St. Paul Theatre + Broadway News

Penumbra Theatre Announces 2013-2014 Season

(5/20/2013) - Penumbra Theatre has announced 15 events offered within the 2013-2014 Season. The season marks the 37th year for Penumbra and it will celebrate the staging of plays and the introduction of new events to deepen and enrich the theatre experience. New events include Let's Talk Theatre hosted by Sarah Bellamy, the Claude Edison Purdy Individual Artist Festival, and ALOUD: A Festival of New Work by Third Year Summer Institute Students.

Now Playing Onstage in St. Paul - Week of 5/19/2013

(5/19/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 5/19/2013 for St. Paul

STEERAGE SONG, ALL IS CALM, OUR TOWN and More Set for Theater Latte Da's 2013-14 Season

(5/18/2013) - Theater Latte Da announced yesterday that a season of four adventures in musical storytelling and the continuation of a major new work development program will comprise its 16th Season. Slated for production are Steerage Song at The Lab Theater (September 25 - October 20, 2013), All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 at the Pantages Theatre (December 19-22, 2013), Cabaret at the Pantages Theatre (January 15 - February 9, 2014), and Our Town at The Lab Theater (March 12 - April 6, 2014). In spring 2014, the company will bring back NEXT: New Musicals in the Making, their program to develop new works for the musical theater canon.

(5/18/2013) - The Guthrie's partnership with the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities, Play Care, combining discounted adult theater tickets and affordable child care onsite during select Saturday matinees in the 2012-2013 season, continues today, May 18 with Nice Fish.

Taylor Mac's THE FRE Receives MAP Fund Grant; Accepted to Sundance Theatre Lab

(5/17/2013) - Performance artist Taylor Mac is constantly in creative development, but Children's Theatre Company (CTC) charged him with a first - to create an engaging theatrical piece for a multigenerational audience. His work has been seen and praised at theatres, art institutes, and festivals around the world. He was named best cabaret performer of 2012 by Time Out NY. His new theatrical experience The Fre was one of 41 projects nationwide to be honored with a grant from the MAP Fund, receiving $35,000. The Fre is also one of seven projects selected for the Sundance Institute 2013 Theatre Lab. CTC Artistic Director Peter Brosius claims, 'Taylor is fearless and one of the most creative forces in American theatre today; to have this energy, his heart, and his radical vision on our stage is absolutely thrilling.'

MAD MEN's Vincent Kartheiser to Lead Guthrie's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, 7/6-8/31

(5/17/2013) - The Guthrie Theater today announced that Vincent Kartheiser, known to worldwide audiences as advertising executive Pete Campbell in the ongoing Golden Globe, Emmy and SAG Award-winning series 'Mad Men', will be featured in the iconic role of Mr. Darcy in the theater's upcoming production of Pride and Prejudice based on the novel by Jane Austen, adapted for the stage by Simon Reade and directed by Joe Dowling. The final show of the Guthrie's 50thanniversary season, Pride and Prejudice will begin previews on July 6, with an opening night of July 12, and will run through August 31.

Tickets Go on Sale Today for GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY National Tour!

(5/17/2013) - AEG Live has announced that the southern gothic, supernatural musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, written by Stephen King, with music by John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett, has confirmed a tour of 20 American cities throughout the Midwest and Southeast beginning October 10 in Bloomington, IN, and ending November 6 in Grand Rapids, MI. Tickets go on sale today, May 17 at 10am at aeglive.com.

Christopher Plummer, Barbara Byrne and More Join Guthrie's 50th Anniversary Gala, 6/22

(5/16/2013) - The Guthrie today announced that eight artists who have graced the Guthrie's stages during its 50-year history, from the first season in 1963 to the theater's current season, are slated to participate in the Guthrie's 50th anniversary on June 22, 2013. Exclusive interviews with the legendary Zoe Caldwell and Christopher Plummer will be unveiled as part of a poignant and celebratory multi-media tribute, while stage veterans Barbara Bryne, Peter Michael Goetz and Stephen Yoakam; two graduates of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program, Matthew Amendt and Valeri Mudek; and an alum of A Guthrie Experience for Actors in Training, Erik Heger; will perform live for the one-night-only event.

Guthrie's NICE FISH Plays Final Performances This Weekend

(5/15/2013) - Saturday, May 18, marks the closing of the daring and original world premiere play Nice Fish-written by Mark Rylance and Louis Jenkins, dedicated to Nataasha van Kampen and James Hillman.

