The Hobbit - Zephyr Theatre - August 2026

The Hobbit

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Written for the stage by Greg Banks

Review by Ernest Edwards

Zephyr Theatre found a great venue for producing the play The Hobbit this summer. Outdoors at Aamodt’s Apple Farm in Stillwater. The play is based on the Tolkien book of the same name. I was at the closing weekend of the play. It was excellent. Well done! 

It is the same script that was used by Theatre in the Round this spring. Zephyr Theatre has a smaller cast and also trimmed the script to be a 90 minute play with no intermission. Both productions were wonderful. I really can’t say one was better than the other. It was fun seeing a play outdoors with the woods in the background. 

Actor Jeffry Nolan played all the “creatures”. When he wasn’t being the dwarf named Kili, he was a goblin, a troll, Gollum, a giant spider, and Smaug the dragon. He was definitely earning his sweat during this play. Bilbo was played by Grace Hillmyer, Gandalf was played by Antonisia Collins, Thorin was played by Brandon Brooks, and Anya Naylor was Balin. In addition there was some double and triple casting going on with the cast. There’s a lot of characters in The Hobbit.

While the show did close over the weekend. I want to say producing a play at Aamodt’s Apple Farm is a great idea. I hope Zephyr Theatre makes this an annual event. 

The stage, before the play begins. 

In The Heights - Artistry - August 2026

In The Heights

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Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Book by Quiara Algeria Hudes

Review by Ernest Edwards

The 2008 Lin-Manuel Miranda musical In The Heights is on the stage at Artistry in Bloomington this summer. This musical is timely for 2026. It is a sizzling sensation on the stage. It’s definitely a run night at the theatre. 

The story focuses on a street in Washington Heights in Manhattan. On this street there is a thriving Latino community, with folks from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico and more. There is a hair saloon, a car service, and a bodega, but most importantly they all treat each other like family. They are a community. This community takes care of each other. 

The best part of the musical is the cast. Director Maya Garcia has assembled a great cast to share the stage with Scenic Designer Eli Sherlock’s scenery, and embody Abby Magalee’s choreography. Usnavie is played by Andres-Roman Wood, Abuela Claudio is played by Jen Santoro Botty, Vanessa is played by Janely Rodriguez, Camilia is played by Lisa Vogel, Benny is played by Chris Owusu, Nina is played by Raquel Ponce, Daniella is played by Julia Diaz, Carlo is played by Isa Condo-Olvera, Kevin Rosario is played by Pedro R. Bayon. 

The character of Usnavie is kind of the narrator of the story, but his is also part of the story. Actor Andres-Roman Wood is in his final year of at the University of Minnesota. I would like to see how his acting career grows from here.  

What I really liked about the scenery, is how it does feel like a street from upper Manhattan. Artistry brought Manhattan to the Twin Cities with this scenic design. 

It had been over a decade since I had seen the National Tour before the movie version came out. Now that’s only been a few years since I have seen the film, I can better compare the stage musical and the Hollywood treatment it received as a movie musical. As always with Hollywood, there some tweaks made to the movie musical. Both the stage musical and movie musical represents the story in similar ways. Both are excellent versions of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s concept. 

We all know Lin-Manuel Miranda has an even more famous stage musical out there. A little show called Hamilton that is now celebrating 11 years on Broadway. It was with In The Heights that we first got to hear his way of telling a story with the styles of rap in some of the songs. The opening song “In The Heights” gets us in the mood for some excellent Latino inspired story telling. 

This sensational musical is live on stage through August 23, 2026. Check out www.artistrymn.org for ticket. This is a hot ticket for the 2026 summer theatre season. 

Black Girl In Paris - Theater Latte Da - July 2026

Black Girl in Paris

Words by AriDy Nox, Music by Jacinth Greywoode

Review by Ernest Edwards

Black Girl in Paris is the first new show to have a staged reading for Theater Latte Da’s 2026 Next Festival. We were treated to the first act of this new musical. Black Girl in Paris is about Sally Heming when she arrives in Paris with Thomas Jefferson’s daughter Patsy. The story takes place on the eve of the French Revolution. (Thomas Jefferson was in Paris from 1784-1789) Sally’s brother, James, was already in Paris with Thomas Jefferson. He was learning to be a chef. He was also fluent in French. Sally has a lot to learn about French language, manners, and society. Freed slave Marie-Jeanne takes Sally under her wing and tutors her in the things she doesn’t know. Sally quickly learns that Paris is definitely not Virginia. 

