Minnesota Fringe Festival: "Five-Fifths of 9 to 5" at the Ritz Theater

Five-Fifths of 9 to 5 was everything I wanted, and everything that's good about Minnesota Fringe. The annual fundraiser for the 11-day August festival takes a popular movie, divides it into five parts, and gives each part to a different Fringe artist or company, who then perform their fifth in chronological order for the weirdest and most wonderful Frankenstein version of the movie you've ever seen. It's truly astounding how you can give five artists the same inspiration, and they will do five completely different things. And that's the great thing about our beloved Fringe, now in its 33rd year - artists are supported in making and presenting their own unique kind of art, and we audience members can sample a little of everything! For this year's Five-Fifths, Artistic Director Dawn Bentley gently bullied her staff into choosing the 1980 Jane Fonda/ Dolly Parton/ Lily Tomlin revenge comedy 9 to 5, and it was the perfect choice for 2026. Each one of the five theater companies, all of whom have performed at the Fringe in the past and will do so again this year, did something that was so totally them. It was truly a delightful smorgasbord of theater performance. Keep reading for a brief summary of the companies and what they did, and mark your calendar for this year's festival August 6-16. You can even buy your passes now, and watch social media for announcements of shows and schedule. See you at the Fringe!

"Once Upon a Mattress" at Lakeshore Players Theatre

The only thing I know about the 1960 Tony-nominated musical Once Upon a Mattress is that it was Carol Burnett's Broadway debut. I've never seen a production of it... until last weekend at Lakeshore Players Theatre. It's a weird and wacky show for sure, but I found it to be a lot of fun. And maybe also ahead of its time in its depiction of a princess who isn't the typically demure and obedient type, but rather one who is brash and strong and decidedly unladylike. This production leans into the weird and wackiness, with a fantastic cast (that's mostly new-to-me) singing and dancing and performing their hearts out. Once Upon a Mattress continues at the Hanifl Performing Arts Center in White Bear Lake weekends through May 17.

"Shanty Boys of Pine County" by Bucket Brigade at Art House North

A year and a half ago, Bucket Brigade brought us an original docu-musical about the Great Hinckley Fire of 1894, entitled Survivors of the Fire. It was a thoroughly gripping tale that shared the real stories and words of survivors, from books, journals, or articles of the time, combined with music of the period. I loved it so much I traveled to the Hinckley Fire Museum last Labor Day with some of my fellow Twin Cities Theater Bloggers to watch a shorter version of piece, tour the museum, and visit the burial site and memorial. During his research for Survivors, Bucket Brigade Co-Founder and playwright Jermiah Gamble, who lived in Hinckley as a child, ran across the story of one fire survivor who later published a collection of traditional songs of the North Woods, and was inspired to write another original musical filled with these songs. Shanty Boys of Pine County is a sort of companion piece to Survivors of the Fire, but without the death and trauma. Instead, it shares the music and culture of the 19th Century logging camps in the North Woods in 70 minutes of songs, stories, and laughter. Check it out through May 9 at the charming former church known as Art House North in St. Paul's 7th Street neighborhood, with free cookies and coffee in the cute basement lobby. Or visit the Hinckley Fire Museum this Memorial Day Weekend to watch a shorter version of the piece and tour the museum - for free!

"The Wizard of Oz" at Children's Theatre Company

Children's Theatre Company is returning to The Wizard of Oz, one of the classic adaptations in their repertoire, but one they haven't done in over ten years. This production features brand new design and direction, and a mostly new cast (with the exception of returning company members, because why mess with perfection?). For those of us who grew up with the 1939 Judy Garland movie version of Frank L. Baum's novel (the first in a series of 14 books), it feels nostalgic and familiar, like the beloved movie live and in 3D. From the display of the credits at the beginning of the show, to the tornado sequences, it feels very cinematic. This adaptation (by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company) hews very close to the original movie, and all of the songs are from the movie, with no attempts to make it anything different from the story we know and love, just brighter and more full of life. The Wizard of Oz continues at CTC through June 14, recommended for the young, the young at heart, and those who want to feel young again. Keep reading for highlights of this production.

