"Words Do Move" by Sandbox Theatre at the Crane Theater

Words Do Move. Or in this case, words, music, movement, images, and the combination thereof move. Sandbox Theatre's latest ensemble-created work is a series of poems, stories, songs, and dances about relationships, identity, grief, joy, and life. It is, indeed, moving, as the five-person ensemble and one-person band share their stories and their souls with the audience. Words Do Move is unique and lovely and just over an hour long, all good things, and plays through November 17 at the Crane Theater in Northeast Minneapolis.

"Queens" by Sandbox Theater at Park Square Theatre

Sandbox Theatre has been around for over ten years, but I just "discovered" them two years ago at the Fringe. In those two years I have come to look forward to their shows, which are always new ensemble-created works that combine movement, music, and acting to create something quite unique, sometimes a bit odd, and often lovely. Their newest piece Queens has the smallest cast I've seen - just three actors - but is just as lovely and inventive as their other work. This seemingly simple story of a boy who goes in search of the father he never knew and becomes a boxer, losing himself in the process, is actually much deeper and more layered than it first appears (but I'll let you figure that out for yourself). This group of artists has once again created something unique and special and quietly lovely.