Camelot - TCTB Review Roundup

Have you seen Chanhassen Dinner Theatres "charming, funny, and touching" production of the classic Lerner and Loewe musical CAMELOT? If not, there's still time! Check out what our bloggers thought of the show, and then get your tickets before it closes February 25!

Play off the Page:
http://bit.ly/play_cam

Cherry and Spoon:
http://bit.ly/cs_play
Twin Cities Stages:
http://bit.ly/stage_cam
Compendium:
http://bit.ly/comp_cam
Talkin' Broadway:
http://bit.ly/talk_cam
Artfully Engaging:
http://bit.ly/art_cam

More info and tickets: http://bit.ly/chan_cam

Photo by Heidi Bohnenkamp.

Public Exposure - TCTB Review Roundup

Market Garden Theatre's new play PUBLIC EXPOSURE has already closed, but we still want to bring this company and playwright Keith Hovis' work to your attention. Laura wrote, "Between the sharp script, no holds barred performances, excellent direction, and the perfect venue, PUBLIC EXPOSURE is likely my favorite show of the year," and Jill called it "a smart new play in a perfectly suited found space with a small cast that was so great and natural I almost felt like I was eavesdropping on a real conversation."

Read the full reviews below, and give their Facebook page a like to keep informed about upcoming work.

One Girl, Two Cities: http://bit.ly/girl_public
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_public
Minnesota Theater Love: http://bit.ly/love_public

The Soul of Gershwin: The Musical Journey of an American Klezmer - TCTB Review Roundup

photo by Petronella J. Ytsma

About Park Square Theatre's THE SOUL OF GERSHWIN: THE MUSICAL JOURNEY OF AN AMERICAN KLEZMER, Play off the Page​ writes, "You don’t want to miss this one. Outside, the temps are in the single digits, but inside the Park Square Theatre you’ll experience the kind of goosebumps that raise your heart rate, heat you up and send shivers down your legs. The musicianship is outstanding." Read the full reviews below and then visit Park Square's website to get your tickets before it closes on December 31: http://bit.ly/pst_gersh.

Cherry and Spoon​: http://bit.ly/cs_gersh
Play off the Page: http://bit.ly/play_gersh
Say Entirely​ No Filter Reviews: http://bit.ly/filter_gersh

The Norwegians - TCTB Review Roundup

On the darker side of the holidays, we have appropriately named Dark & Stormy Productions' hilarious dark comedy THE NORWEGIANS. Cherry and Spoon calls it "a cross between a Prairie Home Companion sketch and an episode of Fargo, with more edge than the former but without the latter's ominous cloud of despair," and One Girl, Two Cities praises the "resplendent performances by a talented cast."

One Girl, Two Cities: http://bit.ly/girl_norw
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_norw

Tickets (playing through December 30): http://bit.ly/ds_norw

White Christmas - TCTB Review Roundup

photo by Rich Ryan

We'll definitely have a white Christmas this year in Minnesota, and we also have a scrumptious local production of the musical adaptation of the iconic movie WHITE CHRISTMAS by the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. Our bloggers wrote:

"The Ordway’s musical version of White Christmas provides everything one could want this time of year including holiday songs, dance, elaborate costumes and SNOW all to help tell a story of giving and love."

"White Christmas is brilliantly cast by mostly local talent, and James Rocco shines as a choreographer. All the dance numbers are exquisitely done, a visual feast of the eyes, exciting, sultry, and delightful. The costumes are absolutely dreamy."

But not all of our bloggers were this enthralled - read the full reviews below to get our varied opinions:

Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_white
PhenoMNal Twin Cities: http://bit.ly/phen_white
Twin Cities Stages: http://bit.ly/stages_white
Minnesota Theater Love: http://bit.ly/love_whitex
Play off the Page: http://bit.ly/play_white
The Room Where It Happens: http://bit.ly/room_white
Say Entirely No Filter Reviews: http://bit.ly/filter_white

Tickets: http://bit.ly/ordway_white

More Holiday Shows - TCTB Review Roundup

Well, friends, it's definitely winter! Our bloggers have a few more holiday theater suggestions for you that are more on the lovely side of the spectrum (as opposed to the wacky ones we've previously shared).

