Information, reviews, and miscellaneous shorts focusing on professional, nonprofit theater—from a Southeast Minnesota perspective.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Arsenic and Old Lace

By Joseph Kesselring, Directed by Judee Brone
Fountain City River Players

Fountain City, Wisconsin’s community theater troupe will stage their annual spring comedy with a production of Arsenic and Old Lace.

Fountain City Auditorium
42 North Main Street
Fountain City, Wisconsin

Tickets can be purchased at Waumandee State Bank or Kwik Trip in Fountain City, at Midtown Food or Hardt's Music in Winona, or a half hour before each performance at the door. Call (608) 685-7481 to reserve tickets.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Metamorphoses

By Mary Zimmerman, directed by Daniel Stock
Commonweal Apprentice Company

The Commonweal Theatre Company is in the middle of its 2010-11 Apprentice Company performance: Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman. The play runs March 24 - April 3.

The Apprentice Program, now in its third year, has earned a reputation for bringing exciting and fresh theatre to the Commonweal stage each spring. This year’s offering, Metamorphoses, is a modern adaptation of ten Greek myths. Through vibrant storytelling, the play explores universal themes including the struggle between mortals and the divine, the inevitability of change, and the redemptive power of love.

Originally mounted in Chicago in 1998, Zimmerman’s production electrified the theatre world and subsequently transferred to Broadway, where it was heralded as ”deeply affecting” by Time magazine. ”As the director,” says Daniel Stock, “I am interested in this play because these stories still fascinate us, over two millennia after they were first conceived. I believe we can better control our future by learning from our past. These stories continue to capture and illuminate timeless gifts: being human and being alive.”

The Apprentice Company features Brennan Kelleher, Claire Kenning, Michael van Schoick, Jessie Sherman and Daniel Stock—all seen on the Commonweal mainstage during the 2010 season—and introduces newcomer, Rachel Kuhnle.

The innovative set design can be considered its own character, featuring a 9’ x 9’ pool of water on the stage. The set, sound, costumes and props are designed by the Commonweal Apprentice Company. Company member, Jason Underferth will design the lights.

The 10-month Apprenticeship affords recent graduates a transition into the professional theatre world, providing keen insight into the Artist/Administrator model through regular artistic opportunities and focused time in the areas of Marketing, Development and Production. The apprenticeship culminates in a capstone project that is produced, directed, designed and performed by the Apprentice Company with the resources of the Commonweal and the guidance of the staff.

Metamorphoses has a limited run of 8 shows. All performances are at the Commonweal Theatre in downtown Lanesboro. Tickets are $20.

Metaporphoses runs Thursdays through Sundays, March 24 - April 3
Visit the Commonweal for schedules and tickets: Commonweal Theatre

Great River Shakespeare Festival Preview

Great River Shakespeare Festival

GRSF will unveil their 2011 season with a reception at Signatures Events Center in Winona.

The Preview event features music by Heart Strings Harp Circle light refreshments, cash bar, and raffle prizes. GRSF merchandise will be on sale, and attendees will be able to order tickets and purchase gift certificates for the 2011 season productions. Reservations are recommended but not required (507-474-7900, ext. 118). A $5.00 donation is suggested. The Signatures Event Center is at 22852 County Road 17 in Winona.

For more information go to grsf.org

Friday, March 25, 2011

Land Stewardship Project presenting one-act play

The Land Stewardship Project has been presenting Doug Nopar’s one act play, Look Who’s Knockin’, at churches, conferences, theaters and other venues throughout Southeastern Minnesota this winter and spring. The play follows a farm couple wrestling with what will happen to their farm after they retire. The play is intended to foster discussion about land ethics and how the next generation of farmers will be able to get started in farming.

Doug Nopar, the Policy Program Organizer for The Land Stewardship Project, is a long time rural organizer as well as the founder of Winona’s Youth Action Theatre. He created the play from numerous interviews and stories from and about new and retiring farmers. Look Who’s Knockin’ is directed by local farmer and regional actor Eva Barr and features a small rotating cast of actors familiar to Southeast Minnesota playgoers.

Upcoming performances include

April 8: The Crossings at Carnegie, Zumbrota, Minn., 7:30 p.m.; 320 E. Avenue, Zumbrota
April 10: Theatre du Mississippi, Masonic Temple, Winona, Minn., 2 p.m.; 251 Main St., Winona

Tickets are $5. For more information, contact Doug Nopar at 507-523-3366 or dnopar@landstewardshipproject.org, or go to LandStewardshipProject.org.