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

Program Cover

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

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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. 

Iceboy! - Goodman Theatre - July 2026

Iceboy! Or The Completely Untrue Story of How Eugene O’Neill Came to Write “The Iceman Cometh”

Playbill Cover

Music by Mark Hollmann, Lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Jay Reiss, Book by Erin Quinn Purcell and Jay Reiss

Directed by Marc Bruni

Review by Ernest Edwards

I had a fun day of shows in Chicago over the weekend. For the matinee I went to the new musical Iceboy!, which is having a PreBroadway engagement at the Goodman Theatre in downtown Chicago, before the show goes to New York City. Before the musical even started, I had seen actor Richard Kind enter the theatre and take a seat in the audience. I was thinking to myself, “he must be here to support Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman”. Later that same night, I would see Richard Kind for a second time, as he was the host for John Mulaney’s comedy tour Mister Whatever at Wrigley Field. John Mulaney was the first comedian to headline at Wrighley Field. That is how I got to see actor Richard Kind twice in one day in Chicago. 

Goodman Theatre marquee

I have never seen Megan Mullally, nor Nick Offerman live on stage before. This was a real treat for me. They were both so good with their respected characters. Nick Offerman plays Eugene O’Neill, who is both in the musical and narrates the story. Megan Mullally is Vera Vimm, who is an aging actress still clinging to her youth, and she has just purchased the frozen remains of a man who is over 40,000 years old incased in ice. (She outbid the British Museum and the Natural History Museum). It’s 1939 and she keeps him on display in her New York City Penthouse. The ice man eventually thaws and comes back to life, and although he is referred to as Iceboy, we also learn his name is Jeff. Now that’s funny. 

Another fun treat with the cast is that Cedric Yarbrough plays playwright Floyd Richards. Floyd’s muse is Vera Vimm herself. For Vera’s staff, the butler is non other than Frankenstein, and her made is Lambert. Lambert has been perpetually in menopause since she as a teenager. These two characters do bring a lot of humor to the musical. 

I remember seeing a sign in the lobby that this show is mostly fiction. It’s not exactly a true story. It is definitely a fun story. It may fall under the category of historical fiction. Eugene O’Neill is a real person, playwright, and historical figure. 

Something else I noticed in the program is the scenery was designed by Paul Tate DePoo III. I have been seeing his name more and more lately on Broadway shows and with some Broadway shows that have gone on tour. With it being 1939 in NYC, Vera’s penthouse did have a nice touch of Art Deco going on. 

With this being a preBroadway run. I also like that they did include a song list in the Playbill, but with the disclaimer that these were the songs as of June 1, 2026. There could have been songs added, cut or rearranged while the show was in previews prior to opening night in Chicago. 

It’s hard for me to describe this show. The show is so funny, and the cast is so great! I laughed so hard at this musical. If you planning to be in Chicago soon, check out Iceboy! The Goodman Theatre is closing out their 100th season with this fun musical that has been extended through August 16, 2026. Check out www.goodmantheatre.org for tickets. 

Mean Girls - Stage West - July 2026

Mean Girls

Program Cover

Book By Tina Fey, Music Jeff Richmond, Lyrics by Nell Benjamin

Review by Ernest Edwards

Stage West has a fun summer show with the musical Mean Girls playing at The Lights in West Fargo through July 8, 2026. Yes, a musical based on the 2004 movie of the same name. Tina Fey adapted her screenplay for the stage musical, and subsequent movie musical. 

If you have seen the 2004 movie, it’s the same story, and is more elevated as a musical. I did get to see the original Broadway production back in May 2018, and then the National Tour in October 2019 at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis, and the tour was back in downtown St. Paul at the Ordway in April of 2025. Stage West’s production is the first locally produced production I have seen of Mean Girls. It does not disappoint. 

What I really liked about this production is the cast! My favorite cast member is Chase Ohren as Damian Hubbard. He brought the humor and the energy to his character and then some. Molly Hommerding is Janice Sarkisian, Macy Scharmer is Cady Heron, Eleanor Culloton is Regina George, Kristina Lutz is Gretchen Weiners, Josie Kendall is Karen Smith, Benji Trumbo is Kevin G, and Hudson Hall is Aaron Samuels.

I probably noticed this with the original movie and the times I have seen the stage production before. I feel like it’s worth noting the differences between Grease and Mean Girls. In Grease, both Sandy and Danny tried to change for each other. In Mean Girls, Cady changes so much that no one likes her. She is now the Cady version of Regina George. Cady has to learn not get rid of the things that make her different,  but to embrace those things. Those were the aspects of Cady that people liked. 

I thought the scenery was interesting for this show. It was a unit set with stairs that were rearranged throughout the show. The scenery was also adorned with pages torn out of the infamous burn book. I thought that was a nice touch.  

The stage before the musical begins.
Photo by Ernest Edwards

There’s not much time left to catch Mean Girls at The Lights, but check out Stage West’s site to see what they have upcoming. https://westfargoevents.com/organizer/stage-west-productions/ Up next is a 24 hour production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Come From Away, and A Very Die Hard Christmas.