"Little Women" at the Guthrie Theater

Lousia May Alcott's 1868 novel Little Women has been adapted into countless movies, plays, TV series, even a Broadway musical, and our own Collide Theatrical Dance Company recently turned it into an original dance musical. Now Lauren Gunderson, one of America's most produced playwrights of recent years, with a penchant for writing female-focused historical or literary-inspired plays that are fresh, funny, and feminist, has thrown her hat into the ring. And friends, this may be my favorite Little Women adaptation yet. Gunderson (who was in the house opening night) frames her play as a story within a story, placing Alcott and her real family on stage as they transform into the March family, which allows for context and commentary on this beloved tale. Now and in the past, women and girls are hungry for stories that center us in all our complexities and messiness, because for so long we've been marginalized in stories, in history, and in our own lives. In that respect, Lousia May Alcott and Lauren Gunderson are a match made in literary theatrical heaven. The Guthrie's production features a fantastic local cast and gorgeous design, and had me in tears multiple times throughout the story. Whether you're a fan of this story or not, don't miss this fresh new take on a classic that's still respectful of the source (continuing through June 21 - I'll be going back to see it again).

"The Bird Blind" by New Native Theatre at 825 Arts

Almost 20 years ago I joined an REI guided hiking trip in Northern Alaska. The trip began in Fairbanks and ended on the Arctic Ocean. We would drive North a few hundred miles, then stop, pitch our tents, and go hiking, repeating the cycle until we ran out of road. In addition to being immersed in nature, we also got to meet some locals, including a visit (via small airplane) to an Iñupiaq village. Northern Alaksa is a harsh place, but incredibly beautiful, and the people who live there are a hearty bunch, especially those who have lived there for countless generations. New Native Theatre's new play The Bird Blind tells the story of one such family living in a small village in Alaska. It's funny and sad, tragic and hopeful. Our Native communities are disproportionately plagued with alcoholism and violence due to a multitude of reasons dating back a few centuries, and this play does not shy away from that. But these sorts of family dynamics and difficulties, as well as the sense of community, are resonant through all communities. The Bird Blind officially opens this Friday and runs through May 10 at 825 Arts on University in St. Paul. It's a gripping story that's hard to watch at times, but rewarding as you get to know and love these characters and their community.

"HMong Futures: The Future of Us" by Theater Mu at Gremlin Theatre

Theater Mu's world premiere new play HMong Futures: The Future of Us tells the specific story of three generations of HMong women in rural Minnesota, that is universal in its depiction of a family with conflicts and misunderstandings, but great love and a sense of tradition that keeps them together, even when things get hard. Written by HMong American playwright Katie Ka Vang, whose work has frequently been seen on Mu and other stages around town (most recently Sixpack at the Jungle), it's a story that resonates in any time, but particularly now when our HMong community was one of those targeted by the recent ICE invasion. It's a sweet, funny, hopeful story about how we move forward into the future, featuring a fantastic five-person cast and a gorgeous design that's bursting with spring. HMong Futures: The Future of Us continues at Gremlin Theatre through May 3. Now that food truck season is upon us, come early to see what's parked outside Vandalia Tower (I had some great Thai food for lunch), or order OG Zaza Pizza and eat it at Lake Monster Brewing, King Coil Spirits, or on the lovely patio under the tower.

"The Jungle" at Mixed Blood Theatre

One of the best things that theater can do is put a human face on an abstract political issue. That's what The Jungle does for the refugee crisis. Commissioned by London's National Theatre from Good Chance Theatre and premiering at the Young Vic in 2017, it's an immersive experience that tells the story of a refugee camp in Calais, France in 2015 known as The Jungle. Mixed Blood Theatre's production is the first since that original production, which moved to the West End, then Off-Broadway, then a few other US locations. It's a nearly three-hour play that flies by in what feels like half that time, telling the stories of so many different characters that feel like real people. A cast of 18 actors and two musicians fill the historic firehouse that is Mixed Blood Theatre, with perhaps the best use of this space I've seen. It felt like I was inside the camp, and I didn't want it to end. This is a truly special one-of-a-kind piece of theater that we're so lucky Mixed Blood is bringing to us. It's playing Tuesday through Sunday for the next two weeks and I highly recommend you spend a little time in The Jungle. With Mixed Blood's "radical hospitality" program you can attend the show for free, but if you're able, please pay whatever amount you can for the ticket to support important work like this.

