Regional premiere of THE PROM!

https://chanhassendt.com/

Last weekend, a bunch of our bloggers attended opening night of Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' regional premiere of THE PROM, and a fantastic time was had by all! We loved this beautiful and big-hearted show and believe in its message of love and inclusivity so much that we're hosting a special event next weekend. Join us for the matinee performance on March 4 and receive $20 off the ticket price, and stick around after the show for a talkback with some of the cast. The code TCTB1 is valid at any performance through March 12, but we'd love to see you on the 4th! Get your tickets here, and read reviews from 8 of our bloggers at the links below.

Life in Revue: http://bit.ly/3Izq0yD

"It was, in a word, fabulous!"

Cherry and Spoon: https://bit.ly/cs_prom23

"This incredible cast is a true ensemble with many stars."

The Stages of MN: https://bit.ly/chanprom

"This show is simply the best!"

PhenoMNal Twin Cities: https://bit.ly/3IDUTlP

"The singing is effortless, the dancing skilled, and the live orchestra a treat."

One Fan Show: http://bit.ly/3kbmZLK

"The Prom is an unexpected delight that puts the Netflix movie to shame."

Play off the Page: http://bit.ly/417XJ9K

"The dancing is spectacular!"

Lettered in Theatre: https://bit.ly/LIT_TheProm

"The entire cast is phenomenal, especially Monty Hays in the role of Emma."

Artfully Engaging: https://bit.ly/5-Reasons-To-See-The-Prom

"It's great to see contemporary musicals, support living artists, and resonate with the issues of our times!"

Backstage Tour of The Cowles Center

We had a great night at the The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts getting a behind-the-scenes tour and a special happy hour with Twin Cities theater artist BRADLEY GREENWALD.

Thanks to Minnesota Dance Theatre for letting some theater folks pose at their barre!

Pictured: Artfully Engaging, Cherry and Spoon, & Compendium - Minneapolis.

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!

A Raisin in the Sun - TCTB Review Roundup

A Raisin in the Sun at Park Square Theatre through November 20, 2016. Don't miss this timely production! A Raisin in the Sun lets us view today's problems through the lens of history, and see how much things have and have not changed, and how much they still need to continue to change. - Cherry and Spoon

Read our reviews below: 

Twin Cities Stages: http://bit.ly/2fKSt5S
Compendium: http://bit.ly/2ePyS2Y
Play off the Page: http://bit.ly/2evytGS
The Room Where It Happens: http://bit.ly/2f6XHYh
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/2eVwCKa
Say Entirely: http://bit.ly/2f6TCDn
Minnesota Theater Love: http://bit.ly/2gc9qc7

Rise Up O Men at Plymouth Playhouse: TCTB Review Round-up

Photo by Kendra Plant

The second Twin Cities Theater Bloggers event was a great success! We enjoyed the premiere of Rise Up O Men at Plymouth Playhouse, as well as an amazing pre-show dinner with the bloggers at Green Mill Restaurant and Bar. We also enjoyed an incredible talk back with the cast, who not only performed but WROTE the show!

They had so much to share and we can't wait for our next event. Bloggers said of Rise Up O Men (running August 17 – November 13, 2016  & January 5 – April 8, 2017):

"I'd be perfectly happy to spend a nice long funeral lunch in the kitchen with these ladies--they are hilarious, and they do sing so beautifully."

Photo by Kendra Plant

"I can’t help but smile and nod as I watch these characters, hear their stories, tap along to their songs, and commiserate with them when things don’t go they way they’d planned. It’s like being back home on the farm, and attending a potluck at my home church."

"This was certainly an ensemble show with sparkling moments coming from each character throughout the night. The technical elements also blew me away."

"Rise Up O Men is a great show for small town folks who don't mind seeing a slice of their life poked at on stage. It is a creamsicle delight for those who yearn for the days when moms were home, dads worked with their hands, and everyone knew the hymns by heart."

Check out our reviews here:

Artfully Engaging 
Compendium

Minnesota Theater Love
Play off the Page 

Calendar Girls at Park Square Theatre: TCTB Review Roundup

The Twin Cities Theater Bloggers recently partnered with Park Square Theatre to host an event before, during, and after a performance of CALENDAR GIRLS (playing through July 26). We all loved this feel-good, woman-power play, and enjoyed chatting with other theater goers and with cast members after the show. We look forward to continuing to partner with Park Square and other theater around town to host similar community-building events. (Send us a message if you're interested in hosting or participating in such an event.)

Click the links below to read about the play from a multitude of perspectives, and find such highlights as: "the joy of the play is spending time getting to know these realistic women and seeing their friendships develop and deepen;" "you'll laugh, you'll squirm in your seat, you'll shed a few (or many) tears, and you'll fall in love with these women;" "Calendar Girls is one of those rare stories that really does the female experience justice;" "rare is the script that provides multiple rolls for women over 40 who can play characters with such emotional depth and complexity."

Minnesota Theater Love: http://bit.ly/cal_love
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cal_cherry
Compendium: http://bit.ly/cal_comp
Play off the Page: http://bit.ly/cal_play

Click here for more info and to buy tickets.

Minneapolis/St. Paul Reading at Playwrights' Center: TCTB Review Roundup

Photo by Tracy Jo Blowers

Recently, The Playwrights' Center invited us to a reading of a fantastic new Lee Blessing play: "Minneapolis/St. Paul" about a cross-dressing bigamist, followed by a post-show discussion with the playwright. They do amazing work developing new plays, and we hope to see this one again!

Pictured: Minnesota Theater Love, One Girl, Two Cities, Artfully Engaging, Play off the Page, and Cherry and Spoon.

Cherry and Spoon: A Reading of "Minneapolis/St. Paul" at the Playwrights' Center

Tracy Jo Blowers: Playwrights' Center - A Reading - Lee Blessing

Play Off The Page: Meeting Lee Blessing at the Playwrights' Center