Mamma Mia! - Lyric Arts - April 2026

Mamma Mia!

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Music and Lyrics by Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulveaus

Some songs written by Stig Anderson 

Book by Catherine Johnson

Originally conceived by Judy Cramer

Review By Ernest Edwards

Mamma Mia! The hit 1999 stage musical based on the songs of ABBA is playing at Lyric Arts through May 10, 2026. I went to the production last night, which is opening weekend. I want to point out, the musical sold out a week before the show opened. That is a testament not only to the popularity of Mamma Mia!, but also to Lyric Arts reputation as a theater company. 

I have seen Mamma Mia! multiple time over the years. There’s been Broadway tours, local productions,

Photo by Molly Jay

and high school productions. As a jukebox musical, Mamma Mia! works very well, whereas some other jukebox musicals do not work as well. Mamma Mia! has a story that goes well with the music. The story and songs, along with the cast add some great character growth, advances the plot, and plus it’s a lot of fun!

At its core, the story is about a mother/daughter relationship. Donna owns a hotel/taverna on a small Greek island. She has raised her daughter Sophie all by herself. Sophie is getting married to Sky. She did some digging in her Mom’s diary, and found not only one potential father, but three from the summer of 1979. Sophie invites all three to her wedding believing she will know who her father is when she sees him. Donna is very surprised, to see Sam, Bill and Harry back on the island after all these years and the day before her/their daughter’s wedding. 

Donna’s friends Tonya and Rosie have also arrived for the wedding. They reunite as Donna and the

Photo by Molly Jay

Dynamo’s for a bachelorette party entertainment for Sophie and the girls. They do a great version of the ABBA song “Super Trooper” with 1970’s costumes too.

During the after party, Sophie has private conversations with Bill, Harry and Sam. All three realize they could be her father and offer to walk her down the aisle. 

The Second Act opens to Sophie having a nightmare singing the song “Under Attack”.   

For being a musical that takes place over two days. A lot does happen. 

Lyric Arts has a great cast, costumes and scenic designers for this production. Directory Kasey Skoretz did a great job with this production. Although it is spring (kind of/soft of) here in the Twin Cities metro. It did feel like you were on a Greek island inside at Lyric Arts with the scenery designed by Michaela Lochen, and costumes designed by Caroline A. Zaltron. The scenery worked very well for transitions between scenes. Loved how things were hidden in plain sight. Lyric Arts uses all of the aisles for this production. It was fun to see every square inch of the space used.  

Let’s also talk about this wonderful cast. I shouldn’t have say this, but it’s a wonderful diverse cast that

Photo by Molly Jay

also includes some body positivity. Basically what you see every day in real life is what you see on stage with this cast. That is pretty amazing. The cast is lead by Lisa Vogel as Donna, Raquel Ponce as Sophie, Jordan Dewayne-White Kueng as Sky, Emily Jabas as Rosie, Hollie Kingdon as Tanya, Eric Lee as Sam, France A. Roberts as Harry, Keith Reilly as Bill, Daze Bishop as Lisa, and Malea Hanson as Ali. Lisa Vogel as Donna had an excellent journey that her character went through, and her vocals in these ABBA songs is hard to match. Her rendition of “The Winner Takes It All” is not to be missed. I also like France A. Roberts as Harry. He brought a lot to that character and made Harry fun in the process. I also really liked Keith Reilly as Bill. The actor having tattoos on one one arm and one leg, really seemed to fit the character of Bill. The adventurer! Holli Kingston as Tanya get’s a several moments to shine. One of the best is the song “Does Your Mother Know?” Emily Jabas’s as Rosie has a fun number singing with Bill the song “Take A Chance on Me”. 

Similar to the Ancient Greek stories. Mamma Mia! has some twists of fate, but everything does work out

Photo by Molly Jay

in the end. The musical contains 23 ABBA songs. One of the best parts of this fun show, is the curtain call. They do a peformance of 3 ABBA songs and drop the mirror ball. Then Donna, Tonya, and Rosie appear in 1970’s costumes, as does Bill, Harry and Sam. The curtain call is the cherry on top of the sweet dessert that  this production is. 

Normally I would say drop everything and get yourself some tickets to this wonderful musical. It is already sold out for the entire run. There could be cancellations. Keep checking Lyric Arts website at www.lyricarts.org for tickets. The musical runs through May 10, 2026. 

