Friday, February 8
Hello, My Name Is…
WHAT: The Book of Mormon
WHERE: Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis
WHEN: 8 p.m.
The biggest show on Broadway, the bastard brainchild of the creators of South Park, is actually strangely sweet. Yes, every cultural group you could think of—and not just Mormons—gets their undies run up the flagpole. But the storyline has compassion and the musical numbers, as any fan of South Park can tell you, are as clever and rousing as they are irreverent. Learn more at hennepintheatretrust.org
Friday, February 8
Blue Friday
WHAT: Davina and the Vagabonds
WHERE: Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, Minneapolis
WHEN: 8 p.m.
Davina is a retro-blues rocker who brings down the house. It’s a case of one of those acts that somehow winds up more popular outside its hometown. She’s big in Europe, where they’ve always dug American blues. Not that people don’t dig Davina here. They do, enough to warrant a two-night weekend stand at the Dakota. Learn more at dakotacooks.com
Saturday, February 9
Northern Exposure
WHAT: Nordic Lights Film Festival
WHERE: St. Anthony Main Theater, Minneapolis
WHEN: Various times
Scandinavian culture is hot right now, and a few of those reasons are explored here. Noomi Rapace, star of The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo, is back in Beyond, about Finnish immigrants in Sweden. And there’s the wonderfully titled Turn Me On, Dammit, a coming-of-age tale. And there’s The Finland Phenomenon, a documentary on the surprising reasons why Finland has the best education system in the world. Learn more at mspfilmsociety.org
Saturday, February 9
Indie-folk Originals
WHAT: Ashtray Hearts CD release
WHERE: Icehouse, Minneapolis
WHEN: 11 p.m.
These guys were playing “apartment music,” their name for a kind of citified indie-folk, before Bon Iver ever locked himself into a Wisconsin cabin. They’re back with their first CD in eight years, The Strangest Light, slightly more electrified, just as meditative, and very cool. Learn more at icehousempls.com
Sunday, February 10
Whipsmart Theatre
WHAT: Venus in Fur
WHERE: Jungle Theater
WHEN: 2 p.m.
This sexy, funny two-person play about control and desire became a big hit on Broadway recently, largely on the smoldering performance of the lead actress. Here, the very capable—and sexy and funny—Anna Sundberg grabs the reins, er, whip. And Peter Christian Hansen is the hunky director who isn’t of a mind to cast Sundberg’s character in his play until she starts to heat things up. Learn more at jungletheater.com
Sunday, February 10
Can’t Go Home Again
WHAT: Buzzer
WHERE: Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
Tracey Scott Wilson’s smart, powerful one-act gained high praises in its world premiere last year, as did actors Hugh Kennedy, Namir Smallwood, and Sara Richardson. The play, about an African American attorney who returns to his hometown to show off his accomplishments, white girlfriend and recovering drug-addict best friend in tow, boldly addresses race, gender, stereotypes, and relationships—without being preachy. Learn more at guthrietheater.org
