After nearly a decade of professional focus in the worlds of food, wine and public policy, I am finally returning to the deep roots I put down in art and music twenty years ago, with the aim of bringing a…
Young Frankenstein at Orpheum Theatre
The Hennepin Theater Trust continues its season of touring productions with the Mel Brooks classic, Young Frankenstein, a musical version of his movie spoof on the monster horror genre. But everybody knows that movie, right? If you do, you won’t…
Yellow Face, a Theatre Mu Production at The Guthrie Theater
David Henry Hwang calls the question very early in Yellow Face (produced by the always worthwhile Theatre Mu in the Guthrie’s Dowling Studio, through Feb 21, guthrietheater.org): “Is race a meaningless construct?” Who, the play asks, is more authentically Chinese? The successful…
J Evan La Freak and Phil Solem at Sauce
Sometimes the choice for HowWasTheShow photo of the week take is obvious to me even as the subject of said photo is taking place before my eyes. Saturday night, Phil Solem (The Rembrandts, Thrush) played a headlining show at Sauce…
The Ballet Works Project, presented by The James Sewell Ballet at Southern Theater
The Twin Cities premier Ballet Institution, The James Sewell Ballet Company, presented its newest season performance this past weekend, The Ballet Works Project. The new endeavor is a collection of forward-thinking pieces by local choreographers Hijack and Nicholas Lincoln (who is…
Macbeth at The Guthrie Theater
As my companion pointed out, one of the enduring pleasures of Macbeth (on the Guthrie’s Wurtele Stage, through April 3, guthrietheater.org) is that it’s so much fun. A tragedy to be sure, and stern academicians will parse the deep meaning of…
Mark Wheat of 89.3 The Current
Normally, HowWasTheShow features photos of musicians as our Photo of the Week, but when I saw this photo of Mark Wheat in Meredith Westin‘s photo set of 89.3 The Current‘s Five Year Anniversary show, I couldn’t help but ask if…
Slideshow: 89.3 The Current’s 5 Year Anniversary Party at First Avenue
HowWasTheShow is proud to present Jenn Barnett’s photos from Friday night’s 89.3 The Current 5 Year Anniversary party at First Avenue. This slideshow is set to “Optimist” by P.O.S. Share on Facebook
Channeling Carol, a Queerdo Production at Bedlam Theatre
Queerdo, a queer artist collective formed out of the mission of Outward Spiral Theatre Company, launched its first production with a cabaret inspired by legendary performer Carol Channing. Conceived and curated by Jeffry Lusiak, it featured new work by 10…
Adam Svec CD Release Party with Caroline Smith & No Bird Sing
I’ve begun countless reviews over the years by celebrating the fact that the Twin Cities music scene can support multiple rock shows on the same night and still pack all the venues. Even on the coldest nights of the year. Minnesota…
Podcast: HowWasTheShow CD Reviews for January, 2010
HowWasTheShow’s CD Review podcast for January, 2010, recorded at Kings Wine Bar in South Minneapolis on Sunday, January 24th. David de Young hosts. (A shout out to Bill & Cynthia who were sitting not too far away from me at…
Rock ‘n Roll by Tom Stoppard, a Park Square Theatre Production at Park Square Theatre
I’ve always been a fan of Tom Stoppard plays, but I chose not to direct one with my college students once because I thought they’d all need a degree in its subject matter to understand what they were talking about.…