"The Taming" at Yellow Tree Theatre

When I first saw Lauren Gunderson's play The Taming, in a production by the dear departed Theatre Unbound, I remember not really getting it. But that was September of 2016, I was different then, the country was different then. That was before the 2016 election, before COVID, before George Floyd, before the 2020 election, before the 2021 insurrection, before the Epstein files, before the political violence that has affected our state so greatly, before the doubled-down horrors of Trump 2.0. Seeing Yellow Tree Theatre's new production of this play (that was surprisingly written in 2013), I get it now. The Taming (inspired by Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, but bearing little resemblance to it) is a hilarious and biting political satire that is sneakily brilliant; a play that was ahead of its time, and whose time has come. Very smart programming by Yellow Tree to open their 19th season with this play, as we celebrate 250 years of this grand experiment called the United States of America, and approach yet another election with a lot on the line. Head to Osseo to laugh, have a good time, and get inspired. And then vote.

"Dracula (a feminist revenge fantasy)" by Night Fire Theatre at the Historic Mounds Theatre

NYC-based actor/playwright Kate Hamill is most known for her Jane Austin adaptations (including Emma, commissioned by and premiering at the Guthrie in 2022), and sometimes stars in the world premieres. She's also taken her pen to other classics, like Sherlock Holmes and Little Women (commissioned by and premiering at the Jungle in 2018). And now, thanks to Night Fire Theatre's regional premiere production, we have her adaptation of Dracula, subtitled "a feminist revenge fantasy." Like all of her adaptations, it's feminist and funny, and a little fantastical (in this case fitting the subject matter). A huge cast brings the new twist on the old story to life on stage (and off) at the Historic Mounds Theatre in St. Paul's Dayton's Bluff neighborhood, which is a beautiful but slightly creepy old theater that may or may not be haunted, i.e., the perfect setting for this story. The Twin Cities Horror Festival starts this weekend, and I'm unable to attend due to the busy October #TCTheater season (and my general dislike of horror), but I feel like I got a taste of the horror fest in this show; the one difference between this and other Kate Hamill adaptations it the amount of blood! If you're a fan of feminist retellings of classic stories, or copious blood on stage, Dracula is the show for you! (Continuing through Halloween night.)

"Sweet Revenge" by Mni Giizhik Theatre Ensemble and Exposed Brick Theatre at Red Eye Theater

Billed as a "true crime comedy," the new play Sweet Revenge is, on one level, an entertaining revenge fantasy. But on another level, it's an unflinching look at the generational trauma carried by the Native people of this land that we call Minnesota, known by the Dakota as Mni Sota Makoce. Native playwright Marcie Renden has been writing this play for over a decade, and it's finally being produced by new #TCTheater company Mni Giizhik Theatre Ensemble, in partnership with Exposed Brick Theatre. Mni Giizhik was founded in 2024 by Sequoia Hauck (who directs this piece), Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha, and Adrienne Zimiga, who was in For the People at the Guthrie Theater a few years ago, their first Native play in 60 years, and is a founding member of their Native Advisory Council. But, as she said in a pre-show speech on opening night, they weren't about to potentially wait another 60 years for the Guthrie to do their next Native play, so these three artists started their own company. Their second season includes a co-pro with Stages Theatre Company Bowwow Powwow, seen at the Hopkins theater in September and touring to a few locations. Sweet Revenge continues at Red Eye Theatre in South Minneapolis through October 17.

"Annie" at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

After more than 20 years, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres returns to the feel-good musical Annie that showcases the power of "little girls." And one of those little girls from their first production of the show in 1983, Tamara Kangas Erickson, is now co-owner and Artistic Director of the theater, and director/choreographer of this show, proving that there really is no limit to what "little girls" can do when they grow up and change the world. Or at least, I hope they will. And that's one thing Annie has in abundance - hope. The belief that we can make the world a better place by believing it can be better, by working together, by standing up for what's right, and maybe by singing a song together. This nearly 50-year-old show (it'll return to Broadway for its 50th anniversary next year), set nearly 100 years ago, is eerily resonant with today's world, with the increasing gap between the haves and the have-nots, average Americans unable to afford to feed their families, and a dissatisfaction with the powers-that-be who don't seem to care about the plight of the people. Annie inspired the president to come up with a New Deal to help pull the country out of the depression; "A New Deal for Christmas" is the optimistic finale of the show. Things feel a little less hopeful today, but maybe we'll get a new deal for Christmas too, if we believe like Annie does (and #vote). In the meantime, head West to Chanhassen to experience a healthy dose of optimism, delivered to us by a ridiculously talented cast, creative team, and staff, who also deliver dinner, drinks, and dessert to your table as you enjoy the show (continuing through February 27).

Tour of "Mystic Pizza" at the Ordway

Did the 1988 movie Mystic Pizza need to be made into a musical? Probably not. Did we need another '80s jukebox musical? No. Is Mystic Pizza: A New Musical a fun show about female friendship and community and finding yourself, with a score full of great songs? Absolutely! In general, I'm a fan of original musicals rather than movie adaptations or jukebox musicals (of which this show is both), so I went in with relatively low expectations, which is often the best way to approach something. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, and there are several things they got right in this adaptation (the tour was originally scheduled to come to the Ordway last year, so obviously they've been working on making it better). So while I don't think the world was crying out for a Mystic Pizza musical, it's really quite endearing, and this production features a fantastic young cast. So put on your best '80s gear (or not) and head to the charming town of Mystic inside the Ordway Center in downtown St. Paul before the show closes on October 11.

