New York City - December 2025

I spent a week in NYC in December 2025.  I was there for the dates of December 9, to December 15. Got to see some Broadway Shows, Off Broadway shows, and the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall with the Rockettes.  Some shows were new, some were revivals, one was long running, and one was finally making its NYC debut after all these years. 

I got to NYC on Tuesday.  I had a show right away Tuesday evening. That show was Prince Faggot, which played at Studio Seaview and closed on December 13, 2025.  I was able to see that play just before it closed.  It’s a new play by Jordan Tannahill that is directed by Shayok Misha Chowdhury. 

A cast of six play all the characters. All of the actors in the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.  We hear all of their personal stories as the play goes on. The play was two hours with no intermission.  The play begins with performer Mihir Kumar showing a photo of himself from childhood. That photo definitely tells us that he was going to grow up to be a gay man.  That’s been a trend I have also seen on social media lately. People show a childhood photo where the signs were there all along.  The play then shows a photo of Prince George when he was four years old. The play then transitions to what if Prince George was gay, and how his life would be in university, and as a young adult.  There were some scenes that were very provocative.   This story was very well told.  The personal stories really added to the performance. 

Wednesday was a two show day. For the matinee I went to see Waiting For Godot at the Hudson Theatre. This Broadway Revival stars Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter in the Samual Becket play that is directed by Jamie Lloyd. This play is about nothing and everything at the same time. I was impressed with Keanu Reeve’s theater past in the playbill. I’ve only known his film career, but he has quite the list of theatrical roles over the years. I never knew!  

This play was well staged, excellent direction, and the actors were amazing.  This production closes on January 4, 2026. 

Wednesday evening I went to the new production of Oedipus at Studio 54.  This production was originally presented in London.  We are all familiar with Ancient Greek tale by Sophocles. Oedipus goes to a seer in his teens and is told that he will kill his father and marry his mother.  No knowing that he was adopted, Oedipus flees his home, and does kill a King at a crossroads and then marries his queen and makes her his wife. Through the Fates, etc, in ancient play fashion, we learn the truth.  

This is a new play written by Robert Icke, based on the Sophocles original.  Features Mark Strong as Oedipus and Lesley Manville as Jocasta, with John Carroll Lynch as Creon. This play is today.  And Oedipus has just won an election.  Oedipus is celebrating his victory with his wife Jocasta, his brother-in-law/political advisor Creon and his children Antigone, Polyneices, and Etencles. 

Things go awry at the celebration when a seer shows up and recaps what has happened before.  Oedipus’ mother Merope is also there to tell him to forget about showing his birth certificate. That was a campaign promised that he had made.  As the events unfold, just not with big Greek monologues, we do learn everything that was predicted did come to pass.  Not only are Oedipus & Jocasta husband and wife, they are also mother and son.  He’s the child she thought was dead.  

Definitely a telling of Oedipus for 2025. Present day scenery, present day costumes, a present day election, and the language was modern too. I liked it.  The shirts at the souvenir stand said “Truth is a Motherf*cker”.  Those are true words for the story of Oedipus. 

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

The Thursday Matinee was the New World Stages production of the William Finn musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. There were some big names in the production. We had Jasmine Amy Roger’s, mostly recently seen on Broadway as Betty Boop, playing Olive Osgtrovsky. Kevin McHale, who played Artie on Glee, is William Barfee. We also had Jason Kravits as Vice Principal Douglas Panch.  A very talented cast rounds out this production.  

This musical is the spelling bee. What’s fun about this production is that 4 audience members get to participate in the musical too.  It’s always fun watching them try to get rid of the last audience members who keeps spelling the words correctly. 

I really liked the scenery which is designed by Teresa L. Williams. It truly felt like this story was taking place in a school gymnasium.  

William Finn’s lyrics are catchy, warm, heart warming and clever for this production.  I remember seeing the National Tour for the original Broadway production during the 2000’s. It’s nice to see this show is back in NYC, even as an Off Broadway production. 

Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)

 

Two Strangers was the Thursday evening show playing at the Longacre Theater. 

