"Moulin Rouge!" Broadway Tour at the Orpheum Theatre

In general, I'm not a fan of movie-to-musical adaptations, but Baz Lurhmann's 2001 film Moulin Rouge! was crying out to be a stage musical. Everything about it is big, bold, and theatrical, and it cleverly weaves pop songs into the storytelling (it's one of my favorite movie soundtracks). The only surprising thing is that it took 18 years for it to get to Broadway, where it won ten Tony Awards in the covid-shortened 2020 season, including best musical. And now, three years later, it has finally arrived on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis for a three-week stay. It's a successful adaptation of the movie, staying very close to the storyline of the passionate but doomed love story, and the group of misfits trying to save their community from the rich and powerful Duke. Like the movie, the stage musical also cleverly weaves pop songs, from a single line to the whole song, into the storytelling. Most of the songs from the movie are still there, with some fun additions. Like it was on the screen, Moulin Rouge! on stage is big in every way - big emotions, big songs, big dance numbers, big hats, big set pieces - and the audience just laps it up. Visit the Moulin Rouge in Minneapolis now through June 5 (click here for the official ticket site).

Fringe Festival 2016: "A Pie. A Duck. And a Shoe."

Day: 4

Show: 21

Title: A Pie. A Duck. And a Shoe.

Category: Something Different

By: Sparkle Theatricals

Created by: Alejandra Iannone and Rick Ausland

Location: Southern Theater

Summary: An old-fashioned variety show featuring comedy, magic, music, dance, and puppetry.

Highlights: I didn't see a pie, but there is a duck and a shoe. This is a refreshingly old-fashioned variety show, just a bunch of diverse acts meant to entertain. The evening is hosted by the very funny comedian/magician David Harris, who does short pieces between introducing the acts. Featured acts include passionate R&B singer Nick Jordan accompanied by Luke Darger on keyboard; a charming shadow-puppet show of "The Ugly Duckling" performed by Neal Beckman, Alejandra Iannone, and Joann Oudekerk; everyone's favorite tap-dancer Rick Ausland of Buckets and Tap Shoes; and rapper Carnage the Executioner who, despite the frightening name, is actually quite friendly as he teaches the audience how to beat box. A simple concept, nothing flashy, but a variety of entertaining acts.