"You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" at Artistry

Happiness is... watching six legends of #TCTheater stages personifying beloved Peanuts characters. In Artistry's new production of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, these legends bring all of their wisdom and experience to their roles, yet tap into that childlike spirit that is inside all of us. This is a deceptively simple little musical that truly feels like the comic strips come to life with its short and often unrelated scenes, but it's also kind of profound, in the way it deals with those important lessons we learn in childhood. Lessons about friendship, self-esteem, disappointment, working together. The last time I saw this show was almost 15 years ago in this very space by a version of this theater company then known as Bloomington Civic Theatre, starring a bunch of young up-and-coming actors. It truly is happiness to experience it again now, ingeniously cast with actors age 60+. Because the older you get, the more poignant these life lessons become, and the more you appreciate the simple happinesses in life.

"On the Razzle!" at Park Square Theatre

When British playwright Tom Stoppard died last fall at the age of 88, the only bright side was the hope that theaters would be inspired to produce more of his work. That hope is beginning to be realized, with Park Square Theatre's production of Stoppard's 1981 comedy farce On the Razzle! to open their 51st season. Despite being a Stoppard fan (Arcadia is my favorite play), I had never heard of this one. Park Square's Artistic Director Stephen DiMenna, who also directs, chose it because "of all his plays, this is perhaps the most luscious comic farce of them all." Turns out it's based on the same play as Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker (the 19th Century Austrian play Einen Jux will er sich machen), which was in turn the inspiration for the musical Hello Dolly! It's a familiar story told in an even more comedic way, with lots of clever wordplay as one would expect from Stoppard, although this is the frothiest play of his I've seen. This 13-person cast is full of #TCTheater powerhouses, as well as some young and upcoming talent, and the design is positively gorgeous. Go On the Razzle! with Park Square Theater in the Historic Hamm Building in downtown St. Paul now through October 25.

"Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit Tale" at Mixed Blood Theatre

A new original musical based on a classic children's book is not what I would have expected from Mixed Blood Theatre to begin their new season. Their last two shows were The Jungle, set in a refugee camp in France, and The Ally, about the Israeli/Palestine conflict. Both shows were decidedly not for children, and even for adults were intense and dark, but beautifully done. But Mark Valdez, who took over as Artistic Director from founder Jack Reuler a few years ago, was inspired to write this new musical during the pandemic, and inspired to bring it to the Twin Cities this year, which has seen so much conflict and terror, that also has affected our children. Into the Burrow is a sequel of sorts to the beloved Peter Rabbit books, and takes place one year after his father... was baked into a pie. It's about grief, loss, community, resilience, healing, and working together to make a better world. It's told in a way that appeals to children, but this adult found it very moving as well. There are a handful of public performances on weekends through October 18, with daily 10am matinees for school groups. You can find info on how to bring your school to the show here, or just go yourself and experience this sweet feel-good musical with a fantastic mostly local cast.

"Murder on the Nile" by Frosted Glass Creative on the Stillwater Riverboats

Frosted Glass Creative often performs in Stillwater or other parts East, including outdoor musicals along the St. Croix River. So why not perform ON the river?! And Agatha Christie's Murder on the Nile (her own adaptation of her novel Death on the Nile) is the perfect choice for this floating theatrical experience. The entire play takes place on a riverboat, and we're actually on a riverboat - it doesn't get much more site-specific than that. Murder on the Nile is a typical Christie play full of eccentric characters, many of them suspicious, a clever detective (of sorts), and a surprise ending that makes perfect sense as it clicks into place. Seating is limited on the main floor of the Jubilee II (buffet dinner and cash bar upstairs, as with an open deck above), so most performances have already sold out. But there are a few tickets remaining for the final performance in Stillwater on October 18, as well as the following weekend in St. Paul on the Padelford Riverboats. It would be a fun murder mystery play in any location, but the site-specific setting makes it even better. But please remember, if you're seeing theater on a boat, it's still the theater, not a night out at a bar with friends, and you should act accordingly!

"A Star Full of Skies: The Values Play Experience" by Wonderlust Productions at the O'Shaughnessy's Frey Theater

Wonderlust Productions has a unique theater model. They make theater for the community, with the community, by the community, and that community varies with every show. The spend a couple of years interviewing people and creating an original piece of theater that strives to convey their experience, whether it's caregivers, or the incarcerated, or people who work in our state government. The community this time is, well, all of us, and the topic is as simple and as complex as our values. This is an extremely timely and relevant piece of theater, at a time that feels more divided than ever, when people's values seem so vastly different from each other. But can we find common ground among our values? How do we convey our values to others? How to we put those values in action building a neighborhood, a community, a country? These are the ideas that A Star Full of Skies grapples with, in a really playful and engaging way. Because this is an "experience," the audience gets to participate in the storytelling (but not in a threatening or burdensome way). Read on to find out how, and click here to get your tickets to this unique theatrical experience before it closes next weekend.