ALL the Theater Love - Can't Wait for These Winter 2018 Shows!

Friends, February 2018 is rich in amazing theater. Once you've recovered from that big sports game that is allegedly here sometime soon, go support one of our fantastic theaters! YEAH! Um, skol?

Here are a few of the over 31 (!) shows that are opening around February for which we are the most excited. Here's why you should put them on your list as well.

Looking Back at 2017: A Random List of Theater Bests

2017 may have been a decidedly lousy year in the world, but the theater was still pretty good.

SO many programs.

I saw 119 shows in 2017, which includes:
- 14 Twin Cities Horror Fest shows
- 10 Minnesota Fringe shows,
- 9 out of town shows (Chicago and Spring Green)
- 7 operas
- 4 shows I liked so much I saw them twice
- 2 podcast tapings
- 1 Hamilton
AND ...
- 0 shows that I left at intermission! Go theater!

Speed Dating through a Bunch of May Theater

Y'all, we've seen a LOT of plays lately. And we have fallen down on our mission to share these works with you, our loyal and devoted readership. In an attempt to win your hearts again, and to start the summer theater season with a clean slate, here is our speed dating recap of recent local theater.

Five Fifths of Jurassic Park - Minnesota Fringe benefit at Ritz Theater
How have I NEVER been to any of these shows before? I am appalled at myself and my co-blogger Jules. Here's the scoop: They pick a script, divide it into five parts and give it to five local theater companies to put their own spin on it--one night only.

This year's companies were Shanan Custer with the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society (listen to their podcast--it is MOST fun), Lounge-asaurus Rex (who I will now be following avidly, and not just for his impeccable taste in suitwear), Wayward Theatre Company (totally new to me--yay, new discoveries!), Blackout Improv (absolutely amazingly hilarious), and Erin Sheppard Presents (always fabulous and their costumes were ON point.) So fun and such a great teaser for the Fringe (August 3-13, 2017)!

Ann Michels in Sweetland
(photo by Rick Spaulding)

Sweetland: The Musical - History Theatre
Based on the lovely movie of the same name, which was based on a short story by local author Will Weaver, and with music by Dina Maccabee, and lyrics by Laurie Flanigan Hegge, and directed by Perrin Post .. With such a lovely pedigree and as it is such a labor of love, we wanted to like it more. However, our friend Cherry and Spoon loves it deeply, so please check out what she had to say!

Red Velvet - Walking Shadow Theatre Company
A really interesting premise from a well-regarded theater company, and a new play by a female playwright of color, Lolita Chakrabarti. (Fun fact: In London and New York, her husband Adrian Lester played the leading role). How can you go wrong? Although this was a very watchable play, and featured some strong performances, we ultimately found the play lacking. Single White Fringe Geek does a great job of outlining where we felt the play fell short. And although we adore JuCoby Johnson, this role didn't feel like the right fit for him.

Next on the calendar was Medea at New Epic Theater, but that show was cancelled. As we've seen great work from them in the past, we hope they sort out their issues and return to making theater.

Nate Cheeseman, Thallis Santesteban, John Catron, and
Christian Bardin in Lone Star Spirits (photo by Dan Norman)

Lone Star Spirits - Jungle Theater
Which we saw on its LAST DAY. So not helpful to anyone, particularly since the show was GENIUS. Dang it! The play, by Josh Tobiessen, was brought to life by director Sarah Rasmussen with a terrific ensemble of Terry Hempleman, John Catron, Christian Bardin, Nate Cheeseman, and Thallis Santesteban. Set and costume designer Sarah Bahr created the perfect small-town atmosphere, and the show ran a tight 80 minutes. So glad they extended a week and we were able to see it. 

Eric Sharp in Charlie, etc
(photo from Mu Performing Arts)

Charles Francis Chan Jr.'s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery - Mu Performing Arts
Lloyd Suh's script examines and critiques Asian American stereotypes using a play-within-the play to bring unspoken assumptions into the light. Randy Reyes directs this funny, thought-provoking, and challenging piece with a wonderful cast. And the show is in the Dowling Studio at the Guthrie, so tickets are just $9! Catch it before the show closes on May 28.

