by Christine Sarkes Photo Credit: Dan Norman. Come From Away at the Guthrie Theater is a rollicking, rousing, joyful and poignant snapshot in time when nations and people were united in grief and solidarity in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Created by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, from thousands of real-life interviews,…
by Christine Sarkes Ten Thousand Things Theater’s second-only musical, The Most Happy Fella, is a soaring, joyful and wildly entertaining production of Frank Loesser’s 1956 musical adaption. Each player’s performance is superb and they are impressively multi-talented, portraying multiple characters, playing instruments, singing and manipulating the spare props that inhabit the performance space. If you’ve never…
Comedy / dark comedy / Mystery / Reviews
by Christine Sarkes and Erika Sasseville (a mother/daughter review) Sleuth at the Guthrie Theater now through May 10 is a plot-twisting, wildly entertaining whodunit in the mode of Agatha Christie but slightly darker and campier. The acting is superb, with moments of comic genius. And the set design by Todd Rosenthal is so magnificent and…
dark comedy / Dinner + A Show / drama / mature audiences / Play / politics / Reviews / Uncategorized
Whether or not you’re familiar with the biblical tale, you’re sure to be familiar with the themes of this show. This production is inventive, cohesive, and comes in at a crisp 90 minutes with no intermission. So if you can take the time to make it to the theatre this week, consider Salomé by Oscar Wilde running one more weekend, this Thursday-Saturday February 26-28 at PAIKKA in St. Paul.
Absurdism / dark comedy / drama / Musical
Lyric Arts’ production of Ride the Cyclone is completely strange, occasionally disturbing, and utterly captivating from curtain to curtain.
Fresh off their successful run of Breach at the 2025 Minnesota Fringe Festival, Third Space Theatre is furthering their reputation of crafting fast-paced and gripping theatre built to make you think with Plano by Will Arbery, now playing at Mixed Blood Theatre. Plano is an absurdist exploration of family, identity, trauma, and the lies we all tell ourselves. There is one more weekend of shows, and you will not want to miss it.
Nutcracker Noir: A Sensual Cirque Ballet is an 18+ performance blending humor, queerness, and inventive storytelling. The show features skilled performers in ballet, burlesque, and circus acts, offering a playful twist on Tchaikovsky’s classic. The chemistry between Clara and her Nutcracker captivates, making it a must-see experience at the Phoenix Theater.
by Christine Sarkes Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice at the Theatre in the Round now through October 5 is not the sedate BBC versions you’ve come to love and expect. Under the direction of Penelope Parsons-Lord and with Kate Hamill’s adaption, this is a rollicking, raucous, chaotic, and joyful contemporary spectacle. As a devoted Janeite,…
by Christine Sarkes and Erika Sasseville Cabaret at the Guthrie Theater, now through August 24, under the masterful direction of Joseph Haj, is among the most exhilarating, sexiest and relevant productions I’ve seen in Twin Cities theater. Cabaret won Tony awards for Best Musical and others in 1967. The Bob Fosse movie version with Liza…
If you’re a fan of Sondheim, you won’t want to miss Theater Latté Da’s production of one of his lesser known works, Passion.
by Christine Sarkes Between Riverside and Crazy, the 2015 Pulitzer Prize winning play for drama showing at Park Square Theatre, is a deeply evocative, thought-provoking mosaic of life’s chaos and joys, unfolding within the walls of a New York City apartment. It is a powerfully acted production dealing with such heady, relevant themes as racism,…
If your family is looking to stay cool this summer, look no further than Disney’s Frozen the Broadway Musical now playing at Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis through June 15th. Fans of the 2013 Disney animated film will be familiar with the majority of the show and delighted by the new material only found in the stage version. As usual, Children’s Theatre Company has crafted a spectacular production that is technically jaw-dropping and kid-friendly from top to bottom. Disney fans of all ages will fall in love with this story all over again.
Theater Latte Da’s production of Fun Home is a true tour de force! Make sure to get your tickets while you can!
by Christine Sarkes and Erika Sasseville (a mother/daughter review) The Mousetrap at the Guthrie Theater, now through May 18, is a delightfully camp and beautifully produced staging of Agatha Christie’s classic whodunit. Audiences will be thrilled by the gorgeous, lush set upon arriving at the McGuire Proscenium Stage. Director Tracy Bridgden, Guthrie Theater’s Senior Artistic…
by Christine Sarkes Park Square Theatre‘s superbly acted production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, The Gin Game, is directed by Twin Cities theater veteran Faye M. Price and features acclaimed TC actors Greta Oglesby (Fonsia Dorsey) and Terry Hempleman (Weller Martin). The Gin Game follows the bond that develops between two lonely residents of a…
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