2018 kicked off with a hot collaboration from two of the Twin Cities’ anchor theater companies, and it couldn’t be a better way to start off the year in #tctheater.   Photo by Dan Norman If you grew up in America, chances are you’ve seen The Wizard of Oz. In

No annual roundup would be complete without a listing of the top performances I saw last year. The most exciting exchange I’ve ever had on Twitter. If I had to sum up my feelings about the Twin Cities theater scene in 2017 in just a few words, I’d leave you

Who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks?   Photo by Matthew Murphy Or perhaps it would be more appropriately phrased: who says old musicals can’t learn new tricks? Photo by Matthew Murphy Long time Compendium readers (thank you, wherever you are!) will remember my review four years ago (how?!?)

What is the most Minnesotan Christmas show you can think of?   Photo by Allen Weeks Most of us would probably select something along the lines of A Christmas Story or Charlie Brown, and that would be understandable. But most of us would be wrong. Photo by Allen Weeks To

Traditions may be so-called for a reason, but it doesn’t mean they can’t be freshened up a bit.  Photo by Dan Norman It’s been a long time since I’ve attended a production of A Christmas Carol. As any good Minnesotan I’ve seen the Guthrie’s hallowed production before, of course, a

Could Waitress have arrived in Minneapolis at a better time?  Photo courtesy of Hennepin Theatre Trust With all of the sexual harassment allegations swarming the cultural conversation, women coming forward every day to tell stories of abuse and hardship, and an increasing focus on telling women’s stories, what better than

I’m always blown away by companies who manage to make true fiction come to life on stage. Photo by Kaitlin Randolph Especially when the art is abstract. To my mind, adapting an animationS auteur like Dr. Seuss to the stage would be a nearly herculean task – between the eye

What a difference a few short years can make.  Photo courtesy of Chanhassen Dinner Theatres When Sister Act last came to the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) it was 2015. The presidential election was just kicking into gear, Charlottesville had never happened, and Harvey Weinstein was still Hollywood’s friendliest movie producer.

If you liked Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, you will LOVE this show. Dracula from COLLIDE THEATRICAL on Vimeo. Cross necklaces? Check. Vampy face paint? Check. Perfectly tailored pleated pants? Check. Moody emo rock band? Check. Ubiquitously smeared eyeliner paired with thin strapped halter tops? Check, check, check. If there was

It’s always fun to get a peek behind the scenes.  Photo by Jeremy Daniels I mean, who doesn’t want to feel like an in-the-know insider? With the ubiquitous ability to be a voyeur just about anywhere these days thanks to social media, is there anything we don’t already know? Photo