This new musical came from London. It had its world premiere in 2023 at the Kiln Theatre. Then went on to become a London West End production.  It had its North American premiere at the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University before moving to Broadway.  Actor Sam Tutty as Dougal has been with the show since the very beginning. Actress Christina Pitts plays Robin and has been with the show since the North American premier at the American Repertory Theater, 

Dougal lives in London. His dad left his Mom when she was pregnant with him. His dad now lives in the United States and is getting married. Dougal is probably in his 20’s.  He is invited to his Dad’s wedding and is picked up at the airport by Robin. Who is the sister of the bride.  We learn as the musical goes one that there is a 20+ year difference between his Dad and her sister.  

Dougal is just in town for two days. Basically just long enough for the wedding.  Robin ends up being his tour guide. And Dougal helps her bring the wedding cake from Brooklyn to Manhattan.  

The stage is two sets of revolves that spin as needed. The center revolves contains two piles of luggage, which becomes all of the scenery that we need for this stage musical.  Very clever how everything  is used.  

As the story goes on, we learn that Robin is not invited to the wedding. Although she is the brides sister.  Robin later tells Dougal that his father cheater on her sister.  She doesn’t elaborate, but it makes you wonder if it was her.  We also learn that it wasn’t Dougals Dad who sent him the invitation, it was her sister/the bride.  Robin reveals that Dougal’s Dad has business in London that takes him there multiple times a year, and he has never once tried to reach out to Dougal or his Mom.  

Dougal then decides to not go to the wedding. It feels like he and Robin have made a connection. 

For me, this is the surprise hit of the season. This musical is so well executed. The two person cast is amazing.  They both deserve recognition during awards season. This show wonderful and fabulous. 

Beau The Musical

On Friday at 5pm I went to the Off Broadway musical Beau The Musical at the Distillery at St. Lukes Theater. It was block away from my 7pm evening show.  It was a last minute addition, and I am glad I was able to see Beau The Musial. 

Before I get into the story.  I want to mention that the entire cast is also the band/orchestra for this Nashville Bar themed setting of a musical. The stage is set up a like a bar.  And the cast does use every square inch of the performance space.  There wasn’t a bad seat in the house. 

The story follow’s Ace.  He’s a teenager who lives with his Mom in Nashville.  Ace has a school bully that he has to deal with that all the time.  One day, they receive a phone call from Memphis that Beau is in the hospital.  Ace’s Mom has always told him that they had no family. Now Ace finds out he has a Grandfather, who is still alive.. Ace hops on the bus to go see Beau in the hospital. Beau is just as surprised to learn he has a grandson. We later learn that Ace’s Grandmother and Mom left his Pop Pop when they learned he was homosexual.  Beau and Ace’s mother will never talk about what happened.  

Beau and Ace become good friends and look forward to their summers together, and their phone calls. 

When Ace is later bullied at high school for being gay. He recedes from his Mom and Larry, her boyfriend. Then he goes to visit Beau, and Beaus teaches Aces that nothing is wrong with him, how to be strong for himself, to not let the negative thoughts win. Beau then teaches Ace to play his prized guitar. Whose name I cannot remember now.  Ace took to the guitar. That same guitar was not a good match for Ace’s Mom when she was his age.  Ace can make that guitar sing. 

Beau later passes when Ace is in high school. Beau ended up being the most important person to a teenage  Ace.  Their bond was strong.  

I wasn’t the expecting the LGBTQ part of this musical. It was very welcoming and heartwarming.  After Beau’s funeral Ace’s Mom says “she knows everything” when it comes to her son. She loves him.  

This musical was only 100 minutes with no intermission. It packed in a really good story, and some emotion, and lots of great music.  I did need some Kleenex to dab my eyes at certain moments. 

Chess

My Friday evening show was the Broadway Revival of the musical Chess. The stage curtain before the show definitely sets the tone for this Cold War musical. You have representations of the flags for the Soviet Union and the United States of America present before the musical begins and during intermission. 

Once the stage curtain is removed, the sides of the stage are filled with Chess pieces which light up blue or red throughout the musical.   When tensions are getting high during the Cold War, we then see some war heads that are covered in stage lighting that are hidden amongst the chess pieces.  

Lots of changes to the script and song order, when looking at the playbill. One noteable change is that historically the show has been billed as Lyrics by Tim Rice, Music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulveaus (from ABBA). Now the playbill says Music and Lyris by Benny Anderson, Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulveaus.  This production has a new book by Danny Strong and is directed by Michael Mayer.  