(5/14/2013) - The Guthrie's partnership with the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities, Play Care, combining discounted adult theater tickets and affordable child care onsite during select Saturday matinees in the 2012-2013 season, continues Saturday May 18 with Nice Fish. For $10 per child, the YMCA will provide child care in the Guthrie's Learning Center for children ages 4 to 11 while parents attend a matinee performance for $20-$25 (depending on seating area). Tickets for Play Care dates are on sale now and must be purchased in advance through the Guthrie Box Office: in-person or by phone at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE. For additional details visit www.guthrietheater.org/PlayCare.

Now Playing Onstage in St. Paul - Week of 5/12/2013

(5/12/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 5/12/2013 for St. Paul

Box Wine Theatre Presents WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DOLLAR?, Now thru 5/26

(5/12/2013) - Fascinated about the rise of new online currencies like Bitcoin? Enthralled by news reports (Wall Street Journal, NPR, New York Times) affirming digital money now surpassing over 20 national currencies in value? Wondering how the hot topic surrounding the future of money could be packaged into a fun and fast-paced evening of theater? Box Wine Theatre is producing Sam Graber's new play, 'What Happened to the Dollar' at Bryant Lake Bowl from May 12th through May 26th.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF to Return to Chanhassen Dinner Theatres After 20 Years, Beg. 9/27

(5/10/2013) - Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) is thrilled to announce that FIDDLER ON THE ROOF will return to the Main Stage for the first time in 20 years. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF last graced the Main Stage in 1993 to mark Chanhassen's 25th anniversary. This time around, the theatres' most widely requested show will mark CDT's 45th anniversary. The production will run from September 27th, 2013 through January 25, 2014.

Stephen King, John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett's GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY to Kick Off National Tour, Oct 2013

(5/10/2013) - AEG Live has announced that the southern gothic, supernatural musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, written by Stephen King, with music by John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett, has confirmed a tour of 20 American cities throughout the Midwest and Southeast beginning October 10 in Bloomington, IN, and ending November 6 in Grand Rapids, MI. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 17 at 10am at aeglive.com.

Photo Flash: First Look at Children's Theatre Company's ALICE IN WONDERLAND

(5/9/2013) - Children's Theatre Company presents Alice in Wonderland, now through June 15, 2013. The production celebrates Lewis Carroll as an original modern absurdist, featuring innovative scenic elements while honoring the parade of beloved characters at their illogical best. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

SteppingStone Theatre to Stage LEGACY!, 5/23-6/1

(5/8/2013) - SteppingStone Theatre presents LC Jackson, and his astounding Michael Jackson tribute show, Legacy! Legacy! is the brainchild of Luis Castillo, 'LC Jackson', who started his career as a Michael Jackson impersonator at St. Paul Central High School at the age of 14. LC Jackson truly embodies the energy and musically of the King of Pop. 'LC Jackson' (Luis Castillo) is a true impersonator.

ANYTHING GOES National Tour To Make Its St. Paul Premiere At the Ordway Center for Performing Arts, May 7-12

(5/8/2013) - The national tour of Roundabout Theatre Company's ANYTHING GOES, the new Broadway revival of Cole Porter's timeless classic musical theatre masterpiece, will make its St. Paul premiere May 7-12, 2013, at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts as part of its 2012-2013 Theatrical Season.

Guthrie to Offer TAKING CENTER STAGE Live CLE for Attorneys, 5/17-6/14

(5/7/2013) - With deadlines fast approaching for many attorneys to compile the annual Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits required by the Minnesota Bar Association, the Guthrie Theater today announced a new live CLE, 'Taking Center Stage: Issues, Techniques and Ethical Pitfalls of Winning Legal 'Performances.' This new course draws upon the common experience of lawyers and actors in their day-to-day utilization of the art of storytelling, and focuses on the need to develop this skill set through practical approaches to creating compelling and effective narratives in legal practice using insights from the world of the stage. This live CLE presented at the Guthrie Theater will be offered each Friday from May 17 to June 14 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.

BWW Interviews: Broadway First-Timer Alex Finke Finds First National Tour is De-Lovely

(5/7/2013) - A year ago, Alex FInke was a college girl at the University of Michigan. While many of her contemporaries are likely still looking for a job or working their way up from the lower rungs of the corporate ladder, Finke is sailing through a career on the fast track, and she feels incredibly fortunate to be there. Tonight, she appears on the Ordway stage as debutante Hope Harcourt in the national tour of ANYTHING GOES, playing on the Saint Paul stage through May 12, 2013.

