Design and style
Arts Orbit Radar 2/4/10
What's happening this week
On the radar: The buzz for the homegrown production of Rent opening this week at the Lab (formerly the Guthrie Lab) kicked into overdrive when casting was announced, but dipping into the music scene—snagging Maria Isa and Harley Wood, among others—isn't this production's only innovation. The producers are staging the show as a theater-concert hybrid, with open seating and, after several performances, public afterparties. Tonight's procession from the Lab will lead to the Loop. Don't be the Loser who misses out on this one.
Under the radar: Proposition: the perfect cure for wintertime cabin fever is a big ol' hula hoop jam. If that idea sounds absolutely absurd to you, you'll really want to avoid tonight's event, at which participants are being invited to wear a fun hair piece, a colorful outfit, or furry leggings.
On the radar: The word "quotidian" is not particularly quotidian, but this is contemporary art, so if you're going to display commonplace objects you have to surround them with esoteric verbiage. Opening tonight at the Weisman with a preview party is Common Sense: Art and the Quotidian.
Under the radar: "Do you guys actually have an office?" I'm often asked that question, and the answer is yes! Today is your chance to not just see the Daily Planet's glamorous digs, but to party with us as we host a happy-hour reception to welcome 2010.MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar 1/28/10
What's happening this week
On the radar: Music + comedy skits = success! Who woulda thunkit? Oh, wait...anyway, MPLS.TV is locally-made and most weeks it's a better time than SNL. Tonight its creators are throwing a benefit bash at Bedlam featuring Guante, Zoo Animal, and other fine acts.
Under the radar: The last show mounted by the Off-Leash Area in their garage theater was 2008's The Jury; tonight, OLA opens an expanded version of that powerful production—featuring text by cultural critic and naughtybilly jug-blower Max Sparber—at the Red Eye Theater.
On the radar: Ads for the Masters are already appearing on TV and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring was just heard at Orchestra Hall, but spring still isn't close enough for baseball fans looking forward to the Twins' 50th season in Minnesota and first season at Target Field. At this weekend's TwinsFest, you can revisit the Dome to hang out with players, browse memorabilia, and—are you ready for this?—audition to sing the National Anthem at one of this season's games. Among the past players scheduled to be in attendance is World Series pitcher Juan Berenguer, whose "Berenguer Boogie" compares favorably to Prince's new Vikings anthem.MORE »
Under the radar: Two stereotypes about Sweden are that the country (a) has amazing women and (b) has amazing designers. In one fell swoop, the Swedish Institute proves both of those stereotypes absolutely true with an exhibit, opening today, of superlative design by 17 Swedish women.
Arts Orbit Radar 1/21/10
What's happening this week
On the radar: Whether or not they actually work (one of last year's recipients had already made plans to move by the time the award ceremony was held), METRO's Keeper Awards are a great idea: acknowledging artists from various disciplines for (a) being awesome and (b) being awesome specifically in Minnesota. The second annual Keeper Awards party will be held tonight at Spill the Wine.
Under the radar: Marc Yaffee, Vaughn Eaglebear ("the Frybread Assassin"), Jim Ruel, and J.R. Redwater ("the Reservation Sensation") are the stars of Going Native, Showtime's first all-Native comedy special. The four will be at Burnsville's Minnehaha Comedy Club tonight for a "Pow Wow Comedy Jam."
On the radar: Dessa—of the Doomtree Collective—steps out to begin the solo career that we all guessed was happily inevitable tonight at the Fine Line, with support from Jeremy Messersmith (who may or may not play his now-infamous Snoop Dogg cover), Cecil Otter, and Aby Wolf.
Under the radar: Baltimore performance artist Rebecca Nagle is at Bedlam for a late-night performance of her new piece A Dozen Things I Want To Do On Stage. "Expect the unexpected" is a cliché, but in this case that's what even the artist herself is doing.MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar 1/14/10
What's happening this week
On the radar: The Guthrie's Singled Out festival showcases the work of four short plays handpicked by Ben McGovern, the guy at the Guthrie whose job it is to know what's going on in the theater world outside of Big Blue and the Big Apple.