The cast includes Aaron Tvedt as Freddie Trumper (the American Chess player), Lea Michele as Florence Vassay (Freddie’s second and strategist), Nicolas Christopher as Anatoly Serievsky(the Russian Chess Player), Bryce Pinkham as The Arbiter, Bradley Deas plays Alexander Molotov, the Russian advisor to Anatoly, Hannah Cruz is Svetlana Sergievsky (Anatoly’s wife), and Sean Allen Krill is the CIA Agent Walter De Courcey.  This is powerhouse cast. 

During the intermission I noticed in the playbill the songs I Know Him So Well now comes after Pity the Child.  With this production, with the events as they are played out in The Deal, it make perfect sense for Pity the Child to be the very next song.  There’s also three new songs in the second act. Svetlana now has the song  He Is A Man, He Is A Child. These news songs do help with the story. 

This musical Chess has been around since the 1980’s. The Original Concept Album is one of my favorite cast recordings. The vocal talent and the songs.  The original Broadway production did not play for very long. The original Broadway production did play the Imperial Theater, where the Rival is also playing. We had great seats in the front of the balcony.  

The story follows the world chess championship. Act 1 takes place in 1979. Act 2 takes place in 1983.  You can see and feel the differences between the Carter Administration and the Reagan Administration,  

I feel like with this Broadway Revival, they have played the best move. Between the cast and the unit scenery. This is production was everything for me Friday night.  I want a cast recordings of the Broadway Revival and I want it NOW!  

Chess is known for its songs. Between Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, Nicholas Christopher, Bryce Pinkham and Hannah Cruz, we have some of the best vocal talent on the Broadway stage.  They take these songs and make them soar.  I had goosebumps so many times during the evening, because the singing,  the scenery, the story and the acting were that good. The entire musical was excellent.    

Something folks may not realize, is that the 1980’s hit song One Night in Bangkok is actually from the musical Chess. The song was original performed by Murray Head.  Aaron Tveit and the cast give us a performance that is not to be missed. 

Chess was one of my favorite musicals of the week. So glad I got the show with this cast.  I also think the simplified staging really helped to focus the story on the cast and their vocal talents. 

I will be surprised if Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicolas Christoper are not recognized during awards season. Their vocal talents alone should be recognized.  In addition to their full performances. 

Make a move and see Chess the musical on Broadway at the Imperial Theater. 

Saturday morning I went to the 100th Anniversary of the Christmas Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes at the Radio City Musical Hall. With it being the 100th Anniversary, the event started with a short video interviewing past and present members of the Rockettes. 

This was my second time seeing this wonderful holiday tradition.  The Rockettes are the stars, but there is also Santa, the organ players, a group of vocalists, and some extra dancers for additional scenes during the production.Spoiler alert, the Nativity Scene at Radio City is the best. They way they build up to it, and then the big moment itself. It has a hug cast, scenery, costumes and live animals on stage. It’s such a good moment. That orchestra pit for the Christmas Spectacular goes here, there, everywhere. That was impressive. 

In addition to the trees, and Christmas Markets, if you are in NYC in December, I recommend the Christmas Spectacular. It is so worth seeing.  

Messy White Gays

My Saturday matinee was the Off Broadway play Messy White Gays at the The Duke on 42nd Street. This play was written by Drew Droege and directed by Mike Donahue.  

This is a five person play that is 90 minutes with no intermission. It was hilarious, funny, and outrageous. 

“Here’s the SYNOPSIS from Playbill.com:

It’s Sunday morning in Hell’s Kitchen. Brecken and Caden have just murdered their boyfriend and stuffed his body into a Jonathan Adler credenza. Unfortunately, they’ve also invited friends over for brunch. And they’re out of limes! Feel bad for them! They’re MESSY WHITE GAYS!”

This play had me laughing a lot.  

Ragtime

Saturday evening I went to the Broadway Revival of the musical Ragtime, which is a Lincoln Center Theater production at their Vivian Beaumont Theater, located at Lincoln Center. 

The musical begins in 1906.  It feels like as a society we have come a long ways since then, but we also have so far to go.  The story focuses on the rich white people of the time, the music of the African American’s in Harlem, and the immigrants coming in from the boats wanting a better life for themselves and their children.  

