Weekend Best Bets: October 28-30

See a show, jam to jazz, lose yourself in a maze…make the most of the last weekend in October

Friday, October 28

Batty musical

WHAT: Bat Boy: The Musical
WHERE: Illusion Theater, Minneapolis  
WHEN: Back by high demand, Minnesota Musical Theatre performs this outrageous but surprisingly touching story about a boy rescued from a cave who learns to act “civilized.” Learn more at illusiontheater.org

Friday, October 28

Musical adventure

WHAT: Atlantis Quartet CD release
WHERE: Artists Quarter, St. Paul
WHEN: 9 p.m.
The hot jazz combo led by Zacc Harris on guitar, among the sharpest, most creative groups in town, debuts its new CD. Learn more at artistsquarter.com

Saturday, October 29

Comic relief

WHAT: Il Campiello
WHERE: Open Book, Minneapolis
WHEN: 8 p.m.
Nevermind the fancy name or ancient plot—Ten Thousand Things Theater makes comic magic of this story, adapted by Steven Epp, about life in a Venetian plaza. The actors are gold—Sarah Agnew, Randy Reyes, and seven others—the hilarity is mint. Learn more at tenthousandthings.org

Saturday, October 29

Scary afternoon

WHAT: Ghouls & Goblins at the Maze
WHERE: University of Minnesota Arboretum
WHEN: 1 to 5 p.m.
Where better to celebrate Halloween than in the lovely surroundings of the Arboretum, where kids can follow a trick-or-treat trail to candy, wander the Magical Maze, and listen to music, while grown-ups enjoy the remaining fall color. Learn more at arboretum.umn.edu

Sunday, October 30

Pop goes Japan

WHAT: Edo Pop: The Graphic Impact of Japanese Prints
WHERE: Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
View 160 of the MIA’s best Japanese woodblock prints, known as pictures of the floating world for their idealized images of the Kabuki stars of the day and reigning beauties of the pleasure quarters. Learn more at artsmia.org

Sunday, October 30

That’s amore

WHAT: Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life
WHERE: St. Anthony Main Theater
WHEN: Various times
The sensational biopic of French pop-star Serge Gainsbourg examines his relationships with Bridget Bardot, his music, and his struggles as an infamous Jewish singer-songwriter, combining the best cinematic magic of La Vie en Rose and Amelie. Learn more at mspfilmsociety.org