A Chorus Line - Park Square Theatre - May 2026

A Chorus Line

Program cover

Conceived and Originally Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett

Review by Ernest Edwards

Park Square has a hit on their hands with their production of A Chorus Line. The stars aligned perfectly for this production. Park Square Theatre is celebrating their 50th Anniversary season, and it’s been 50 years since A Chorus Line appeared on Broadway. The original production of A Chorus Line was at one time the longest running production on Broadway. This is a high energy production that starts strong and doesn’t stop. The audience was living for every moment at opening night. 

The musical has wonderful memorable songs with music by Marvin Hamlisch, and lyrics by Edward Kleban. This production is directed by Stephen DiMenna, with the original Michael Bennet choreography recreated by Associate Director/Choreographer Eddie Gutierrez who is a representative of the Michael Bennet Estate. With this cast, along with the music, and the original choreography makes for a unique, wonderful, and magical experience. 

Something else to note with this production, is Park Square kept A Chorus Line in the 1970’s. There’s no introduction of cell phones, tablets nor modern cultural references. Which is simply perfect.  

If you are not familiar with the musical. I’m sure you are familiar with the song “One” from the musical. A 

The stage, before the musical begins

Chorus Line is about a new Broadway show that is being created, and they are hosting an audition for dancers to be part of the chorus. (We would call that the ensemble today.) Director/Choreographer Zach, played by Tyler Michaels King, is trying to get to know these dancers. He doesn’t just want to see their resume and their talent, but wants to get know the person too. This show is about getting a job, having a paycheck. All the hard work, determination, talent and persistence that it takes to get cast. 

This production is perfect for the Twin Cities theatre scene. We have so much talent in the Twin Cities, and Park Square Theatre has so many of those triple threats all gathered for A Chorus Line. A triple threat is a person who can act, sing and dance. Camryn Buelow embodies Sheila. For opening night we had understudy Anna Novak as Cassie. Her Cassie was flawless. Marley Ritchie as Diana does gives a great rendition of “What I Did For Love”. Steven Rada as Paul was one of my favorite actors and characters in the musical. So much wonderful talent. I could go on forever talking about the each and every cast member. They all have their moment to shine. 

I will give one spoiler alert, which is really not specific to Park Square, but to A Chorus Line as a whole. I only know this from seeing different productions over the years. I remember being surprised by this the first time I had seen a production of A Chorus Line. There is no formal curtain call. The last song, “One Respise/Finale” has recognition for each cast member incorporated into the dance number. Once that song/dance number is over, the house lights come up and the show is over. That is such a great way to close out this musical. What a number “One Reprise/Finale” is. I almost wish that song/dance number could be on repeat. 

It’s probably a mix of the music and the story. This is one of my favorite musicals to see live on stage. I was getting a bit choked up by the end of the show. The cast! The Choreography! The songs! There is a lot of excellent theatre in the Twin Cities. This show is one of them. It’s definitely at the top of the list. I may have to go see it again. It’s that good!!!

A Chorus Line runs through June 14, 2026. Don’t walk, run to get tickets. Tickets are available at www.parksquaretheatre.org When you go see the show, check out the costume designs, scenic designs and a history of A Chorus Line displays in the lobby of the Park Square Theatre. 

Park Square has had a pretty amazing season celebrating their 50th Anniversary season. Although there is one more show left of the season this summer, A Chorus Line is the cherry on top of a wonderful dessert. 

A nice surprise on the back of the program is the season announcement for Park Square’s 2026/2027

Back cover of program

season. Subscriptions are now available at https://www.parksquaretheatre.org/26/27-season-information-season-tickets

What the Constitution Mean To Me - Artistry - May 2026

What the Constitution Means to Me

A Play by Heidi Schreck

Review by Ernest Edwards

I really liked this play. The topics are current and insightful. It’s got an engaging story. The play is also about only 100 minutes long. 

Heidi wrote and starred in the original 2017 Broadway production of What The Constitution Means to Me. The play went on to be Tony Nominated and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. 

The play follows Heidi today in her mid 40’s looking back at her 15 year old self who travelled the country doing debates at American Legions for scholarship money to pay for college. As a 15 year old she was really into the Constitution of the United States of America. 

This play uses the Constitution to show it’s affect not only on women, people of color, and Native Americans, but how the Constitution personally affected the women in Heidi’s life going all the way back to her Great Grandmother in Washington State in the 1800’s. The recap of laws from various countries over the centuries about acceptable forms of domestic violence against women/wives, was unsettling. History is there for us to learn from it. History can be uncomfortable too.  

