Sunday, October 29, 2017

Watch on the Rhine - TCTB Review Roundup

Watch on the Rhine at the Guthrie Theater​ is a classic of the American Theater with parallels to events of today. Closes November 5th.

PhenoMNal Twin Cities​: http://bit.ly/2yYE7Kv

Play off the Page​: http://bit.ly/2ycjDhg

Cherry and Spoon​: http://bit.ly/cs_rhine

Compendium - Minneapolis​: http://bit.ly/2gQ2aoB

Twin Cities Arts Reader​: http://bit.ly/2gOGzwD

Saturday, October 28, 2017

The Music Man - TCTB Review Roundup

Theater-loving friends, we adored The Music Man at Artistry MN (closing November 5th). It's selling like hotcakes (or band uniforms) but you can squeeze it in, we highly recommend it!

"if you're looking for a good old-fashioned heart-warming, foot-stamping, enjoyable musical, head down to Bloomington."
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_musicman17

"We learn that not everything needs to be taken so seriously; sometimes we need to be tricked into seeing life a little differently; and happiness can be more important than steadfast decorum."
Compendium - Minneapolis: http://bit.ly/2gw70TU

"With a well-made musical, it's tempting to sit back and let the music and story work their magic, but director Angela Timberman has done something more. I'm not even sure what it is, but I was noticing nuances of the show I'd never paid much attention to before."
Minnesota Theater Love: http://bit.ly/2yT0izZ

"This production of The Music Man, directed by Angela Timberman, was able to deftly straddle the line between an intimate show and a musical with big production values in a way that made it the best of both worlds."
Twin Cities Stages: http://bit.ly/2za53YM

Friday, October 27, 2017

TCTB Review Roundup - Lyric Arts, Bucket Brigade, History Theatre

Sam's Son at Bucket Brigade
It's snowing, so come hibernate at your local theater. We've got political dramas, commedia dell'arte, new original musicals and more!

Flavio Betrayed - A Commedia at Lyric Arts:

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. - TCTB Review Roundup

Closing this weekend! Y'all, be like Michelle the Woke Fairy and go see Frank Theatre's Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again (only through October 22nd).

Our bloggers said:
"Short, intense, and powerful." Cherry and Spoon
http://bit.ly/cs_revolt

"A war cry against the evils of complacency and acceptance of injustice and inequity." Single White Fringe Geek
http://bit.ly/2gmpw1a

"Examines how women have been—and still are—confined and controlled by language and societal norms." Say Entirely
http://bit.ly/2yDpih2

"It’s not often that a show this refreshing and bold comes along and I’m so glad that Frank is doing it." The Room Where It Happens
http://bit.ly/2yUWsZG

Friday, October 13, 2017

Romeo & Juliet - TCTB Review Roundup

Whr4 RT thou, R (& J)?

Why at the Guthrie Theater, of course! Being tatted up and cross-gender casted!

The Big G's production is getting some nice buzz and you can get your Shakesy on through October 28.

Read more from the TCTBers here:

Despite seeing it (at least) ten productions of Romeo & Juliet, Cherry and Spoon was still charmed:
http://bit.ly/cs_randj_g

Compendium - Minneapolis gives us the Most Millennial Review of the Most OG Millennial Play Ever:
http://bit.ly/2xwXbin

Kit Bit in Twin Cities Arts Reader says: "It spoke to me in ways that I hadn’t experienced with Romeo and Juliet before."
http://bit.ly/2xPGoDD

Monday, October 9, 2017

TCTB Review Roundup - YPC, Mixed Blood, Sandbox and more!

How to Use a Knife at Mixed Blood (photo by Rich Ryan)
Rounding up reviews for a few shows for October 2017:

Mean at Youth Performance Company

"With Mean, YPC’s Mean uses good original theater to add something useful (and positive) to an important conversation."
Single White Fringe Geek: http://bit.ly/2wOrAFz

How to Use a Knife at Mixed Blood Theatre Company

"For those of us outside of that profession, How to Use a Knife is an honest, illuminating portrait of how difficult work in a kitchen is and how deeply politics seeps through every aspect of our lives, even those hidden behind double doors."
Compendium: http://bit.ly/2fYSwvy

"Will Snider's new play is a tragicomedy that takes place in a restaurant kitchen with diverse, clearly drawn, realistic characters, brilliantly brought to life by a fantastic cast, with a completely engrossing story that'll leave you wondering just who the bad guy is in this story, and maybe realizing that defining a "bad guy" isn't all that simple."
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_knife