Broadway Songbook: Hollywood and Broadway - Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
Though the show started a bit slowly, with songs best known as standards rather than theater music, the talented cast brings zing to songs from shows from 42nd Street to Grease to Legally Blonde. The Songbook series has been a wonderful addition to the local theater scene, and we hope it continues after James Rocco leaves the Ordway later this year.

Refugia - The Moving Company
This new work, playing on the Guthrie's McGuire Proscenium stage, aims to explore "exile, borders and the displacement of people," but we found the piece problematic, seeming to focus on white characters and stories and to underuse its few actors of color. Our friend Laura from One Girl, Two Cities wrote a wonderfully thoughtful post on this show, which has sparked an amazing amount of discussion in the local theater community.

Intimate Apparel - Ten Thousand Things Theater

Playing at Open Book through June 4, this gem of a play by Lynn Nottage is sensitively staged by Austene Van in TTT's trademark stripped-down style. The excellent cast is led by a luminous Aimee K. Bryant as a seamstress at the turn of the century who yearns for love and seems to find it by corresponding with a man working on the construction of the Panama Canal. As always, the cast is superb, and though I had seen this play when the Guthrie did it in 2005, I had forgotten what a wonderful script it is. 

Whew! Now, on to more theater-watching! Happy theater-going, friends!!

Pericles at Ten Thousand Things Theater

Ansa Akyea (as Pericles) and
Peter Vitale (in the background)
(TTT web photo)

I was going to write this post about Pericles (through November 6 at Open Book) in the form of the ten thousand things that I love about Ten Thousand Things Theater company, but that seemed vaguely familiar.

Mostly because I already wrote that in 2015. By the way, all of my points still apply. They're amazing.

Pericles is directed and adapted by Michelle Hensley, and as usual, she makes Shakespeare beautifully accessible. I love this from the Director's Note: "I cut Pericles to about two hours in length--I don't think most of us today want to sit and watch Shakespeare to much longer than that--at least I certainly don't." Amen to that.

One of the best aspects of Ten Thousand Things's unique performing style (all the lights on, seating in the round, minimalist sets, costuming and music) is the ability to see some of the Twin Cities's best actors up close, doing what they do best.

And the cast is fabulous, especially Ansa Akyea as Pericles, whose amazing face I could watch for hours. TTT favorites Karen Weise-Thompson and Maggie Chestovich do their customary amazing, hilarious, poignant work. It's also so lovely to be able to see actors who are new to TTT such as Jucoby Johnson, Pearce Bunting, Audrey Park, James Rodriguez and Tatiana Williams work their actorly magic in TTT's setting.

What else is there to say? It's Ten Thousand Things Theater. Go see it. Support them and their amazing work.

By the way, this is the second major production of Pericles this year in the Twin Cities. Read our review of the Guthrie's January 2016 production.

The Changelings - Ten Thousand Things Theater

The play has some very funny parts, too. Really!

The Changelings is the latest collaboration between Ten Thousand Things Theater and playwright-in-residence Kira Obolensky. As with her other recent works, Forget Me Not When Far Away and Dirt Sticks, The Changelings is an original story with the feel of a timeless fable.

Two of the first characters we meet are Wind (Kimberly Richardson), an all-seeing force of nature teasing a broken-down House (Kurt Kwan), the residence of Sister (Joy Dolo) and her mother, Goat (Shá Cage). Goat and Sister are human, but have been known by their nicknames for a very long time, as has Freshface (Luverne Seifert), who runs an unsuccessful betting parlor with the help of Sharp (Kwan). Freshface and Goat are married, but he has taken up with Trixie (Richardson), a widow with money, which she uses to help Freshface's business, ironically named Paradise.

Luverne Seifert and Sha Cage (photo by Paula Keller)

Into this unhappy mess comes Otto (Ricardo Vazquez), claiming to be the son who disappeared some twenty years ago. He claims to have been stolen by goblins and taken to another world, and now, as an adult, he has escaped and come back to his family. Naturally, Otto's arrival causes a variety of reactions from his family members, who take their own paths through joy, disbelief, and cautious optimism.

In folklore, a changeling is a child stolen by magical beings and replaced with another. Obolensky's choice to make the title of the play plural suggests an expansion of that definition. But who are the changelings? I think everyone who sees the play will have to decide that for themselves. Though the story told is fairly simple, it brings up a lot of questions about how different people react to similar situations and why.