THE WIZARD OF OZ North American Tour to Launch from Las Vegas in September 2013; Danielle Wade to Play 'Dorothy'

(5/6/2013) - Producers Bill Kenwright, The Really Useful Group, David Mirvish, Troika Entertainment & Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures have just announced that the first North American tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's new stage adaptation of THE WIZARD OF OZ will commence on September 10, 2013 at The Smith Center in Las Vegas, NV.

Now Playing Onstage in St. Paul - Week of 5/05/2013

(5/5/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 5/05/2013 for St. Paul

Guthrie to Offer TAKING CENTER STAGE Live CLE for Attorneys, 5/17-6/14

(5/3/2013) - With deadlines fast approaching for many attorneys to compile the annual Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits required by the Minnesota Bar Association, the Guthrie Theater today announced a new live CLE, 'Taking Center Stage: Issues, Techniques and Ethical Pitfalls of Winning Legal 'Performances.' This new course draws upon the common experience of lawyers and actors in their day-to-day utilization of the art of storytelling, and focuses on the need to develop this skill set through practical approaches to creating compelling and effective narratives in legal practice using insights from the world of the stage. This live CLE presented at the Guthrie Theater will be offered each Friday from May 17 to June 14 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Guthrie Theater's THE PRIMROSE PATH, Directed by Roger Rees, Opens Tonight

(5/3/2013) - The Guthrie Theater presents the world premiere of the bittersweet romance The Primrose Path by Crispin Whittell based upon the novel Home of the Gentry by Ivan Turgenev. The production will be directed by Roger Rees and will feature actors Kyle Fabel (Broadway: The Farnsworth Invention; Off-Broadway: A Free Man of Color) as Theodore Lavretsky, Suzy Kohane (Acadia Repertory Theatre; University of Minnesota/Guthrie BFA Actor Training Program) as Liza and Sally Wingert (Broadway/West End, London: La Bete; Guthrie: Other Desert Cities, Appomattox) as Maria.

Wendy Lehr Set for Acting Workshop at Bloomington Theatre and Art Center on 5/25

(5/2/2013) - Bloomington Theatre and Art Center (BTAC) welcomes veteran Twin Cities theatre artist Wendy Lehr to Bloomington Center for the Arts for a special 1-day acting workshop for theater performers called Body and Voice: The Actor's Instrument on Saturday, May 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Voting Opens for the 2013 BroadwayWorld Awards! Vote Now for the Best of the 2012-13 Theatre Season...

(5/2/2013) - The Tony Awards Nominators had their say earlier this week and now it's your turn! We're pleased to announce that voting has now opened for the 11th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards!

Now Playing Onstage in St. Paul - Week of 4/28/2013

(4/28/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 4/28/2013 for St. Paul

McKnight Theatre Bids Farewell to The Ordway with THE NIGHT OF A MILLION STARS Tonight

(4/28/2013) - The Ordway will say farewell to the McKnight Theatre in grand style tonight, April 28 at 7:30 pm, in a special performance called, 'The Night of a Million Stars.' The concert production will highlight area artists and feature musical pieces from productions previously held in the McKnight Theatre.

Kyle Fabel, Sally Wingert and More Star in Guthrie Theater's THE PRIMROSE PATH, Directed by Roger Rees, Beg. Tonight

(4/27/2013) - The Guthrie Theater presents the world premiere of the bittersweet romance The Primrose Path by Crispin Whittell based upon the novel Home of the Gentry by Ivan Turgenev. The production will be directed by Roger Rees and will feature actors Kyle Fabel (Broadway: The Farnsworth Invention; Off-Broadway: A Free Man of Color) as Theodore Lavretsky, Suzy Kohane (Acadia Repertory Theatre; University of Minnesota/Guthrie BFA Actor Training Program) as Liza and Sally Wingert (Broadway/West End, London: La Bete; Guthrie: Other Desert Cities, Appomattox) as Maria.

BTAC Offers DON'T FEAR SHAKESPEARE! Workshop and More, Summer 2013

(4/27/2013) - Bloomington Theatre and Art Center (BTAC) is offering a variety of theater classes for youth and adults this spring and summer, including classes that introduce actors young and old to the works of William Shakespeare.

