Minneapolis Metblogs » JasonT

Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome….to the Ordway

JasonT — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:08:08 +0000

The Twin Cities has been known for its theatre scene, rivaling larger cities for mere number of venues, and beating most of them for theatres per capita. The Minne-Apple, Broadway of the Midwest, the True Great White Way (get it? White Snow? right….), basically we have lots of theaters. And we get big shows. Touring shows from Broadway, that play at various theaters in our fair metropolises. Unfortunately, some of those big boisterous Broadway shows feel a little cramped once we wedge them into the theaters we have here. I saw Wicked when it came to town, and unless you have seats directly down the middle, you’re not seeing a good portion of the stage.

We do have a theater, however, that deserves these big shows, with its vast stage. I love the Ordway. I’ve seen so many great shows there, from Les Miserables to the Drowsy Chaperone, to its currently running spectacle, Cabaret. And I’ve never been disappointed with a show that I’ve seen there. No, not even Big (which only ran for 193 performances on Broadway). There’s so much more room for the staging, that at the very least, the spectacle of the show generally blows you away. The current show, Cabaret, has the excellent staging, in a brand new co-production of this classic musical. Cabaret is co-produced by the Ordway, San Jose’s American Musical Theatre, and Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater. Each city brought its own talent and expertise to the production, with actors coming from all three cities, and Seattle providing the director, Bill Berry. It premiered in San Jose in March, continued on to Seattle, and then landed here last week, with performances continuing on until the 18th, prior to it touring elsewhere.

The show itself was so much fun to watch. I’d never seen Cabaret before, not even the movie, and was stunned by this performance. The creative team did a lot of research into 1920s Berlin of the final days of the Weimar republic, when many liberation movements were in full flower, using the book Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy, by Univ. of Minnesota professor, Eric D. Weitz. The freedom exhibited in the story, counter-pointed by the tragic ending foreshadowing the growing horror of Nazi Germany moved me greatly. Particularly well performed were the parts of the MC, played by Nick Garrison, and Frau Schneider, played by Suzy Hunt. I’m also enjoying the Ordway’s habit of putting the orchestra on-stage in costume, as they did in Chicago (this may be traditional for these shows, I’m not sure). They certainly looked like they were having fun, dragging it up on stage, while playing their instruments. Smiles all around. And that would explain the monitors facing the stage with the conductor’s hands displayed. I wondered about this the whole show, and it hit me just now why it was there.

There are still performances and still great seats for the show, and if you’ve never been to the Ordway, go over to St. Paul and check it out. It truly is my favourite theater in the Twin Cities.

Southern Fried Concerts

JasonT — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:32:03 +0000

I’m going to see Dolly Parton perform at Northrop Auditorium tonight, as part of her Backwoods Barbie tour, and decided to take my mom for an early Mother’s Day present. I’m thinking we ought to have southern cooking tonight, but for the life of me, I can’t think of a good place to go. We’re originally from Springfield, Missouri, gateway to the Ozarks, so I’m familiar with the dishes, but only ever from having it cooked at home. Where do we go in the Twin Cities to have good Southern cooking these days?

(I had originally used the word cuisine in my post, but I changed it to dishes, feeling that the word “cuisine” has no place in reference to Southern cooking. At least not until you get to New Orleans)

Support your local Superman!

JasonT — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:17:12 +0000

Did you know that the Twin Cities has their very own Superman? If you go to any comic book event or convention, you’ve probably seen him there along with Batman, Wonder Woman, and possibly a little red-haired Robin running around. He was at the Source on Free Comic Book Day, just this past Saturday. Now, after all he’s done for us, you know, like saving the world…and….stuff…um, we can repay him by voting for him as the Official Superman of the Superman Celebration in Metropolis, IL. Watch his audition video and vote for Greg Carlson, the TC’s own Superman. He’s #19 at Search for Superman. While you’re there, watch the other videos, too. There’s some funny stuff. I’d link you to the official website of the Superman Celebration, but it looks like it expired a few days ago. Hopefully they’ll renew it and it won’t be sniped.

It’s Free Comic Book Day

JasonT — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:38:44 +0000

Don’t forget to hit up your favourite Local Comic Book Store for your share of the Free Comics! I’m heading over to the Source right now, with a brief stopover at Keys for the sustenance required to overcome the thronging horde.

Support your local neighbourhood

JasonT — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:14:25 +0000

I attended the Whitter Alliance’s annual fundraiser last night at the Blaisdell Manor, where I got to sample food from a number of the Eat Street restaurants, and listen some nice jazz. The Whittier Alliance is one of the more active neighbourhood groups in Minneapolis, and the community meetings tend to get a little raucous at times. For a neighbourhood that measures only about a square mile, we have enough drama sometimes to account for the whole city it seems. But with our little area containing Eat Street, part of the 29th Street Greenway, and the contentious K-Mart on Lake Street, not to mention MCAD, the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts, and the Children’s Theater, people get more than a little involved in the goings on and possible developments.

The fundraiser helps raise money for the Whittier Alliance itself, with donations coming from residents and employers in the area. There was a silent auction, and a regular auction for some bigger ticket items. A $1500 dollar trip to San Francisco, all-inclusive, went for around 500, I think. I won a membership to the Hennepin History Museum, just down the road from my apartment, but which I have yet to visit. Guess now, I’ll start going.

A better location? Really?

