"Come From Away" at the Guthrie Theater

The documusical Come From Away, about the ordinary people of Gander, Newfoundland who showed us the best of humanity when they took in 7000 people diverted to their airport when the US airspace was closed on 9/11, opened on Broadway in 2017 and ran for five years (give or take a pandemic), and then continuously toured up until last year. Then it was released for regional productions, and it immediately became the most produced play in America. It's a story America needs, it's a story America is hungry for. I was fortunate to attend the meet and greet of the cast, crew, and design team at the Guthrie Theater where director Kent Gash talked about his vision for the show (which you can also read about in the program). He said that while Come From Away is about 9/11, it's about so much more than 9/11, it's about our shared humanity, and the power of storytelling to remind us of that. This production succeeds in that, in a big way. I've seen the Broadway/touring production five times, and can almost picture every scene in my mind. It's a thrill to see a fresh new take on the story with new direction, costumes, and staging, that is familiar to the original but with enough tweaks to make it a unique retelling of this story. Come From Away is a brilliantly written piece of music-theater, one that probably stands up to the many different iterations happening all over the country. But this version, at our own Guthrie Theater, lives up to the material and succeeds on so many levels. It's very funny, and thoroughly engaging, and utterly heart-wrenching. If you need your faith in humanity restored, go see Come From Away at the Guthrie Theater this summer.

"Frozen" at Children's Theatre Company

When the National Tour of the stage adaptation of the hit 2013 Disney movie Frozen came to Minneapolis in the fall of 2021, it was a true celebration of the return to theater after a global pandemic closed all theaters for nearly a year and a half. Now three and a half years later it feels like the pandemic truly is in the past, although today's world is not without its own unique and scary challenges. But now we have Children's Theatre Company's glorious regional premiere of this sisterhood love story to remind us that we can get through hard times if we work together and have an open heart (and door). The movie is beloved by many (expect to see lots of little Elsas, Annas, and Olafs in the crowd), and the thing CTC does best is make the experience the best it possibly can be for the little ones. They present this story with such care, thoughtfulness, passion, and love that it's also a joy for the grown-ups, and will melt even the most frozen of hearts. As the outdoor world continues its slow melt into spring, the world of Arendelle will continue to freeze and thaw and freeze again on the CTC stage through June 15.

"RENT" at Artistry

Whenever someone asks me what my favorite musical is, I usually respond that while there are many musicals I love, only one is permanently tattooed on my body. Ever since it exploded in 1996, when I was a grad student living on my own for the first time, RENT has had a special hold over my heart, unmatched by any of my other musical theater loves. Something about Jonathan Larson's story of friendship, community, living fully in the face of death, and appreciating life every day, struck a chord with me and continues to do so. Seeing Artistry's new production last night was my 18th time seeing it live, and I was reminded all over again why I love it so much. This brilliant cast pouring their hearts and souls into every poignant, funny, heart-breaking, or inspiring moment of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical brought tears to my eyes, frequently. And although I've seen the show many times, the majority of those productions were the Broadway/touring production, which I know like the back of my hand. So it was fun and exciting, as someone who has loved this musical for 28 years (likely longer than some of the cast has been alive), to see a fresh new take on it, and discover new things in it. Whether you've seen RENT a hundred times, or never seen it, you truly need to get yourself out to Bloomington to experience this wonderful new production. No day but today to get your tickets! (Continuing through October 27.)

"Jersey Boys" at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

Jersey Boys is my musical theater guilty pleasure, and the exception that proves the rule about jukebox musicals. Meaning, I'm not usually a fan of taking popular hit songs and creating a musical around them; I much prefer new original musical theater. Except for Jersey Boys, which I can't help but love and see nearly every time the Broadway tour came to town (four, although I missed last year's tour). After running for over 11 years, the Tony-winning musical closed on Broadway in 2017, but continued to tour the country for several more years. The reason I love it is not just because of the fantastically catchy music of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the sharp choreography, and the retro fashions. But also because all of this is put together very smartly in the true story of the group, dealing with the good and the bad of fame and living in the music industry.* Leave it to Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's Artistic Director Michael Brindisi to snap up the rights to the show as soon as it became available for regional productions, making this their second regional premiere this year, after the super fun and heart-warming The Prom (which closed just a week before Jersey Boys began performances). It's great fun to see a different take on this show that I love and am so familiar with. As always, the Chan delivers a top-notch production of this musical that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser (but one with substance) for the next eight months (click here for info and tickets).

"Little Women: The Broadway Musical" at Artistry

After cancelling their originally scheduled opening weekend due to a positive COVID test in the vaccinated cast (statistically speaking, this was bound to happen somewhere amongst the many shows in production right now, even with a low breakthrough rate), Artistry finally opened their production of Little Women: The Broadway Musical. Louisa May Alcott's classic story of four very different but loving sisters has stood the test of time and many adaptations. While this is not my favorite adaptation of the story, it's still a heart-warming tale, and the talented cast and creative team make the most of the material.

"Be More Chill" by Minneapolis Musical Theatre at Illusion Theater

Something strange and exciting is happening at Illusion Theater on the 8th floor of the Hennepin Center for the Arts in downtown Minneapolis. Young people, teenagers even, are going to the theater. And having a great time! As a theater-goer in my '40s, I often find myself the youngest person in the room (especially at a Sunday matinee). Theater audiences skew older, whether for financial reasons, or because of the theater that's being offered, or because young people simply don't think theater is cool. But Minneapolis Musical Theatre seems to have cracked that audience with their latest show Be More Chill, which just completed the 3rd of its four-week run. It's set in a modern day high school, with characters that feel real, even if the situation is fantastical. The good news is even those of us many years removed from our HS days will be delighted by this energetic, exciting, entrancing new musical. Just three more shows remain!