"Gypsy" by Theater Latte Da at the Pantages Theatre

2016 is the fourth year of Broadway Reimagined, the partnership that combines the resources of Hennepin Theatre Trust with the innovation of Theater Latte Da to create a new interpretation of a familiar Broadway musical. This year's selection is a beloved classic of the American musical theater canon, the 1959 Jule Styne/Stephen Sondheim/Arthur Laurents creation Gypsy, based on the memoir of burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee. Theater Latte Da did this musical almost ten years ago in their old home The Loring Playhouse (only my second Latte Da show, I've seen nearly everything they've done since). Even though two actors reprise their roles, as do the director, music director, and choreographer, this is a different show in a bigger venue. And I'm convinced there is no better venue for this show in the Twin Cities than the beautifully restored Vaudeville theater that is the Pantages, where the historical characters in the play very likely performed nearly 100 years ago. There's a sense of history in this show which, along with Theater Latte Da's usual attention to detail in every aspect of the production, creates a beautiful, realistic, moving look into the world of show business and the quintessential stage mother/daughter relationship. As the song says, let Theater Latte Da entertain you, you will have a real good time, yes sir!

Fringe Festival: "Sex and Sensibility"

 Day: 2

Show: 5

Title: Sex and Sensibility

Category: Comedy

By: The Recovery Party

Written by: Joshua Will

Location: Intermedia Arts

Summary: A dozen or so comedy sketches, most of which are not nearly as risque as the title implies, interspersed with Jane Austen quotes.

Highlights: Not much to say about this one other than it's very funny and very clever. The sketches cover a wide variety of topics, from learning through spontaneous osmosis, to "The Housewives of Isanti County," to an ad for a new drug Limpital (the anti-Viagra), to a kid Jesus complaining that he never gets Christmas presents because his birthday is on Christmas, to perhaps my favorite, an alternate animal alphabet. The cast is great, whether working solo, in duos, or as a group. Highlights include: Dawn Brodey as the bitter bridesmaid, Jim Cunningham sternly reading the alphabet (if you've been to a Twins game in the last 17 years you'll recognize his strong radio voice - he's the "P.A. Guy"), Eriq Nelson as a New York tough answering phones at an Isanti County dairy company, Amy Shomshak serenely reading an alternate version of "Footprints in the Sand," and Joshua Will reciting facts from physics formulas to "The Modern Major General." It's funny, clever, sketch comedy, perhaps like what Saturday Night Live is supposed to be.