BWW Interviews: James Rocco and the Ordway's BROADWAY SONGBOOK: Cole Porter

(4/26/2013) - James Rocco is the vice president of programming and producing artistic director of the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in Saint Paul, Minn. He is also the director, host and a performer in the Ordway's latest edition of BROADWAY SONGBOOK, this time, focusing on American musical theatre master, Cole Porter. I recently sat down to learn about James, the BROADWAY SONGBOOK: Cole Porter and what's next for the theatre.

Caroline Innerbichler Stars in BESSIE'S BIRTHDAY at Theater Latte Da, Beg. Tonight

(4/26/2013) - Theater Latte Da announced the cast for Bessie's Birthday, book and lyrics by Katie Baldwin Eng, music by Jeff Tang. This musical comedy is being developed as part of NEXT: New Musicals in the Making, a major new work program to develop new musical theater in the Twin Cities.

Jeremy Stanbary's MERCY UNRELENTING to Play Open Window Theatre, 4/25-5/19

(4/25/2013) - When Artistic Director Jeremy Stanbary planned the second season for Open Window Theatre, no one knew that the world would be welcoming a new pope in 2013. When one witnesses the world premiere production of Mercy Unrelenting, however, it would seem that Stanbary's decision was timely, if not prophetic. Mercy Unrelenting by Jeremy Stanbary tells the true story of a family overcome by tragedy and ultimately forgiveness. The message is akin to that of the newly elected Pope Francis whose papal motto is one of divine mercy.

Box Wine Theatre to Present WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DOLLAR?, 5/12-26

(4/23/2013) - Fascinated about the rise of new online currencies like Bitcoin? Enthralled by news reports (Wall Street Journal, NPR, New York Times) affirming digital money now surpassing over 20 national currencies in value? Wondering how the hot topic surrounding the future of money could be packaged into a fun and fast-paced evening of theater? Box Wine Theatre is producing Sam Graber's new play, 'What Happened to the Dollar' at Bryant Lake Bowl from May 12th through May 26th.

Wendy Lehr Set for Acting Workshop at Bloomington Theatre and Art Center, 5/25

(4/23/2013) - Bloomington Theatre and Art Center (BTAC) welcomes veteran Twin Cities theatre artist Wendy Lehr to Bloomington Center for the Arts for a special 1-day acting workshop for theater performers called Body and Voice: The Actor's Instrument on Saturday, May 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Caroline Innerbichler to Star in BESSIE'S BIRTHDAY at Theater Latte Da; Full Cast Announced!

(4/22/2013) - Theater Latte Da announced the cast for Bessie's Birthday, book and lyrics by Katie Baldwin Eng, music by Jeff Tang. This musical comedy is being developed as part of NEXT: New Musicals in the Making, a major new work program to develop new musical theater in the Twin Cities.

Photo Flash: First Look at History Theatre's THIS SIDE OF PARADISE

(4/21/2013) - History Theatre presents the regional premiere of a new musical about the lives and works of St. Paul's original "it" couple, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. As glittering emblems of the Jazz Age, their romance reflected the era during which they lived: highs and lows, boom and bust, a thrilling rise and a devastating crash. This Side of Paradise, which premiered off-Broadway in 2010, is seen from the point of view of Zelda at the age of 39, looking back on her life with Scott using music and dance to capture both the joy of their romance and their struggles for artistic identity and fame. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Now Playing Onstage in St. Paul - Week of 4/21/2013

(4/21/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 4/21/2013 for St. Paul

Wendy Lehr to Lead Acting Workshop at BTAC, 5/25

(4/20/2013) - Bloomington Theatre and Art Center (BTAC) welcomes veteran Twin Cities theatre artist Wendy Lehr to Bloomington Center for the Arts for a special 1-day acting workshop for theater performers called Body and Voice: The Actor's Instrument on Saturday, May 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, Marion McClinton Directing OTHELLO and More Set for Guthrie's 2013-14 Season

(4/15/2013) - Guthrie Director Joe Dowling today announced 12 mainstage productions of the theater's 2013-2014 season. The theater's 51st season includes first-time Guthrie productions of playwrights Beth Henley and Nina Raine, classics on the Wurtele Thrust Stage directed by Dowling and Marion McClinton, WorldStage Series presentations of returning companies Kneehigh Theatre and Out of Joint, as well as a summertime slate of a beloved musical and a Christopher Durang comedy that is currently a Broadway hit.

Now Playing Onstage in St. Paul - Week of 4/14/2013

(4/14/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 4/14/2013 for St. Paul