I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day…. Photo by Joan Marcus What would the world have been like if Motown Records never existed? I mean think about it – the entire popular musical landscape we enjoy today would essentially not exist. No Marvin Gaye. No Temptations or Commodores. No Diana

What are you waiting for? Run to get tickets to this hot new festival, lighting up the Guthrie’s Dowling Studio for the second year in a row.  Courtesy of Blackout’s website I have a confession to make. There are a few things I hear often from readers when I introduce

The Gremlin’s premieres a romantic farce in their first show in the shiny new space.  Photo by DreamFirstBorn Images How often do you see a screwball comedy on stage?  I mean really think about it. Stand up comedy is having a renaissance, and venues like the Brave New Workshop have

Taking a risk is almost always a good thing. That was my thought while watching Sunday in the Park With George, the Guthrie’s latest mainstage offering. For the past several years since they really started focusing on producing extraordinary summer musicals, the Guthrie has chosen to stick with relatively safe classics

Nostalgia can be a beautiful thing.  Photo by  Petronella J. Ytsma Continuing our cinematic theme for the month of June, I have to tell you another little bit of my past: I am obsessed with Hollywood’s “golden age.” Nothing makes me happier than a snowy day, a great glass of wine

More and more Native American artists and characters seem to be lifted up into the mainstream these days… Photo by Mark van Cleave And it’s so incredibly exciting to me! It was one of the first things that stood out to me about Wonder Woman, and I hope this trend

Let me tell you of my love for big Hollywood films that are adapted for the stage.  Photo courtesy of Old Log Theatre It all starts with my childhood. I grew up in rural Minnesota, where even movie theaters were few and far between, much less fancy theatrical shows. The

Hard conversations seem to be happening simultaneously all over Twin Cities arts organizations these days. Photo courtesy of the Guthrie.  First it was the controversy over the Walker Art Center’s Scaffold piece in the new sculpture garden. Then it was a truly excellent panel hosted by ALMA at Mixed Blood

This truly diverse undertaking tackles representation of all stripes.  Photo from MN Playlist If you haven’t heard of Full Circle Theater yet, you could be forgiven. The new-ish venture from a vanguard of Twin Cities theater legends including Rick Shiomi, Martha B. Johnson, Harry Waters Jr., Stephanie Lein Walseth and

An impressive debut from a dynamic new company, The Boy and Robin Hood is an engrossing play and marks Trademark as a company to watch Photo by Rick Spaulding What would you create if you could create anything? I’ve thought about that question many times. I like to fancy myself