April 2009
April 29, 2009Review: "Caroline, or Change" grooves at the Guthrie
"Caroline, or Change," at the Guthrie Theater now through June 21, is not the perfect musical. But it may be the perfect night at the theater. This drama, which debuted on Broadway in 2004, depicts one Louisiana household--Jewish with a black maid--struggling to do right by each other in 1963 as a wave of impending social change rises before them in the wake of President John F. Kennedy's assassination and the full flower of the Civil Rights movement. As imagined by playwright Tony Kushner, it's a suspenseful, eye-of-the-hurricane moment. As the story tumbles along, however, Kushner's idiosyncrasies begin to distract. His metaphorical leaps are at once too obvious and a step too short (coin change equals change, get it?). He doesn't write dialogue so... Read more » Posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0) |
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April 21, 2009All-native RED INK premieres Wednesday
It's unlikely this has happened before: an all-Native American cast, in a play writen by Native Americans (seven, to be exact, representing nine different bands). And for non-natives, the world premiere of RED INK at Mixed Blood Theatre stands to be a full immersion in a culture that remains unfamiliar, especially in its modern context. "A play within a pow-wow," it's described by its writers, with music, dance, storytelling, and Indian humor woven around a story exploring the hot topics of gaming, sports mascots, sovereignty, etc. The show opens Wednesday, April 22, as a fundraiser for The Circle newspaper--the voice of the Minnesota native... Read more » Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0) |
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April 20, 2009Acclaimed costumer Laura Fulk set for solo show
You've seen her costumers in plays by Sandbox Theatre and the Workhaus Collective, her dresses in the Retrorama shows hosted by the Minnesota Historical Society (which has purchased her work for its collection, too), and in the Star Tribune's recent feature of local designers' ideas for Michelle Obama's inaugural dress. Not to mention a dozen or more designer showdowns, contests, and group shows. But as part of Minnesota Fashion Week, Laura Fulk's bold, futuristic designs will finally have the night to themselves tomorrow,... Read more » Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0) |
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April 17, 2009Kushner fest opens at the Guthrie
The first play in the month-long celebration of playwright Tony Kushner's work at the Guthrie Theater opens on Saturday, and the marketing folks there have been making sure we remember with daily trivia blasts. You'd be excited, too, if you were hosting, and toasting, the man many regard as the present and future of contemporary theater. It's all somewhat of a prelude to the big event--the world premiere of Kushner's commissioned play, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures (shortened to The Intelligent Homosexual on the Guthrie website), which opens May 9. But those... Read more » Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0) |
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April 16, 2009Electric Fetus hosts Chris Cornell/The Bad Plus on April 18
Remember records? LPs? Platters? Of course you do (though how many folks remember when Tatters clothes shop was called Tatters and Platters for that very reason?). If you grew up with rock 'n' roll you probably still have a stash--and you know what? You need more. Yes, you do--like rare Elvis Costello 7-inch singles, Flaming Lips singles, even Flight of the Conchords singles. And they're being ordered in special for the second-annual Record Store Day at the Electric Fetus on Saturday, April 18. Check out their website for a list of the special discs--sorry, records--available beginning that day. But you don't even need to be a recordhead for an... Read more » Posted on Thursday, April 16, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0) |
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April 10, 2009How to score free tickets to "The Barber of Seville"
The Barber of Seville, which the Minnesota Opera opens this Saturday at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, may be the only opera you've heard without having heard of. Where? Try Woody Woodpecker, Bugs Bunny, Rocky & Bullwinkle—even the Simpsons—have all put their animated stamp on the familiar music. And the real show is no less humorous, in a good way—the kind of over-the-top opera experience that makes for, well, great parody. So if you've been timid about trying opera, this may be your best bet. If you're still unsure, check out some videos exploring the show and the performers at the MN Opera website. And for a chance to win tickets to the Barber (cut-rate?), social... Read more » Posted on Friday, April 10, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0) |
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April 3, 2009Rogue Buddha hosts the weekend's coolest art opening
Scion, the brand of low-riding, hot-colored cars that those of us in generations A through X are about as familiar with as mumblecore movies, is touring a show of some of the hippest photography, painting, and sculpture from young American artists, entitled simply Installation Five. And it couldn't have picked a cooler gallery than Rogue Buddha, in Northeast Minneapolis, whose proprietor, Nicholas Harper, maintains the area's steadiest scene of gritty exhibitions by national artists, avant-garde music, and people-watching just this side—the Midwest side—of The Factory. The art naturally wraps around the interests of Scion's youthful market—with styles drawn from... Read more » Posted on Friday, April 3, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0) |
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April 2, 2009How to get exclusive Rock the Garden tix right now
It's not a question of whether the Rock the Garden concert, scheduled for June 20 this year outside the Walker Center, will sell out but how soon. The bill, announced today, closely tracks the conceptual, downbeat arc that indie-pop is on with The Decemberists headlining, preceded by Calexico, those wildly eclectic southwest psychedelics, with the local pop-rockers Solid Gold opening. So how can you assure yourself of a ticket--and at a real discount? Easy--members of Minnesota Public Radio or the Walker Art Center get an exclusive crack at tickets now through April 17. And if you... Read more » Posted on Thursday, April 2, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0) |
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