Head Over Heels - MInneapolis Musical Theatre - October 2026

Head Over Heels

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Songs by the Go-Go’s

Based on “The Arcadia” by Sir Philip Sidney

Conceived and original book by Jeff Whitty

Adaptation by James Magruder

Review by Ernest Edwards

I was at the closing performance for the Minneapolis Musical Theatre production of the musical Head Over Heels at the Lush Lounge Theater. I knew very little about this 2018 musical going in, except it featured the music of the Go-Go’s. The songs of the Go-Go’s and one from Belinda Carlisle’s solo career made for a fun night at the theater. 

The show starts stong, puts the pedal to the metal, and doesn’t let up. 

It’s the 1500’s, the royal family of Arcadia sets out to avoid the prophecy from the oracle of Delphi from coming true. In typical ancient Greek stories, such as Oedipus come to mind, when you try to run from fate, you end running right into it. The King is keeping the prophecy to himself, in his efforts to avoid the prophecy and keep the beat of Arcadia alive they end up running right into the four details of the prophecy. 

MMT has assembled a great cast for Head Over Heels. Xae Copland is fabulous as Pythio the Oracle, Ellie Turk is Philoclea the youngest daughter, Jake Mathey is Musidorus the Sheppard. He was one of my favorite actors in this show. His character, acting, singing, and stage presence made him the one to watch. Philoclea and Musidorus are our star crossed lovers from different backgrounds that the King tries to keep apart. Bridget Benson plays Pamela the oldest daughter, Erin Grams plays Mopsa her ladies maid. Riley Webster is Basilius the King, Andrea Gregori is Gynecia the Queen, and Christian Unser is Dametas the right hand of the King. Along the rest of the ensemble, you can tell the cast is having as much fun as the audience is, if not more so. 

I really liked the Costumes Designed by Eleanor Schanilec. It was a nice mixeof the 1500’s and today in the costumes. 

Lots of hilarity, hijinks and mistaken identies, along with the music of the Go-Go’s makes for one of the funniest shows out there. Glad I was able to make it before the show closed. Head Over Heels gave MMT a strong start to their 2026/2027 season. 

Up next, in April 2027, Minneapolis Musical Theatre will be presenting the musical Jane Eyre. Check out www.aboutmmt.org for tickets. 

Into The Burrow - Mixed Blood - October 2026

Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit Tale

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Written by Mark Valdez

Original Songs by: Christian Albright & Christian Magby, Brandon Bush, Annmarie Mitazzo, Divinity Roxx, Jacob Ryan Smith, and Eugune Russell IV

Review by Ernest Edwards

Mixed Blood has a fun sequel to the story of Peter Rabbit currently playing. The story of this tale is Into The Burrow, which is about Peter Rabbit’s birthday a year later after his famous story. The animals are still dealing with mean old Mr. McGregor.

It’s Peter’s birthday and his cousin Benjamin Bunny has invited us humans to be attendance. This show has such a great and fun cast.  Benjamin Bunny is played by Julie Diaz, Peter Rabbit is played by Juan Carlos Utzueta, KateMarie Andrews plays Squirrel Nutkin, Maureen Sherman-Mendez plays Mrs. Tiggywinkle (the opossum), Em Adam Rosenberg plays Mr. Alderman Ptolemy Tortoise (great mannerisms and movement as the tortoise), Danny McHugh (the frog) is played by Jeremy Fisher. Jeremy as the frog has a great singing voice and choreography as the frog. 

The story that is that Mr. McGregor wants to drain the pond for a peanut farm and has just chopped down Nutkin’s tree. Nutkin’s home is now gone. With the garden all fence in, full of traps and guarded by the cat, food is running low for our gang. Once the pond is gone, the tortoise and frog won’t have homes any more either. 

By the end of this fun play, the animals realize that humans need to work with the animals to ensure a stable eco system. The animals will contribute more to the environment then the environment being without the animals. 

This show had it all. A fun story, songs, dancing, tap dancing and fun costumes for the animal characters. 

With a run time of about an hour, this musical is perfect for audience members of all ages. 

The musical runs through October 18, 2026, check out www.mixedblood.com for tickets. 

Annie - Chanhassen Dinner Theatres - October 2026

Annie

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Book by Thomas Meehan, Music by Charles Strousse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin

Director and Choreographer Tamara Kangas Erickson

Review by Ernest Edwards

Before the musical Annie got started opening night, Emcee Nancy Nelson informed us that Annie is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and a new production is headed to Broadway in 2027. Members of the cast from Chanhassen Dinner Theatre’s 1983 and 2004 productions were also in the audience opening night. It was fun knowing who was in the audience helping to celebrate the 2026 production of Annie at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. 

What is it about the musical Annie that keeps us coming back? There’s been three Broadway productions in 1977, 1997 and 2012. There’s also been 4 different film versions. There’s the 1982 movie, a made for television movie in 1999, a newer movie in 2014, and Annie Live from 2021. There’s many reasons why we keep coming back. There’s Annie’s optimism for a better tomorrow, finding your family, pursuing your dreams, overcoming adversity, seeing the best in people, all of this during the holiday’s season. 