"The Boy Who Cried" at The Hive Collaborative

For their first solo show, #TCTheater artist Em Adam Rosenberg presents a new take on the fable of the boy who cried wolf, describing the show thusly: "When the boy cries 'wolf,' what if he is really crying for life itself? His voice feels less like a warning and more like a plea to be seen and to be believed. That cry feels familiar to me now, echoing as a demand for connection in a world that fosters isolation. To reshape the story as a space of empathy, I return to the boy to give him the affection he deserves." Em is a talented artist who over the past five years continues to show more colors in their palette. I first saw them in a number of Theatre Pro Rata shows, then a couple of musicals showcasing their gorgeous voice, culminating in a star turn in History Theatre's "Whoa, Nellie!" last year, and also directing and choreographing with Third Space Theater. And now Em shows us that they're also a talented writer/creator/performer who can hold an audience in the palm of their hand while putting a new, modern, relevant spin on a children's tale we thought we understood. The Boy Who Cried is as playful and fun as it is dark and deep, and just the kind of show The Hive Collaborative was made for. There are only three more performances on scattered dates through April 26 (the Hive has a full calendar), check it out if you're interested in up-and-coming talent and an original Fringey kind of show.

"Marie and Rosetta" at Yellow Tree Theatre

I first heard of Sister Rosetta Tharpe when I saw Park Square Theatre's regional premiere production of the play Marie and Rosetta in 2018. Known as the "godmother of rock and roll," she certainly should be more well known, and this play makes sure that she is. Yellow Tree Theatre was scheduled to do the play last season, but had to reschedule it to this season, and it was worth the wait. Written by Playwrights' Center affiliated writer George Brant, Marie and Rosetta imagines the night of the first performance of Rosetta and her protege/duet partner Marie Knight. A night in 1946 Mississippi when there was no room at the inn for two black women singers, so they rehearsed and slept in a funeral home with a kindly owner. This play with music paints a beautiful picture of these two very different women, their music, and their relationship, as well as the hardships both faced in their lives and careers, and brings these two musical legends to vivid life.* Unfortunately I caught the show at the end of the run - there are only four more performances before it closes this Sunday, so get out to Osseo soon to catch this great two-hander!

"The Postman's Daughter" by Illusion Theater at Center for Performing Arts

It's only April, and already we've been treated to two new original small-cast one-act musicals starring #TCTheater veteran Bradley Greenwald, paired with younger performers. Just over a month ago, Open Eye Theatre premiered Strange Heart: The Dream Songs of John Berryman, an odd and dreamy musical in which Bradley played the titular poet, with Anna Hashizume and Sam Albright (and some puppets). Now Illusion Theater is premiering the lovely and touching musical The Postman's Daughter, in which Bradley again plays the title character, with Katherine Fried as his (spoiler alert but not really since it's in the title) daughter. In a year when only one new original musical premiered on Broadway, it's heartening to see that new original musicals are flourishing in our own theater community. At just about 80 minutes, this one gives us a sweet little story that feels like the beginning, and leaves you wanting more, but also feels satisfying. It's mostly sung-through, has the feel of a modern musical, and is beautifully performed in the intimate theater at Center for Performing Arts. Playing through April 25 only, go see it if you're interested in the future of music-theater.

"Ada Lovelace: Bride of Science" by nimbus theatre at the Crane Theater

In February of 2020, just before the world turned upside down, Daleko Arts produced the regional premiere (and to date only production) of Lauren Gunderson's play Ada and the Engine about Ada Lovelace, the world's first computer programmer. Now nimbus theatre (a company that almost exclusively does original work) is bringing us a new original play about Ada written by #TCTheater's own Nissa Nordland, because we can never have too many plays about historical women of science. Especially Ada, a particular favorite of mine as a woman with a BA in math, an MS in statistics, and a day job as a statistical programmer. Ada lived a short but full life with many accomplishments that weren't always recognized in her lifetime, but provided the foundation for our world today. Nissa has written a lovely, funny, moving, inspiring play that gives us a full picture of Ada and her world, beautifully brought to life by a talented five-person cast and clever design. Only four more performances remain at the Crane Theater in Northeast Minneapolis.

