2022 Twin Cities Theater Blogger Awards

TCTB AWARDS 2022!

Before we get too far into the new year, we wanted to share with you the bloggers' favorites of 2022. 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 another great year of live theater in 2023!

Favorite Play, drama - The Humans at Park Square Theatre

Favorite Dramatic performance - Lucy Farrell, The Boys Room at Gremlin Theatre

Favorite Comedic performance - Avi Aharoni and Nathan Keepers, Two Jews Walk Into a War at Six Points Theater

Favorite Play, comedy - Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley at The Jungle Theater

Favorite Musical performance - ensemble of Twelve Angry Men, Theater Latté Da

Favorite Musical - Merrily We Roll Along at Theater Latte Da

Streaming #TCTheater

Hello friends. Don't forget to keep an eye on our EVENTS page, where we're still gathering virtual events at theaters around town. Some fun things coming up this week, including Twin Cities Horror Festival's 9th season, Park Square Theatre's own THEATRE OF THE MACABRE, and another Theater Mu-tini Hour!

Streaming Events

Hello friends. Here are some #TCTheater shows for you to attend virtually this week. We know it's not the same as live theater, but it's all we've got right now! You can find more details on our events page, and remember to donate to your favorite theaters in this time.

If you know of any other events, please comment below or send us a message!

History Theatre - stream the 2012 production of COCO'S DIARY

The Feral Theatre Company - the launch of their podcast play project with OVERTONES

The Theater of Public Policy

The Champagne Drops - Monday night concert from this lovely duo

Rev. Matt's Monster Science - live every Thursday

Park Square Theatre - two virtual plays: the final installment in the 2 Sugars Show trilogy and a new play by Full Circle Yoga Duluth

Theater Mu - Friday night "Mu-tini" hour and Saturday "Family Explorations"

Somerville Productions - Friday night cabaret shows featuring local artists

The Brave New Workshop Comedy Theatre - Saturday night shows

and one thing we're very excited about - a weekly showtunes trivia challenge hosted by Actors Theater of MN and Camp Bar!

Streaming Events

Some livestream and recorded events.

Friends, I wrote something on my calendar! It was a red letter day, literally. I wrote down the theatrical offerings that I want to watch this weekend, online. Well, it's a chance to experience art while staying safe and social distancing. Also, it saves on gas and no long drive home at midnight.

Friday night at 7:00 Variety Slam at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

Saturday night at 7:00 Stevie Ray's Comedy Cabaret LIVE also Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

Monday night, also at 7:00, I'll be tuning into "The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society." They're doing Lost Episodes. Read more and get a ticket for this zoom event at Park Square Theatre. They also have a podcast that I'll be tuning into on my solitary walks.

I plan to catch "Mixed Tape" from Wayward Theatre Company tonight.

Ongoing is "Through the Narrows" from Z Puppets Rosenschnoz. I watched this a couple weeks ago. Kid friendly, meaningful, and creates great discussion on how people get through hard times.

Also, The Moving Company has "Speechless" (which I watched and loved), and other past shows.

Online, anytime, is Mixed Tape from Wayward Theatre Company. I plan to watch that tonight.

TCTB Review Roundup: The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society monthly shows at Park Square Theatre

The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society is performing at Park Square Theatre every month through May. One of our bloggers saw the show this month, a few others have seen them at other venues in the past. Click the links to find out what we had to say (or write) about it, then make plans for future shows (the last one sold out!).
https://parksquaretheatre.org/…/mysterious-old-radio-liste…/

The Stages of MN: http://bit.ly/38zZoch

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

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

TCTB Review Roundup: Closing Soon!

Recovered from Fringe and ready to see shows longer than an hour again? Check out these shows (which close this weekend):

Through August 18: Stinkers at The Jungle Theater:
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_stinkers
Play off the Page: http://bit.ly/2K2qQGb
Compendium - Minneapolis: http://bit.ly/2YpHIdz

Through August 18: 20th Anniversary tour of Rent at the Orpheum at Hennepin Theatre Trust
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_rent19

Through August 25: Agatha Christie's Rule of Thumb Park Square Theatre:
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_thumb

Happy theatering!

