Artistry to Stage MEMPHIS at the Schneider Theater
Artistry will welcome audiences back to the Schneider Theater at the Bloomington Center for the Arts with its musical theater production of MEMPHIS, directed by theater artist extraordinaire and Twin Cities favorite Aimee K. Bryant (April 23 - May 15, 2022). Winner of the 2010 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Orchestrations (with music and lyrics by David Bryan, founding member of Bon Jovi), MEMPHIS will blast you out the door!
Theater Latté Da Announces THE GHOSTLIGHT SERIES
Theater Latté Da announced today THE GHOSTLIGHT SERIES, five virtual cabarets launching January 2021. The virtual cabaret series will feature more than 40 Minnesota artists showcasing stories and songs delivered monthly beginning January and running through July 2021.
Theater Latté Da Extends Performances Of FIVE POINTS
Theater Latte Da announces extended performances of the rousing, world premiere musical FIVE POINTS thru May 13. This latest and most ambitious musical world premiere to date brings together the talents of a dynamic creative team. The score is the work of Douglas Lyons and Ethan D. Pakchar, a New York-based songwriting team with significant Broadway credits. The book is written by the prolific Twin Cities-based playwright Harrison David Rivers, who has penned three world premieres this season including FIVE POINTS, as well as productions at the History Theatre and Penumbra Theatre. Theater Latte Da Artistic Director Peter Rothstein directs the production with Resident Music Director Denise Prosek. Performances run now thru May 13 at the Ritz Theater (345 13th Avenue NE in Minneapolis). Single tickets go are on sale now and can be purchased at Latteda.org or by calling 612-339-3003.
THE WIZ at Children's Theatre Company
Children's Theatre Company, in collaboration with Penumbra Theatre, presents THE WIZ. At the time of its opening on Broadway in 1974, THE WIZ was a modern retelling of The Wizard of Oz, featuring Soul-inspired songs and an entirely African-American cast. It was later adapted into a popular 1978 film starring Diana Ross and a young Michael Jackson. The Children's Theatre Company's production of THE WIZ opened on January 23rd and will run through March 18th.
BWW Review: Penumbra Theatre and Children's Theatre Company's First Collaboration is a Hit - the Fabulous and Inspirational THE WIZ
'Combining CTC's critical literacy work and Penumbra's racial justice work allows us to forge something together that neither could do alone.' These words in the playbill of THE WIZ, the first collaboration between these two acclaimed #TCTheater companies, brought tears to my eyes before the show even started. Especially after wading through a sea of children of all shapes, sizes, colors, and creeds. In an increasingly divided world, Penumbra (one of the longest-running and most acclaimed African American theater companies in the nation) and Children's Theatre (ditto for children's theater) give me hope, as individual companies and especially in this collaboration in which an all-black cast tells a story of a young black woman who discovers her own power through the help of friends. They give me hope that maybe we can overcome our seemingly insurmountable differences and join together in song and awesome dance to solve our problems. It's possible, right? Can't you feel a brand new day? Indeed I can.