In Performance
Dec 8, 2008
DANCE: A Quiet But Hardworking "Choreographers' Eve"
Review by Lightsey Darst
Dance critic Lightsey Darst weighs in on the offerings presented recently at the Walker's annual sampling of work by local dance luminaries, "Choreographers' Evening," curated this year by Sally Rousse.
Nov 18, 2008
THEATER: A Good Night of Sandbox Play
Review by Matthew Everett
Playwright Matthew Everett took in the new Sandbox Theatre offering, loosely based on Edgar Allen Poe's "Masque of the Red Death." The verdict? It's not perfect, but it's still a great night of theater.
Nov 10, 2008
THEATER: "Animal Farm" from Page to Stage
Review by Christy DeSmith
Theater critic Christy DeSmith offers her take on Jon Ferguson's ambitious staging of the classic dystopian George Orwell allegory, "Animal Farm." She finds it to be a deeply flawed but, nonetheless, provocative and worthwhile bit of theater.
Nov 3, 2008
THEATER: Naked Stages Indeed!
Review by Christy DeSmith
Theater critic Christy DeSmith reflects on the first weekend's Naked Stages 2008 offerings which included deep thoughts, family descent, and a depantsing! The second and final lineup of performances is on stage November 6-8.
Oct 21, 2008
THEATER: Comedy in the Long Shadow of the Reich
Review by Matthew Everett
Playwright Matthew Everett weighs in on Walking Shadow Theatre's new production, "Amazons and Their Men," which offers a clever take on the thorny character of the Nazis' favorite filmmaker, Leni Riefenstahl: on stage through November 1.
Oct 20, 2008
DANCE: The Promise of "Dancin' with ETHEL"
Article by Lightsey Darst
Performance critic Lightsey Darst offers a glimpse into ARENA Dances' eagerly anticipated collaborative performance with acclaimed string quartet ETHEL and newly commissioned music by local composer Michael Croswell.
Oct 1, 2008
DANCE: Intimate Attacks
Article by Lightsey Darst
Lightsey Darst offers a revealing, eloquent preview of Karen Sherman's provocative new dance performance, "copperhead," on stage at the Southern October 2-5.
Sep 29, 2008
MUSIC: How Do You Suppose She Got to That Moment?
Profile by Alison Morse
Alison Morse offers a lyrical profile of internationally acclaimed composer Mary Ellen Childs, whose movement-rich compositions weave between dance, visual art, music, and poetry.
Sep 8, 2008
THEATER: Looking Over "Fences"
Review by Matthew Everett
Playwright Matthew Everett weighs in on Penumbra Theater's ambitious production of August Wilson's classic play, "Fences." Like the other productions in Penumbra's CENTURY CYCLE, it doesn't disappoint.
Aug 25, 2008
THEATER: Open Eye Takes to the Streets
Article by Jen Paulson
Bringing their puppetry and figure theater to a neighborhood near you, Open Eye Figure Theatre wraps up its summer-long "Driveway Tour" September 6 at the Walker Sculpture Garden; Jen Paulson gives you the skinny on these off-beat, informal productions.
Aug 8, 2008
FRINGE SHORTS: "The Jamal Lullabies" by Emily Conbere
Review by Lightsey Darst
Lightsey Darst assesses the satirical musical theater production, "The Jamal Lullabies," by Emily Conbere and the East River Commedia--showing at the Southern Theater for two remaining shows, August 8 and 10.
Aug 8, 2008
FRINGE SHORTS: "small aïda" by Penelope Freeh
Review by Lightsey Darst
Critic Lightsey Darst loved noted dancer and choreographer Penny Freeh's (James Sewell Ballet) ambitious rendering of Verdi's classic opera into a wordless narrative told in dance. Read on, and she'll tell you why.
Aug 4, 2008
FRINGE SHORTS: "Deviants" by Live Action Set
Review by Christy DeSmith
Theater maven Christy DeSmith is reporting back on a handful of this year's Fringe offerings for mnartists.org. First up: "Deviants" (a remake of the popular production "Desiderare: Desire the Undesirable") presented by Live Action Set.
Aug 2, 2008
DANCE: The Momentum Continues
Review by Lightsey Darst
Lightsey Darst assesses two very different "Momentum" performances from the second weekend's line-up of shows--the oblique "La Brea" by Anna Marie Shogren and wildly entertaining "Brown Rocket" by Eddie Oroyan.
Aug 2, 2008
FRINGE SHORTS: Malia Burkhart's "Survival Pages"
Review by Lightsey Darst
Lightsey Darst is reporting back on a sampling of dance-y productions which are on stage as part of this year's Fringe Festival. First in line: Malia Burkhart's eco-minded multimedia performance, "The Survival Pages."
Jul 21, 2008
DANCE: Momentum Right to the Edge of Dance
Review by Lightsey Darst
Lightsey Darst reflects on the first weekend of Momentum dance premieres (co-commissioned by the Walker and The Southern)--Chris Schlicting's "love things" and Maia Maiden and Ellena Schoop’s dance-theater production "The Foundation, et cetera."
Jul 21, 2008
THEATER: Chasing Windmills in Lanesboro
Review by Christy DeSmith
Theater critic Christy DeSmith weighs in on Commonweal Theatre's production of "Man of La Mancha" and on what happens when that critical cha-cha-cha, the pizzazz of a beloved classic show, goes missing.
Jul 8, 2008
DANCE: Something in the Way She Moves
Profile by Lightsey Darst
Performance maven Lightsey Darst looks into the artistic heart of the dancer, with a revealing profile of McKnight dance fellow Laura Selle Virtucio (one of the featured soloists in the upcoming show, SOLO, at the Southern Theater July 11-13).
Jul 8, 2008
THEATER: The Best Local Theater You Never Hear About
Article by Matthew Everett
Playwright Matthew Everett saw the TC Improv Festival, which showcases top-shelf talent from Minnesota and across the country. His newfound admiration for this under-appreciated pool of performers has him thinking about what makes for "good theater."
Jun 23, 2008
THEATER: Shakespeare in the Parking Lot
Review by Christy DeSmith
Christy DeSmith attended the new all-female, circus-themed rendition of the bard's bloodthirstiest tale, "Titus Andronicus," which is being staged in a charter school parking lot. Read on for the pleasures and disappointments she found in the show.
Jun 23, 2008
THEATER: The Patriot: Inside "Jasper Johns"
Review by Lightsey Darst
Skewed Visions' latest show, "Jasper Johns," aims to unpack, via a variety of theatrical forms, the eponymous artist's insights into national identity. Lightsey Darst saw the show this weekend, and she offers up her take on their efforts here.
Jun 9, 2008
THEATER: This is the Way the World Ends
Review by Lightsey Darst
Performance critic Lightsey Darst reflects on a new show, "Socktesting," which explores the uneasy terrain between day-to-day reality and the ever-present specter of death.
May 28, 2008
DANCE: Put On Your Dancing Shoes
Article by Lightsey Darst
Critic Lightsey Darst offers an entertaining and helpful primer on adult dance classes, from ballet to bellydancing: what to look for, where to find a class, and the best kind of dance form for your body type, fitness level, and experience.
May 20, 2008
Not Quite Divine: Jaime Carrera's "Godless"
Review by Lightsey Darst
Performance critic Lightsey Darst took in Jaime Carrera's much buzzed-about new show "Godless," but she found the production couldn't quite bear up under the weight of its lofty ambitions.