"The Full Monty" by Theatre 55 at the O'Shaughnessy's Frey Theater

The 2001 9-time Tony nominated musical The Full Monty, with book by acclaimed playwright Terrence McNally (five Tonys, including one for Lifetime Achievement) and music and lyrics by David Yazbek (Tony-winner for The Band's Visit) has only been done once in #TCTheater, to my knowledge. Theater Latte Da's 2009 production in the old Ordway McKnight Theatre was fantastic (pre-blog so no record of my experience exists), but we haven't seen it since. Until now. Theatre 55, the company that does musicals with actors age 55+, has chosen it for their spring show. It's a great choice for this time and for this company, and it's one of my favorite shows that they've done. The story of working-class men struggling with unemployment, loneliness, mental health issues, and redefining masculinity is incredibly relevant. As the title implies, these average guys decide they're going to earn some money by stripping. One of the benefits of aging (I'm only a few years away from joining the 55+ club) is that you feel more and more comfortable in your own skin, and care less and less about what other people think. So why not go "the Full Monty?" To be clear, I won't be doing it, but it's inspiring and a lot of fun to watch this fantastic cast of men and women own the stage in this way. The bad news is there are only four shows left, so act fast if you want to have a great time and learn a few things from our elders.

"Grumpy Old Men: The Musical" by Minneapolis Musical Theatre at the Conn Theater

If Grumpy Old Men had to be turned into a musical (and I would argue it didn't), it definitely needs to be performed in Minnesota (where the 1993 film was set and filmed), and no company is a better choice to do it than Minneapolis Musical Theatre, whose motto is "rare musicals, well done." They specialize in this campy spoofy fun genre of musical, and always make the most out of the material. That's definitely the case here. The show is fun with lots of Minnesota references and doesn't take itself too seriously. But for a musical that premiered in 2018, it's disappointingly sexist in the way women are treated and talked about, with (relatively) young, smart, beautiful women dating and even marrying literal grumpy old men decades older than them. But MMT has assembled a winning cast that makes the most of it, with clever staging and choreography, for what is overall a fun time at the theater. Grumpy Old Men: The Musical continues at the Conn Theater in South Minneapolis through April 19 only.

"The Right Thing to Do: The Joe Mauer Story" at Stages Theatre Company

I haven't been to Stages Theatre Company in ages; I don't have any children in my life to bring to a show at the children's theater, and I live on the opposite side of the city from Hopkins. But as a lifelong Twins fan (I have the game on as I write this*), I'm not going to miss a new musical about one of my (and all of Minnesota's) favorite Twins, 2024 Hall of Fame inductee Joe Mauer! A St. Paul native, Joe played 15 seasons for his hometown team, and I was fortunate to be at his final game in 2018, when he donned the catcher's gear for one last time, to the crowd's delight. Joe Mauer was a special player and racked up many awards and accolades in his career, culminating in being voted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. But as this musical, based on a book by local sports broadcaster Joe Schmit, shows us, Joe was also a special human. The book and musical show us a young Joe, who befriended a blind classmate in high school, when other kids were ignoring or bullying him (as kids often do). The Right Thing to Do depicts a world of kindness, of community, of kids being kids, supporting each other in their differences and uniqueness. With a 60-minute runtime, it's perfect for kids, especially baseball fans, with lots of fun Twins and baseball nuggets. The Right Thing to Do continues at Stages Theatre in Hopkins through May 10, with lots of matinees available.

"Mamma Mia!" at Lyric Arts

Last night, Lyric Arts opened their joyful production of the perhaps the most beloved jukebox musical, Mamma Mia!, and the entire run is already sold out. This is extremely rare, and speaks to both the draw of this great little theater in the 'burbs, and the popularity of Mamma Mia! Although it didn't win a single Tony Award, it ran for 15 years on Broadway, making it the 9th longest running Broadway musical (soon to be eclipsed by The Book of Mormon), and was adapted into a movie starring no less than Meryl Streep, which also inspired a sequel, and potentially a third movie to come. Why do people love Mamma Mia! so much? Maybe because it's chock full of familiar (to people of a certain age) songs from ABBA that are upbeat and endlessly singable. Maybe because it's set on a Greek island that we'd all love to escape to, especially after a long and difficult Minnesota winter. But I like to think that the reason we love Mamma Mia! is that the central love story is between a mother and a daughter, and between female friends. At its heart, inside the silly and contrived story of a young woman looking for her father, it's a story of friendship, community, and family, especially those that look different from the norm. It's a feel-good heart-warming musical that appeals to all generations. And Lyrics Arts' production, with a talented and gorgeously diverse cast, is a great one.