Kurt Kwan (photo by Paula Keller)

And audience members may have very different reactions, as well. Many things are left open to interpretation, but it is a fascinating journey. The story is only part of this play. The characters are people we want to know more about. One of the luxuries of having a playwright in residence is that Obolensky was able to write to the specific strengths of each of the actors in this production. The writing and the acting combine to create characters and a story that stay with us long after the play has ended.

It almost goes without saying, but all of the performances are wonderful. The Ten Thousand Things style of stripped-down staging as directed by Michelle Hensley means that the audience can really focus on the acting—not that anything here feels like acting. Being within a few feet of the performers, you see every nuance, expression, and reaction. Best of all, you can see their eyes, which convey the sense of lives that go on beyond what we see on the stage. And every single actor balances beautifully between hilarious and heartrending. One small moment, at the near end of the play, had me quite nearly in tears.

Kimberly Richardson and Luverne Seifert
(photo by Paula Keller)

In short, see this play to experience some of the purest storytelling you will ever experience. We saw it at Bedlam Theatre, but you can see it through June 5 at Open Book.

By the way, Bedlam Theatre is a fabulous place to see Ten Thousand Things Theater productions. It's not only the lovely bar and friendly staff. It's the open, urban feel of Bedlam, with the light rail and city folks passing by the windows. The space just has a warm feel to it which fits TTT to a (whaaaaat?) T.

We also had the opportunity to participate in a new program called Play Local. Check back with us for more info about this fabulous new program!

Spring 2016 Preview - SO. Much. Theater.

If you need me this spring, I'll be at the theater.

As much as I'd like to be out gardening (not really), enjoying the sun (in theory), or taking a long run (stop laughing), I shall be inside a dark theater enjoying the best from our local purveyors of quality theater.

So here's a look at the shows I'm most excited for this spring!

C. at Theater Latte Da (The Ritz Theater)
March 30 - April 24
What: A musical adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac with book and lyrics by Bradley Greenwald and music by Robert Elhai.
Why I'm Excited: Because it is an absolutely, utterly, gorgeous production of a wonderful new show. The music, in particularly the male chorus numbers, is astonishingly beautiful. Read more about from our friend Cherry and Spoon's rave review.

Buyer and Cellar at New Century Theatre
April 6 - April 24

What: One-man show about a Alex More, an unemployed actor who takes a job running the mall in Barbra Streisand's basement, originally performed off-Broadway in 2013.

Why I'm Stoked: Saw it in New York and the show is completely hilarious. We saw it with Michael Urie, and I can't think of a better local actor than Sasha Andreev to take on the sweet and funny role of Alex More.

The Fantasticks at Nautilus Music-Theatre
April 8 - April 19
What: Classic musical by Tom Jones about two young lovers and the fathers that try to separate them.

Why I'm There: a) That cast! Gary Briggle and Wendy Lehr as the young lovers, Christina Baldwin and Jennifer Baldwin Peden as their fathers, William Gilness as the mysterious narrator, and Brian Sostek as his sidekick. And b) There's no better place in town to hear amazing performers in charming, inventive productions AND unmiked in an intimate space.

Sunset Baby at Penumbra Theatre
April 12 - May 8
What: "A tough, independent woman in Brooklyn is visited by her father, a former revolutionary in the Black liberation movement who seeks to mend their broken relationship." (From Timeline Theatre)
Why It's a Must-See: Last year, Penumbra produced Detroit '67 by Dominique Morrisseau, and it was a beautiful, riveting night of theater. Also, Penumbra is hitting them out of the park this season.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid at Children's Theatre Company
April 12 - June 5
What: Musical adaptation of the wildly popular children's book series by Jeff Kinney.
Why: Four words: Produced by Kevin McCollum.

Lasso of Truth at Workhaus Collective in association with Walking Shadow Theatre Company(The Playwright's Center)
April 15 - May 1
What: A play that explores the origins of Wonder Woman, written by Carson Kreitzer.
Why I Am Excited (But a Little Sad): 1) Stephen Yoakam. 2) Projections by Davey Steinman (of Basement Creatures.) 3) It's Workhaus Collective's final show.  