Artistry’s production is directed by Amanda White. The cast has Stephanie Cousins as Heidi, Dan

The stage, before the play begins

Hopman as the Legionnaire, and the high school debater is played by Mackenzie Ganbaatar. 

This play is very thought provoking, moving, upsetting and educational. It’s a great piece of literature about one of founding documents of the United States of America. 

With this play, I was reminded that the United States Constitution was written by white men for white men. Woman, people of color and Native Americans were not in consideration back in the late 1700’s. 

Also with America in 2026, I found this play to be timely. 

Check out this play at Artistry. It runs through June 7, 2026. Tickets are available at www.artistrymn.org

Pagliacci - MNOpera - May 2026

Pagliacci

Program Cover

Music and Libretto by Ruggero Leonavallo

Review By Ernest Edwards

MN Opera is closing out their 2025/2026 season at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts with their production of Pagliacci. 

One of the things I really like with this opera is the run time. Including the intermission it’s about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Even on an opening Saturday night, that run time can be music to one’s ears.  I have nothing against shows that range from 2-1/2 hours, to 3 hours to 4 hours. It’s nice, once in a while to have such a short run time. Downtown St. Paul was crazy last night, with the watch party for The MN Wild’s playoff game at the same time as the MN Opera production.

In addition to the vocal talent, what I really liked with this opera was the scenery. There was a reason they kept the curtain closed before the show began. The scenery contained the cars from a traveling circus inside of a warehouse. For this production they began the story in the 1970’s and then went back in time to the 1930’s for the main parts of the story. 

So many great vocals and talent with this cast. Amanda Batista as Nedda, Won Whi Choi as Canio, David Wolfe as Silvio and Reginald Smith Jr as Tonio. 

This production is rich in visuals, with both the costumes and scenery. While this opera is beautiful in many ways, the story has a tragic ending. 

This gorgeous production runs through May 17, 2026. Check out www.mnopera.org for tickets. 

The Hobbit - Theatre in the Round - May 2026

The Hobbit

The program cover

Based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien

Adapted for the stage by Greg Banks

Review by Ernest Edwards

The Hobbit. As a play? Is it any good? It’s better than good, it’s absolutely fabulous!!!

Theatre in the Round has one of the best plays currently in production in the Twin Cities.  

This faithful adaption of the story of The Hobbit, is told by 10 actors who play all the roles. This play has it all, a story, adventure, dwarves, a wizard, goblins, trolls, eagles, spiders, elves, wolves and a dragon. All of this is accomplished with simple stage craft and stage magic. The results are simply amazing. One of the best nights at the theatre that I have ever had. 

It was fun listening to fellow audience members during the intermission and walking to the parking ramp after the show. Everyone was talking about the scene with the eagles. That scene definitely leaves a lasting impression. 

This play made its premiere in 2019. The concept for this story is a dark utopian future in the year 2056. 30 years after “the incident.” There’s an acting troupe who was going to tell us the story of The Hobbit. They couldn’t make it, but this group of performers has seen the show many times before, and they also have the costumes and props. Don’t let hearing this turn you away from the play. Once the story begins, you are hooked. This is The Hobbit. All the key moments are there. The way they did Smaug the dragon was perfect. 

This show kept on delivering and delivering. It didn’t stop with the surprises, nor the story, nor the stage magic. 

Director Scott Gilbert has a very fine cast with The Hobbit. The cast is lead by Isabelle Hopewell as Bilbo Baggins. Two of the many characters played by Wini Froelich are Gandalph and the Elf Queen. One of the many characters played by Bryce Kalal is Thorin Oakenshield. 

Shout out to the scenery and props designers, for whom this play would be nothing without their creativity of taking us to Middle Earth. There and back again. On an unexpected journey. The Set was designed by Keven Lock, with assistant set designers Ash Aurig and Nomi. Props were designed by Elliott Van Winkle. We also need to mention the costumes for this play. Very fun and creative. Costumes Design Coordinator is Constance C. M’allowince, along with Costume Design Contributor Hunter Goldsmith. 

Get your tickets for an adventure. Some performances are already selling out. The play runs through May 31, 2026. Check out www.theatreintheround.org for tickets. 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Hennepin Arts - April 2026

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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Based on a new story by J.K.Rowling, Jack Thorne, & John Tiffany

A new play by Jack Thorne

There is magic on stage at the Orpheum Theatre. The special effects are out of this world. It’s a treat for the whole family. 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the new eighth story in the Harry Potter franchise. The story in the play takes place right after the ending in the “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” book/the ending in the “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” movie. The story begins 19 years after the events of the Battle for Hogwarts.The gang is at Kings Cross Station in London, watching the next generation hop on the Hogwarts Express for their first year at Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione are sending their daughter Rose to school. Harry and Ginny are sending their youngest child Albus Severus Potter to Hogwarts. On the train Albus befriends Scorpious Malfoy, Draco Malfoy’s son. 