"Gutenberg! The Musical!" by Theater Latte Da at the Ritz Theater

Broadway buddies Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad, who originated the roles of Elder Price and Cunningham, respectively, in The Book of Mormon 15 years ago (which I was lucky enough to see), recently reunited on Broadway in a two-person musical comedy called Gutenberg! The Musical!, receiving its Broadway premiere almost 20 years after it debuted. The buddy comedy was the perfect vehicle for these two individual talents with undeniable chemistry, and now, two years after that short Broadway run closed, Theater Latte Da is bringing us, if not the regional premiere, the first #TCTheater production since this Broadway hit. It's the kind of thing I expect from Theater Latte Da - something new and inventive that you just can't see anywhere else. Artistic Director Justin Lucero saw Gutenberg on Broadway shortly after he was hired by Theater Latte Da, and immediately decided that they were going to do the show someday (proving once again that he was the perfect choice to replace founding Artistic Director Peter Rothstein). They have done just that, and also made the smart decision to hire Tyler Michaels King to direct, and cast the perfect physical comedy duo. Gutenberg! The Musical! is a super silly and hilarious ode to the musical theater form that we love so much, and that Theater Latte Da does so well. It's playing through May 3, so if you need a laugh (and who doesn't these days?), head to the Ritz Theater in Northeast Minneapolis.

Broadway tour of "Suffs" at the Orpheum Theatre

I saw Suffs on Broadway in May of the tumultuous election year that was 2024, and I thought it was relevant then. I didn't realize how much more relevant it would be to see this story about the final leg of the Women's Suffrage movement in 2026 in Minneapolis. As women's rights seem to diminish with every passing day, and protests continue and increase in size and frequency, in a city that's very familiar with marching and standing up for justice, meeting violence on the streets and being unfairly detained. Suffs is an inspiring story of the women that worked for over 60 years to get women the right to vote in America, and the various and varying tactics they used, and reminds us not to take these rights for granted but to keep marching, because as we've recently seen, they can be taken away in an instant. Music/book/lyrics writer Shaina Taub (who also starred in the original production) has focused the long history of Women's Suffrage in this country on a handful of historical figures over the last few years before the passage of the 19th Amendment, creating a story that feels fresh and modern, that's as funny and entertaining as it is serious and moving. These Suffs will be marching through Minneapolis through Sunday only - click here for info and tickets, including student, educator, and performing arts industry rush.

NYC Theater Trip 2026: "Just in Time" at Circle in the Square Theatre

Show*: 5

Title: Just in Time

Location: Circle in the Square Theatre

Written By: Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver 

Summary: The life of singer/songwriter/actor Bobby Darin as told through his music, in an intimate and immersive nightclub setting.

NYC Theater Trip 2026: "Proof" at the Booth Theatre

Show*: 4

Title: Proof

Location: The Booth Theatre

Written By: David Auburn

Summary: A revival of the 2001 Tony-winning play that was so popular it went on tour and was adapted into a film, about a math professor and his daughter who share an exceptional ability for math, and also possibly a tendency towards mental illness.

NYC Theater Trip 2026: "Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York" at the Longacre Theatre

Show*: 3

Title: Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York

Location: The Longacre Theatre

Written By: Jim Barne and Kit Buchan

Summary: A new original two-person musical in which a British man travels to NYC for the wedding of his father, whom he's never met, and spends a life-changing couple of days with the sister of the bride, a jaded New Yorker.

NYC Theater Trip 2026: "Oh, Mary!" at the Lyceum Theatre

Show*: 2

Title:Oh, Mary!

Location: Lyceum Theatre

Written By: Cole Escola

Summary: A ridiculous farce about first lady Mary Todd Lincoln, if she were an alcoholic former cabaret star.

NYC Theater Trip 2026: "Ragtime" at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center

Show*: 1

Title: Ragtime

Location: The Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center

Written By: book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens

Summary: A stunning revival of the 1998 12-time Tony nominated musical based on the E.L. Doctorow novel that tells a very American story at the turn of the last century, that's never felt more urgent.