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.

"The Wedding Singer" at Lyric Arts in Anoka!

 It's a new week and we've got a new theater reviews for a local show to share: "The Wedding Singer" at Lyric Arts in Anoka! 

 

Jill of Cherry and Spoon calls this #80sMusical "a whole lot of fun" (and she has never seen the film!) and Rob of The Stages of MN writes, "This is a production that really just comes together beautifully from a truly cohesive ensemble cast to the parachute pants."

 

Read the full theater reviews before "The Wedding Singer" closes on March 26:

Cherry and Spoon Review: https://bit.ly/cs_wedding23

The Stages of MN Review: https://bit.ly/wedsing

 

#TCTheater #MovieToMusical #LiveMusic

 

 

TCTB Review Roundup: THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN at Lyric Arts

Four of our bloggers couldn't resist the draw of a contemporary thriller Lyric Arts in Anoka, checkout out what they thought of The Girl on the Train which runs through February 5th.

The Stages of MN wants to assure you "the staging is so inventive and the performances so good that I feel sure those familiar with the plot and resolution with still have a thoroughly entertaining night at the Theater." http://bit.ly/3iF3biZ

While our newest Blogger One Fan Show felt the show was flawed he did find some merit in the production "The entire production team must also be commended for obviously bringing a wealth of ideas to this new staging and following through on them." bit.ly/3CSHNxw

Play off the Page has a much better time with the production "The creative team at Lyric Arts has somehow combined the feeling of reading a book and getting into the characters’ heads with the dynamic elements of film to the intimacy of a live performance. This is a must-see!" http://bit.ly/3Xxc6lt

Finally Cherry and Spoon weighs in and the tally comes up Fresh cherries "A great cast, a suspenseful story (especially if you've never read the book or have forgotten the ending, like I had), and a tight interplay between recorded scenes and live performances make for an entertaining night (or afternoon) at the theater."

https://bit.ly/cs_tgott

Join the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers for a special event at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres! Get $20 off the ticket price for the March 4 matinee performance of the regional premiere of the super fun and heart-warming musical THE PROM, and stick around after the show for a talk-back with some of the cast. Find more info in the Facebook event here, and purchase discount tickets using code TCTB1 or by clicking on this link (discount valid for March 4 1pm performance only). https://bit.ly/PromDateWithTCTB

2021 Twin Cities Theater Blogger Awards

Before we get too far into the new year, we wanted to share with you the bloggers' favorites of 2021. There was a lot of great theater last year, in many different forms, but these shows really struck a chord with our bloggers. Congrats to everyone involved, and here's to an even better and busier 2022!

Favorite Virtual Production: THE REVOLUTIONISTS by Lyric Arts

Favorite Outdoor Production: WONDERLAND by Collide Theatrical

Favorite Indoor Play: EVERY BRILLIANT THING by The Jungle Theater

Favorite Indoor Musical: ISLANDER by Theatre Elision

TCTB Review Roundup: THE REVOLUTIONISTS streaming from Lyric Arts

Hi friends. It's been a while since you've heard from us, but we're still here! And today we are pleased to bring you a virtual Review Roundup of Lyric Arts's new production of the Lauren Gunderson play THE REVOLUTIONISTS, filmed on their Anoka stage. It's available to stream on demand through this weekend only, so act fast! This is a great opportunity to check out Lyric Arts's work without driving to Anoka (which isn't as far as you think it is).

Cherry and Spoon

: http://bit.ly/cs_revanoka

"Like many of Lauren's plays, it tells a fictionalized story of well-known (or should be well-known) women from history with modern language and sensibility, and is funny, smart, poignant, and relevant."

Lettered in Theatre

: http://bit.ly/LIT_Revolutionists

"I never anticipated that my first time seeing a production with Lyrics Arts would be streamed to my living room, but after seeing “The Revolutionists” I look forward to driving to Anoka to visit as soon as we are able to."

Post Script

: https://bit.ly/3t4LicH

"It's history, but it's not. It's conversations between women who could have been in the same room but weren't. "The Revolutionists" is a story that makes you wish for what could have been and yearn for unknown stories that were lost. And, with some killer one-liners ("What good is a declaration if everyone agrees?"), the play encourages and challenges our march toward justice in the 21st century."

TCTB Review Roundup - BLOOMSDAY at Lyric Arts

Lyric Arts opened their first show of 2020 last weekend - a lovely time-traveling Irish romance. Check out what our bloggers thought below, and then click here for more info and tickets (continuing through January 26):
http://www.lyricarts.org/bloomsday

Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_bloomsday
"... features a strong four-person cast and lovely design that bring us right into this charming and unconventional love story."

