"Joyful Noise" by Bucket Brigade at Art House North

The play with music Joyful Noise tells the story of the creation of Handel's Messiah, "one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music." Who knew there was so much scandal and controversy in the creation of this beloved work which, even if you don't think you know it, you will recognize. Affairs, censorship, rivalries, disagreements between the creators, all threatened to derail this project. Playwright Tim Slover has compiled these stories into some funny and entertaining historical fiction, brought to life but a great cast at Bucket Brigade, even if it does feel a bit too long (the free coffee at intermission helps). See it at the charming and intimate Art House North through May 10.

"'Til Death" by Bucket Brigade at Art House North

Bucket Brigade's original "marriage musical" 'Til Death returns for its 13th season! This was my 5th time seeing the show (counting a virtual version during the pandemic), and I was happy to spend a little time with old friends. Written by Bucket Brigade's married co-founders Vanessa and Jeremiah Gamble, and starring them and another married couple of #TCTheater artists (Anna and Damian Leverett whom I saw, alternating with Stephanie and Nathan Cousins) it's silly and sweet, over-the-top yet grounded in the reality of relationships. And while it would be (and has been) a perfect 90-minute-no-intermission show if not for the intermission, when they give me a cupcake and host a mini-concert* during said intermission, I'll allow it. 'Til Death plays Fridays and Saturdays through February 15 (plus one Monday night pay-as-you're-able performance featuring the full cast) at the charming and cozy Art House North in St. Paul's West 7th neighborhood, with two great restaurants within walking distance - Mucci's Italian and A-Side Public House (tip: make reservations).

"Survivors of the Fire" by Bucket Brigade at Art House North

I love a new original historical musical, and Bucket Brigade's Survivors of the Fire is a good one. The stories of the survivors of the Great Hinckley Fire of 1894 are told in a compelling way using songs (mostly hymns and traditional songs), physical theater, and storytelling. It's only 75 minutes long but it feels epic, like we've gone on this journey from booming lumber town, to the unimaginable terror of a firestorm with a four-mile high wall of fire and temperatures of 2000 degrees, to the grief of loss and hope of rebuilding that came after. The seven-person cast embodies the real people who survived the fire, and their acts of humanity and heroism. Their performances, along with a four-person band playing well-chosen songs, and the spot-on sound and lighting design, combine to create a visceral experience of the fire and the people who lived through it. A musical brings the story to life in a way a museum or book never could (although I will now be visiting the museum and reading a book to learn more). Experience it yourself at the charming Art House North in St. Paul's West 7th neighborhood, weekends through October 12 (pro tip: make a reservation if you want to go to one of the trendy nearby restaurants).

"'Til Death" by Bucket Brigade at Art House North

For over ten years, Bucket Brigade has been presenting their original "marriage musical" 'Til Death around this time of the year (including a virtual version during the pandemic). It's an endearing little show about love, life, and relationships, both the challenges and the rewards. With the added feature that the two married couples in the show are played by two real-life married couples, adding a level of realism. Creators Vanessa and Jeremiah Gamble play the long-married couple, and two couples take turns playing the young newlyweds - Anna and Damian Leverett, and Stephanie and Nathan Cousins (I saw the Leveretts, with Anna's pregnancy adding a fun twist). They've brought in a new director this year, Craig Johnson, for a fresh eye, but the show remains largely unchanged, except for one improvement - they've removed the intermission, which makes it a perfect 90-minute show. Get there early to find street parking on the icy St. Paul streets, to eat a delicious cupcake from local bakery Bake Bread (included in the price of admission), and to enjoy a pre-show concert of love songs.

"‘Til Death: A Marriage Musical: The Livestream!" by Bucket Brigade Theater

Bucket Brigade Theater premiered their new original musical 'Til Death, written by and starring co-founders Jeremiah and Vanessa Gamble, in 2012. They've presented it at Art House North in St. Paul's West 7th neighborhood since 2015 for Valentine's Day. This year, they've turned it into a concert version, streamed live from Art House North into your house! I've seen the musical twice in the past before watching the premiere of the livestream last night, and I'm truly impressed at how the charm, silliness, and heart of the piece has translated into the virtual space. And it's about as close to live theater as we can get these day. Only four more performances remain - one tonight and three next weekend (click here for more details).