The play has been around since June 2016. I can’t believe we are still keeping the secret of what happens

The stage, before the play begins

in the story. I will also keep up the trend. In addition to the magic and special effects, it’s an excellent story that has lost of twist and turns. I do have the play script on a bookshelf at home right next to the rest of the Harry Potter series. 

Here’s my history with the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. When tickets first went on sale for the London production in the summer 2015, they kept adding dates, so my friends and I ended up purchasing tickets for May 2017. We knew almost two years ahead of time that we were seeing the show. We had a fun week of sight seeing and West End productions on that trip. We got the see the original lead actors in the cast just before they departed the production later in the month. The original version of the play was in two parts and had a total run time of 5 hours. We did parts 1 and 2 the same day on a Saturday. After life starting getting back to normal after 2020, we went to see the new 3 hour version on Broadway spring of 2022. At the core it was the same play. It was nicely edited down. I went again in December 2025, because actor Tom Felton was making his Broadway debut and reprising the role of Draco Malfoy that he played in the film franchise. Last night I went to see the National Tour that is in town at the Orpheum Theatre through May 17th. For the previous times I have seen the play in London and on Broadway, I have had main floor seats. For the Broadway on Hennepin season, my season seat is in the balcony. This was the first time that I was seeing designs, pattern ands lettering on the stage floor. That was fun & new for me. On tour the show is like 98% the same as on Broadway. There’s just a some very minor tweaks for the National Tour, but the show is the same as what you see on Broadway. 

As I have seen this play multiple times, I have had different opinions on it. At first I thought it was

Photo of National Tour by Evan Zimmerman

Albus’s story. Then with my December 2025 showing on Broadway, I felt like it was more Scorpious’s story. After seeing it again, I feel like it’s equally Albus and Scorpious’s story. They are best friends. The kind of friendship that rivals the trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione. 

It was fun seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Orpheum Theatre last night. During intermission I heard several people asking “how did they do that?”. All of the magi on stage was spurring conversation amongst the patrons. 

The scenery is designed by Christine Jones. The scenery flows effortlessly from Kings Cross Station, to various locations within Hogwarts and transforms into the Forbidden Forest. Costume Desinger Katrina Lindsay is part of the magic with the costumes. The rest of the magic is brought to us by Lighting Designer Neil Austin, Sound Designer Garett Fry, and Illusions & Magic design by Jamie Harrison. I would love some behinds the scenes information on the magic and special effects in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.  

There are some standouts in the cast for the National Tour. Nick Dillenburg is originally from the Twin Cities. There’s a nice two page interview with him in the program. He is cast as Harry Potter for the tour. David Fine is Scorpious Malfoy, Adam Grant Morrison is Albus Potter, Julie Nightingale as Delphi Diggory, Ryan Hallahan as Draco Malfoy, Abbi Hawk as Ginny Potter, Matt Harrington as Ron Weasley, Rachel Leslie as Hermione Grainger. 

For a magical good time, grab your wands and take the Hogwarts Express to the Orpheum Theatre on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. The play runs through May 17, 2026. Check out www.hennepinarts.org for tickets. Don’t forget to check out the merchandise stand in the lobby of the Orpheum. If you are ever in New York City, also check out the Harry Potter Store, it’s located near Madison Square Park. 

Frozen: The Broadway Musical - Great Theatre - April 2026

Frozen

Program Cover

Music & Lyrics by Kirsten Anderson- Lopez and Robert Lopez

Book by Jennifer Lee

Review by Ernest Edwards

Great Theatre is presenting Disney’s Frozen at the Paramount Center for the Arts in downtown St. Cloud. I have never been to this theatre before. It’s a gorgeous venue. Next season Great Theatre is producing Les Miserables, which I think will be perfect at the Paramount Center for the Arts. 

The stage musical is based on the 2013 Disney animated movie of the same name. For the 2018 transfer to Broadway, they expanded the script and added some additional songs. The stage musical is just as much fun and visually spectacular as the movie if not more so. 

There’s lots of great information in the program about Disney adapting the story from the Hans Christian

The marquee

Anderson tale of the Snow Queen. I learned that Disney had been trying to adapt the story since the late 1930’s. The journey to the movie we now know as Frozen is a wonderful read. There’s also information in the program about Nordic traditions. The fictional city of Arendelle, where Frozen takes place,  is somewhere in the Scandinavian peninsula. 

