Friday, June 30, 2017

Might as Well Be Dead: A Nero Wolfe Mystery - TCTB Review Roundup

The return of the Park Square Theatre summer mystery wins high praise from two of our bloggers. Read on:
Compendium - Minneapolis:
http://bit.ly/2sJz3GF
"I reveled in this marvelous new story that will please any fans of old Hollywood, murder mystery, detective shows and plain old good storytelling."
Cherry and Spoon:
http://bit.ly/cs_might
"If you're a fan of mysteries and noir crime thrillers, this one's for you."
MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD: A NERO WOLFE MYSTERYcontinues through July 20
http://parksquaretheatre.org/box-office/shows/2016-17/might-as-well-be-dead/
(Photo by Petronella J. Ytsma)

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Sunday in the Park with George - TCTB Review Roundup

Read what three of our bloggers thought about the first musical by one of the greatest (if not the greatest) American musical theater lyricist/composers Stephen Sondheim to be presented on the Guthrie Theater main stage.
Cherry and Spoon:
http://bit.ly/cs_sunday
"The Guthrie has assembled a sparkling cast and created a gorgeous design that brings this work of art about art itself to brilliant life."
Play off the Page:
http://bit.ly/play_sunday
"Everything about this show is complicated, and beautiful."
Compendium - Minneapolis:
http://bit.ly/2rYJdQP
"This unique show will give you a lot to contemplate in addition to some gorgeous staging to enjoy along the way."


Coffee Talk with Bret: http://bit.ly/2uiDlqr
"Sunday in the Park with George is a beautifully painted production of Sondheim's beloved masterpiece"

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Ghost: The Musical - TCTB Review Roundup

Ghost: The Musical, now at Old Log Theatre through September 23. Our bloggers give you the scoop on this movie turned musical!

"If you're looking for a satisfying summer musical experience, head out to Old Log Theatre, one of the oldest theaters in Minnesota, in lovely Excelsior on Lake Minnetonka."
Cherry and Spoon

Compendium - Minneapolis on movie turned into musicals: "Are these shows cheesy? Of course. Are they overwrought? Duh. Do I love them? Almost always."

"It's 100% fluff, but there is a crucial difference between low-grade and high-quality fluff. The Old Log's production falls into the category of high-grade fluff, largely because of Eric Morris' witty direction, as well as the talented, energetic cast he's assembled."
Talkin' Broadway

One Girl, Two Cities: "It’s a relatively small cast and has many moving parts, yet everything operates like a well-oiled machine. I’d recommend this for a ladies’ night out or a date night."

"Directed by Eric Morris, and featuring a surprisingly racially diverse cast, the show was diverting and pleasant to watch. But similar to the movie, it's not a show that spoke to me."
Minnesota Theater Love

Monday, June 26, 2017

Fly by Night - TCTB Review Roundup

Photo by Dan Norman
Come Fly (by Night) with the TCTB as we tell you ALL about The Jungle Theater's current production (through July 23). Spoiler: The Twin Cities Theater Bloggers loved it!

Cherry and Spoon raves: "Charming and funny yet poignant, with a fantastic score played by greats from the local music scene, and a cast that couldn't be better - what's not to love?"

Single White Fringe Geek says: "If 'well-produced new romantic musical comedy' is all you need to hear, by all means go, you won’t regret it."

Twin Cities Stages: "Fly By Night is an extremely touching show about the connections between people and searching for what you love. It just might be the perfect summer musical."

Twin Cities Arts Reader: "While the mixture of music, froth, and heaviness in Fly by Night may not work seamlessly, it weaves a magical web of instants and moments and generates the sense of wonder we hope to find at the theatre."

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Rent at the Orpheum Theatre - TCTB Review Roundup

Even though the tour of Rent (at the Orpheum Theatre has gone on to its next tour stop, our bloggers had some strong, strong feels about the show. Rent is eternal, so check out these great reviews from our bloggers.