"A Cattywampus Christmas" - a radio play from Yellow Tree Theatre and A.D. Players at the George Theatre

2020 has been a year like no other. But one thing remains the same - fans of Yellow Tree Theatre can return to the charming and quirky (fictional) Minnesota town of Christmas Lake. Co-Founder and Interim Artistic Director Jessica Lind Peterson has written another very Minnesotan holiday* comedy, this one as an audio play, which I listened to whilst putting up my Christmas tree. For those of us who have grown to love Christmas Lake resident Martha Knutson and her tater tot hot dish, her pet lizard Katherine, and her obsession with Little House on the Prairie, listening to A Cattywampus Christmas feels like going home for the holidays.

"'Til Death" by Bucket Brigade at Art House North

In 2012, Bucket Brigade premiered their new original musical 'Til Death. The funny yet poignant examination of marriage has become an annual event, with creators Vanessa and Jeremiah Gamble playing a separated couple on their 15th anniversary, and a #TCTheater married couple playing the honeymooners they encounter at a secluded cabin in the mountains. This is my second time seeing the show in the charming renovated church known as Art House North in St. Paul's 7th Street neighborhood. It's very funny (a little more over the top than I remember), and relatable even if you're not among the good and crazy married people. And even though it would play nicely as an intermissionless 90-minute musical, the delicious cupcakes and coffee served at intermission (included in the price of admission) in the cute church basement lobby, accompanied by live music, makes for a festive evening.

"Life Goes On" by Bucket Brigade at Art House North

New original musicals are my favorite thing, and a thing that's becoming more rare in the age of movie adaptations and jukebox musicals on Broadway. Fortunately we can look to #TCTheater for the remedy, including local company Bucket Brigade. They seem to love new original musicals as much as I do; they've created several, the most recent being Life Goes On, now playing at the charming Art House North in St. Paul's West 7th neighborhood. It's a beautiful story of grief, forgiveness, connection, love, and family. Told in 90 minutes with a cast of six and a three-piece band in a former church space, it's an intimate experience that's engaging and moving, and if you've lost someone (who hasn't?), could also be painful and/or cathartic. As I've been saying a lot lately, #bringtissues (maybe it's just me!) when you go to see this lovely and real new musical.

"Sam's Son" by Bucket Brigade at Art House North

A new original musical is just about my favorite thing in the world, so the new musical Sam's Son by Bucket Brigade, a company that specializes in new work whose work I've enjoyed in the past, was on my must-see list in this busy #TCTheater October. Performed in the intimate, immersive space that is Art House North, I was not disappointed and found it to be a highly entertaining evening (complete with free intermission treats - root beer and a pretzel). While the plot points may be a bit cliche and predictable, the story is well told by the talented cast, with a fantastic original score tinged with gospel, bluegrass, and old-timey feel while still sounding like a modern musical. It's such a treat to see new work that is locally created (written by Bucket Brigade co-founders Vanessa and Jeremiah Gamble, and developed in part through Nautilus' "Rough Cuts" program) and showcases local talent in an intimate setting.

"Kingdom Undone" by Bucket Brigade at Art House North

"Tale as old as time" may be a lyric from Beauty and the Beast (now receiving beautiful treatment on the main stage at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres), but the story of Jesus is truly a tale as old as time. Quite literally, as the life and death of Jesus is the event against which we in the Western part of the world measure time. It's a powerful story of love and sacrifice, one that has inspired world-changing movements, both good and bad. Bucket Brigade (whose founders Jeremiah and Vanessa Gamble also helm Theater for the Thirsty) is bringing back their modern, passionate, musical take on the passion play.  I saw Kingdom Undone at the Southern Theater three years ago and was moved by the story. This year's version features some cast changes and a new venue - Bucket Brigade's home theater space Art House North. The story feels less epic than it did at the Southern, but more intimate, as characters make frequent use of the aisles so that the music and story surround you in the former church space. I'm not sure if the play would appeal to people not from a Christian background, but for those who are, it offers a moving and modern take on the familiar tale.

"'Til Death" by Bucket Brigade at Art House North

On the heels of seeing a new original locally created musical about dating, I went to see a new original locally created musical about marriage. It must be (almost) February. But even though 'Til Death is written by a married couple, stars two married couples, and is directed/music directed by a married couple, you don't have to be married to enjoy it. It's a charming, silly, funny, and at times poignant musical comedy about life and relationships.

Vanessa and Jeremiah Gamble are co-Artistic Directors of Bucket Brigade, and co-wrote 'Til Death as a way to "take an inward look at our own struggles of trying to practice forgiveness and live out a committed relationship."