As depicted in the musical, Thomas Jefferson was realizing that the United States was created on the backs of slavery. He is looking at abolishing slavery in America, but his plan was then to just send the slaves back to Africa. We all know that is not what happened with American history. 

As this first act ends, Thomas Jefferson asks Sally Heming to spend the night in his bedchambers. Sally has a decision to make. 

I hope that some day we get to see a staged reading of the full show. Seeing Sally Heming in Paris is not a part of her history that I was aware of before. This story was both fascinating and informative. 

Some of the cast that I want to call out from the staged reading are Rajane Katurah as Sally, Nubia Monks as Mama, Richard S. Rigmaiden IV as James, Sasha Andreev as Thomas Jefferson, Audrey Parker as Patsy, and Deidre Cochran as Marie-Jeanne. 

There are two additional new shows getting staged readings coming up through August 10, 2026. Check out www.latteda.org for tickets. 

Slip - Yellowtree Theatre - July 2026

Slip

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By Michael Egan

Review by Ernest Edwards

This year I was able to see one out of the three shows that Yellowtree Theatre are presenting as part of their The Playwright Festival. These are new works that get staged readings, which is an important part of the process when working on new works. It’s great to be a member of the audience. Your reactions help the playwright know what is and is not working. 

The play I was able to see is Slip by Michael Egan. I was at the final performance of the play. It’s a play dealing with a parent who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. The playwright has also dedicated this play to his parents. 

There is a great cast who perform the stage reading of Slip at Yellowtree Theatre. Mick, the Dad is played by Stephen Yoakam, Mary, the Mom, is played by Molly Sue McDonald, Patrick is played by Michael Egan, and Lee is played by Thomasina Petrus. 

It’s a very powerful play that spans several months. We see the affects of Alzheimer’s on Mick and how it affects his son Patrick and the nurse Lee. As the show goes on, we also discover that Mary is a figment of Mick’s imagination. She has been dead for years now. 

The play ran for 90 minutes. I for one, would like to see this story become a fully staged play someday. It was very moving and powerful. 

Yellowtree Theatre has also announced the shows for Season 19. Check out www.yellowtreetheatre.com for more information on Season 19 and how to purchase tickets. 

The Prom - Lyric Arts - July 2026

The Prom

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Book and Lyrics by Chad Beguelin, Book by Bob Martin, Music by Matthew Sklar

Review by Ernest Edwards

Lyric Arts has the uplifting, fun, infectious musical The Prom playing on Main Street in downtown Anoka this summer. The Prom is a love letter to fans of musical theatre. 

The musical opened on Broadway in 2018, I was able to see the National Tour of The Prom at the Orpheum Theater in April 2022. There was the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre’s Production that I was able to attend in May 2023. I’ve been anxiously waiting all season to see Lyric Arts production of The Prom as their summer musical. 

You can join in the fun. There’s an area set up with a Prom background in the lobby, so you can take your own Prom photos. 

The story is about a teenage lesbian in small Indiana town who wants to go to her High School Prom with her girlfriend. There is some resistance with the local PTA. A group of self absorbed washed up Broadway stars come to town to save the day. They do turn the town upside down. This group of rag tag Broadway stars have their hands full as they go head to head with the leader of the PTA. The ending to the first act is such a punch in the gut. It’s a great cliffhanger to make you come back to see how the story turns out.  

The best part of the show is the cast! Emma (the student in question) is played by Imani Harris, her

Photo by Molly Jay

girlfriend Alyssa is played by Sydney Line, Mrs. Green (the head of the PTA, and Alyssa’s mom) is played by Sheena Janson, Mr. Hawkins (the High School Principal) is played by Colin Perucco. Our self absorbed Broadway stars are as follows Dee Dee Allen is played by Emily Grodzik, Angie Dickinson is played by Dorian Brooke, Trent Oliver is played by Erik Hearing, Sheldon is played by Parker David Payne, and Barry Glickman is played by Andrew Newman. The character of Barry Glickman is the best part of the show. He is not just a candy coated rainbow wrapped comedy relief. He also has a lot of heart. Andrew Newman deserves some recognition for his portrayal of Barry Glickman. 

I liked the scenery design by Michaela Lichen. The scenery for the The Prom scene itself was there the entire time. It was so simple and effective with how that was revealed. 

It’s a great story about being true to yourself and overcoming adversity. The self absorbed Broadway stars learn how to put the needs of others before themselves. It does feel nice to be selfless. It is fun to watch this character growth happen live on stage. A parent learns how to accept their child for who they are. What’s that saying? Be careful who you hate, it could be someone that you love. 