The Stages of MN: http://bit.ly/2FDF5y7
"The stage is transformed into a square on a Dublin street, its scope is impressive for such a small scale story."

Twin Cities Stages: https://bit.ly/2slOCH2
"he roles of Caithleen and Cait were portrayed by Gillian Constable and Lolly Foy respectively. It was very easy to see them as two parts of the same person, and their performances were a highlight of the show for me."

photo by Twin Cities Headshots

TCTB Review Roundup: Bright Star at Lyric Arts

Regional premieres of Broadway musicals are gaining steam in #tctheater, and Lyric Arts is leading the way. Several of our bloggers saw their latest, Bright Star, and had great things to say - check it out before it closes on September 29!

Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/2lZFIvm
"I commend Lyric Arts for taking a risk on a new work and bringing it to #TCTheater audiences for the first time (the Broadway tour did not come to Minnesota). It's a great choice for them and their stage."

Twin Cities Stages: http://bit.ly/2m1RkxX
"Bright Star is a perfect show for anyone who is a fan of folk music, or has been intrigued by the story of the Iron Mountain Baby, of which this story is roughly based upon."

Brett Talk: http://bit.ly/2mmQSdz
"Bright Star is sure to be on many future theatre company's season lists as it becomes more and more popular. Despite having a short stint on Broadway, this alluring musical will live on in regional areas for decades to come. If you haven’t heard the music or seen this show, I encourage you to experience it first at Lyric Arts."

TCTB Review Roundup: EVITA at Lyric Arts

The show "Evita" recently celebrated its 40th anniversary which makes it the perfect choice to produce for Lyric Arts current season. Two of our bloggers even said it was one of their best productions they've ever produced. Read what they said and get your tickets soon as this show closes on April 14.

Brett Talk Review: https://bit.ly/2Ul10DV
Interview with Eva: https://bit.ly/2Kdcrck
Play off the Page: https://bit.ly/2CYg0wY 
Cherry and Spoon: https://bit.ly/2VrhiHN

TCTB Review Roundup: February Shows Closing Soon!

It's the end of the month, which means there must be shows wrapping up this weekend! Our bloggers have been out and about covering a bunch of goodies for you; here's a few to catch if you still can:

"Stewardess" at History Theatre, closing March 3:
Cherry and Spoon: https://bit.ly/2GLua8a
Play off the Page: https://bit.ly/2Tbkxp9

"Sense and Sensibility" at Lyric Arts, closing March 3:
Cherry and Spoon: https://bit.ly/2IDmEOj

"A Bronx Tale" at Hennepin Theatre Trust, closed Sunday:
PhenoMNal Twin Cities: https://bit.ly/2H4EZl1

"Love Comics" by Minneapolis Musical Theatre at Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater through March 2:
Cherry and Spoon: https://bit.ly/2IOqV1g

TCTB Review Roundup: Gremlin Theatre's THE FATHER, Lyric Arts' DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE, Theatre in the Round's THESE SHINING LIVES

Check out these shows closing soon, brought to you by Cherry and Spoon.

Gremlin Theatre's THE FATHER closing January 27
"Subtitled "a tragic farce," this story of a man descending deeper into dementia is so sad to watch, but beautiful and amusing at the same time."
http://bit.ly/cs_father

Lyric Arts' DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE closing January 27
"Lyric Arts' production of Dead Man's Cell Phone captures this struggle between technology and connection, and entertains with a charming six-person cast and ambitious design."
http://bit.ly/cs_cellphone

Theatre in the Round's THESE SHINING LIVES closing February 3
"Theatre in the Round tells these pioneering women's story, via a female playwright and director, with humanity and grace."
http://bit.ly/cs_shining

TCTB Review Roundup: God of Carnage at Lyric Arts

Don't miss God of Carnage at Lyric Arts through October 28th! It is Twin Cities Theater Blogger, Brett Talk's favorite!

God of Carnage is a brilliantly written play, as I’ve said it’s my favorite because the nature in which it’s written. Reza has you on the edge of your seat through the whole 90 minutes. - Brett Talk Read more: https://bit.ly/2EzigOv

It'll make you laugh, it'll make you cringe, it might even make you recoil in disgust at times. In other words, it's a fun night at the theater. But it plays through next weekend only, so make your plans to head to Anoka soon (which I hear is the Halloween capital of the world, so October is not a bad time to visit). 🎃 - Cherry and Spoon Read more: http://bit.ly/cs_carnage

#tctheater #reviewroundup