"Tolkien" at Open Window Theatre

Five years ago today, I landed in New Zealand for my second visit to this magical land that I fell in love with (as many of us did) watching Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. A story that I first encountered when my aunt gave me The Hobbit for my 12th birthday. For nearly 40 years I have continued to read and re-read J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece, finding new inspiration in it every time. Open Window Theatre was scheduled to produce the U.S. premiere of Tolkien, by Canadian playwright Ron Reed, shortly after my return from New Zealand in the spring of 2020. We know how that story goes, but happily, they are finally bringing this beautiful story of Tolkien and his friendship with C.S. Lewis to their intimate stage. It's a must-see for fans of Tolkien and/or Lewis, but even if you've never read The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia, you still might enjoy this play about friendship, faith, loss, literature, myth, and inspiration. Tolkien plays weekends through the end of March at Open Window Theatre in Inver Grove Heights.

"The World Over" at Open Window Theatre

It's been almost four years since Open Window Theatre lost their space in Minneapolis due to a conflict with the landlord that resulted in a multi-year lawsuit, which they eventually won. Now they're back in a brand new space in Inver Grove Heights (about ten miles south of St. Paul). They're presenting two shows this spring in what looks like a strip mall in the suburbs, in which they've created a nice space with an intimate theater. The World Over, which opened this weekend and runs through March 15, is a fitting story of overcoming obstacles in pursuit of a singular goal.