2024 Twin Cities Theater Blogger Award Winners!

The bloggers have voted, and we've decided on our favorite artists, shows, and theaters of 2024. It was such a great year, and these winners are just a small sampling of the amazing performances we saw. Congratulations to our favorites, and everyone who created art in 2024!

See full list of nominees here.

Streaming #TCTheater

Hello friends! Post-Labor Day typically marks the beginning of a new #TCTheater season, but as we all know, this is not a typical year. Some companies have announced seasons that incorporate virtual events, some are on a sort of wait-and-see plan. We are continuing to collect virtual performance art events on our events page, so just go to our Facebook page and click on "Events" to see a list of upcoming virtual shows, which this week include:

Frank Theatre

's new conversation series "Frankly Speaking," the first episode about whiteness in theater

Mixed Blood Theatre Company

's "Zealous Hellions" featuring Kenny Leon

Children's Theatre Company

's virtual fundraiser "Curtain Call Ball"

TCTB Review Roundup: Frank Theatre's THE CONVERT

The Convert is currently being put on by Frank Theatre at the Gremlin Theatre. A couple of our
bloggers went to the show and were very moved by the experience. It is playing now through March 15th. Read more below:

Cherry and Spoon: "The talented cast bring depth and humanity to all of these characters, even when you question their choices." http://bit.ly/cs_convert

The Stages of MN: A beautiful looking production that is packed with a talented cast, I found it mesmerizing. http://bit.ly/2VGweF0

* Photo by Tony Nelson

TCTB Review Roundup: Closing Soon!

The end of September means the close of several #tctheater shows! Don't lose your last opportunity to see some awesome work this weekend.

Bone Mother by Sandbox Theatre at the The Museum of Russian Art, closing 9/27:

Compendium - Minneapolis says "Bone Mother is a truly unique performance, at once ancient and entirely original; modern but familiar; feminine and powerful. [...] It's the perfect thing to watch as our seasons transition to a darker one and we prepare to sit more quietly inside ourselves." More here: http://bit.ly/2mRaOpj

Cherry and Spoon says "Combine Russian folk tales, aerialists, music, theater, and a unique space and what do you get? Sandbox Theatre's latest uniquely beautiful creation, Bone Mother." More here: http://bit.ly/2lRyUQP

Immaculate Heart by Freshwater Theatre Company at The Crane Theater, closing 9/28:

Cherry and Spoon says "In their new original play Immaculate Heart, Freshwater Theatre thoughtfully explores issues surrounding faith (specifically, Catholicism) and sexuality (specifically, the last and often overlooked letter in the LGBTQIA alphabet - asexuality). Playwright Ruth Virkus has created a world and a situation that feels real and very human, and the three-person cast brings truth, vulnerability, and humanity to their roles. As a recovering Catholic, I'm familiar with the struggle between seeing the good that the church has done and the solace it is for so many people, and the many ways it falls short in the modern world with its intolerant and exclusionary doctrine. This play and its characters embody that struggle very well, as well as shed light on a lesser known aspect of the spectrum of sexuality." More here: http://bit.ly/2lhL19g

Escaped Alone and Here We Go by Frank Theatre at Gremlin Theatre, closing on 9/29:

Cherry and Spoon says: "I don't know if these two plays were meant to be performed together, but they work very well with each other, dealing with similar themes of aging and death. [...] Odd, perplexing, surprising, funny, charming, sad, poignant, and profound are just a few of the adjectives that could be used to describe these plays. " More here: http://bit.ly/2lln2Gf

Our Town at Artistry MN, closing 9/29:

Cherry and Spoon says: "The new production by Artistry, perhaps best known for their musicals, features a fantastic cast that brings out all of the humor, heart, and meaning in this classic. There's a reason that Our Town continues to be produced, and audiences continue to see it - it speaks to us in a very real and deep way." More here: http://bit.ly/2mVyUiH

TCTB Review Roundup: Closing Soon!

Get your tickets quick to these blogger-recommended shows!