The story of Disney’s Frozen focuses on the sisters Elsa and Anna. As children they are close. Elsa has abilities with ice and snow. When she accidentally injures Anna as a child, Elsa stays in her own room in the castle. Several years after their parents boat sinks, Elsa is now old enough to be coronated as Queen. Things don’t get well at the Coronation. Elsa’s powers are revealed to all, and the she flees for the mountains. Unaware that she placed Arendelle in a blizzard in the middle of summer. 

The stage, before the musical began

The story of Frozen is about the power of love and the strength of two sisters who have an unbreakable bond. Both have some learning to do about life. They have been isolated in the castle for years. Now it’s time to intermingle with the people from the kingdom and keep those castle gates open year round. 

A fun side affect of Elsa’s magic is bringing the snowman Olaf to life. The act one finale is the song “Let It Go.” That song/scene does not disappoint with Great Theatre’s production. 

What I really liked in the program is the biographies of the cast and crew. They start out with everyone’s day job and then goes into their theatrical experiences. I liked that Great Theatre was showcasing their lives outside of the theatre. Normally you only see their theatre history listed. The Great Theatre has double cast the leads for Frozen. There’s the Snow Cast and the Frost Cast. I had the Snow Cast at the performance I went to. 

There’s only one weekend left to see this wonderful production of Frozen at the Paramount Center for the Arts. It closes on Sunday May 3, 2026. Check out www.greattheatre.org for tickets. 

The SpongeBob Musical

The SpongeBob Musical

The Program Cover

Book by Kyle Jarrod

Original Songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coultron, Alex Elbert of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, TI, and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny, and Andy Paley. Additional Lyrics by Jonathan Coultron, Additional music by Tom Kitt. 

Over the weekend I went to the matinee performance on the last day of production for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Department of Theatre production of The SpongeBob Musical at the Marshall Performing Arts Center. Even before the musical begins, there’s some activities to get you in the mood in the lobby. You could make yourself a pirate hat, or your own SpongeBob and much more. There was lots of signs up on the lobby about the sustainability of the scenery and costumes, which was a fun read before the show began. 

The stage was very fun looking at the top of the show. At the start of the show, all of the action was taking place in

The stage, before the musical began

front of the stage curtain. Once they said “Welcome to Bikini Bottom!” then the curtain opened to reveal the rest of the scenery and stage space for the musical. 

Director/Choreograher Matthew Wagner help lead the cast into the fun and zaniness of the script. So many moments that had us all laughing out loud. Such a fun joyous musical. I don’t even think hilarious is the right word to describe this production. It was great to let the guard down and enjoy the fun ride with this gang from Bikini Bottom. 

You do not need to be familiar with the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants to enjoy The SpongeBob Musical. It’s a great stand alone story. The town has discovered that the volcano will erupt at sunset tomorrow. They need to find a way to stop the volcano or relocate. The evil Sheldon J. Plankton and his wife Karen have a scheme on how to save the town and hypnotize the residents so their restaurant will be the only one in business. It’s up to SpongeBob, Patrick (the starfish) and, Sandy Cheeks (the squirrel) to stop the volcano and save the town. Sheldon and Karen would try everything to stop them, including creating an avalanche. 

The entire cast had so much energy and cranked up the fun meter to 120%. There are some cast members that I should mention for their outstanding performances. Noah Jetland as SpongeBob SquarePants, Tate Nowacki as Patrick Star, Erik Rasmussen as Squidward Q. Tentacles, Emerson Spenser as the French Narrator, Solymar Romero as Patchy the Pirate, Phuong Nguyen as Karen the Computer, Hope Davis as Sandy Cheeks, and let’s not forget Aaron J. Dumalag as Sheldon D. Plankton. Aaron J. Dumalag as Sheldon D. Plankton, to quote Rupaul “he had uniqueness, nerve, talent and charisma”. 

From the pre show to the curtain call, this show was a blast! 

The stage, during intermission

Scenery was designed by Curtis Phillips, Costumes by Caitlin Quinn, Hair & makeup by Morgan Royals, and Lighting was designed by Richard Tamayo. These four artists helped to create the world of Bikini Bottom and bring it life with such wonderful results. 

UMD Theatre has announced their 2026/2027 season. The season begins with MacBeth in October, Everybody in November, Dance Works in December, Rhythm, Rum, Rise in  February, and Sweeney Todd in April. Looks like a fun season.