Broadway tour of "Parade" at the Orpheum Theatre

Last night, the National Tour of the 2023 Tony winner for best revival of a musical opened right here in Minneapolis. Parade premiered on Broadway in 1998 and ran for only three months, but won the Tony for score (Jason Robert Brown, his first of two Tonys, the second for The Bridges of Madison County) and book (playwright Alfred Uhry, who won the Pulitzer Prize for Driving Miss Daisy). Almost 25 years later it was revived in a stunning and devastating production that I was fortunate to see.* I'm so glad that it's going on tour, because this is a story that America needs to see right now. Unfortunately, this very American story of antisemitism, racism, otherism, corruption in the judicial and political systems, fearmongering, mob violence, and media distortion of the facts only gets more relevant with each passing day. Heavy subject for a musical? Yes, but not all musicals need to be light and happy. In fact the best ones delve into heavy issues and shed light on the dark places of our past and present, and do it with gorgeous music that evokes the emotions of the story better than a history book or even a play ever could. Twin Cities theater-goers should feel honored to be the first ones in the country to experience this brilliant production, and if you're a fan of meaningful and relevant music-theater that's also beautiful to watch and listen to, go see Parade (through Sunday only - click here for info and tickets, including group sales and student/educator rush).

"Into the Woods" at the Guthrie Theater

Six years after their stunning production of Sunday in the Park with George, the Guthrie Theater is returning to Sondheim with Into the Woods. It's probably his most frequently produced work; I've seen it eight times now, all local productions in the last 12 years. Based on familiar fairy tales, it's also perhaps the most accessible. But once you're drawn in by the familiar stories, you find that it's surprisingly complex, with themes of good and evil, right and wrong, the consequences of choices, self-interest vs. the common good, and what happens when the fairy tale subsides to reality. It also contains some of Sondheim's most playfully clever lyrics ("while her withers wither with her") and singable melodies (the most famous songs being "Children Will Listen" and "No One is Alone"). For this production, the Guthrie has enlisted Sarna Lapine as director, niece of book writer and original director James Lapine, who obviously has a deep connection to the piece. Her direction is smart, clear, and playful, and the mostly local cast is a joy to watch. Whether you've gone Into the Woods a dozen times, or this is your first time, this production makes it well worth another journey.