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres has a hit with Annie. Annie will knock your socks off. Between the actors, scenery, costumes, choreography and music Annie is a perfect musical. 

Photo by Dan Norman 

For the performance that I went to Annie was played by Eve Scharback. She has a great voice, and brought so much to Annie and her journey towards the family that she has always yearned for. She made us believe in Annie’s positive outlook in life. Another orphan by the name of Molly was played by Lucy Anderson. She was a master in being sarcastic and poking fun of Miss Hannigan. She truly shined in her moments on stage. Dante Jamar Lamonte Murray had a commanding presence as Oliver Warbucks. Serena Brook really stood out as Miss Hannigan. She had the mannerisms and the attitude. It takes a lot of talent to play someone the audience will despise and get applause for that performance. Anna Hashizume plays Grace Farrell, Warbucks assistant who along with the household takes a lead in raising Annie, she also has a wonderful voice. Michael Gruber as Drake, gives the head butler a pep in his step. We don’t have the usual stiff upper lip with this head of the household. Thomas Bevan as Rooster Hannigan, Miss Hannigan’s brother. He gave us one of my favorite performances in the show. He was able to be sneaky and conniving along with a singing voice that was like silver. He had such a great stage presence. Sasha Ramsey is Rooster’s partner in crime Lily St. Regis. She nailed the accent. The two of them were great together. There were also some Twin Cities favorites in the ensemble too, such as Tony Vierling, Jon Andrew Hegge, Shad Hanley, and Armando Harlow Ronconi and many more. We can’t forget Addison the dog as Sandy the dog. Such a great cast!

One of my favorite elements of Annie the musical is the scenery designed by Nayna Ramey. Not only does the scenery effortlessly flow between the orphanage, street scenes, and Warbucks’ house, but there is also a gorgeous skyline of New York City. The backdrop of the skyline was probably my favorite piece of scenery, especially when it was back lit at night. Another fun moment was when Warbucks’ house got decorated for Christmas. I wish it only took that amount of time to decorate my own place that quickly for Christmas. One of the joys of stage magic. 

Photo by Dan Norman

Rich Hamson’s costume designs do help bring us to the 1930’s. After the stock market crashed in 1929. Between the orphanage, the beggars on the street and within the Warbucks’ household, we were transported back to the time period of Annie. Also nice evolution for the costumes for Annie herself with the journey her character goes through. 

One of my favorite musical numbers was the choreography for “Hard Knock Life”.  Those young actresses playing the orphans didn’t miss a beat and brought the energy to that number. 

This is fun musical for the entire family. Annie plays through February 27, 2027. Check out www.chanhassendt.com for tickets. 

Photo by Dan Norman

Lizzie - Open Eye Theatre - October 2026

Lizzie: The Rock Musical 

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By Steven Cheslik-Demeyer, Tim Maner and Alan Stevens Hewitt

Review by Ernest Edwards

I now see what my fellow bloggers were raving about with Lizzie last season. I wasn’t able to see it during the 2025/2026 season. I sure am glad the show made a comeback for the 2026/2027 season. Lizzie Rocks! Drop everything and get out and see this rock musical. It’s about Lizzie Bordon and the death of her father and step mother in 1892. 

The best part of the show is the cast!!! Lux Mortenson plays Lizzie Bordon, Abilene Olson plays her sister Emma Bordon, Grace Hillmyer plays Alice Russell, and Marley Ritchie plays Bridget Sullivan aka Maggie. These ladies give us a power house performance. 

The music has a hard driving edge. Kind of like Spring Awakening and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. All

Photo by Ernest Edwards

Everything from the costumes, hair, makeup, cast, scenery, lighting design and the music makes for an excellent experience. 

All I can really say is just get out and see this show! You will not be disappointed. 

Lizzie runs through November 1, 2026. Check out www.openeyetheatre.org for tickets. 

Mystic Pizza - Ordway - October 2026

Mystic Pizza: A New Musical

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Based on the MGM Motion Picture

With Story and Characters by Amy Holdon Jones

Written by Sandy Rustin

Review by Ernest Edwards

I was at the National Tour’s stop of the new musical Mystic Pizza at the Ordway in downtown St. Paul. 

I have never seen the 1988 movie. I know! It’s a Julia Robert’s movie too! This jukebox musical is full of fun 1980’s songs and brings the story of Mystic Pizza to totally awesome life on stage. At the center of the story is Kat, Jojo, and Daisy. Sisters and friends who are growing up, finding their way in life, becoming adults, pursuing dreams, looking for adventure, love, and sisterhood all while serving the towns favorite slice of pizza.

Mystic, Connecticut is a small fishing town. Everyone is town either works in the fishing industry or has family members who are employed in the fishing industry. 

Kat just wants to get out of town, until she meets Charles Gordon Windsor Jr. They are both from different

Photo by Ernest Edwards

worlds, financially speaking. Their attraction is electric. Daisy is working multiple jobs to be able to pay for university. Jojo can’t decide if she wants to marry the love of her life Bill. Liona Silvia owns the Mystic Pizza restaurant and is the gate keeper of her secret sauce. Times are tough and she is considering selling the business. It’s not an easy decision for her, and she feels like another mother figure to these young women. Times are tough and business is slow. 