This production has such an amazing a cast.  You have Joshua Henry as Coalhouse Walker Jr, Cassie Levy as Mother, Brandon Uranowitz as Tateh, Collin Donnel as Father, Nichelle Lewis as Sarah, John Clay Jr as Booker T. Washington, Rodd Cyrus as Harry Houdini, Jason Forbach as Henry Ford/Policeman #1/Train Conducter, and Ben Levi Ross as Mother’s Younger Brother. Now I know what production it  was that Jason Forbach had to leave the Guthrie Theater’s summer musical of Cabaret early for. He’s in in the Broadway Revival of Ragtime, which I believe performances began in October. 

With the thrust stage at the Vivian Beaumont, there are trap doors and a revolving stage. This production of Ragtime makes excellent use of those elements. 

The stories of this musical focus on Mother, Tateh and Coalhouse Walker Jr. Their stories intersect, diverge and circle back.  I remember seeing Ragtime on the Tony Awards in the late 1990s, and also got to see the National Tour of the original production at the Orpheum Theater in Downtown Minneapolis in the late 1990’s. The original production had tons of scenery.  For this Broadway Revival, the scenery is more representational.  Along with the cast and the costumes, everything works out very well for this production.  

Standouts for this production are Brandon Uranowitz as Tateh, Cassie Levy as Mother, and Joshua Henry as Coalhouse Walker Jr. They give us some powerful performances. Should definitely receive some recognition during awards season.

I did learn on Saturday night, that the cast recording of this Broadway Revival is coming out digitally in January, and on vinyl later in the spring.  I am looking forward to that. 

This show is 2 hours 45 minutes with an intermission. The story is told so well, and is so engaging that the time does fly on by. It’s a lot of story, but moves at a good pace.  I’m hoping both both Chess and Ragtime are nominated for Best Revival of a stage musical. 

The Baker’s Wife

Was my Sunday matinee. This musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz has never been to NYC before. It has a troubled story with a preBroadway tour in 1976 that closed before ever getting to NYC.  We did do The Baker’s Wife in college. I’m familiar with the musical itself. I agree with the artistic director from program. Maybe the story of the making of The Baker’s Wife from 1976 is a production all on its own.  

This Off Broadway production is produced by the Classic Stage Company at the Lynn F Angelson Theater, located not far from Union Square in NYC. 

The cast includes Scott Bakula as Aimable Castagnet, Adriana DeBois as his wife Genevieve Castagnet, Nathan Lee Graham as Marquis, and Judy Kuhn as Denise (the wife to the owner of the town Cafe). 

The story takes place in a small town in France. This town has been without a baker for months. The towns people have gone all this time without bread and their sweat treats.  They are overjoyed by the arrival of their Baker and his wife, and their delicious treats they bring to the town.  Then trouble comes with the handsome young man Dominique (played by Kevin William Paul) whisks the Bakers younger wife away.  The baker is so distraught he doesn’t bake anymore and the bakery is a mess.  The towns people rally together to bring the Baker’s wife back to town.  They really want their fresh bread that much, that they can overlook her public infidelity.  Genevieve realizes on her own that Dominique is not her life, nor her future.  

This musical is known for the song Meadowlark. Adriana DeBois sings that song so beautifully. ‘

Going into this show, I was excited for the NYC premiere with Scott Bakula and Adriana DeBois being in the cast. Broadway Legend Judy Kuhn was a nice surprise as was seeing Nathan Lee Graham in this musical.  

Once the musical was done and over with. As much fun as it is.  Along with the character growth.  I still don’t feel like it’s not ready for Broadway. I feel like the script itself still needs work. I’m happy the show is selling out as an Off Broadway production. I just don’t know if this star power will be enough for Broadway. I would love an Off Broadway Cast Recording. 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Sunday evening was the play that started it all of this trip December trip to NYC.  I have already seen this play twice before, the original 7 hour version in London in 2017, and the new 3 hour version on Broadway in 2022.  The play now features actor Tom Felton reprising his role as Draco Malfoy from the Warner Bros Harry Potter films.  Of course, I had to buy a ticket and see the play again in NYC.  

Now after seeing it again, I’m curious to see it again on tour. It will be in Minneapolis in the spring, there are certain moments that I will looking for to see how they are staged on tour.  Look for that review from me later in the spring. 

The story of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child takes place 19 years after the events of the Deathly Hollows book/movie. Harry and Ginny’s youngest son Albus Serverus Potter, Ron and Hermione’s daughter Rose, and Draco Malfoy’s son Scorpious Malfoy begin their first  year at Hogwarts School for Wizardy and Witchcraft. 