The Prom is the perfect show for Lyric Arts to wrap up their 2025/2026 season. It is the cherry on top of a wonderful season of excellent theatre. 

This must see musical plays through August 9, 2026. Check out www.lyricarts.org for tickets. 

The Butler Did It - Park Square Theatre - July 2026

The Butler Did It

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By Jeffrey Hatcher

Review By Ernest Edwards

Park Square is closing their 50th Season with the new play The Butler Did It, by Jeffrey Hatcher. I was at opening night, and what an exceptional  “who done it” this new play is. You are probably thinking, doesn’t the title give it away? Not really. In an effort not give any spoilers, the play takes place at the Portman School for Gentlemen’s Gentlemen in the spring of 1975 San Francisco. It’s a school for butlers. 

I learned a new phrase from the information in the lobby displays and the program. This mystery is called an inverted mystery. Where we the audience sees the crime happen on stage and then we watch the cast as they try to solve the murder. 

Jeffrey Hatcher has another great play for his catalogue. The Butler Did It has excellent story. The language in the script is superb. Between the situations and the character growth, and will get they get the murderer by the end? It’s all great stuff. Definitely keeps you engaged the entire time. 

The cast is also a good selection of a who’s who of the Twin Cities Theatre scene. Nicholas Lane is played

The cast, Dan Norman Photography

by Peter Christian Hansen, Emma is played by Anna Beth Baker, Tony is played by Neal Beckman, Merriman is played by Pearce Bunting, Portman is played by Steve Hendrickson, Lady Caroline is played by Norah Long, and Inspector Denise is played by Allison Vincent. Allison Vincent as Inspector Denise is the actress to keep an eye on during this play. She has some of best moments and adds some comedy to this play. I feel like she knows who the murderer is, but she has to play a game to catch the killer. 

The gorgeous scenery for this play is designed by Benjamin Olsen, who also designed the scenery for Park Square’s previous show A Chorus Line. The costumes designed by Matthew Lefebvre are great! I also really like the Lighting Design by Karin Olson for this play. There were some moments in the play, where the lighting design had some good moments. 

Park Square has a hit on their hands with the World Premiere of this summer mystery The Butler Did It. Run to the theatre and catch this show. It plays through  August 16, 2026. Check out www.parksquaretheatre.org for tickets. 

The Cottage - Gremlin Theatre - July 2026

The Cottage

Program Cover

By Sandy Rustin

Review by Ernest Edwards

I went to the 2023 play The Cottage at the Gremlin Theatre last night. What a delightful play. It reminded me of the comedies by Noel Coward. The play takes place at a cottage in 1920’s England. This is a very funny play. 

The play opens with Beau and Sylvia having a tryst at the cottage. Silvia is actually married to Clarke, Beau’s brother. The hilarity starts to happen as other characters begin to arrive at the cottage. 

It turns out Clarke has been having an affair with Marjorie, Beau’s wife, for the past seven years. Marjorie is also pregnant with Clark’s child. Beau’s other mistress Dierdre shows up, and announces that she has divorced her husband Richard, which Beau did not ask her do. Richard is on his way to murder Beau. When Richard does show up, he turns out to be William, who is Sylvia’s long lost first love that she has never gotten over. 

What really makes this play fun is the cast, the scenery and the costumes. Sylvia is played by Sarah Malfara, Beau is played by Sasha Andreev, Marjorie is played by Shana Eisenberg, Clarke is played by Corey DiNardo, Dierdre is played by Mira Davis, and Richard is played by Chance Carroll. What I found interesting in the program, is that I have seen most of the these actors at theatre’s across the Twin Cities, but five out of the six are making their debut with The Gremlin Theatre with The Cottage. What a great cast that has been assembled for this production. Director Brian Balcom makes full use of the stage space for The Cottage. 

The scenery is designed by Carl Schoenborn. There’s not a bad seat in the house with how this thrust stage

The stage, before the play begins.
Photo by Ernest Edwards

production is set up. Excellent use of the space and furniture by the cast. The costumes designed by A. Emily Heaney do help to transport us to the 1920’s. 

What is really delicious with this play, is the fate of the cottage. I will not spoil that for you, but it was a fun twist. 

Don’t miss out on this humorous summer play. The Gremlin is air conditioned too, which is perfect for finding ways to deal with this summer heat. 

The play runs through August 2, 2026. Check out www.gremlintheatre.org for tickets.