The Cradle Will Rock by Frank Theatre at Gremlin Theatre (through April 7)

Single White Fringe Geek says: "The Cradle Will Rock is pretty much tailor-made for Frank Theatre’s brand of brazen political theatricality." http://tinyurl.com/yxej9eaf

Cherry and Spoon: "As usual, director Wendy Knox and her cast and creative team have created a manifestation of the written play that is incredibly detailed, thoughtful, consistent, and true to the message." http://bit.ly/cs_cradle

Minnesota Theater Love: "This kind of show, like the work of Bertolt Brecht, is right in Frank's wheelhouse. The actors commit fully to the concept, and make the most of their roles." https://bit.ly/2TLWedC

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Collide Theatrical Park Square Theatre(through April 7)

Cherry and Spoon: "It's a fabulous and well constructed piece of dance-music-theater." http://bit.ly/cs_dorian

Play off the Page: "It is a beautiful collaboration of dance, theater, music, and storytelling." https://bit.ly/2JRWGqK

Minnesota Theater Love: "The Picture of Dorian Gray is an ambitious dance adaptation of a classic work." https://bit.ly/2ODCx6O

The Last Firefly by SteppingStone Theatre and Theater Mu (through April 7)

Compendium writes: "What better way to build a theater community - both in audiences and on-stage - than to take a risk and include students in your shows? It might not give a production a highly polished sheen like you'd see on a CTC or Guthrie stage, but it will inspire a passion in the hearts of those kids and pay it forward many times over as they grow older, learn more about theater, and one day decide how they want to remain engaged with that world." https://bit.ly/2HKJVg3

The Beldenville Troll: A New England Gothic Open Eye Figure Theatre(through April 14)

Minnesota Theater Love: "If there's anything more awesome than a delightfully creepy true story, it's a fictional spooky story that is so well-crafted that it feels real." https://bit.ly/2U0Pr4I

Cherry and Spoon: "The Beldenville Troll: A New England Gothic is a unique and inventive piece of theater that you won't see anywhere else." http://bit.ly/cs_btroll

TCTB Review Roundup: The Visit by Frank Theatre

The Visit by Frank Theatre at the Minnesota Transportation Museum ends this weekend. Don't miss this unique experience! Read more from Cherry and Spoon here: https://bit.ly/2QVxTAM

#TCTheater #OnlyinMN #Theater

Closing this weekend

A number of great shows are closing this weekend. They include: Party in the Rec Room at Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater, Noises Off at Artistry MN, Joy Rebel at Penumbra Theatre Company, and Grounded at Frank Theatre.
About Party in the Rec Room Play off the Page writes, "Lorna enters as a Rock Star, bursting with energy and welcoming us with margaritas" Read the full review here: http://bit.ly/2Dse5Pv
About Noises Off Cherry and Spoon says, "The nine-person cast is so consistently great in this true ensemble piece" Read the full review here: http://bit.ly/2o8mD8x
About Joy Rebel Compendium - Minneapolis writes, "Joy Rebel is 70 straight, intermissionless minutes of power and hard-won peace" Read the full review here: http://bit.ly/2Ef9b8K
About Grounded Twin Cities Stages says, "Audrey Park’s performance of the pilot sucks you into her story and carries you along for the emotional roller coaster straight through to the troubling conclusion." Read the full review here: http://bit.ly/2EwZ7Id

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

Citizen: An American Lyric - TCTB Review Roundup

Citizen: An American Lyric, a stage adaptation of Claudia Rankine's book of the same name, presented by Frank Theatre at Intermedia Arts is playing until April 2nd. It explores race in America in a very powerful way. All the bloggers who saw it urge everyone to go see it.

Checkout the TCTB roundup below: 

Single White Fringe Geek writes, "Just go. See it. It’s easily the most important piece of theater I’ve seen so far this year. It’s also the nicest thing you can do for yourself and your self-awareness." Read the full review: http://bit.ly/2mHyNS9
The Room Where It Happens says, "I cannot stress the importance of the show enough or the brilliance that is Rankine’s work. Read it, see it, and talk about it." Read the full review: http://bit.ly/2n0mL8i
Say Entirely writes, "Citizen covers the heavy and the difficult, but it’s necessary." Read the full review: http://bit.ly/2nJX9w5