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

Showing posts with label Calendar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Calendar. Show all posts

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

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.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Early Spring Productions

The spring season is already under way in Winona with St. Mary’s University production of A Chorus Line, which runs through Monday. Vivian Fussillo’s take on Moleire’s The Imaginary Invalid plays next week at Winona State University, Thursday through Saturday.

A Chorus Line (Katie Derus)
The 17-member kick line rehearses for Saint Mary’s University’s production of A Chorus Line. (photo by Katie Derus/Winona Daily News)
Imaginary Patient (Katie Derus)
Ryan Hawkins, right, and Ali Dilger in WSU’s The Imaginary Invalid. (photo by Katie Derus/Winona Daily News)
The Senator Wore Pantyhose (Rory O’Driscoll)
Karen Dulak, left and Ann Kohner rehearse a scene from the dress rehearsal of The Senator Wore Pantyhose. (Photo by Rory O’Driscoll/Winona Daily News)
You're a Good Man Charlie Brown
From left, Chris Bernard, Emily Whitcomb, Derek Sveen, Abbey Quandahl, Hunter Tibor and Emily Quandahl rehearse "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown."(Photo by Fred Schulze/Winona Daily News)

Next week also has two community theater offerings: The Fountain City Players with The Senator Wore Panythose and Rock Solid Youth Center with You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.

For the second year, spring also means the Commonweal’s annual Ibsen Festival and production of Ibsen. The Festival runs April 17 - 19 with Hedda Gabler opening April 16 for a two month run. Visit the Commonweal for details.

A Chorus Line

Music by Marvin Hamlisch, Lyrics by Edward Kleban,
Directed by Judy Meyers
St. Mary’s Department of Theater Arts

Mar. 27 - 30
Fri., Sat., Mon. shows at 7:30 pm, Sun. at 3 pm
Page Theatre

See story from Winona Daily News Visit the Page Theatre website for schedule and ticket information.

The Imaginary Invalid

by Moliere, Directed by Vivian Fusillo
Winona State Department of Theatre and Dance
April 2-4, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
WSU Performing Arts Center Mainstage

See story from Winona Daily News.
Visit the Winona State Theater and Dance Department website for schedule and ticket information.

The Senator Wore Panythose

by Billy Van Zandt and jane Milmore, Directed by Juddee Brone

Fountain City River Players
April 1 - 5, 7:30 p.m. (Sunday, 2 p.m.)
Fountain City Auditorium
42 N. Main St., Fountain City, Wisconsin.
608-687-7481

See the story from the Winona Daily News

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

by Clark Gesner, directeed by Sue Degallier
Rock Solid Youth Center
April 2 - 4, 7:30 p.m.
April 5, 4:00 p.m.
75 West 3rd Street, Winona, MN
507 452-2125

See the story from the Winona Daily News

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

July Has Become Theatre Month in Southeast Minnesota

These next two weeks may be the busiest theatre weeks of the year in Southeast Minnesota. With the exception of the Jon Hassler Theater, which just finished its summer production, all of the area professional theatres have two or more shows scheduled, and most of them are offering related activities, conversations and performances. In addition, Minnesota has an abundance of community theaters; I've listed a few area productions below, but to be sure, this is only a partial listing.

Please check with the individual theaters for dates, times, and ticket information.

Commonweal Theatre, Lanesboro, Minnesota

Harvey by Mary Chase (Minnesota Theatre Review)
Man of La Mancha by Dale Wasserman (Minnesota Theatre Review)
Thursdays - Mondays, through October 25
Schedules and tickets: Commonweal Theatre

Great River Shakespeare Festival, Winona Minnesota

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare (Minnesota Theatre Review) (Preview: Problem Plays)
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (Minnesota Theatre Review)
Tuesdays - Sundays, through July 27
Schedules and tickets: Great River Shakespeare Festival

GRSF Apprentice Acting Company

Pericles, Prince of Tyre by William Shakespeare
July 22 - 25
Schedules and tickets: Great River Shakespeare Festival

Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre, St. Mary's Page Theater, Winona, Minnesota

Little Shop of Horrors by Ashman & Mencken (opens July 10)
The Foreigner by Larry Shue (opens July 17)
Thursdays - Sundays, through August 3
Schedules and tickets: Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre

Gilmore Creek Children's Theatre

Mouse Expedition by Erin Malcolm and Brian Blankenship
Five performances July 19 - August 2
Schedules and tickets: Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre

Community Theatre

Rushford Area Society for the Arts

The Sensuous Senator by Michael Parker
directed by Daryl Lanz
July 16 - 18 7:30 p.m.
July 19 - 20 2:00 p.m.
Rushford-Peterson High School, Rushford, Minn.
Tickets: 507-864-7525
www.rushfordrasa.org

Ye Olde Opera House

Cinderella by Rodgers and Hammerstiein
Directed by Kay Cross
July 16 - 20 8:30 p.m.
Ye Olde Gray Barn, Hwy 44 East of Spring Grove, Minn.
Tickets: 507-498-JULY
www.yeoldeoperahouse.org

Rochester Repetory Theatre Company

Glass Half Full: 10 Minute Plays
Directed by Becci Berg & Kent Griffin
July 17 - 19; 24 - 26 8:00 p.m.
Rochester Repertory Theatre, 103 Seventh St. N.E., Rochester, Minn.
www.rochesterrep.org

Fountain City Players

The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes
Directed by Judee Brone
July 23 - 26 7:30 p.m.
July 27 2:00 p.m.
Fountain City Auditorium, 42 North Main Street, Fountain City, Wis.
Tickets: 608-687-7481