I remember when I had first seen this in 2017, we were suppose to keep the secret and not reveal what happens during the play.  Now it’s 2025. Hmmm.  What I will say is that Albus and Scorpious become best friends at Hogwarts with a bond that rivals that of Harry, Ron & Hermione.  Albus and Scorpious try to fix an issue from the past, the more they mess with time travel the worst things become. Scorpious eventually finds himself alone in a darker version of reality.  He has to find someone who he can trust to restore the proper timeline.  

After everything is righted and Albus and Scorpious want to destroy their time turner, at that moment it is revealed that Delphi Diggery is the real villain. They thought she was their friend. She is actually the daughter of Lord Voldemort and Belatrix Lestrange.  She wants to do something in the past in Godrich’s Hollow, where Lord Voldemort killed Harry Potters parents back in 1980.  She traps Albus and Scorpious in the past without their wands, and they have to find a way to communicate with the present.  

Without giving anymore away. With this being my third viewing of the play. I always thought it was Albus Potter’s. Story. Then Scorpious has to step up, take the lead and right their wrongs to set things back in motion correctly.  I think the focus of the story is the friendship between Albus and Scorpious.  It’s not one or the other, it’s the two of them together. 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a very nice addition to the Harry Potter franchise.  It’s a great story. It pulls at the heart strings once or twice.  The venue is amazing. They redecorated the Lyric Theater for the play.  Which does play into the story a few times too.  It was great seeing Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy live on stage.  That was worth the ticket price right there.

It was a fun week of shows, and sight seeing in NYC in December.  Don’t forget, not only is there the tree at Rockefeller, there is also a tree at the New York Stock Exchange in lower Manhattan. The tree at the NYSE has been there longer than the tree at Rockefeller. Who knew?!

Birthday Candles - December 2025

Birthday Candles

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

I’m in the Fargo-Moorhead area for the weekend to see The Blenders annual Holiday Soul Christmas Concert at the Fargo Theater. This year is The Blenders farewell tour to their infamous holiday concert.  While in town, I was able to see Theatre B’s production of Birthday Candles during its closing weekend.  

The play is written by Noah Haidle. 

The story of Birthday Candles follows Ernestine from her 17th Birthday to her 107th Birthday.  Lots of ups and downs in Ernestine’s life.  We the audience see her in the various stages of making a cake throughout the first act.  Her mother made her the same birthday cake every year, until she passed between Ernestine’s 17th and 18th birthdays. Ernestine makes the exact same cake every year. It’s become a family a tradition that Ernestine is passing along the generations. There’s a wonderful story about the cake capturing stardust and the knowledge of the cosmos as part of it’s ingredients. 

Ernestine ends up living longer than her immediate family.  The death scenes are beautifully staged. When it’s each characters time’s they exit stage right and are back lit, so you can see their silhouette.  First it is her mother. Then her daughter Madeline/Athena at age 27, then her ex husband Matt after he has a stroke, then her son to dementia or Alzheimer’s, then her second husband (Kenneth, who was also her best friend throughout life).  When it’s Ernestine’s time to go at 107, Kenneth is back lit stage right with his hand outstretched waiting for Ernestine. 

I know I just spend a whole paragraph talking about death.  The play is not about that. It’s about life.  Ernestine’s life and her family. Their ups and downs. Their closeness. Their bond. And the birthday cake that brings them all together. Every scene takes place during Ernestine’s birthday. The years are projected above the stage. Which helps the audience know when we are in her lifetime.  

This play is just a beautiful story. Glad I was able to see it before it closes. Speaking of which, the play closes on Sunday December 22, 2025. Still plenty of time to catch it. Check out www.theatreb.org for tickets.  

Goosebumps Phantom of the Auditorium - December 2025

Goosebumps Phantom of the Auditorium 

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

Over the weekend I was at Park Square Theatre for the musical Goosebumps Phantom of the Auditorium based on on the R.L.Stine’s book series.  This musical has book & lyrics by John MacLay, and music, lyrics, orchestrations, & arrangements by Danny Abosch. This musical is directed by Ellen Fenster-Gharib with additional direction & choreography by Jack Moorman. 

