"The Wizard of Oz" at Children's Theatre Company

Children's Theatre Company is returning to The Wizard of Oz, one of the classic adaptations in their repertoire, but one they haven't done in over ten years. This production features brand new design and direction, and a mostly new cast (with the exception of returning company members, because why mess with perfection?). For those of us who grew up with the 1939 Judy Garland movie version of Frank L. Baum's novel (the first in a series of 14 books), it feels nostalgic and familiar, like the beloved movie live and in 3D. From the display of the credits at the beginning of the show, to the tornado sequences, it feels very cinematic. This adaptation (by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company) hews very close to the original movie, and all of the songs are from the movie, with no attempts to make it anything different from the story we know and love, just brighter and more full of life. The Wizard of Oz continues at CTC through June 14, recommended for the young, the young at heart, and those who want to feel young again. Keep reading for highlights of this production.

"Waitress" at Artistry

I've been waiting for the #TCTheater premiere of the Tony nominated musical Waitress since I first saw it on tour in 2017. I'm a big fan of the quirky little 2007 movie of the same name upon which it was based (written by and co-starring Adrienne Shelly, who was tragically murdered before its release). When I saw the tour at the Orpheum Theatre, and later the Ordway, I found the musical adaptation to be a successful one, but one with an intimate story that would probably play better on smaller and more intimate stages. The regional premiere is finally here, and I was right! Artistry's production does feel more real and intimate and heart-wrenching, and so beautifully done that I wish I had time to go back and see it again. Go see this all-star cast in Waitress at Bloomington Center for the Arts now through May 11, they'll rip your heart out and make you laugh.

"Irving Berlin's White Christmas" at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

It may still feel like summer outside, but winter has arrived at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres! The #TCTheater holiday* season begins early this year with their production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, a nostalgic and heartwarming charmer. And demand for it is high - the show is already virtually sold out in the months of November and December (more availability in October and January). Audiences will be rewarded will a ridiculously talented cast, familiar and beloved Berlin tunes (more than we hear in the movie), thrilling dance numbers, and an overall warm glow that'll prepare us for holiday celebrations and (hopefully) a snowy winter to come.

"Once Upon a Time... Josephine Baker!" at Yellow Tree Theatre

In the new play with music Once Upon a Time... Josephine Baker! at Yellow Tree Theatre, written by and starring Artistic Director Austene Van, we get an overview of the fascinating life of Josephine Baker. It plays out like a dream, which leads to more curiosity about this inspiring and ground-breaking woman, who left the racism of America behind to become a star in Paris in the early 20th Century, while still continuing to fight for Civil Rights. This production gives us a glimpse into her difficult childhood, her many marriages, her work as a spy during WWII, her talent, and the human behind the legend. See it in Osseo Wednesdays through Sundays until June 30.

"The Prom" at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

This late winter/early spring, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is bringing us the regional premiere of a new original modern-day Broadway musical, a bit of a step outside their comfort zone of classics and retro pieces (like the recent '80s-set Footloose, which ran for a full year). But what a great and exciting choice The Prom is - a musical that’s all about love, inclusion, acceptance, friendship, community, and seeing the goodness and worth of all humans regardless of who they are or whom they love. It's a beautiful and necessary message, with recent threats to LGBTQ+ and transgender rights. The Prom shows is that we all belong, we all deserve to go to the prom exactly as we are, we all deserve to love whom we chose to love, be who we truly are, and be happy. That's not so radical, is it? Despite the modern message, The Prom is in many ways an old-fashioned classic musical, with big dance numbers, broad comedy, Broadway references, and a fantastic and mostly upbeat score that'll send you out into the cold singing, with a heart warmed from this beautiful story. But unlike many of their open-ended shows, this one has an end date - June 10. So don't wait too long to get your tickets and head out to the Western suburbs for this super fun and heart-warming show. Click here for info and tickets, and keep reading for information on discount tickets at the end of this post.

"A Play by Barb and Carl" by Illusion Theater at the Center for Performing Arts

Illusion Theater is returning to live performances and christening their new space with a new play by Carlyle Brown, Playwrights' Center Core Writer and playwright in residence with Illusion. You've likely seen a play or three by this prolific local playwright at any number of theaters around town, but I venture to say that A Play by Barb and Carl is his most personal. In it, he and his wife and dramaturg Barbara Rose Brown tell the story of their marriage, and how it was affected by Barb's stroke which left her unable to speak. It's an incredibly moving and poignant story, well and succinctly told in just 70 minutes, with raw and real performances by the cast. You can see it at the newly expanded Center for Performing Arts in South Minneapolis through the end of the month (click here for info and tickets).

"Annie" at Children's Theatre Company

A healthy dose of optimism is exactly what I needed last Friday night, when it seems like coming out of this pandemic is one step forward and two steps back, on top of all of the other problems the world is facing right now. And optimism is exactly what Children's Theatre Company's production of Annie delivers, in spades. Ten years later, they're remounting their 2011 production with most of the creative team and even some of the cast returning. It's the first live performance at CTC since their original play Spamtown, USA closed early due to the pandemic 20 months ago, and it's a joyous return. Despite being written in the '70s and taking place in the '30s, Annie clearly resonates with 2021. People living in poverty struggling to survive while others live on "Easy Street," and bad feelings towards a former president who left us with mess to clean up, are stories that could've been pulled from today's headlines. Annie shows us the power of "Little Girls," at a time when we're looking to the younger generations, and women of all ages, to lead us out of today's challenges and into a better "Tomorrow."