Charm at Mixed Blood Theatre
April 22 – May 8, 2016
What: "A beguiling comic drama revolving around Mama Darleena, an African American trans woman in her 60s teaching an etiquette class to trans youth experiencing homelessness in a LGBTQI Chicago community center." (Mixed Blood website)
Why I'm Down: They had me at "beguiling." And I adore all things etiquette. Plus, important social issues and all that.

Leap of Faith at Minneapolis Musical Theatre
April 29 – May 22
What: Charismatic con man preacher has a change of heart (I assume).
Why I'm Up for It: I'm loving Minneapolis Musical Theatre's season this year and this one features the Twin Cities Gospel Choir. Yes, please.

Complicated Fun: the Minneapolis Music Scene at History Theatre

April 30–May 29, 2016
What: Exploration of the Minneapolis music scene of the 1980s.
Why I'm Interested but a Little Freaked Out: My youth is going to be on stage at the History Theatre. The History Theatre. That means I am OLD. Still ... I love that they're leaping into more recent history. Will the History Theatre be rocking? Will I need those kids to get off my lawn?

The Shining at Minnesota Opera
May 7 - 15
What: It's all there in the title. World Premiere, no less.
Why I'll Be In the Front Row: I love Stephen King AND opera! It's as though they made it just for me! Thanks, Minnesota Opera!

Trouble in Mind at Guthrie Theater
May 7 - June 5
What: "It is 1957 in New York and rehearsals have begun for a racially integrated production, one the company hopes will be the next hit. But when prejudices and stereotypes emerge, African American actress Wiletta Mayer faces a difficult decision: should she swallow her pride and compromise her values to achieve her lifelong dream of playing a leading role on Broadway?" (Guthrie website)

Why I Won't Miss This One: New play, by Alice Childress. (Can we talk about all the women playwrights on this list? And the women playwrights of color? HURRAH!) Fascinating story. Support representation at the Big G! And the lovely Mr. Haj.

A Night in Olympus at Illusion Theater
May 7 - June 4
What: I read the description and I really don't have any idea. Mythology? Zombies? Geeks? Wish fulfillment?
Why I'm Underlining This One: Really just a big list of names: Jeffrey Hatcher, Bill Corbett, Chan Poling, Dieter Bierbrauer, Aimee K. Bryant, Norah Long, Randy Schmeling and oh, so many more.

The Changelings at Ten Thousand Things
May 13 - June 5
What: Play by Kira Obolensky. They could put on a dramatic reading of the phone book, and I'd be there in the front row.
Why I Won't Miss It: See above. And because I don't miss a TTT production. Ever. Also, yay Joy Dolo! One of my new favorite local actors!

Happy Spring Theatergoing! And don't worry, Spring will be a little late this year.

Did I miss something amazing? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

Last Chance - Forget Me Not When Far Away at TTT

Forget Me Not When Far Away is the latest work in playwright Kira Obolensky's residency with Ten Thousand Things Theater.

As the play begins, an unnamed country has been at war for ten years, and in a town far from the fighting, all of the men are long gone. The women have learned to keep the town running, from bartending to dentistry to petty government bureaucracy. As the women are going about their daily business, including a reading of the latest casualties of the war, a man limps into town.

Dressed in fatigues and looking exhausted, John Ploughman (Ron Menzel) is returning to a place much changed in the years he has been gone. He finds that he has been reported dead, and sets out to resolve that issue while searching for a woman he treated badly before he left.

There's really not much to the story itself, but it's a fascinating tale of the after-effects of long-term war. It's also very funny, due in large part to the five women who play more than 20 characters. Highlights include Shá Cage as a woman who sets her sights on her former classmate John, Karen Wiese-Thompson as a dentist, Annie Enneking as a government functionary, Sun Mee Chomet as the woman John left behind, and Elise Langer as Atlas, the son John didn't know he had. Menzel does a great job interacting with all of these sometimes-extreme characters and hinting at a deeper level of his own character.

Ron Menzel with Elise Langer as Atlas.
(Paula Fuller/Star Tribune)

Everyone in this show is terrific! Every one of the multiple characters has a distinct personality and outlook, along with a look created with minimal costume changes and an array of wonderfully terrible wigs. Normally, I'm a fan of realistic wigs (shout out to Penumbra Theater for the wonderful wigs in By the Way, Meet Vera Stark and Detroit '67.) Given Ten Thousand Things' minimalist aesthetic, 20-some realistic wigs are not an option, and going in the exact opposite direction fits this play perfectly.

