Broadway tour of "Back to the Future: The Musical" at the Orpheum Theatre

The 1985 movie Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, was a huge success, spawning two sequels and now, a stage musical. Many years in the making, the musical premiered in London in February 2020 (an unlucky time for theater), and made its way to Broadway last summer. While it didn't win any Tony Awards, it's still running, and the first national tour began this June, with Minneapolis one of its early stops. As a child of the '80s I have a soft spot in my heart for the movie, although I'm not a superfan, and I found the musical to be a ton of nostalgia-wrapped fun. The design seamlessly blends projections with real set pieces to create an almost visceral experience. The musical is performed in a very broad tone and doesn't take itself too seriously, with a few fourth-wall breaking winks at the audience. All of this, plus this fantastic touring cast that is giving their all to the story, make for a really fun night at the theater. Did Back to the Future need to be made into a musical? Maybe not. Is it ground-breaking music-theater? No. But they've tapped into the nostalgia and love for this movie and created something fans, and maybe even those unfamiliar with the movie (if such people exist), will love. Doc, Marty, and the DeLorean will be in town for two weeks, so head to the Orpheum Theatre, buckle your seatbelt, and enjoy the ride! (Click here for the official ticket site.)

Broadway Tour of "SIX" at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

It's only been three years since the six Queens of the smash hit musical SIX have been seen on the Ordway stage, but what a three years it's been! Shortly after the show's month-long run at the Ordway in December of 2019, as part of a US tour, it went to Broadway. Previews began in February of 2020, but before opening night, a global pandemic shuttered Broadway's doors for a very long and unprecedented 18 months. But these Queens are resilient; the show finally opened in October of 2021, just four years after it debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, an unlikely trajectory for a Broadway musical. Nominated for eight Tony Awards and winning two (score and costume design), SIX is still playing on Broadway (and hopefully will for a long time). This year they launched a new tour, which opened at the Ordway this week and continues through November 6. Structured as a pop concert, SIX allows the six wives of Henry VIII to tell their own stories. This musical couldn't have come at a better time, when we're hungry for women's stories, for women to tell their own stories instead of being defined by men, as history has defined these six women by their marriage to a king.  This is the third time I've seen the show, and I only love it more each time. It's so smart, so clever, so modern, so feminist, and so much fun! If you love new, original, innovative music-theater, do not miss this opportunity to see SIX (visit the Ordway website for info and tickets).