"Twelve Angry Men" at Lyric Arts

The last time I saw Twelve Angry Men, the men were singing. That was Theater Latte Da's world premiere musical adaptation of the classic American story, which began as an episode of a TV show, before being adapted into a stage play and movie. I've actually only seen the non-singing version once, 20 years ago (and have never seen the movie, natch), so I was eager to revisit it at Lyric Arts. I knew from Latte Da's 2022 musical that, despite being written 70 years ago, this piece still has lots to say about today's world, but I was still struck by how timely and relevant this play feels now. In just 90 minutes, it explores ideas of justice, and injustice, race, class, privilege, anti-immigrant sentiment, masculinity, communication, and empathy. This is a really tight production with a fantastic 13-person cast (12 jurors + 1 bailiff), on a gorgeous 1950s jury room set. Twelve Angry Men is a classic for a reason - thought-provoking, relevant, intellectually engaging, and even funny at times. See it on Lyric Arts' Main Street Anoka stage now through November 1 (just be careful to avoid the Halloween celebrations in the Halloween capital of the world!).

"The Lamentable Tragedie of Titus Andronicus" by The Birth Play Project at The Black Forest Inn

The Birth Play Project's latest Shakespearean adaptation in their mission to "place reproductive stories in public memory" is his bloodiest and most brutal play, The Lamentable Tragedie of Titus Andronicus, believed to be the first tragedy he wrote. This play is so rarely done that this theater blogger, who tries to see everything that #TCTheater has to offer, has only seen it once, and that was a one-hour Fringe version. So to my knowledge this is the first full production of Titus Adronicus in at least the last 15 years of #TCTheater. Why did they choose this play, and what does it have to do with birth? It all makes sense when you see it. Like in their production of Measure for Measure, they bring the off-stage birth on stage, in this story that is at least in part about a mother's search for vengeance for her murdered child(ren). But as director Zillah Glory Langsjøen said in her pre-show speech, this production of Titus Andronicus is not a revenge play, but a grief and a grievance play. A play about the potential for healing after tragedy, trauma, and violence, something that resonates deeply with this community in this space, mere feet from where Alex Pretti was murdered six months ago. It's playing through August 1 only, and space is limited, so don't wait too long to get tickets.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Modern Rep

I can't remember when I've had so much fun experiencing Shakespeare. #TCTheater artist Grant Sorenson's new company Modern Rep bills the experience thusly: "Shakespeare's most overdone comedy gets a radical new production that explodes Original Practice all-male casting into something messy, sexy, and very gay. Performed by six dynamic actors, this Midsummer Night's Dream embraces the dark, twisted, and unsettling aspects of Shakespeare's original text, served up in a flamboyant and unexpectedly queer way." Mission accomplished! When you think about it, Midsummer features fairies, ample romantic banter including double entendres, a character named Bottom, an ass, and lots of talk about a hole. It was just begging to be turned into a gay fantasia! And this production delivers in the most clever and joyful way. It's definitely the sexiest Shakespeare I've ever seen, and the gayest Shakespeare I've ever seen, in the best possible way. It's a joyful celebration to begin Pride month that flies in the face of anyone who dares to say that queer people don't deserve all of the fullness and legality of life as a citizen of this country, as a resident of this planet. And as a piece of theater, this Midsummer is so modern and forward-thinking. I don't worry about the state of theater as long as there are artists making inventive, outside-the-box, wholly engaging theater in sweaty little loading docks in the North Loop (continuing through June 20).

Reading of "John Proctor is the Villain" by Table/Read at Aster House

I attended the inaugural Table/Read event last August, #TCTheater artist Grant Sorenson's new series in which a group of talented local actors read a play. The fun part is - the play is not announced until literally seconds before the reading begins. Grant has chosen plays that we have not seen here in the Twin Cities before, so it's a great way to be exposed to new plays that may not be produced here, at least anytime soon. And it's so rare that I go to the theater not knowing anything about what I'm about to see, even the title, that it's a fun surprise. Table/Read happens monthly, but I'm so busy during the theater season that I typically need my Monday nights off, so I haven't been able to go back until this month, when things are still a little quiet as we come back from holiday break. I picked a good night to attend Table/Read; the play was the buzzy recent Tony-nominated play John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower, soon to be adapted into a film. Visit Table/Read's website or follow them on social media for news of February's event. And don't miss Grant directing the first #TCTheater professional production of Oscar Wilde's Salomé in February.