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.

If you happen to be around Northeast Minneapolis this weekend be prepared to see art, and lots of it. Every year NEMAA (the Northeast Arts Association) puts on Art-A-Whirl. Which is open artist studios, live music, clubs having events and more.

I will be spending most of my weekend days on 28th and Johnson Street where I will helping with the live music of Johnstock, which is the Johnson Street Merchants Associations Art-A-Whirl event. Artists booths, Live music and all the stores will be having extra stuff going on.

I haven’t found a definitive guide of all Art-A-Whirl events, but they have a listing on their website. There are also info booths in Northeast where you can pick up the Art-A-Whirl book which has everything listed and there is a map as well.

If anything just drive or bike around Northeast and you will see signs directing you to warehouses, galleries and other cool places. See you there!!

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden turns 20 this year.

You’re no doubt familiar with this photo; the famous “Spoonbridge and Cherry” fountain-sculpture that defines our city as one that doesn’t exactly take itself seriously.

The Claes Oldenburg sculpture was commissioned by the Walker Art Center in 1985 and was installed three years later on May 9, 1988. On August 29, 2007, it was eaten in a freak walk-by assault.

I was doing some quick research and found out it was fabricated by Lippincott, Inc., North Haven, Connecticut; Merrifield-Roberts, Inc., Bristol, Rhode Island; and Paul E. Luke, Inc., East Boothbay, Maine.

It seems ironic that the piece of art that most defines our city is actually the product of a Swedish artists and three East Coast states. Do you think they’ll be sending the Spoonbridge a birthday card?

Photo from oopsilon under Flickr CC license

Last night, a staff member at Coffee House Press told me that the proprietors of Nate’s Clothing downtown (27 N 4th St) closed the sale of their building yesterday. The Star Tribune ran a story in March on the impending ownership change, saying it would be sold to Uppal Enterprises, which plans to install a nightlife establishment or restaurant.

Coffee House, which currently roosts on the fourth floor, will mostly likely be moving to Northeast, possibly in the vicinity of the old Grain Belt Brewery. CHP is a non-profit press that has put out some award-winning books. If you’re not familiar with them they have various events going on around the Cities in the coming weeks.

Local artist Scott Seekins also has a studio on the fourth floor of the building, so he is being displaced as well. He will have a longer trek to complete his “performance art” rounds through the downtown skyway everyday if he has to move to a different neighborhood. (If you’re familiar with Seekins, you know that he always wears either a white suit or a black suit, depending on the season. I saw him at the Mayday parade last weekend in snowy garb, and as my friend said, “That means spring.”)

So, that’s a three-for-one hit to the rootsy side of downtown: the mom ‘n’ pop clothes business, a non-profit book publishing press, and a local artist all leaving the Warehouse District. God knows we could use another Aqua.

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)

I was going to get this in before Friday, but then what happens on Tuesday night I get a scratchy throat and spend the next few days in a downward spiral into a changing seasons cold/flu bug.

At Altered Esthetics last night, they had a release and art show for “Lutefisk Sushi Volume C” which is book of mini comics by local Minnesota comic book artists.

Well I missed the event nursing a sinus headache and and continous nose blowing session and I was seriously bummed about it.

Alas, the show runs until the end of May and during the much touted Art-A-Whirl. So there is still plenty of time to check it out.

Also newcomers to the interactive entertainment web Metromix covered it with a weird professional news video reporting style that almost made the event seem creepy. Well, you can’t really complain about local events getting press. Even if it did have a car commercial in front of it.

So get to Altered Esthetics and check out the show.

I’m sorry, that title was just too obvious to not use it here. If you haven’t checked out the Minneapolis Institute of Arts’ spring celebration, Art in Bloom, the event goes through Sunday. The annual celebration places flower art next to the works that inspired them throughout the museum, and there are nightly events with refreshments available (provided you’re willing to exchange money for them).

Tonight you can get free docent-led tours, starting at 6pm and proceeding, I assume, throughout the evening. You can view the flowers and the MIA galleries for free.

But word on the streets is that the ones around MIA are being cleaned today, so if you’re planning to drive be aware that the free ramp will probably be full, and you may have to walk a couple of blocks if you plan to park.

This week I’ve been listening to MPR: Radio at 8:15 am.

Each morning they’ve been featuring a young up-and-coming Minnesotan artist that is also a winner of the Schubert Club’s Bruce P.Carlson Student Scholarship.

From the MPR article: “The preliminary round competition typically draws more than 250 students competing in 15 divisions, split up by age and instrumentation. The youngest competitors are in junior high. The oldest are graduate students, but there a few out of college”

The talent level of these up-and-coming young artists is amazing and each day I have been delighted and impressed by the chosen material and the performace.

Show your support for Minnesota talent and give these young artists a listen.

Related:
The Schubert Club

Listen to the interviews on MPR’s website after they air.

( Photo, Stillwater High School violinist Emily Anderson, courtesty of MPR/Karl Gehrke ) 

Photo Courtesy of The Guthrie Theater.

Once my daughter started middle school in Minneapolis, it was brought to our attention a program called Project Success. It allows us to go to select Theater Performances plus I even think we can attend a Twins Game for free. We were lucky enough to see “A Christmas Carol” this winter and now more recently “A Midsummer Nights Dream” both were at the Guthrie Theater.

There is just something about the Guthrie Theater, with it’s cool stage and the amazing effects and things they can get out of it. I remember seeing one play at the old Guthrie and also the legendary Johnny Cash, which was amazing.

“Midsummer’s Night Dream” which for the Shakespeare novice is a romantic comedy set in Greece and in the forest with a group of mystical fairies. The play basically pokes fun at the absurdities of love. (I had to look this information up) This version at the Guthrie was modernized, and while I enjoyed the electric guitar squeals and rock music some of the music added was a bit Disney-a-fied.

Overall it was done very well, and even my 8 year old daughter was able to make it through the 3 hour long production. I just want to thank Project Success for allowing us to be able to go as a family which for about $160 I couldn’t afford.

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.