"The Cubicle" by Bucket Brigade at Art House North

I've spent the better part of the last 16 years working in a cubicle, until I lucked into a job that allows me to work from home most of the time. I don't miss the daily grind of fighting traffic, making small talk with coworkers, and worst of all - spending the majority of your waking hours sitting in a small sterile box. The new-ish theater company Bucket Brigade is reprising their 2005 Fringe show The Cubicle (the company may be new to the scene but the players are not) at their new home Art House North - an old church in St. Paul's West End neighborhood that has been converted to a theater and art space. While the show pokes fun at the office life, it also goes a little deeper than just jokes about coffee and deadlines. It's part office comedy, part existential crisis, and part physical and dance-like representation of the daily grind.

The Cubicle was created and is performed by Jeremiah Gamble (Bucket Brigade Artistic Director) and Corey Mills, with direction by Matthew Greseth. Jeremiah and Corey play two employees of Gigasoft Software, a giant software company started by a man named Bill Jobs. The stage is bare except for two three-sided cubicles on wheels, which they cleverly arrange to represent not just cubicles, but also cars, an elevator, treadmills, a stroller, and even a pulpit. It's like an office ballet, and it's obvious that the two actors have spend a lot of time with this piece in the easy and graceful way they move around the space with cubicles and chairs.

Corey Mills and Jeremiah Gamble

All of the rituals of office life are parodied as we follow these two characters through one week of their work lives. Monday progresses to Fridays and the routines (and employees) become increasingly harried and rushed. We also begin to peek inside the lives of these two "work friends," whose conversations never go much deeper than "how's the family?" and "fine." They both have more going on in their out-of-the-office lives that they're reluctant to share over coffee in the break room. One is dealing with a strained marriage, the other with a sick father and a brother in prison. We follow each of them into their individual lives, and meet some of the people in their lives (both actors play multiple characters, differentiated by a small change in wardrobe, an accent, or a different physicality). Events culminate on the weekend, and at least one of our characters learns that perhaps life is more than just traffic and coffee breaks.

One of the fun things about the show is the inventiveness they use to represent the different parts of daily life, which is enhanced by Jeremiah's sound design (complete with elevator music and daily announcements) and Courtney Schmitz's lighting design (I was impressed with the flexibility and variety achieved in this non-traditional theater space). This office world is so engrossing that the intermission only servers to interrupt the flow, and doesn't seem necessary with the short running time.

Unfortunately, I got to this one late - it closes this Saturday! If you're looking for something to do tonight or tomorrow, head to this unique St. Paul theater space to see an inventive, funny, and poignant little play about life inside and outside the office. (See the Bucket Brigade website for more info.)

"Next to Normal" at Yellow Tree Theatre

"I don't need a life that's normal, that's way too far away. But something next to normal would be OK. Yes something next to normal, that's the thing I'd like to try. Close enough to normal to get by." This sentiment is at the heart of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical Next to Normal, which tells the story of a family dealing with mental illness and grief. Despite their issues, which are many, they're bound together by love as they struggle to get through each day. It's a deeply emotional and poignant story, and a universal human one. Even if your life hasn't been affected by mental illness, at its heart the show is really about the struggle to live your life, keep your family together, and be happy even in the midst of tragedy. Perhaps that's why I love it; it's a brilliant example of how the art form of musical theater can do something profound as well as entertaining. Even though this was my 6th time seeing the show (including twice on Broadway, once on tour at the Ordway, and local productions at Mixed Blood and BCT), I've never seen it quite like this. Yellow Tree Theatre chose it as the final show of their 7th season in their cozy space in an Osseo strip mall. The intimacy of the space brings you right into the Goodman family's life in a way that's not possible in a larger theater. The fantastic and well-matched cast brings out every emotion in the Tony winning score, under the direction of Ben McGovern in his Yellow Tree debut. This is the kind of show that's an experience; you don't just watch the show, you're immersed in it and taken on a journey. It's a difficult ride at times, and may leave you feeling emotionally exhausted, but it's a beautiful and rewarding experience.

Next to Normal tells the story of what at first appears to be a "normal" American family, until the cracks begin to show. Diana and her husband Dan married young and started a family. They suffered a great tragedy that triggered Diana's bipolar disorder, which she's been dealing with for years. Everyone in the family suffers in their own way. Dan has to be the strong one as Diana falls apart, and therefore never gets the chance to deal with his own feelings about what happened. Their children, Gabe and Natalie, live in the shadow of the tragedy and are trying to deal with it on top of the normal problems that come with adolescence. Natalie's afraid that she'll follow in her mother's footsteps, and Diana's unable to be the mother that she wants to be. Diana hits rock bottom and undergoes ECT, aka shock therapy. It erases her memories, both the good and the bad, and she struggles to get her life and family back. Eventually they learn that there is no such thing as a "normal" family; all families look different and are dealing with their own unique issues, both big and small. The Goodmans struggle to find a way to get through theirs, and show us just what is possible with love.