JasonT — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:44:03 +0000

I had to go to a wedding in Blaine on Saturday, and as I only drive a 49cc scooter, I can’t take the freeway. One advantage to this is that I get to see all the stuff en route that everyone else misses. Like the new location for Totinos. On County Road 10 in Mounds View. The actual address is 2535 Highway 10 NE, Mounds View. It’s a standalone building with its own parking lot, what looks to be a former Bridgeman’s or the like. I hope that the fine people of the northern suburbs appreciate a non-chain place, and that the family continues to be successful in their new digs. I miss having them just across the river in Northeast, and probably won’t be making the trip up to Mounds View that often. Maybe they’ll foster a renaissance of small individually owned restaurants in outer ring suburbs. Highway 10 will become Eat Street North. Right?

Film festival blues

JasonT — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:43:20 +0000

Last night was the Opening Night Gala for the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival, enjoying its 26th consecutive year in the Twin Cities. I didn’t make it to the Gala, which was hosted at Bellanotte, and featured performers from the Secret Circus. Tickets to attend were very affordable at 10 dollars, or free with a festival pass. I thought seriously about going, so I could have a more objective viewpoint about the event and the festival. But I’m still angry at the parent organization, Minnesota Film Arts for the mismanagement that’s been going on for the past years, which has led to fewer films playing at the soon-to-be-history Oak Street and the cancellation of the annual GLBT Film Festival. I still say that their argument that there wasn’t enough community interest to support a GLBT Film Festival is disingenuous at best. We have one of the largest Gay Pride celebrations in the nation each year, and a huge arts-loving and film-going community. There’s got to be an intersection there. You can blame the audience for not showing up only so much before you have to turn the spotlight back on the organization and say, “What are we doing wrong in our advertising and promotions?”

I may or may not go see some of the films this year, but it’s hard for me to get excited about the festival when it’s run by MFA. Al Milgrom, who’s been involved since it started, does a great job, but the board of directors for non-profit MFA certainly haven’t made it easy for him.

If anyone made it to the Opening Night Gala, let us know how it went, and I’d love to hear more experiences from people attending the films as well.

Standoff in my neighbourhood

JasonT — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:01:55 +0000

Nothing like waking up and heading to work to see police cars blocking off both ends of my block. Not much information is available, but there was a burglary last night, and this morning, the suspect took hostages in a townhouse near 25th and 3rd, and the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts. WCCO reports that the hostages have been released, but the suspect is still armed and holed up. The SWAT team is on site, but hasn’t moved on the suspect yet.

I left to come to work at about 9:30 this morning, pulled the scooter out and turned north, saw the squad car blocking off that end, turned around and saw three cars blocking off that end. What to do, what to do. I went north, and the police let me exit the area, but they weren’t letting anyone back in. I normally have my clock radio tuned to Jazz88, which has news regularly throughout the morning, but today I had it turned off. I wonder how quickly I would’ve woken up this morning hearing on the news that there was a SWAT team facing down a hostage less than a block away from my apartment. How long would it have taken my waking brain to process that information and would I have decided to just stay inside than to venture out on the scooter?

Local theatre rocks!

JasonT — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:37:38 +0000

Fort Wilson Riot’s Idigaragua previews tonight at the Bedlam Theatre, returning after selling out shows last September. Officially opening tomorrow, along with new play, Massgraves, the shows run through April 13. Local company, Lamb Lays with Lion presents both shows each evening, alternating which goes first. I missed Idigaragua the first time around, but I’m not going to miss it again now that it’s back. My friend, KatieRose, is in the show, and I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen her perform. She recently returned to Minneapolis from Chicago where she played Esmerelda in Redmoon Theatre’s production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Idigaragua, FWR’s rock opera, got great reviews first time around. Its Myspace page has some of the music from the show for your perusal. Wake up from the winter coma, and go see local theatre! Showtimes are listed below.

Preview: Thursday, April 3
Idigaragua at 7:30
Massgraves at 9:30

Opening Night: Friday, April 4
Massgraves at 7:30
Idigaragua at 9:30
Afterparty with ABZORBR

Saturday, April 5
Idigaragua at 7:30
Massgraves at 9:30
Afterparty with CITY ON THE MAKE

Sunday, April 6
Idigaragua at 7:00
Massgraves at 9:00

Monday, April 7
Idigaragua at 7:00
Massgraves at 9:00

Thursday, April 10
Massgraves at 7:30
Idigaragua at 9:30

Friday, April 11
Idigaragua at 7:30
Massgraves at 9:30
Afterparty with SCREAMIN’ CYN CYN & THE PONS

Saturday, April 12
Massgraves at 7:30
Idigaragua at 9:30
Afterparty with DANCE BAND

Closing: Sunday, April 13
Idigaragua at 7:00
Massgraves 9:00

TICKETS:

Priced at $15 for each show or $20 for both (on the same night). Tickets can be purchased at the Bedlam Theatre or online at www.bedlamtheatre.org.

Chilly spring afternoon? Read comics!

JasonT — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:55:43 +0000

My friend Marty and I are heading over to Big Brain Comics in a couple of hours to attend the release party for a couple of local graphic novel creators. Lars Martinson will be doing an early release of his book, Tonoharu Part One, just prior to heading to Japan for a gig researching calligraphy. Tim Sievert will be on hand with his graphic novel, That Salty Air.

I have to admit, I’m not familiar with either of these local artists, but I saw the release listed in first the Star Tribune (who had a huge typo for Martinson’s book, both in print and on their website), and then on the Pioneer Press’s website. Checking out their websites, I’m sure I’ll buy both books while I’m there. I’ll have a review afterwards at my comics blog.