"Now RENT is on the road again with the 20th anniversary tour, a production filled with as much life, heart, and energy as ever. And it's stopping in Minneapolis for just one week only. Whether it's your first, or 15th, or 100th time seeing it, RENT is a joyful, moving, inspirational experience." -
Cherry and Spoon

"People who have been Rent-heads for the past two decades gave an enthusiastic welcome to this Broadway touring troupe, cheering as though their best friends were performing. The energy was contagious." -
Play off the Page


Photo by Carol Rosegg
"Can you believe Tuesday is the first time I've ever seen Rent on stage? I know, I know. How is it possible that a young theater reviewer has somehow bypassed THE musical that ushered in our modern age of new works?" - Compendium - Minneapolis

"The Orpheum is a big theater but the energy coming off the stage at Tuesday night's performance easily filled the house. And the audience gave all that energy right back. I have never been to a show with that kind of energy and audience reaction (including when I saw Rent on Broadway). The rock concert vibe created by the talented cast and the audience seemed to elevate the show to a different level." - Twin Cities Stages

An American in Paris - TCTB Review Roundup

The dancing is beautiful, the Gershwin music is exquisite, and the production is a perfect fit for a summer night.

Our bloggers (mostly) loved An American in Paris tour at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts (only through 6/18).

phenoMNal Twin Cities

Play off the Page

Cherry and Spoon

What Stirs Your Soul

Twin Cities Stages


Sunday, June 11, 2017

ALMA, Refugia, Intent and Impact: A Discussion Round-up


It's been an exciting week in Twin Cities Theater with much discussion about representation, access, inclusion, intent and impact. Check out our round-up below!

First up, "Artists of Today Intersecting Systems from Yesterday" a fantastic discussion by the Alliance of Latinx Minnesota Artists at Mixed Blood Theatre Company.

The panel discussion included:

Moderator: Kurt Kwan (Artistic Associate, Pillsbury House Theatre)
Hector Chavarria (Freelance Artist & Writer)
Jamie Grant (President and CEO, The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts)
H. Adam Harris (Professional Actor and Teaching Artist, Penumbra Theatre)
Michelle Hensley (Artistic Director, Ten Thousand Things)
Raúl Ramos (Resident Artist, Mixed Blood Theatre)
Beliza Torres Narvaez (Associate Theatre Professor, Augsburg College) 

Check out a short video with some highlights, and an audio recording of the event. 

Then, the Guthrie Theater hosted a discussion with us, The Twin Cities Theater Bloggers, about and with The Moving Company regarding questions of representation in their production Refugia. No recordings available, but here are a few summaries of the event:

Jay Gabler at City Pages Minneapolis wrote a lovely, fair and even-handed account of the discussion.

The Star Tribune rightly calls the discussion: "Tense and awkward."

Our own TCTB Compendium - Minneapolis asks "Where do we go from here?"

If you've not read Kory LaQuess Pullam's review of Refugia in Minnesota Playlist, you definitely must do so.

Please stay tuned! Such exciting discussions are happening in Twin Cities Theater, and we want to keep the momentum going. We've got some plans in the works, and we'll be keeping you updated. Our thanks to everyone who is doing this "uncomfortable dance" together (tm Marcella Lorca at ALMA discussion).

Thursday, June 1, 2017

May Theater - A Miscellany of Reviews

It might be summer but there's still a ton of great shows to catch before they close.

Through June 4th:

Intimate Apparel at Ten Thousand Things​
"It's a beautiful story of a woman discovering her strength through friendships, a failed relationship, and her own sense of self-worth." - Cherry and Spoon

Intimate Apparel is also included in Minnesota Theater Love​'s May roundup.

Amy's View at Park Square Theatre​
"Theater, criticism, art, finances, and messy relationships of all sorts are exposed in this play that spans 15 years." - Cherry and Spoon

Through June 11th:

365 Days/365 Plays at Full Circle Theater Company​
"Go. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this production. It will renew your faith in the power and purpose of theater.  It is a delight." -
Single White Fringe Geek

Btw: LOVE Full Circle Theater Company's mission: "The mission of Full Circle is to produce heartfelt groundbreaking theater that artfully addresses issues of diversity and social justice for 21st century audiences." YES.