Diana and Dan
(Jessica Lind Peterson and Jeremiah Gamble,
photo by Michal Daniel)

Yellow Tree co-founder Jessica Lind Peterson returns to the stage after a couple years absence in the role of Diana. Perhaps she was saving up all her vocal and emotional strength to pour into this intense role, and it worked. Her voice sounds as lovely as always, almost too lovely for this anguished woman, as she portrays Diana's highs and lows, her confusion, despair, loss, and hope. She's well-matched by Jeremiah Gamble as Dan, who gives a strong and heartbreaking performance as the caregiver who finally lets himself fall apart. As Natalie, Libby Anderson is a young powerhouse whom I look forward to seeing more of on stage, with a voice that's strong and clear and a charismatic stage presence. Lucas Wells plays the family's enigmatic son with energy and passion as he climbs around the two-level set. Grant Sorenson brings a sweetness to the role of Natalie's boyfriend Henry that makes this a couple to root for. Andy Frye makes the most of the supporting roles of Diana's doctors, and has a bit of fun with her rock star fantasies. With a small cast musical like this you need a group of actors that work and play well together, and feel like a family. Yellow Tree has accomplished that with this cast.

the cast of Next to Normal (photo by Michal Daniel)

The original Broadway set had three levels, and every production I've seen makes uses of multiple levels in some way. Yellow Tree has adapted this idea well to their small space, with an upper level that spans the back wall of the theater above the small thrust stage. The set is sparse and modern with minimal props or set pieces, just a judiciously used table and chairs (set by Eli Schlatter). There's not a lot of warmth in this home, which suits what the family is going through. The band (directed by Kyle Picha) is barely visible in the back of the stage behind a screen (they had to knock out a wall to make room for it!). And they sound great performing this fantastic score. Have I mentioned this is a rock musical? The driving score powers us through the story and never lets up, although it also has some lovely quiet moments. As several of my companions mentioned, music can take you places emotionally that mere words cannot, and this music beautifully brings out every varied and complicated emotion of the story.

If you haven't yet ventured out to Osseo to visit Yellow Tree Theatre, well, you're just not paying attention. They've always done great work but are really stepping up their game lately as they continue to challenge their audience and bring in top talent from around the Twin Cities. Next season is sure to be a continuation of this trend as they tackle some more intense pieces, including the Tony winning play Clybourne Park, and another one of my favorite musicals, the lovely and inspiring journey of Violet. But first, don't miss this beautifully heartbreaking production of one of the best musicals of this century. Tickets are selling fast but they have added a few performances, so get to the website or call the box office and snatch them up before they're gone!

"Fair Game" at Yellow Tree Theatre

This is another late viewing of a local show due to my week-long NYC trip. Unfortunately Yellow Tree Theatre's new original play Fair Game (written by Theater for the Thirsty's Jeremiah Gamble) closes this weekend, but if you happen to be free and are looking for a cute, fun, and very Minnesota play, this is the one for you! There's nothing too deep or thought-provoking about this story of a fictional reality show that puts five Minnesotans in an ice house for the duration of the State Fair, but it's clever and entertaining with a great small cast that is obviously having as much fun as the audience.

The play begins with a voiceover, in which we learn about the five contestants of Fair Game, a radio and online reality show which awards $50,000 to the person with the most tickets by the end of their stay in the small but cozy ice house (this is not nearly enough money to get me to spend twelve days trapped in a small space with four strangers!). There's tough-talking working class Desi from a small town outstate (Bonni Allen, with a perfect rural Minnesota accent), her high school frenemy Brenda, a yogi from the suburbs whose life is not as perfect as it seems (Vanessa Gamble, bringing some heart and soul to the comedy), Rea, a spoiled teenager from Edina (the delightful Tara Borman), Zander, a thoughtful post-grad whose grand ideas of making the world a better place are put to the test (Nathan Cousins, transforming from sweet and sincere to ruthless and fed up), and typical Minnesota farmer Elden, who needs the money to care for his sick wife (an appropriately grumpy Peter Simmons). As in most reality shows, personalities clash and alliances form as the five compete in various tests for prizes and more of the coveted tickets, which must be spent for bathroom privileges, food, and water. Contestants scam, scheme, argue, and have heartfelt conversations. Not much else happens, and things are wrapped up a little too neatly at the end. But I was happy to spend a few hours with these quirky characters well-portrayed by the cast under the direction Kurt Schweickhardt, making his directing debut after starring in last year's excellent Circle Mirror Transformation. In fact I see some similarities between that play and this; both feature five people forced to spend time together, during which much is brought to light about their lives and relationships.

