Entertainment
THEATER | Barbara Berlovitz's "Stories as Told in a Bed": An intimate and sublimely humorous journey
It is tricky business reviewing a work in progress, putting the writer in a barely tenable position. How can you be fair to the playwright, casting comment on a script that's still in development? Critique the weaknesses and you're a villain for kicking the play's legs out from under it before it's had a chance to actually stand on them. Praise the strengths and you're a cheerleader clapping the author on the back before the job's finished being done.MORE »
THEATER | Park Square's "Of Mice and Men" brings the beauty of John Steinbeck's tale to life
John Steinbeck's classic tragedy Of Mice and Men is an immortal triumph. It's set in the Depression era but never grows dated: a timeless, poignant portrait of the human condition.MORE »
THEATER | Taylor Hicks leaves 'em swooning in "Grease"
"It's got groove, it's got meaning." The original "word"—Grease—returns to the Orpheum Theatre this week for a generation-bridging production of the beloved and popular musical. In the audience for opening night on Wednesday, I witnessed all the magical rock-'n'-roll-ridden excitement brought to the big screen in the 1978 motion picture version, with a few added surprises.MORE »
Weekend What's What: Funkytown
It seems to be the winter dance party season opener this weekend! With both Friday and Saturday dominated by l'étoile-worthy club jams and secret location parties, you'll be hard-pressed not to run into an opportunity to get your "Butterfly" on. At this rate we'll be sweatin' right through the hard freeze! Of course, there's plenty of awesome art to go around and even a few can't-miss rock n' roll shows—so those with two left feet, fret not—we've gotcha covered!MORE »
MUSIC | Triple threat Desdamona drops new disc: "Inkling"
Desdamona is a powerhouse in the local spoken word scene and hip-hop community. She co-hosts Poet's Groove at the Blue Nile every Tuesday night, and was also among the founders of B-Girl Be, the nation's premier event for women in hip-hop. She is also one half of Ill Chemistry, her collaboration with beat boxer Carnage the Executioner. In her spare time, she posts daily writing prompts on her Facebook page. Quickly following on the heels of BGB and her campaign for Too Big For My Skin, Desdamona is releasing her third album, titled Inkling, and will perform this Saturday at Sauce with Carnage, Big Mike, and Alicia Wiley.MORE »
DANCE | Zenon Dance Company's appealing fall season at the Ritz
If you have even an inkling that you might enjoy contemporary dance, you'll probably enjoy Zenon Dance Company's 27th Fall Season. Actually, unless you are absolutely convinced you detest contemporary dance, you'll probably enjoy Zenon Dance Company's 27th Fall Season. The choreography is complex and engaging, and the performers are so ridiculously appealing that they could sell mosquito eggs in Ely.MORE »
MUSIC | Brother Ali, as always a soldier of love, brings "Us" to First Ave
The first MC heard on Brother Ali's third full-length, Us, is not the Rhymesayers heavyweight but rather one of his icons, Chuck D. Chuck intones an introduction for Ali, listing off divisions that plague humanity and offering Ali as "a soldier/ in the war for love," one who carries "a message of true hope/ and true peace" that might overcome these divisions. MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar: 11/19/09
What's Happening This Week
On the radar: Before the holiday Nutcracker daze sets in, treat yourself to a long cool drink of inventive contemporary dance at the Ritz, where Zenon Dance Company's 27th fall season opens tonight.
Under the radar: Quietly, two of the Twin Cities' best and most inventive playmakers are rolling out new productions today. At Bedlam, Jeune Lune co-founder Barbara Berlovitz is premiering Stories as Told in a Bed, a show about the experiences of her Lithuanian immigrant grandfather. (Among the ensemble of performers is our writer Sheila Regan.) Meanwhile, at the Children's Theatre, Jon Ferguson and a cast of young actors are performing Gregory Gregorson and the Magic Pinto Bean, a show that "contains extreme flatulence, troll dating, intimidating Boy Scouts, temporary paralysis, L.P. records, naked album covers, a mom of the wig-wearing kind, and talk of decorative ducks."
On the radar: "Hearing 1,000-plus people shouting 'sexy ass me' when Brother Ali performs crowd favorite 'Forest Whitiker' is still one of my favorite hip-hop moments," writes Justin Schell. If you can squeeze your sexy ass into Ali's sold-out homecoming show tonight at First Ave, you won't regret it.
Under the radar: Tonight at the Nash Gallery, spoken-word artist IBé will perform to celebrate the opening of Talking Suitcases, an exhibit of suitcases filled with handmade objects that tell the personal stories of a diverse group of Minnesotans.MORE »
THEATER | Plymouth Playhouse's "Away in the Basement" recruits the Church Basement Ladies for feel-good holiday entertainment
Playing at Plymouth Playhouse for the holiday season is Away in the Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas. This production is the third in the series inspired by the book Growing Up Lutheran written by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson, both 100% Norwegian-Lutheran themselves. MORE »
THEATER | At the Orpheum, "Grease" is still the word
Choreographer-director Kathleen Marshall's revival of Grease brings back the magic of Rydell High; however, it fell short of my expectations. The music is contagious, the choreography is energetic, and the supporting performers have great comic timing. The lead characters, though, fall flat. Still, from start to finish there's a fun atmosphere at the Orpheum.MORE »
