"Twelve Kinds of Ice" at Children's Theatre Company

On the day after the first frost of the season, seeing a new musical with a nostalgic view of winter was quite appropriate. There's a chill in the air that makes me look forward to the first snowfall, crisp clear nights, and getting cozy with a warm beverage. That's the feeling invoked by Twelve Kinds of Ice, a world premiere new musical adapted from the children's book by Ellen Bryan Obed, developed by Children's Theatre Company. The book is based on the author's memories of her childhood in Maine, and in the musical adaptation the story is told as a memory play. This is not a big bold musical like you may see on CTC's main stage (e.g., School of Rock next summer), but a quiet, sweet, and beautiful one-hour two-person musical. It may still be spooky season, but Twelve Kinds of Ice reminds us that winter is coming, and celebrates the magic that winter can bring when viewed through the eyes of a child (continuing through November 22).

"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.

"Treasure Island" at Children's Theatre Company

For high stakes adventure on the open sea, head to Children's Theatre Company in South Minneapolis. Their production of Scottish playwright Stuart Paterson's adaptation of the 1883 novel Treasure Island is a high energy tale filled with music, magic, thrilling fight scenes, and admirable heroism. Surprisingly, this was my first experience with the classic tale, having never read the book or seen any of the many movie adaptations. There are a lot of pirates and bad guys to keep track of, but the trajectory of our young hero Jim is clear as he risks life, limb, and reputation to do what's right and stand up to the bullies who will stop at nothing to get what they want. The kind of heroism that seems to be lacking in the real world right now, but maybe Jim will inspire us to be heroes in our own stories. CTC recommends this show for age 8 and up, and I observed some little ones getting a little squirrelly as the story and accents might have gone over their heads, and there's quite a bit of violence, including gunfights and murder. But for the older kids and the grown-ups, this show is treasure indeed.