truck Opera Volume 5: The Return of King Idomeneo" by Mixed Precipitation at Silverwood Park

It's time for one of my favorite #TCTheater summer traditions - Mixed Precipitation's Pickup Truck Opera! It's exactly what it sounds like - opera that operates out of a pickup truck. Well, sort of. Since the pandemic they've moved away from their "picnic operetta" with passed trays of food into this more portable show, driving all around the state in a 2011 Blue Ford pickup truck loaded with sets and props and instruments, bringing their unique brand of accessible and fun opera / pop music mashups to communities around Minnesota. In this year's Volume 5, they're mashing up Mozart's Idomeneo, about the aftermath of the Trojan War, with pop music from '50s and '60s. And they also modernize the story and make it more modern and relevant. The result is pure joy, and just an absolute delight to experience! As one audience member described it, "it's part opera, part silly play." If that sounds appealing to you, click here to find an outdoor location near you (continuing through September 14).

Reading of "The Antipodes" by Table/Read at Paikka

After two years at Boston University earning his MFA in Directing, #TCTheater artist Grant Sorenson is back in town and jumping right in making good things. He has plans for a new theater company (which will hopefully continue the great and interesting work of Arrow Theater), but for now, Grant has introduced a new and exciting monthly theater event - one-night-only readings of new plays, fittingly called Table/Read. That in itself is a really cool idea, but what makes this series truly unique is that the name of the play is not announced until the moment the reading begins. We always go into the theater knowing something about the work, even if it's just the title and playwright. But often the promotional materials, social media, and/or the program have information on what the play is about - a short plot summary, character descriptions, or even just the location and time period of the story. It's extremely rare to watch a performance and know absolutely nothing about what's going to happen. And that's exciting! The first monthly Table/Read did not disappoint, with an excellent choice of play read by a powerhouse cast of nine of #TCTheater's best actors that gave fully realized performances despite having just one zoom rehearsal. And it was preceded by drinks and conversation in the lovely courtyard outside Paikka, an event space in Vandalia Towers. But I won't get too attached to that; each reading will take place at a different non-traditional space. Follow Table/Read on Instagram or watch their website for details on the next monthly reading. And for artists - check out the artist nights, intended to be a place where artists can connect.

"Hypocralypse Now" by Brave New Workshop at the Dudley Riggs Theatre

From this spring's The World is Burning, So I Made S'Mores to their new show Hypocralypse Now, Brave New Workshop is bringing us smart, funny, topical comedy. The oldest comedy theater in the country is like Minnesota's SNL, and this show in particular is all about political humor (just take a look at the show image). But the show doesn't just skewer the current administration and its blatant hypocrisy (which for me is one of the most frustrating things about it), but also other people in positions of power, and the way we as citizens react to what's going on. As they say in the intro, be prepared to be offended, but at least in this situation we can all laugh at the world, each other, and ourselves. Because the great thing about this country is that we can make fun of the people in power without fear of censorship or retribution. Well, at least today we still can. So head to the Dudley Riggs Theatre in downtown Minneapolis to not forget your troubles, but laugh at them and commiserate with other humans sitting in a room together. Hypocralypse Now continues through November 1.