Under the radar: Famed conductor Edo de Waart conducts the SPCO in a concert performance of The Rake's Progress, Stravinsky's only opera.
On the radar: As the post-holiday revival of the local theater scene continues, the Guthrie highlights its new production of Romeo and Juliet with a $35 event featuring "beer, brats, and the Bard." Also, the Rural Alberta Advantage hit town with a sold-out show at the Cedar and a 6 p.m. instore at the Fetus; and you can see all the best new local bands on a single bill at First Ave. At $7, Radio K's annual showcase costs just a buck a band—not bad.
Under the radar: Samantha Johns and her conspirators unleash a mysterious, theatrical Thing. Meanwhile, at the Uptown Theatre you can see The Room, the film MNDialog editor Rebecca Collins calls "the best worst movie ever."MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar 1/7/10
What's happening this week
On the radar: In the retro spirit of its new Benches & Binoculars exhibit, the Walker is reviving the Inquisition, a live art quiz that debuted in 1940. Accessibility is the watchword: the event's subtitle is "art is fun." Towards that end, it can't hurt to have MPR's Marianne Combs and everywhere else's Andy Sturdevant sitting in the panelists' seats.
Under the radar: Still, for those who aren't in the mood for challenging questions about challenging art, there's some aesthetic comfort food to be had downtown: the Minnesota Orchestra is providing live accompaniment to a screening of The Wizard of Oz.
On the radar: After a season of relatively conservative holiday fare, local theater companies are chomping at the bit to sink their teeth into something fresh. (Block that metaphor!) The real mother lode of new shows comes next week (Seriously! Cut it out!), but this week the flood gates begin to open (For the love of all that's holy!!!) with Bedlam's Fresh Five showcase, 3 AM's Dumb/Sex, and the Walker's presentation of Rimini Protokoll's Call Cutta in a Box, an intercontinental interactive production that each audience member experiences solo, in a cubicle on the 40th floor of the IDS Center.
Under the radar: The Fantastic Merlins are headed to Paris to present their new Leonard Cohen cycle How the Light Gets In, but first they're stopping at the Black Dog to give the material a spin. "This is a definite must event," says Rich Broderick. "I've heard the rough cut on this CD and was able to sit in on one of the mixing sessions—it's a great compilation."MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar: 12/31/09
What's Happening This Week
On the radar: I still have the engraved champagne flutes from the inaugural Crystal Ball in 2006, which featured a complete cover of the Purple Rain album and a choreographed performance set to DJ Boss's "Dance with the Devil," after which the angels and demons strolled over to the bar for shots and the rest of us tried to make our way home in the blizzard. The New Year's event is all grown up, and tonight's edition features music from The New Congress and a fashion show emceed by Project Runway contestants Rámon Lawrence-Coleman and Christopher Straub. Meanwhile, the hipsters will be at Mark Mallman's Varsity show and the youngsters will be at the Mall of America for a live performance by Tom Kenny—better known by his cartoon name, SpongeBob SquarePants.
Under the radar: The Scrimshaw Brothers' New Year's Eve Comedy Workout hasn't even started, and it's already funny. A quote tweeted from rehearsal: "You should never ask a woman if she owns a Thighmaster."
On the radar: If you're looking for some free art with an interesting pedigree, you'll be up and at 'em early this morning (or late last night) to scout out one of the 40 paintings that will be sprinkled randomly about Minneapolis today as part of a project paid for by proceeds from the recent FEAST artfunding dinner.MORE »
Under the radar: If you're nursing a hangover and want to feel real sober real quick, head to Bat Country—er, the Trylon—to take in Terry Gilliam's brilliant adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. A hangover is rough, but you'll be sober as a judge by comparison to Johnny Depp and his "Samoan attorney" Benecio del Toro. "There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of an ether binge."