Lots of great talents in the cast. Kat is played by Kendall Becerra, JoJo is played by Lexi Frilles, Daisy is played by Chloe Lezotte, Charles Gordon Windsor Jr is played by Jack Baylis, Bill Montijo is played by Matt Woodward, Tim Travers was played by Travis Flynt the night I went, and Leon Silva is played magnificently by Tieisha Thomas. Such a great cast and talented cast. 

I really liked the backdrops by set designer Joshua Warner. Costumes designed by Jen Caprio and Wig & Makeup designed by Roxanne De Luna help take us to the 1980s’.  

The musical contains some of the following hits from the 1980’s. “Small Town”, “Girst Just Want to Have Fun”, “Addicted to Love”, “Take My Breath Away”, “The Power of Love”, “I Think We’re Alone Now”, “Hold On”, “Manic Monday”, “When I See You Smile”, “True Colors”, “All I Need is a Miracle”, “You Keep Me Hanging On”, “Hit Me With Best Shot”, “Mad About You”, “Never Gonna Give You Up”, “Nothing’s Going to Stop Us Now” and many more. 

This was a fun romantic comedy of a musical with a great story and a fun selection of 1980’s music. Get out your favorite 80’s fashions, get that hair big, and head on over to the Ordway in downtown St. Paul for a fun night at Mystic Pizza. The show closes on Sunday October 11, 2026, check out www.ordway.org for tickets. 

MacBeth - University of Minnesota Duluth Theater - October 2026

MacBeth

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By William Shakespeare

Adapted by SarahLynn Brown

Review by Ernest Edwards

The University of Minnesota Duluth Theatre is starting their 2026/2027 season with an adaption of Shakespeare’s classic MacBeth. With Director SarahLynn Brown’s adaptation she has changed the play from a Patriarchy to a Matriarchy. Characters such as Macbeth, Duncan, Banquo, and MacDuff were all played by woman. 

Photo by Ernest Edwards

This was an excellent adaption and presentation of the classic Shakespeare play. All of the aisles were used in the thrust stage, as well as other parts of the space. Every nook and cranny was used very effectively for this play. I really liked Emma Wylie’s scenery. I kept thinking to myself before the play started that this same scenery could also be used for a production of the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods. 

These students were giving 110% for this production. This play was nonstop for 90 minutes. The cast was lead by Molly Fabian as MacBeth. As MacBeth she had a strong will, determination, fierceness and ferocity to her portrayal as the leading character of the play. Katherine Warmka as Lady MacBeth, had an elegence and guile as the partner in the schemes of rising through the Queendom. Phuong Nguyen did a great job portraying Banquo, and coming back as Banquo’s spirit to haunt MacBeth. 

We all know the story. During the finale fight between MacBeth and MacDuff, I really wanted to see MacBeth’s head roll across the stage. That could have been the cherry on top of this production. 

UMD had a great play showing at the Marshall Performing Arts Center through October 10, 2026. Check out https://cahss.d.umn.edu/departments/theatre/current-season for tickets. 

On the Razzle - Park Square Theatre - October 2026

On the Razzle

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By Tom Stoppard

Review by Ernest Edwards

Park Square Theater is opening their 2026/2027 season with the 1981 Tom Stoppard comedy On The Razzle. 

You have probably heard of the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder or the musical Hello Dolly. Tom Stoppard’s play On The Razzle tells the familiar story, and is based on the original 1842 play of Einen Jux will er sich machen, which places the story in Austria in the 19th Century, with the characters heading off to Vienna for adventure. 

One of my favorite things to do is to check out the design corner in the lobby of the Park Square Theatre. There’s history of the story, scenic design renderings and costume renderings. Along with head shots of the cast, it is fun to check out the designs either before the show or during intermission. 

Tom Stoppard’s play is humorous and clever with the use of language The story is familiar structurally to the play The Matchmaker. The character names and locations have changed, the hilariousness is the same. One thing to note, it was Thornton Wilder with The Matchmaker, is where Dolly Gallagher Levi is introduced. Since Tom Stoppard’s play is based on the original 1842, there is no Dolly in On The Razzle. There is shenanigans, mistaken identity’s, fun, comedy, hijinks and plenty of adventure. 

Director Stephen DiMenna has assembled a great cast for even of comedy. Zangler is played by Emil Herrera, Weinberl is

Photo by Dan Norman

played by Chris Hayhurst, Sonders is played by Logan Liang, Mrs. Fischer is played by George Keller, Madame Knorr is played by Greta Oglesby, Melchior is played by Jose Sallibon, Christoper is played by Nate Turcotte, and the rest of the cast is rounded out by Allison Vincent, Ann Beth Baker, Porter Eldridge, Brendan Nelson Finn, Norah Long, and Tori Mitchell. 

Set your sights on adventure. On The Razzle continues through October 25, 2026. Check out www.parksquaretheatre.org for tickets. 

Check out the website www.79seconds.org. The site compiles all of the reviews for the stage productions currently playing in the Twin Cities.