Theater Latte Da's ALL IS CALM at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Pantages Theatre (closing December 18:

"No show will touch your heart more than All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 by Theater Latte Da at the Pantages Theater. Nor will you hear more exquisite music and singing."
Minnesota Theater Love: http://bit.ly/love_calm
Twin Cities Stages: http://bit.ly/stages_calm
Cherry and Spoon (2015): http://bit.ly/cs_calm15

THE LONGEST NIGHT at Open Eye Figure Theatre (closing December 23):"Part science lesson (complete with visual aids), part history, part mystical spirituality, The Longest Night is the loveliest of celebrations of the season."
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_long

Fun Home - TCTB Review Roundup

Several of our bloggers saw the Broadway tour of Fun Home The Musical this week. Despite being only 90 minutes long, this is such a rich and complex musicals that bloggers Laura (Twin Cities Stages), Jill (Cherry and Spoon), and Jules and Carol (Minnesota Theater Love) needed to discuss it. Read their conversation here (http://bit.ly/cs_funtalk) and see all of the blogger reviews at the links below. 

Fun Home continues at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis through Sunday only, so act fast to see this new original Tony winning musical that inspired our discussion.

Interview with Kate Shindle on Broadway World Minneapolis: http://bit.ly/bww_fun
PhenoMNal Twin Cities: http://bit.ly/phen_fun
Cherry and Spoon (Broadway): http://bit.ly/cs_funnyc
Twin Cities Stages: http://bit.ly/stage_fun
Compendium: http://bit.ly/comp_fun
Coffee Talk with Brett: http://bit.ly/coffee_fun

Tickets: http://bit.ly/htt_fun

Holiday Shows - TCTB Review Roundup

Our bloggers have a few more delightful holiday shows for your consideration:

Theater Latte Da's A CHRISTMAS CAROLE PETERSEN through December 23:"The stories are funny and sad and heartwarming, and the music beautiful and cheery. The joy radiating from the stage is contagious."
Minnesota Theater Love: http://bit.ly/love_pete
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_pete

Minneapolis Musical Theatre's THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK CHRISTMAS MUSICAL through December 23:
"TGATPCM is a delightful show for your holiday season. Not for the easily offended--there's a lot of creative swearing--although the characters transcend their stereotypical origins. The cabaret at Camp Bar is the perfect setting for this story about down-to-earth folks celebrating Christmas in their own way."
Minnesota Theater Love: http://bit.ly/love_trailer
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_trailer

Yellow Tree Theatre's A GONE FISHIN' CHRISTMAS through December 31:"A perfect mix of heart and humor wrapped up in local jokes that we love so well, with a talented cast that makes these characters and the sweet and silly story sing."
Cherry and Spoon:http://bit.ly/cs_fishin

Non-Holiday Shows - TCTB Review Roundup

Finding non-holiday theater this time of year can be a challenge, but Cherry and Spoon has a few suggestions. Act fast - all three are closing this weekend!

History Theatre ORPHAN TRAIN: http://bit.ly/cs_orphan
"The wonderful ensemble of seasoned pros and children alike, the excellent folk/Americana score played by a sparse but lovely orchestra, and the moving stories about immigrant orphan children in search of a home is a very affecting combination."

Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE: http://bit.ly/cs_fools
"It's such a beautiful thing to see people of various abilities working together to create art. What Fools is filled with much humor and heart, and a spirit of playfulness often lacking in Shakespeare."

Theatre Coup d'Etat THE CRUCIBLE: http://bit.ly/cs_cruc
"A well executed site-specific, intimate, and sobering production of a classic that's never felt more relevant and necessary."
- Also read Twin Cities Stages' review here: http://bit.ly/stage_cruc

The Lion in Winter - TCTB Review Roundup

photo by Heidi Bohnenkamp

For a not-so-sweet holiday show, may we suggestion Guthrie Theater's THE LION IN WINTER about England's King Henry II and his dysfunctional family Christmas of 1183?

Compendium says, "Do you like castles? Incest? Bloody family feuds? Do you follow Game of Thrones as if it's your actual family? If so, I have the play for you... a lively cast breathing full, contemporary heart into this story that is nearly 1,000 years old."

Read full reviews here:

Compendium: http://bit.ly/comp_lion

Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_lion

Aisle Say Twin Cities: http://bit.ly/aisle_lion

PhenoMNal Twin Cities: http://bit.ly/phen_lion

For more info and to purchase tickets: http://bit.ly/guthrie_lion

Sleeping Beauty in the Wood - TCTB Review Roundup

photo by Chris Holden

"Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who were grieved, more grieved than words can tell, because they had no children." So begins Charles Perrault's SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD and Collective Unconscious's brilliant adaption of the classic fairy tale. This devastatingly beautiful, compassionate, witty, subversive, and exquisitely imagined play about the struggle for human dignity is not playing long (it closes December 11), but if you can get down to the Red Eye Theater in time, go see it. It will blow your mind and break your heart at the same time.
- Talking Broadway (full review here: http://bit.ly/talk_beauty)