Arts Orbit Radar: 12/24/09
What's Happening This Week
On the radar: Many Jews regard Christmas Eve as the best party night of the year—and there's no reason Gentiles can't get in on the fun too. The 501 Club hosts this year's Jewbilee, featuring music from MC/VL and a free Chinese buffet.
Under the radar: In a very different kind of late-night holiday observance, the Cathedral of St. Paul is holding a festival of readings and carols at 10:45 p.m.
On the radar: If someone wrote that your band had "the most distinctive sound of any three-piece outfit since Nirvana," would you actually quote that in your PR? The Bad Plus would, and the rambunctious jazz trio are sure to break many other rules of common decency in their three-night stand at the Dakota, which begins tonight.
Under the radar: It's not just karaoke—it's Staraoke. If you're looking to escape charades with the family but still want to get up in front of a bunch of people staring at you with slightly glazed-over expressions and give it all you've got, make your way to the Triple Rock for Arzu's annual mic party.MORE »
Weekend What's What: Meet us under the mistletoe!
We're in the thick of it, people. There is no escape. The "holidays" are officially in full effect! We can't help but love the twinkling lights, the prettily wrapped gifts, and of course, the holiday cheer. Spend some quality time with your bestest pals and cohorts while making the rounds to this weekend's festive soirees, and make sure they know how much you appreciate them! After all, the holiday spirit also manifests itself in rounds of shots, hugs and high-fives.MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar: 12/17/09
What's Happening This Week
On the radar: This week's finest display of postmodern contrasts is not to be found at the Walker or at Art of This but at the Megamall, where—in the same season that a Barbie Store opened its doors there—the U.S.A.'s 2010 Olympic Women's Hockey Team lineup will be officially announced. All 21 team members will be available for autographs.
Under the radar: The Klingons would surely approve of the fact that the show following their Christmas Carol onstage at Mixed Blood is a drama about a murderous Samurai. Our writer Sheila Regan is among the performers appearing in Tales of Rashomon, and she tells me they've sharpening their swordwork.
On the radar: The Twin Cities are a hotbed (so to speak) of burlesque; while most such performances happen at safely theatrical venues, tonight the ladies of Le Cirque Rouge are daring to bare on the tiny stage at the 501 Club. At the Fringe, audiences for burlesque shows sometimes need to be coached to hoot and holler; I'm guessing that will not be necessary tonight at LCR's free "holiday extravaganza."
Under the radar: If dirty-bluegrass band Courtney McClean and the Dirty Curls inspired you to start a dirty-country band, sorry, but all the good names are already taken. Rope Trick will be at the 331 next month, and tonight Reverse Cowboy are at Keegan's. If you want to cowboy up without crossing the river, check out the Belfast Cowboys at First Ave...though the Van Morrison cover band won't be particularly "dirty" unless they bust out with a replica of Van the Man's skintight sequined jumpsuit from The Last Waltz.MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar: 12/10/09
What's Happening This Week
On the radar: The holidays are about traditions, but also about looking to the future; seasonal productions opening tonight fit, respectively, both those bills. For tradition, there's In the Heart of the Beast's longtime favorite La Natividad. For the future, there's Jon Ferguson's new show S. Gunter Klaus and the Story Before. (Show up at the Southern Theater early tonight for free snacks and drinks courtesy of the Red Stag.)
Under the radar: "If there's a more entertaining new band in town right now," the Star Tribune's Chris Riemenschneider wrote about Metallagher in 2005, "I haven't seen it." Their schtick? They cover Metallica songs while their Gallagher-impersonating frontman smashes fruit with a sledgehammer. Tonight at Station 4 they're opening for the man himself—no, not James Hetfield (he might have some pointed questions about royalties), Gallagher.
On the radar: Chicago songster Andrew Bird is at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral for the second of three sold-out shows that he's warned everyone will be experimental and instrumental. There doubtless will be a few people who clamor for the hits, but hopefully they'll at least refrain from shouting, "Freebird!"
Under the radar: KFAI standby Dakota Dave Hull headlines a concert at the Wellstone Center to raise money for the preservation of St. Paul's historic Victoria Theatre.MORE »
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