"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.

"RENT" by Theatre 55 at the Gremlin Theatre

I first fell in love with RENT in 1996 when I saw the original cast perform on the Tonys and all over TV (RENT was the Hamilton of the '90s). I had just graduated from college and was living on my own for the first time, so the story of young twenty-somethings trying to make their way in the world really resonated with me. I first saw the show in 1997 when the First National Tour came to the Ordway, and have seen it every time it's been in the Twin Cities (and twice in NYC). Now, 27 years and one "no day but today" tattoo later, the story continues to resonate with me, but in different ways. At a point in my life when I've lost loved ones, and it's likely that more than half of my todays are behind me, the theme of living for today, and the preciousness of life, only gets more poignant every day. It makes perfect sense to me, then, for a troupe of actors age 55 and older to embody these themes - a brilliant choice for Theatre 55, a company dedicated to "enriching the lives of elders as artists, audiences, and lifelong learners." If RENT's creator Jonathan Larson hadn't died tragically the night before the Off-Broadway opening, just shy of his 36th birthday, he'd be 63 today. Theatre 55's cast is made up of Jonathan's contemporaries, who, like him, lived through the early days of the AIDS crisis. I would tell you to go see this relevant, resonant, poignant, joyful, and utterly unique production of one of the 20th Century's best musicals, but they've sold out their entire short seven-show run. No day but today, indeed!

"The Rocky Horror Show" by Theatre 55 at Mixed Blood Theatre

Since 2018, Theatre 55 has been producing shows with entire casts made up of actors age 55 or older, showcasing the talent of elder actors in our community (like the B Positive of #TCTheater). They also give novice actors the chance to work with and learn from more experienced theater artists, with a goal to "enrich the lives of elders as artists, audiences, and lifelong learners through theatre performance and education." They're returning to live in-person performance with the cult classic The Rocky Horror Show, and similar to Hair, their first production three years ago, populating this show with people who likely were around for and witnessed the original incarnation brings a new depth and meaning to it. But mostly, it's just a whole lot of fun. Everyone in the 15-person cast seemed to be having a blast, and the audience was right there in it with them. This show is such a fun and wacky expression of life and individuality, and this particular production is a great reminder that it's never too late for "don't dream it, be it." If you're one of those Rocky Horror fanatics (which, I admit, I am not), or if you just want to have a good time at the theater, check out this unique Rocky Horror through February 6 only (click here for details and to purchase tickets on a pay-what-you-can scale).