Forget Me Not When Far Away does everything a good play should do. It elicits laughs and sincere emotions through exaggerated but recognizable characterizations. Obolensky's script, under Michelle Hensley's sure direction, is a wonderful example of the work that can come out of long-term residencies, and helps to explain why so many playwrights call the Twin Cities home. You can still catch this show through May 31 at Open Book. See it if you can. Which is advice I'd give about anything this company puts on.

Side note from Carly (other contributor) to TTT: I NEED a copy of the picture of Atlas that was on his mother's desk.  It still makes me laugh to think of that dang picture, and it's been weeks since we saw the show.

Why I Love Ten Thousand Things ... And Molly Brown

We are so fortunate to have such an abundance of theater here in the Twin Cities that sometimes deciding which shows to squeeze into your calendar can be a struggle. Maybe it's a particular performer, or a play that's new to me that tips the scales towards a show.

But there are a few theaters in the Twin Cities that I will go see whatever they put on, because I know that regardless of the play, it's going to be amazing. If I do nothing else with this blog but convince people to go see their work? Then my work is done.

Here's why I love Ten Thousand Things Theater and their current production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, which  runs through March 8 at Open Book, Plymouth Congregational Church, and Heritage Park YMCA, plus performances in Blue Earth and Austin. (check the website for details!)

1. Casting, casting, casting.  I love the way Ten Thousand Things casts its plays. I love "non-traditional" casting--even though I wince using that term, I love a cast that is made of wonderful actors chosen for what they bring to the role, and not their ethnicity, age, size, or even their gender.

2. I love the way they put on a show. The first play I remember seeing at Ten Thousand Things was Ragtime, performed at the Minnesota Opera Center. It was the first time I experienced their lights on/in the round mode of performance.  The play was incredibly moving, and it made it even more so to see other audience members being just as moved. I love watching people love theater.

3.  Outreach through theater. I love that their mission is bringing theater to people who don't see a lot of theater. I love that they perform everywhere from correctional facilities to senior housing to libraries to transitional housing centers. And I love that they share insights from those performances at their public performances, and that they are not afraid to ask for money to continue their mission. And they appreciate it when they get it!

Luverne Seifert, Richard Ooms, and Craig Johnson in 
TTT's 2007 Richard III at the MN Opera Center. 
And that's how close the audience is for every show!

4.  I love the spareness and versatility of their sets. Since they travel to perform, their sets are bare bones.  Their music (by the wonderful Peter Vitale) is deceptively simple-sounding, but adds so much. Even the costumes are amazing. I'll never forget their marvelous production of Richard III with Craig Johnson changing characters and genders by donning a simple version of a metal hoop skirt.

5.  I love that they are willing to take on new plays and do amazing jobs with older plays. Their Shakespeare should be required viewing for everyone. Their work has opened up a whole new world of Shakespeare's work to me, due to their innovative productions, including an all-female version of Twelfth Night the season after their all-male Richard III.

Tyson Forbes and Maggie Chestovich
as the Unsinkable Browns

In short, they are amazing. And so is The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Maggie Chestovich gives a full-out, full-hearted performance that must leave her bruised and emotionally spent at the end of the show. As Johnny Brown, Tyson Forbes (new to TTT, as far as I know), is a towering presence who happens to have an amazing voice, ripe for singing love songs. As much as I love TTT, I've never seen chemistry like this on their stage before. It's almost electric!

And of course, H. Adam Harris, Max Wojtanowicz, Kimberly Richardson, George Keller, Eric Sharp, and Austene Van made the most of a variety of roles to fill out this musical. Harris and Wojtanowicz in particular added lots of laughs with their hilarious comments on the main action.

Fabulous, sweet, funny, charming, hopeful, romantic ... as usual, I leave Ten Thousand Things inspired to see more theater and feeling so fortunate to live here in the Twin Cities, where we have so much marvelous theater.

If you're a fan of TTT, you should know that Artistic Director Michelle Hensley, who has taken this innovative theater process to theaters around the country (and directed Molly Brown), has now written a book. All the Lights On: Reimagining Theater with Ten Thousand Things is published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press in association with HowlRound Press, and is available now on the TTT website. I know what I'm asking for on my next birthday!