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: "The Golden Record Project" at Sandbox Theatre

Sandbox Theatre's latest creation is part museum exhibit, part performance. Our bloggers highly recommend it, but they only allow 12 audience members per show in their intimate space in south Minneapolis. Select tickets remain through May 4.

Minnesota Theater Love: https://bit.ly/2vbbAOM
"We've never seen anything like The Golden Record Project at Sandbox Theatre (through May 4). An art installation and a performance piece set simultaneously in the past and the future, this truly immersive show is, frankly, mind-blowing."

Single White Fringe Geek: https://tinyurl.com/yyt5l4to
"It’s sort of part theater, part dance, part art exhibit, part audio visual trip down memory lane. All the artists involved in The Golden Record Project unabashedly geek out on the subject while also making it clear they understand (a little sheepishly) just how much they’re geeking out about it. Which just makes the whole thing seem that much more charming and sweet, and draws you in that much deeper."

TCTB Review Roundup: Words Do Move by Sandbox Theatre

"These stories feel personal to this wonderful open-hearted ensemble. Stories of not liking one's skin, or being a 'gender outlaw,' with the cast showing great strength and vulnerability in sharing themselves with the audience."
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/cs_words

"Because it is so specific and personal, it not only draws the audience in, it creates a feeling of universal humanity."
Single White Fringe Geek: https://tinyurl.com/y8z2c7hr

See Sandbox Theatre's WORDS DO MOVE through Nov 18 at The Crane Theater.

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

Sandbox Theatre's Big Money - TCTB Review Roundup

Sandbox Theatre opened Big Money this past weekend and a bunch of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers were in attendance. While opinions varied on specifics, overall we liked this examination of a smart man compelled to cheat the system and the 80's game show feel (there were kudos for the lighting, music, and hairstyles.) Read our reviews in this TCTB Review Roundup! Big Money playing now through January 28, 2017. Ticket and show information can be found on both Sandbox’s website and Park Square’s.

Twin Cities Theater Blogger Laura vanZandt shows off her Big Money program
in the Andy Boss Thrust Stage at Park Square Theatre.

One Girl, TwoCities
Review: Big Money by Sandbox Theatre

"I can confidently recommend you attend." Lara vanZandt, One Girl, TwoCities
Bonus: This review includes a Twin Cities Theater Blogger's behind the scene interview with Derek Lee Miller & Theo Langason of Sandbox Theatre, featuring Kendra from Artfully Engaging.

Cherry and Spoon
"Big Money" by Sandbox Theatre at Park Square Theatre

The Room Where It Happens
Big Money

"The timing of this show is perfectand asks questions that will only continue to be more important in the days to come: what does it really mean to be a winner?" Gina Musto, The Room Where It Happens

Twin Cities Stages
Big Money

Compendium
Big Stakes for Sandbox in "Big Money"

"Big Money is one of those stories that digs in after it's done." Becki Iverson, Compendium

Single White Fringe Geek
Review - Big Money - Sandbox Theatre - Yet Another All-American Con Artist - 3.5 stars

"Big Money is often a fascinating examination of narcissism and entitlement." Matthew A. Everett, Single White Fringe Geek

And also read...
Park Square Theatre's blog post from Derek Lee Miller
Michael Larson: The Eccentric Who Inspired Big Money

Join the conversation by sharing your photos, experiences, and #IntermissionTweets at this or anyother Twin Cities theater performance on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using the hasthtag #tctheater.

Teenage Misery by Revisionary Theatre Collective - TCTB Review Roundup

There's another new theater company in town. They're called The Revisionary Theatre Collective and they're making their debut with a remount of the 2013 Minnesota Fringe musical Teenage Misery. I highly recommend it if you like dark comedy, pop culture, new musicals, and up-close-and-personal theater experiences. Playing through this weekend only at Sandbox Theatre's studio space. - Cherry and Spoon

Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/2e479QH
One Girl, Two Cities: http://bit.ly/2daVppr

Queens at Sandbox Theatre: TCTB Review Roundup

"Over time, Raymond defines himself as a boxer, and he gets to the point where he can’t picture himself outside of that realm. But he also knows that it’s not a lifestyle he can sustain forever. How often do we do this to ourselves? We tell people more about what roles we have and not the kind of people we are. What’s at the root of why we do what we do? QUEENS asks us some challenging introspective questions, and I appreciate Sandbox Theatre for making me do some serious thinking."

Read more of our bloggers thoughts about the "lovely and inventive" QUEENS at the links below, and make plans to see the show at Park Square Theatre before it closes on June 4!

One Girl, Two Cities: http://bit.ly/queens_girl
Cherry and Spoon: http://bit.ly/queens_cherry