It’s not for everyone, certainly; if you cringe at the words “dance” or “movement”, you should probably look elsewhere. But if, like me, you enjoy something a little unusual and fantastical, something that is alternately funny and serious, ridiculous, decadent, and fabulous (and especially if you like something “magical” but aren’t impressed by the season’s offering of Christmas-related shows) — get thee to Red Eye Theater and give yourself over to the magic.
- Compendium (full review here: http://bit.ly/comp_beauty)

A Christmas Carol - TCTB Review Roundup

It just wouldn't be Christmas without The Guthrie Theater annual production of A Christmas Carol! Talkin' Broadway says, "Joe Chvala's elegant, well-wrought, and talent-packed production will no doubt meet every expectation of returning audiences, and it will probably win the hearts of those who are seeing the play for the first time." And Cherry and Spoon says, "In today's current environment when there's so much division among us, so much violence and ugliness, A ChristmasCarol shows us how good humanity can be."

Read the full reviews at the links below and then share your thoughts in the comments.

Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_xmas
PhenoMNal Twin Cities: http://bit.ly/phen_xmas
Minnesota Theater Love: http://bit.ly/love_xmas
Talkin' Broadway: http://bit.ly/talk_xmas

Playing through December 30: http://bit.ly/guthrie_xmas

photo by Dan Norman

A Christmas Story - TCTB Review Roundup

The Twin Cities Theater Bloggers had a lovely time at Lyric Arts a few weeks ago when they hosted us for Christmas Cocktails with the wonderful cast of A CHRISTMAS STORY. Cherry and Spoon says: "Fans of the movie are sure to enjoy Lyric Arts production." So much so that the show is close to sold out; call the box office for availability: http://www.lyricarts.org/on-stage/a-christmas-story

Read about our day at Lyric Arts at the links below.

Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_story
Twin Cities Stages: http://bit.ly/stages_story
One Girl, Two Cities: http://bit.ly/1g2c_story
Say Entirely No Filter Reviews: http://bit.ly/nof_story

the bloggers with the cast of A Christmas Story
(photo by Scott Pakudaitis)

P.S. If any other theaters would like to host a blogger event, with or without cocktails, send us a message at our Facebook page!

Cinderella - TCTB Review Roundup

Photo Credit: Dan Norman 

Cinderella at the Children's Theatre Company through January 8, 2017! 

See our reviews below and a special behind the scenes tour!

They say that everyone has that “magical moment” where theater becomes something special. That moment you’ll never forget. It is that one magical moment that pulls kids into theater and they never look back. Children’s Theatre Company’s Cinderella is the special production that creates those magical moments! - Aly Chromy with Say Entirely

Artfully Engaging & Cherry and Spoon's behind the scenes tour: http://bit.ly/2hf5jIK
Talkin' Broadway: http://bit.ly/2g88DVg
Compendium: http://bit.ly/2eTQYA7
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/2h4jVON
What Stirs Your Soul: http://bit.ly/2h3dQ2Y
Say Entirely: http://bit.ly/2gAegMT

TCTB Review Roundup of Four Funny Christmas Shows

Looking for some Christmas funny? Our bloggers saw these shows and enjoyed a much needed laugh at this stressful and sometimes a little too sweet time of the year. 

THE AVERAGERS: CHRISTMAS WAR by Comedy Suitcase at Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater through December 11:
One Girl, Two Cities: http://bit.ly/1g2c_ave
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_ave

Jill from Cherry and Spoon and Laura from One Girl, Two Cities
with The Averagers

A VERY DIE HARD CHRISTMAS at Bryant Lake Bowl & Theaterthrough December 17:
The Room Where It Happens: http://bit.ly/room_die

MISS RICHFIELD at Illusion Theater through December 17:
Minnesota Theater Love: http://bit.ly/love_rich

WHAT THE ELF by The Brave New Workshop Comedy Theatrethrough January 28:
PhenoMNal Twin Cities: http://bit.ly/phen_elf
Compendium: http://bit.ly/comp_elf

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - TCTB Review Roundup

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time on tour at the Orpheum Theatre (Minneapolis, Minnesota) through Sunday! See our reviews below.

It felt good to disappear with Christopher for a while; I'd encourage you to do the same. - Becki Iverson with Compendium

Compendium: http://bit.ly/2gc3xIi
Twin Cities Stages: http://bit.ly/2gZ29gg
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/2gMvpnP
The Room where it Happens: http://bit.ly/2gMtQWr

Baltimore is Burning - TCTB Review Roundup

Baltimore is Burning by Underdog Theatre at SPACE only through Sunday! See our reviews below.

Check it out for some thoughtful, engaging, powerful, relevant theater by a promising new company. - Cherry and Spoon

This is the show you need to see in post-election America. -The Room Where It Happens

The Room Where It Happens: http://bit.ly/2gHkKsY
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/2gHkKsY