Perhaps I’m beginning my review on an unacceptably mercantile note, but I believe that the under-sung heroes of the thrilling Come Fly Away (at the Ordway, through Oct 16) are the producers, and their agents and attorneys, who worked the phones, did the lunches, flew to L.A. on the private jets – and secured...
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Looking for some undemanding entertainment? Something that provides talented actor/singers with a vehicle for goofy characterization, plus a slew of tuneful songs? Minus the distraction of a real story? Of course you are! Theater Latté Da has the show for you: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Latté Da performing on the Ordway’s...
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“What kind of doll are you?” Sky Masterson, high-roller extraordinaire, asks incredulously. To which Sergeant Sarah Brown, proud marcher for the Salvation Army, now sober after getting herself roundly sloshed on Bacardi-flavored milkshakes, replies defiantly, “I’m a mission doll!” End of Act One. I tried hard, I really did. But I couldn’t entirely shrug...
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The Ordway has brought a powerful, substantial and beautiful new musical to its main stage with the Tony Award-winning “Next to Normal,” a play that plots out new territory for what musicals can talk about. In this case, the subject is living with bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia. Amazingly, for all of the pain attached...
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The amazing Stomp (at the Ordway, through April 3) has rolled into St. Paul for a breathless one week run. Created way back in 1991, the show has enjoyed lengthy runs in London, New York, Sydney, Rio, San Francisco, Athens, Tokyo, etc. There have been HBO specials, Sesame Street specials, Inauguration (Clinton) performances, IMAX...
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Theater Latte Da’s production of Evita at the Ordway’s McKnight Theater is a fitting meld of visual elements set in the perfect space. A versatile cast, limited in numbers but brimming with talent, created a seamless flow of scenes from the life of Argentina’s most famous first lady, cannily envisioned and executed by director...
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It would be difficult to surpass the pure PPM (pleasure-per-moment) ratio of The Gospel At Colonus (at the Ordway, 345 Washington St., downtown St Paul, through Aug 11, ordway.org). Where else will you find gathered together the Steele Singers, the amazing Blind Boys Of Alabama (founded in 1939), The Legendary Soul Stirrers (1930s), and...
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By Janet Preus The Lincoln Center Theater’s touring production of South Pacific, now running at the Ordway in St. Paul, offers a slightly edgier take on the war-in-paradise story. Certainly one of the best shows ever written in this genre, this production does a classy job of updating the staging, movement and technical presentation...
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