Hadestown

Hadestown is not a happy story. It’s gut-wrenching and filled with despair. But it’s also mesmerizing, gorgeous, and peppered with moments of laughter and hope.

Once On This Island

By Jacob Froelich and Lydia Mwambi Celebrate Black History Month with a stage full of black excellence. This cast is standout in so many ways. From the wide range of vocal talent, to the depth and warmth that the actors portray so stunningly. Loosely based on the tale of “The Little Mermaid,” Once On This…

The Band’s Visit

            The Band’s Visit tells a seemingly uneventful story of a band from Egypt visiting a small town in Bet Hatikva, with a B, Israel. This is a story unlike many others you have known. There are no major plot points, toils, villains or heroes; it is simply regular people,…

The Phantom of the Opera

Since its Broadway debut thirty years ago, The Phantom of the Opera has had more than 65,000 performances, seen by 140 million people in 35countries, in 160 cities in 15 different languages. It is no secret that this show has been a hit around the world for many years and this magical new production, now…

2016 Ivey Awards

by CHRISTINE SARKES Inclusiveness and gratitude were the themes of the 12th Annual Ivey Awards held last evening at the Historic State Theater, downtown Minneapolis. Theater professionals honored their own and one of ours–Star Tribune theater critic Graydon Royce–as they reached beyond the typical candidates by awarding a non-actor, costume designer Trevor Bowen, with the Emerging Artist Award. Bowen got his…

Miss Richfield 1981’s Christmas Cone of Silence

by CHRISTINE SARKES SASSEVILLE Russ King’s hilarious holiday drag satire pokes fun of ethnic groups, religion, lesbians, bad sweaters and Rosemount. No group is safe from Miss Richfield 1981’s sharp-tongued, spike-heeled humor. King’s hysterically funny Miss Richfield 1981’s Christmas Cone of Silence is a holiday tradition for many repeat audience members and a break from treacly holiday fare for newcomers. King’s beauty queen alter ego,…

2015 Ivey Awards

by CHRISTINE SARKES SASSEVILLE The 11th annual Ivey Awards last evening recognized and showcased the work over the past year of the metro area’s professional theater companies and artists. Joe Dowling, the Guthrie Theater’s recently retired artistic director, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Critically-acclaimed newcomer, actor Mikell Sapp, who gave a moving acceptance speech, received the Emerging Artist Award…