Theater
Clybourne Park • A star-studded cast—Jim Lichtscheidl, Peter Christian Hansen, Ansa Akyea—tackles race, politics, and the generation gap in this award-winning satirical dramedy. It opens in 1959 as a black family is moving into an all-white north Chicago neighborhood, and ends in the same place in 2009, when the situation is reversed. • 6/1–8/4, guthrietheater.org
[THE RUNNERS-UP]
Urinetown • Bradley Greenwald stars in the musical all about, well, you know. • 6/7–8/4, jungletheater.com
War Horse • The Tony winner (later an Oscar-nominated film) at the Orpheum.
• 6/12–23, hennepintheatretrust.org
The Geriatrical Theatrical • Richard Ooms, Claudia Wilkens, and Sally Wingert spoof aging via song and dance. • Opens 6/4, plymouthplayhouse.com
Music
Twin Cities Jazz Festival • That Prince reportedly parked his limo near Mears Park and listened as Esperanza Spalding played makes this the coolest festival around, even without knowing the headliners. That would be pianist Kenny Werner, drummer Matt Slocum joined by saxophonist Walter Smith III, and pianist Cyrus Chestnut. • 6/27–29, twincitiesjazzfestival.com
[THE RUNNERS-UP]
Chris Mann • The Voice finalist (and Ben Affleck look-alike) sings at the Pantages.
• 6/4, hennepintheatretrust.org
Dee Dee Bridgewater and Ramsey Lewis • The legendary jazz masters play the Dakota.
• 6/19–20, dakotacooks.com
Cantus • The men’s chorus, fresh from a Middle East tour, performs cover songs at the Cowles and Harriet Bandshell. • 5/31–6/8, cantussings.org
Film
Dead in Five Heartbeats • Fictional tough guys are played by actual tough guys in this adaptation of Ralph Sonny Barger’s novel of the same name. The film, shot in 24 days, goes inside the world of Hells Angels club members in Arizona. The Hooligans, Alma, The Rollin Knights: they are all here, black-leather jackets and badass tats included. • 6/8, theparkwaytheater.com
[THE RUNNERS-UP]
Music and Movies in the Parks • The reason we suffer through winter, at a Minneapolis park near you. • Nightly June–August, mplsmusicandmovies.com
The Bedroom Window • Silent movie suspense. • 6/9, heightstheater.com
The Audience • Helen Mirren reprises her role as Queen Elizabeth II in this National Theatre Live broadcast. • 6/29–30, landmarktheatres.com
Dance
Psst! • Channeling charming Betty Boop–era animation and the expressionism of the sci-fi silent-film classic Metropolis, Off-Leash Area once again breaks the storytelling mold. Featuring 13 masked dancers and an original score, the award-winning troupe tells a sweet and poignant story with just one spoken word: psst!
• 6/21–23, thecowlescenter.org
[THE RUNNERS-UP]
Whack-A-Mole • Black Label Movement’s spirited look at how communities react to and recover from disasters. • 6/28–30, thecowlescenter.org
Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Ensemble • Among the world’s foremost folk-dance troupes.
• 6/14, thecowlescenter.org
Cabaret Nudista • Streetwalkers, cabaret, and Tijuana through Ballet of the Dolls’ funky prism.
• 6/15–23, ritz-theater.org
Visual Arts
Stone Arch Bridge Festival • Held around Father’s Day, this art fair has always reached beyond the Red Hat Society crowd with a car show and live music. The best part, though, is the location: Water Tower Park, the St. Anthony riverside, and the bridge itself. If you bike to just one art fair this summer, this should be the one. You can pick up your purchase later. • 6/14–16, stonearchbridgefestival.com
[THE RUNNERS-UP]
St. Anthony Park Arts Festival • Year 44 of pottery, pony rides, and art. • 6/1, stanthonyparkartsfestival.org
Bike Art VIII • Like bikes? Like art? Your identity has been conveniently encapsulated. • 6/6–27, alteredesthetics.org
Gophers in the Garden • Human-sized Goldy Gopher statues set up camp in the arboretum for the summer. • 6/1–8/31, arboretum.umn.edu
Events
Great River Shakespeare Festival • Minnesota’s cultural answer to Tanglewood is the country’s most laid-back celebration of the bard, emphasizing Winona’s relaxing riverside as much as iambic pentameter, including picnics and concerts in the park. The plays, Twelfth Night in repertory with Henry V, offer a welcome choice of comedy or drama. • 6/26–8/4, grsf.org
[THE RUNNERS-UP]
Twin Cities PRIDE • Chris Kluwe hosts an expanded parade and festival including a VIP lounge, brunch, and an after-party. • 6/29–30, tcpride.org
Grumpy Mudder • The newest extreme race includes three hills and major mud. • 6/8, wabashamn.org
Grandma’s Marathon • The official start of summer—for runners anyway. • 6/22, grandmasmarathon.com
