Spring is a great time for a theater nerd like me.
Now is when all of our local theater companies announce their seasons, giving me all summer to get excited about what will be on stage in the next year. Just this morning Managing Editor Amanda Fretheim Gates and I visited the Children's Theatre Company (CTC) for a behind-the-scenes tour of the building (pictured, photo by me) and a chat with Artistic Director Peter Brosius about the CTC's 2009-2010 season. This adventure made me think about all the great shows coming up, and since many groups for events or meetings attend the local shows at our theater companies, I thought I'd share a little info about the coming season, pointing out some of the best bets.
Tomorrow I'll follow up on how these great theater buildings also make for beautiful event venues (just ask Amanda and Assistant Editor Marni Ginther, who attended the ISES Minnesota Star Awards at the CTC in March). UPDATE: Read Part II of Stage Spotlight
Read on for a breakdown of the 2009-2010 theater season ...
CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY, Minneapolis
Anyone who is hosting a family-friendly event should keep up with what the Children's Theatre Company is doing. It really is the go-to place for family shows. For the upcoming season, Artistic Director Peter Brosius is proud that they will host three world premieres, including Bert and Ernie: Goodnight! (Sept. 8-Oct. 25, 2009). This will be the first time that these beloved odd-couple characters have hit the stage. Brosius is working closely with Sesame Street to produce this debut (he's also directing). Other great shows coming up for the CTC include a panto-style (pantomime) production of Cinderella (Nov. 10, 2009-Jan. 2, 2010), which reimagines the classic for their holiday season (they used to do this show often when I was little and I loved it). The theater's dedication to diversity in its shows is prominent in its collaboration with Ragamala Music and Dance Theatre on Iron Ring (March 9-April 10, 2010), based on an Indian tale. You can also see the global mission come through in the Patch Theatre of Australia's performance of Mr. McGee & The Biting Flea (Jan. 21-Feb. 21, 2010); the Native American tale According to Coyote (Feb. 9-March 21, 2010); as well as the Disney-inspired Mulan Jr. (April 27-June 13, 2010), based on the traditional Chinese tale. Read more about the full season here.
GUTHRIE THEATER, Minneapolis
When the Guthrie opened in its new location on the Mississippi River in its Jean Nouvel-designed three-stage building, I knew they were gearing up for a lot of great things and this season it looks like they will continue to deliver. To start, Artistic Director Joe Dowling will direct four performances this year and will act for the first time in 20 years (see him in Faith Healer this October). When he announced the season, the three that grabbed my attention the most were Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest (Sept. 17-Nov. 9, 2009), a favorite of mine; She Stoops to Conquer (July 9-Aug. 22, 2010), which sounds like a delightful farce; and an interesting adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House by Rebecca Gillman, Dollhouse (May 28-July 11, 2010). Other highlights include M. Butterfly (April 23-June 6, 2010), A Streetcar Named Desire (Aug. 20-Oct. 3, 2010) and the 35th anniversary of A Christmas Carol (Nov. 21-Dec. 31, 2009). Read more about the full season here.
HENNEPIN THEATRE DISTRICT, Minneapolis &
ORDWAY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, St. Paul
The Broadway season here is always fun. This year I saw some amazing performances (Phantom of the Opera, Legally Blonde, Wicked, Rent ...) and it looks like some more of these popular shows are headed our way. The Hennepin Theatre District (HTD) season features a lot of familiar names, because many have been seen on the movie screen before. However, the hidden treasure of the HTD season is the musical In the Heights, which won four Tony Awards in 2008 (Dec. 1-6, 2009). Other sure bets include 2004 Tony winner Avenue Q (April 13-18, 2010, which I've seen and loved--so funny and risque!), the West End and Broadway hit Mary Poppins (Sept. 3-20) and Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein (Feb. 9-14, 2010). Filling out the season are Mamma Mia (March 9-14, 2010), Dirty Dancing (June 1-13, 2010), Dreamgirls (Jan. 12-17, 2010) and 101 Dalmations (Oct. 13-18, 2009). The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts also has some fun shows coming our way. There, I am most excited about seeing August: Osage County, the 2008 Tony winner for Best Play that began just south of here at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre (March 16-21, 2010). The season also includes the return of the charming musical Little House on the Prairie (pictured, photo Michal Daniel, 2008), which features some of the same cast--yes, Melissa Gilbert will be back--as when the show premiered at the Guthrie last year (Oct. 13-25, 2009). Even if you saw it at the Guthrie, its probably worth seeing again, since I've heard they've made some changes (improvements?) since then. Rounding out the season: Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Dec. 15, 2009-Jan. 3, 2010) and Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific (May 4-16, 2010). Read more about the season here (HTD) and here (Ordway)
CHANHASSEN DINNER THEATRES, Chanhassen
When I saw Les Miserables here a year or so ago, I was reminded about the great performances that happen at this south suburban dinner theater. Upcoming shows include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (June 26-Sept. 26, 2009), Oklahoma (Oct. 2, 2009-Jan. 23, 2010), Nunset Boulevard (opens Nov. 6, 2009) and Footloose (Jan. 29-May 29, 2010)--I'm thinking Oklahoma could be pretty amazing (its one of my favorite muscials) and Footloose sounds crazy enough to work (might be nice to see it on the stage before they make it back into a movie--as a musical). Catch up on the performances here.
AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT THESE
Park Square Theatre, featuring Shakespeare's Othello (Oct. 16-Nov. 8, 2009)
Mixed Blood Theatre, which will announce its season soon
Penumbra Theatre, featuring Black Pearl Sings (Feb. 18-March 14, 2010
History Theatre, featuring Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Oct. 3-Nov. 1, 2009)
Theatre in the Round, featuring Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (Sept. 11-Oct. 4, 2009)
Stay tuned for Part II of Stage Spotlight, on theater meeting/event space in the Twin Cities ...
--Ellie M. Bayrd, Associate Editor
Thank you for including Theatre in the Round in your recommendations. Oftentimes, TRP is omitted from the list of the best theaters in the Twin Cities (including the Ivey Awards) because they do not pay actors for their performances and are, therefore, not considered to be a "professional" theater company.
TRP has launched the "professional" careers of many local and national talent and has consistently put on excellent performances for the past 58 years. In fact, Theater in the Round Players is the oldest theater in Minneapolis and, hopefully, will be around for years to come.
TRP and other community theaters will have a much harder time, however, to remain in the black with Gov. Pawlenty's proposed cutbacks of the MN State Arts Board. If you have entertainment choices, please support your local theaters with your attendance and donations. Minnesota is blessed with an abundance of theaters, museums, art galleries and music halls. Get out there and enjoy them!
Posted by: Jean Shore | June 18, 2009 at 01:59 PM