As always, Yellow Tree makes the most of their small performance space. Scenic Designer Katie Phillips has created a darling little ice house with bunks, bench, table, and biffy with walls that the audience (although not the characters) can see through. I would happily spend twelve days in this tight little cabin (although without the annoying reality show contestants). The cast fills out this space well, and during a clever montage of freeze-frame scenes (like the one pictured here), we witness the passage of time and some of the silly tests and prizes (a corn dog!).

As I'm sure is obvious, I'm a big fan of Yellow Tree Theatre and the community that its founders Jessica and Jason Peterson have created in a strip mall in Osseo. They make smart choices in plays, balancing more traditional works with plays that challenge their audience and new works such as this, many of which highlight our beloved state of Minnesota. If you can't make it to Osseo this weekend, don't worry, you'll have another chance to experience their unique brand of theater with The 39 Steps, opening at the end of the month. I've seen it a few times, and called it "a wild, zany, fun ride." Another great choice, and I can't wait to see what they do with it!

"Kingdom Undone" by Theater for the Thirsty at Southern Theater

Kingdom Undone is a new passion play - a dramatization of the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth, the pivotal event in the Christian tradition. It's a familiar story to those of us who grew up in the tradition (and a timely one, as many are celebrating Easter this weekend). Kingdom Undone stays true to that tradition, but this new adaptation by Jeremiah Gamble feels fresh and modern, with moments of humor, music (written by husband and wife team Jeremiah and Vanessa Gamble, aka Theater for the Thirsty), and a lighter touch, despite the obvious darkness in the story. I found it to be entertaining and well done; it moved even this neo-Pagan-Unitarian-Universalist-Yogi. It's a powerful story; there's a reason that it has moved many over the centuries and inspired a movement. It's also a story that has been contorted, abused, and used, but when it serves to inspire, uplift, and perhaps help one to be a better and kinder person, that's when the story is at its best.

When I saw the promotional materials for Kingdom Undone (it premiered last year, with the current remount ending this weekend), I assumed that the central figure in the image was Jesus. Not so, it's Dustin Bronson's very charismatic and sympathetic Judas, infamous as the man who betrayed his teacher for 40 pieces of silver. This play, in a way, is the story of Judas and his relationship with Jesus and his teachings. Unfortunately he has a very literal interpretation of Jesus' stories about the coming of a kingdom. One wishes someone would play the part of Nabalungi's friend in that other great theater piece about faith, The Book of Mormon, who tells her "it's a metaphor, we're not really going to Salt Lake City." But Judas believes that Jesus will literally call down armies of angels to overthrow the Romans, and thinks that he's playing his part in the plan when he turns Jesus over to be tried, and eventually crucified. He's devastated when he realizes that this is no political game.

Highlights of the show include:

• The creators of the piece also play central roles. Jeremiah plays Jesus as a calm, loving, and somewhat conflicted leader. Vanessa is Magdalena, a spirited and loyal follower, and lends her beautiful voice to the music (see also I am Anne Frank). Janet Hanson plays Mary, mother of Jesus, as a spunky redhead, a very human woman in a nice contrast to that untouchable otherwordly image often seen. She lets out a gut-wrenching, primal scream at the death of her son that cuts right to the heart. Nicholas Leeman provides some comic relief as the good-natured but slightly clueless disciple James. The rest of the large ensemble ably fill in all the roles in the story, from followers to soldiers.
• The music is great and is used sparingly to add to the story (this isn't Jesus the musical, that's already been done). I especially liked the hopeful opening number, which was repeated at the end. Michael Pearce Donley directs the five-piece band, which includes an upright bass and violin, and sounds lovely. There's some nice choreography, both fighting and dancing. Especially lovely is when an angel (Kelli Warder) visits Jesus in his darkest hour and physically and spiritually lifts him up.
• The stage at the Southern looks gorgeous, as usual. It's a perfect setting for this story, regal and historic, filled with colored lanterns and brightly patterned fabric, like the amazing technicolor dreamcurtain (set design by Jeremy Barnett). The costumes (by Nadine Grant) are a shabby-chic mix of modern and ancient. Audience member seated on the floor of the stage looked, to my vantage point in the theater seats, like a part of the story - more followers or citizens of Jerusalem witnessing the events of the story.

Kingdom Undone is a well-done new adaptation of a familiar story, one that's well-acted, colorful, musical, and uplifting.