In the Treetops at Sandbox Theatre at Open Eye

"As we left the theater I said to my friend, half-jokingly, “Leave it to Sandbox Theatre to create a children’s show about poverty and death.” Half-jokingly. And art. It’s also about art, and the artist, and creating, because that’s also frequently tucked in the back of things the Sandbox ensemble creates and performs."
Single White Fringe Geek: http://bit.ly/2xAXCtq

Sorry friends, but this one is sold out:

String at Yellow Tree Theatre

But Cherry and Spoon loved it: http://bit.ly/cs_string

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Henry and Alice: Into the Wild - TCTB Review Roundup

John Middleton and Carolyn Pool
Photo by Petronella J. Ytsma
Henry and Alice: Into the Wild at Park Square Theatre through October 22.

Our bloggers were divided on this light comedy (but not on the amazing performances). 

Check out what our bloggers had to say about this play and production, and what issues it raises about privilege, comedy, and the role of theater in troubled times.

Compendium - Minneapolis: http://bit.ly/2fJCZDz

The Room Where It Happens: http://bit.ly/2y7d5Qj

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

Twin Cities Arts Reader: http://bit.ly/2y6d8MQ

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Man of La Mancha - TCTB Review Roundup

Man of La Mancha at Theater Latte Da (now through October 22). You should go see it--our bloggers recommend it highly!

Cherry and Spoon sums it up:

"An incredibly talented and beautifully diverse cast about half the usual size for this musical, a small but powerful four-piece orchestra, and a modern twist to the play-within-a-play structure make this Man of La Mancha an inspiring, moving, and engaging piece of theater musically."

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

Compendium - Minneapolis: http://bit.ly/2w6et2q

Twin Cities Stages: http://bit.ly/2xDY2xf

Minnesota Theater Love: http://bit.ly/2xDY2xf

Play off the Page: http://bit.ly/2igMyuu

Photo by Allen Weeks

Monday, October 2, 2017

The Nether - TCTB Review Roundup

Our Twin Cities Theater Bloggers found The Nether at The Jungle Theater (now through October 15) to be:

"Intellectually stimulating and deeply engrossing"

"A glimpse into the dark world of where the mind can go"

"It’s about screwing with my sense of reality, identity, notions of consent, and right and wrong."

"Frightening and eerie and thought-provoking and extremely disturbing. And I loved every minute."

"A must-see for adventurous theatergoers"

Ivey Awards 2017 - Recaps!

The fabulous Michelle Hensley
Photo from Ivey Awards website
A mere week ago, the 2017 IVEY Awards were held.

This combination of all things Minnesota theater and prom is an event our bloggers look forward to all year (and not just for the opportunity to dress to the nines.)

Enjoy their recaps!

Compendium - Minneapolis shares her top ten things she loved about the Iveys including much love for Lifetime Achievement winner Michelle Hensley: 
http://bit.ly/2xJmsGx

This is Cherry and Spoon's 11th year at the Iveys and she shares the winners, the performers and a few thoughts on the event: http://bit.ly/cs_ivey

Twin Cities Stages says: "There is no sense of competition as there are no nominees, just an outpouring of love for the Ivey honorees and the community in general." 

The Abominables - TCTB Review Roundup

The Abominables at Children's Theatre Company, the "Minnesota hockey musical," was a production that sparked a LOT of discussion among our bloggers.
"A super fun and entertaining new original musical"
Cherry and Spoonhttp://bit.ly/cs_abominables2
"A Minnesota Hockey Musical, a very appropriate subject for Minnesota families"
Play off the Pagehttp://bit.ly/2hcw4Q3
"The Abominables is an extremely fun musical for audiences of all ages and interests."
Coffee Talk with Bretthttp://bit.ly/2wrzuVu
"I wish I could give this show some love, but I found it really problematic."
Minnesota Theater Lovehttp://bit.ly/2xQ39KO
"The Abominables made an audience convert out of me. Sometimes it can be really nice when theater surprises you."
Single White Fringe Geekhttp://bit.ly/2ygETmH
"The Abominables really loses its way when coming to the third theme, that of the "other" or outsider."
Compendium - Minneapolishttp://bit.ly/2hoFagg
Read more about the adoption theme controversy and the changes that CTC made to the show here at the Pioneer Press: http://bit.ly/2x8eF0I