TCTB Review Roundup: Prime Productions' MARJORIE PRIME at Park Square Theatre

A couple of our bloggers have made it to Park Square Theatre to see PRIME Productions most recent show Marjorie Prime. It is running until May 19th. You can ready what our bloggers thought below:
Single White Fringe Geek: "Marjorie Prime is grappling with countless big, meaty issues related to life and death and the meaning of both"
Read more here: http://bit.ly/2PMKjvO
Cherry and Spoon: "The playwright provides a lot of food for thought, and the cast and team at Prime Productions have brought out all of the complexities of the script, creating something that's both very human and relatable, but also futuristic and a little disturbing."
Read more here: http://bit.ly/2GTRH4h

*Photo by Devon Cox

TCTB Review Roundup: THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH by Girl Friday Productions at Park Square Theatre

photo by Petronella J. Ytsma

The Skin Of Our Teeth, a biannual production by Girl Friday Productions, is now showing at Park Square Theatre through March 3. Art is supposed to make you think, and our bloggers definitely scratched their heads on this one. But that's not a bad thing, right? Here's what they had to say:

Cherry and Spoon says "Make no mistake, The Skin of Our Teeth is super weird. [...] It's a wild and crazy ride, but hang in there, the team at Girl Friday will get you through it to a rewarding end" https://bit.ly/2H4Vg9G

Play off the Page says "Presenting this play is a huge undertaking. Girl Friday Theater Company is up to the task." https://bit.ly/2StxeH8

Compendium - Minneapolis says "I can tell that this was a good production of Thornton Wilder, but I just couldn't connect to the story. If you're a fan of The Skin of Our Teeth already I have a feeling you'll love this show - many in the audience seemed delighted with the production, and Girl Friday Productions clearly knows their stuff when it comes to this author." https://bit.ly/2BUsp4x

Single White Fringe Geek says "It was a full evening, but it never felt long to me. So kudos to everyone involved for keeping the thing moving, but not so fast that I couldn’t keep up." https://bit.ly/2H6QIiT

TCTB Review Roundup: ANTIGONE at Park Square Theatre

February seems to be the month for telling strong stories with all-female casts. Antigone, showing at Park Square Theatre through March 3, is a strong addition to this pattern and our bloggers loved it. Here's what they had to say:

Cherry and Spoon says "Park Square continues that exciting new tradition with an ancient woman's story, told by a group of modern, diverse, talented women who make this 2000+ year old story feel urgent, necessary, and now" https://bit.ly/2GLEkof

Play off the Page says "This is powerful storytelling, filled with movement and life. It was like a well choreographed dance." https://bit.ly/2S8hkCd

Twin Cities Stages says "Park Square has a fantastic show currently playing downstairs on its Andy Boss Thrust stage." https://bit.ly/2IhWMY0

2018 Twin Cities Theater Bloggers Award Winners!

Announcing the winners of the Fourth Annual Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB) Awards!

Ten Twin Cities Theater Bloggers* participated in the selection of the winners. The full list of nominees was announced last week. Some of the categories were quite hotly contested, so congratulations to all of our wonderful nominees for creating entertaining, inspiring, and challenging theater in 2018.

Below are our 2018 TCTB Award Winners. Be sure to continue reading for some special local theater achievement awards!

TCTB Review Roundup: MARIE AND ROSETTA at Park Square Theatre

Read what our bloggers thought about Park Square Theatre's regional premiere of MARIE AND ROSETTA, about real life gospel and rock&roll legend Sister Rosetta Tharpe. (Spoiler alert: they loved it!)

Compendium - Minneapolis: https://bit.ly/2AEP9DZ
"The linchpin of the whole thing rests with Jamecia Bennett, who is superb as Sister Rosetta (and may be my favorite performance all year). Bennett has the look, the swag, the dialogue, and especially the pipes - her voice bellows throughout the theater like a sound tsunami, enveloping each and every audience member in a tight, warm, rich embrace. If you're not in tears by her second number or so, I'm not sure you have a soul."

Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_marieros
"This play with music paints a beautiful picture of these two very different women, their music, and their relationship, as well as the hardships both faced in their lives and careers, and brings these two musical legends to vivid life"

Info and tickets:
https://parksquaretheatre.org/box-office/shows/2018-19/marie-and-rosetta/

Photo by Petronella J. Ytsma

The Korean Drama Addict's Guide to Losing Your Virginity at Theater Mu

A large number of our bloggers saw Theater Mu new production "The Korean Drama Addict's Guide to Losing Your Virginity." The show currently is sold out and had a successful run! See what our bloggers said about it below.

Cherry and Spoon - https://bit.ly/cs_kdrama 

One Girl, Two Cities - https://bit.ly/2MYEaKH

Life in Revue - https://bit.ly/2MAdnHu

Compendium - Minneapolis - https://bit.ly/2OgQw0J

Gina Musto - https://bit.ly/2vTvpuE 

Minnesota Theater Love - https://bit.ly/2KDGQuY 

Brett Talk - https://bit.ly/2MkEZRE