"Great Falls" by Open Circuit Theatre at the Hive Collaborative

New #TCTheater company Open Circuit Theatre, whose mission is "artistic resistance, telling stories that disrupt systems of oppression," has chosen for their debut the 2008 play Great Falls by prolific Minnesota-born playwright and Playwrights' Center core writer Lee Blessing. The systems of oppression depicted in this play are, to put it bluntly, men. Or rather, the many patriarchal systems we live under that allow men to abuse and take advantage of women, often with little recourse. Hopefully things are better in the post #MeToo era, but the unnamed young woman in this story has to find her own way through, with the help of her estranged ex-stepfather. Like all Lee Blessing plays, the two-hander Great Falls is brutal but real, with characters that are not always likeable but always human. And this production is a well-done impressive debut for this new theater company. You can see it at the cozy and intimate Hive Collaborative in St. Paul's Midway neighborhood through this weekend only.

"Vienna, Vienna, Vienna" at Six Points Theater

Last fall, I took a Viking River cruise down the Danube River through Austria, and we had one short day in its capital city, Vienna. It was an amazing day filled with music, art, culture, history, and food, but I easily could have spent a full week there and not gotten bored. The characters in the new play Vienna, Vienna, Vienna have more personal reasons for visiting this gorgeous and historically significant city, and a complicated family history with it. Three generations of women return to the city where the family matriarch was born, and from which she had to flee with her family in 1938 around the time of the Anschluss, when Austria became part of Nazi Germany. Like Chekhov's Three Sisters (which this play references frequently), she always longed to return, and raised her children and grandchildren with nostalgic stories about where she grew up. But the reality of returning 83 years later brings up some more unpleasant memories. This world premiere new play at Six Points Theater is a fantastic family dramedy that touches on history, culture, identity, what it means to be a refugee, and if you ever can go home again after you were forced to leave a place that you loved (continuing through April 12).

"Conscience" at Theatre in the Round

On a day when some 200,000 people gathered at our State Capitol to stand up for democracy, joined by millions more around the country, I saw a play about Senator Margaret Chase Smith, one of the few Republicans who stood up to Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s. Conscience, written in 2020 by Tony-winning playwright Joe DiPietro (for book and lyrics of the musical Memphis), resonates deeply with today's world. It tells of a time when one personality has overtaken the Republican party, whipping up support amongst voters by preaching fear of outsiders, fellow politicians afraid to cross him because of the power he seemingly wields. Until one woman stands up on the Senate floor (the only woman on the Senate floor) to condemn his actions. It was a rough road, but eventually, this personality faded into disgrace and history as quickly as he rose. Yesterday's marches are incredibly inspiring, as is this story, providing hope that our collective conscience will win out against forces attempting to erode our democracy. And it's a beautifully told story, succinct and to the point in under two hours, with a fantastic four-person cast bringing these historical figures and their heroic (or not so heroic) actions to life. Conscience, a last-minute season replacement in Theatre in the Round's 74th season, runs through April 19 and couldn't have come at a better time.

"The Joy List" by Collide Theatrical at Luminary Arts Center

Collide Theatrical Dance Company's new original jazz dance musical is inspired by the British play Every Brilliant Thing, of which I saw two local productions in 2021, and is now having its Broadway premiere (starring a little-known actor called Daniel Radcliffe). It's a beautiful and bittersweet solo play, in which the narrator tells the story of his life, including past and present traumas, all while constructing a list of "every brilliant thing" he encounters, or in this version, a "joy list." As usual, Collide has expertly transformed this narrative story into one told primarily through dance, and captures that beautiful and bittersweet feeling in about 75 minutes. Coming out of a difficult winter (for multiple reasons), it's good to be reminded of the little and big things that bring us joy, but also that we can't fully appreciate the joy until we acknowledge and deal with the pain. The Joy List continues at Luminary Arts Center through April 12.

A Preview (and Review) of Park Square Theatre's LAB Series

UPDATE: I have now seen all four of the shows and all are fantastic, each very creative and unique. Scroll down for more thoughts, and head to Park Square today or tomorrow to see the last two shows (the first two are no longer playing).

Park Square has a new program to foster the work of local artists, and I'm here for it: "The Park Square LAB Series provides Minnesota-based theater artists, companies, and early- to mid-career creators the opportunity to stage their work at Park Square Theatre - without the barrier of rental fees. The LAB Series program offers theatre makers of all backgrounds the chance to take artistic risks. Whether artists choose to develop ambitious new work, restage and/or reimagine a previous production, or a bit of both, Park Square aims to provide the space and encouragement for artists to flourish." I love the idea of an artist lab, where they get to experiment, try new things, and see what works and what doesn't. And I have experienced the depth and breadth of our local artist community, so I love that Park Square is supporting them in this way. They will be presenting the work of four artists over two weekends, two this weekend and two next weekend (three performances each), and the artists they have lined up for their inaugural lab are an impressive list! Read a little more about the shows and artists below and check back for my thoughts after I see the shows this weekend and next. You can find more information and purchase tickets to one or both shows on Park Square's website.