I have not read The Goosebumps series of books from the 1990’s. Based on the title, this musical is exactly what I thought it was going to be. A modern story that pays homage to the Andrew Lloyd Musical Phantom of the Opera. The high school is ready for the annual musical.  The drama teacher has chosen the play The Phantom.  Which the school says is cursed. No sooner do rehearsals begin that the strange things that can’t be explained begin to happen. The trap door that hasn’t been used in ages, leads to some underground lair deep under the schools basement.  A mysterious figure keeps spooking the cast. 

I also liked the scenery for the this production designed by Micheala Lochen. The scenery easily transforms from a high school hallway, to the drama room, to the stage, to the mysterious lair deep below the high school.  

This production also made good use of the aisles. Which helped with some of the spooky moments in the musical. We the audience, got an up close experience with the spooky figure haunting this high school musical.

The songs are fun, the cast is amazing, and the story is very good.  Even if you are not familiar with the musical  The Phantom of the Opera, you will enjoy this musical.  Including the intermission, the show runs for about 1 hour 45 minutes.  There’s one week left to see this wonderful production.  Musical runs through December 14, check out www.parksquaretheatre.org for tickets. 

The Murder on the LInks - December 2025

The Murder on the Links

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

The Murder on the Links is the third Agatha Christie mystery that I have seen at Theatre in the Round.  I have to say Agatha Christie and Theatre in the Round are a very nice combination. They mix very well together.  

This play is a new adaptation by Kate Danley.  What I liked about this script is that Captain Arthur Hastings (played by Jake Leif) narrates moments of the story.  I also liked Ben Tallen as Hercule Poirot.  His Poirot was sauve, kind and intelligent. 

What I really liked about this production, in addition to the cast, was that about 5 minutes before the play begins the cast began to appear on stage and mingle with each other. We got to see the Gardner tending to the flower beds, folks enjoying  a beverage, taking the baby stroller out to enjoy the afternoon sun.  It was a great way to get us into the world of the play.  I also liked how for this play that Theatre in the Round used every performance space.  

Director Linda Paulson had a great cast to work with in brining this mystery play to life.  Along with Set Designer Madeline Achen and costumes by Colleen O’Dell and Hunter Goldsmith.  The play takes place in early Spring 1920.  

The story begins with Poirot, now retired, being asked to take on a case. A man feels like his life is in danger. So Poirot and Hastings head for France with haste. By the time they get to the town, the gentlemen is already dead!  Who killed him and why? This case has a sense of Deja Vu for Poirot.  There’s also a French detective who has the lead in this case. Every time Poirot finds an important clue, this detective writes if off and says that is not what we’re looking for.  Those clues do help Poirot to figure out the story and find out who really did commit the murder and why.  The French Detective even goes so far as to arrest the wrong person, in this story everyone is a suspect.  This moment allows Poirot to root out who really did it.  As with Agatha Christie stories, all is revealed in the end.  

To find out who did it and why, check out www.theatreintheround.org for tickets.  Play runs through December 21, 2025. 

Plaid Tidings - December 2025

Plaid Tidings

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

Last night I went to the first preview performance of Plaid Tidings at the Black Box theater at Artistry in Bloomington.  The show opens Saturday night.  Let me tell you, there are no changes required to be made to this production.  It was great last night! The whole point of having preview performances is to “rehearse” with an audience to gauge the audience’s reaction to the show and to make any changes to the show.  I do like being part of the process. 

Plaid Tidings is the sequel to Forever Plaid. I still have not seen Forever Plaid. It’s about a 60’s quartet who passed away before their time and got a chance to come back to do their concert, one night only.  Now all this time later, the powers that be have decided that they need to come back for one night and do a Christmas show.  There is an excellent set list that this foursome performs. 

There is a lot of Holiday shows in the Twin Cities this season.  Plaid Tidings is a great addition if you are looking for a fun holiday themed show to see.  

At the core of this show is the quartet played by Theo Janie-Forman (Frankie), Cris Sanchez (Jinx), Cole Strelecki (Smudge), and Nate Turcotte (Sparky).  Their vocals and harmonies are so on point for this show.  This foursome has comedic timing and talent forever.  