"Hungry Like the Wolf" at History Theatre

Hungry Like the Wolf, History Theatre's new play written by actor-turned-playwright Sandra Struthers (original cast-member of their smash hit musical Glensheen), is a delightful mash-up of so many ideas. Growing up in the '80s, a historic bank strike for equal pay, a Hollywood legend, domestic abuse, Duran Duran, and so much more. Sometimes when a play includes so many ideas, it can feel like it's trying to do too much, like some things are never fleshed out. But that is not the case here; this play succeeds brilliantly in weaving all these things together, using many different types of storytelling to great effect, in a wholly satisfying way. It achieved my favorite thing in any entertainment - it made me laugh, and it made me cry. And although much of it is set in the '70s and '80s, it speaks directly to today, when so many of us feel hopeless, when it feels like the fight for a better world will never end. It shows us that we've gotten through tough times before, and we will continue to do so, if we work together and stand up for what's right. But that sounds preachy, which this show definitely is not. It's messy and goofy and vulnerable and inspiring. It's a play that defies description and is its own thing, telling this story, these stories, in an inventive and innovative way. Head to downtown St. Paul now through April 12 to experience this mashup of history and present, pop culture and social justice.

"Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" at Penumbra Theatre

A piece of musical theater trivia that I learned several years ago is that the first Broadway musical with book, music, and lyrics written by a woman is the 1973 Tony-nominated Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope. It was written by Micki Grant, a Black woman, who also starred in the show (we would have to wait over 50 years for the next Broadway musical with book, music, and lyrics written by a woman who also starred in it - Shaina Taub's Suffs, coming to the Orpheum next month). I couldn't understand why, in 15 years of seeing pretty much everything in #TCTheater, I had never seen this show; no theater company has produced it locally in my memory, and it's never been revived on Broadway after its two-and-a-half-year original run. That glaring omission has finally been rectified with Penumbra Theatre's joy-filled production of this historically significant gem of a musical. It's playing through April 5, and if you're a fan of musical theater history, or just music and/or history in general, do not miss this show.

"Twelfth Night" by Zephyr Theatre at the Great Banquet Hall

Stillwater's Zephyr Theater is back with a very short run of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, presented in the Grand Banquet Hall in Stillwater. It's billed as "a 1960s tropical comedy romance," with some inspiration from the iconic TV series Gilligan's Island. This allows for some fun with the costumes and design, which also incorporates Christmas decor, as Twelfth Night is traditionally celebrated as the 12th night after Christmas. I wish they had leaned more into the Gilligan's Island theme, I didn't really get much of it other than that the twins are dressed like Gilligan in the bucket hat, red long-sleeved shirt, and jeans. But it's a fun show, with seating at large round tables and food and beverages available to enjoy before and during the show, giving it a holiday celebration sort of feel. If you're in the Stillwater area, check out one of their three remaining performances this weekend.

"Sleuth" at the Guthrie Theater

The Guthrie's new offering playing on their proscenium stage is the 1971 Tony-winning play Sleuth, which I've never seen or even heard of (it's never been revived on Broadway). Written by English playwright Anthony Shaffer (twin brother of two-time Tony winning playwright Peter, for Amadeus and Equus), it's an unclassifiable thrill ride of a play. Part mystery, part psychological thriller, part relationship drama, and full of inspected twists, I could not figure out what this show was or where it was going. At the end of Act I, I thought, what now? When Act II began I thought, wait, what's happening? And the twists and turns just kept coming, with tons of theater tricks that I won't spoil here. I can't tell you too much about this play without spoiling the delightful surprises, but I can tell you it's gorgeously designed, fabulously acted, and fully engrossing from start to finish. See it now through May 10.

"Abuelita" by Prime Productions at the Capri Theater

Prime Productions is continuing their work that "amplifies the voices of women over fifty" with a world premiere new play that, while not written by a woman in her prime, is centered around several of them. NYC-based playwright Nathan Yungerberg (who has Midwestern roots) has written a fictional story inspired by his real-life experience as a biracial adoptee growing up in the Midwest and connecting to his Afro-Caribbean heritage later in life. A story of a 15-year-old boy finding his identity with the help of his "Abulelitas" (if Abuela is Spanish for grandmother, what does Abuelita mean? that you love your Abuela a lot, as one of the characters says). It's a story of community, of grief, of healing, of growing up, of not growing old but continuing to change and explore all that life has to offer. The beautiful, funny, authentic new play Abuelita continues at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis through March 29.

"The Yeoman of the Guard" by The Gilbert and Sullivan Very Light Opera Company at the Conn Theater

After 10+ years of seeing Gilbert and Sulivan operettas by The Gilbert and Sullivan Very Light Opera Company (GSVLOC, which has been around for over 40 years), I thought I knew what a G&S show was - a silly fantastical story, over the top characters, social commentary conveyed through comedy, ending with happily ever after (usually via a wedding or two). But then I saw The Yeoman of the Guard (their current show continuing through March 29), which does not fit the usual model. Yes, there is still some comedy, and fast patter songs, and a bit of silliness. But overall, it's a much more somber story, one that does not end happily for everyone, and in fact ends on a tragic note. But I loved it all the more for that, and for showing me that I didn't know everything G&S was or could be. But like all G&S shows done by GSVLOC, it's musically gorgeous, performed by an ensemble of 30-some singers, with a backstage orchestra of about that size. If you enjoy G&S, there is much to love here, and if you think you know them, there is much to surprise and endear you even more to them.

"The Importance of Being Earnest" at Lakeshore Players Theatre

The subtitle A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is the perfect description of Oscar Wilde's most popular play The Importance of Being Earnest. It is so silly, so full of comedy zingers and ridiculous characters, so biting in its mockery of proper late 19th Century British society. Lakeshore Players Theatre's new production, directed by #TCTheater veteran actor and director Craig Johnson, is running for only two weekends, and it's perfectly delightful. Head to downtown White Bear Lake by March 22 to catch this frothy, yummy, and hilarious classic comedy.