I also need to mention the costumes by Jessica McHugh. Between the plaid suit coats, to the plaid Christmas sweaters.  The costumes were fun and festive.  Also need to mention piano by Bradley Beahen. Bradley added some fun to the show.  Keep an eye on Bradley.  I need to mention the scenery and props by Kate Philips. Lots of props for this show.  The whole show is fun, and wonderful. One moment that is even more special, and is a spoiler alert, there’s a section with bells.  It’s always so magical to hear Christmas songs performed by ringing bells. 

This foursome does put on an amazing show. Great vocals, acting, story, songs, costumes, choreography, and scenery. Check, check, check. It is perfect for the holidays. 

Plaid Tidings is about 2 hours, including the intermission. The show runs through Sunday December 28, 2025.  Check out artistrymn.org for tickets. 

Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical - November 2025

Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

I went to Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical at The History Theatre on a Saturday when there was snowfall that made driving slow and cautious. Which was fitting to have a blast of winter on the day you’re seeing a musical about the St. Paul Winter Carnival. 

What I like about The History Theatre. Is their shows are about history, and can also be educational in a fun way.  Rollicking! Is a new musical with Book & Co-Lyrics by Rachel Teagle, and Music and Co-Lyrics by Keith Hovis. The inner lobby of the History Theatre is full of information and history about the St. Paul Winter Carnival. How it got started? Became the annual event that it is today. All these years I’ve lived in the Twin Cities, I have enjoyed some of the events associated with the Winter Carnival, but I never knew the origins and evolution of the Winter Carnival. 

The story takes place in December 1936, St. Paul, Minnesota.  Cap Wigington and his wife Viola Wigington are getting ready to attend a holiday party in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul. Cap is also busy trying to complete his design for the Ice Castle at the upcoming Winter Carnival.  Cap and Viola get whisked away to a magical land where King Borealis, his wife Aurora, and their arch nemesis Vulcanus Rex, along with Klondike Kate all live in the magical land.  It’s Cap’s belief in the Winter Carnival that brings back the magic to King Borealis.  Vulcanus Rex is non too happy with this.  Which ties into the real life Winter Carnival where’s the fight at the end of the festival between the Borealis and the Vulcans to determine when winter will end.  

Fun story. It was interesting to learn when Klondike Kate joined the Winter Carnival.  Also that since Cap was not the City Architect, he was not initially credited with designing the ice castle that year. Many years later that omission was corrected.  

Seeing a musical about the local Winter Carnival was a fun treat! Line up the sled or snowmobile and take a ride through the snow to the History Theatre.  This new musical runs through December 2021.  Check out Historytheatre.com for tickets. 

Photo that I took of the stage before the musical begins. 
 

A Christmas Carol…More or Less - November 2025

A Christmas Carol…More Or Less

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

I went to opening night of the play A Christmas Carol…More or Less at Yellowtree Theatre.  What a treat this play is.  

This play was written in 2003 by Stefani Loverso & Mary Irey.  Yellowtree’s production is expertly directly by Markell Kiefer.  

The story is, there’s a small theater in the Rocky Mountains putting on a production of A Christmas Carol.  The entire cast and crew went skiing, and a snowstorm came through. The cast and crew are not able to make it back to the theater for tonight’s production.  The show must go on! The owners of the theater Charlie and Sarah (who are married) decide to do a two person version of A Christmas Carol. They can’t disappoint the audience, and also don’t want to issue refunds for a whole performance. 

Charlie and Sarah literally wear multiple hats as they play all the characters in A Christmas Carol. The results are both hilarious and heartwarming. This is the first time, since I’ve been going to Yellowtree Theatre, that I have seen every square inch of the theatre space used during a production. That was kind of fun.  

There’s also a subplot going on during this production of A Christmas Carol. Charlie had accepted a job writing for Wheel of Fortune in Los Angeles. He was going to move to LA, Sarah and their son didn’t want to move to LA and wanted to stay with this small theater in the mountains. As the play goes on. Probably a touch of the magic of Christmas. Charlie decides to stay be a better husband and father.  Methinks the ghosts of Christmas past/present/future had an effect on Charlie too.  

If you need a reason to see this play, it is see the masterclass in acting from Kate Beahen and Paul LaNave.  Those two actors really make this production fun.  It’s A Christmas Carol as you have never seen it before. With wonderful and hilarious results.   

This play runs through Sunday December 28, 2025. Check out Yellowtree theatre.com for tickets. This is a must see holiday play.  

Image of the program cover for A Christmas Carol…More or Less