The Right Thing To Do: The Joe Mauer Story - Stages Theatre Company - April 2026

The Right Thing To Do: The Joe Mauer Story

Program Cover

Based on the book by Joe Schmit

Book and Music by Michael Mahler

Review by Ernest Edwards

The Right Thing To Do is making its world premier at the Stages Theatre Company on Main Street in downtown Hopkins. I was at the opening night performance, but Joe Mauer was not in attendance. As a spoiler alert, this one act musical does feature videos of Joe Mauer at the begging and end of the musical.  

I have never heard of the book that this musical is based on. I just know Joe Mauer the former MN Twins baseball player and Hall of Fame inductee. The musical does have some catchy songs. The story of the musical does follow Joe Mauer from being a 10 year old to being in High School. His closet friends were Andrea and Mike. Mike is legally blind and uses a cane. One line Mike had in High School was, “how it is he is the only blind student, but no one can see him?” A teenage Joe Mauer changed all of that by adding Mike to his circle of friends. Mike is very good at sport stats. He listens to the games on the radio. 

Something that a young Joe Mauer’s dad said, and I hope I get the quote right “try something different, and great things can happen”. At the beginning of the musical, young Joe could throw a baseball with his right hand, and write with his right hand, but was not as good batting with his right hand. Once he started batting left handed, that was a game changer for him.  He tried something different and something great happened. Which also includes his friendship with Mike. There are still friends to this day.  

A fun moment in the musical, during High School, a group of girls are fawning over Joe’s success on the high school baseball team. Except Maddie, who is not impressed. Then the voice of the narrator says “Maddie eventually becomes Mrs. Joe Mauer, but that’s a story for a different musical.”  

Director Sandy Boren-Barrett assembled a fine cast of young people for this production. Some cast to mention are Baron Heinz as Young Joe Mauer, Charlie Gold as Teen Joe Mauer, Sakhile Mazwi as Young Andrea, Akron Manson as Teen Andrea, Reid Soltis as Young Mike, Noah Durand as Teen Mike. The only adult character on stage is JC Lippold as Joe’s Dad.  

This one act musical is a feel good story. It’s a fun story about the younger years of a local who became a famous national baseball player and the life lessons and morals he learned along the way. One thing to take with you from this musical is “do the right thing”. 

The show plays at Stages Theatre Company through May 10, 2026. Check out www.stagestheatre.org for tickets. 

Suffs - Orpheum Theatre - April 2026

Suffs

The marquee

Book, Music and Lyrics by Shania Taub

Review by Ernest Edwards

Suffs is the story the Suffragette movement for women in the United States of America to be able to vote. The musical mostly takes place between 1913 - 1920, with a brief look in the Equal Rights Amendment/ERA during Richard Nikon’s presidency. 

Suffs was on Broadway in 2024 and won two Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score. It looks like the Broadway production was also filmed and will be on PBS Great Performances on May 8, 2026. If you are unable to the make it to the production live on stage, there will the Great Performances viewing. The musical was amazing to see live on stage. 

This is a powerful slice of history. The story and the performances are so powerful. This is a strong

The Stage, before the musical begins

ensemble cast. There are leading characters to mention, such as Maya Keleher as Alice Paul and Marya Grandy as Carrie Chapman Catt. These two characters both wanted the same thing, but one was older and more genteel and the other was young and ambitious. They both wanted woman to vote, but at times worked against each other instead of with each other. Once they combined forces, things started to happen.  

There are many parallels to 2026 with the struggle these woman were facing in 1913-1920. It was frustrating to watch President Wilson dismiss these lady’s and have a lame excuse year after year on why is not the time to discuss women having the right to vote. Yet, still wanted the backing an approval of these woman for his elections. We still are still struggling in society today where the majority doesn’t care about the minority and their concerns. What I found very interesting in this musical, is how the 19th Amendment might not have happened without the African American women joining in the marches, and protests. They joined knowing that their presence was important, but that only white woman will be granted the power to vote. Which was exactly what happened. It was still history in the making. 

After seeing the musical last night, I now see why this show received the

Program cover

Tony Awards for Best Book and Score. The story, the performances and the songs are so powerful. It is a story that needs to be told. Especially in 2026. Just WOW!

The period costumes designed by Paul Tazewll were excellent. There’s a great write up in the program about the costumes and the quick changes. I also loved how the scenery flowed seamlessly between each scene.  The original scenery was designed by Riccardo Hernandez, and for the tour was designed by Christine Peters. 

Something to be on the lookout for, is that in the inner lobby on the main level and the first level of the balcony there are signs about the Suffrage movements and Minnesota’s involvement. Some very nice history to read up on for this story and our Minnesota’s involvement with that history. 

The shows is about two hours and thirty minutes, including the intermission. Suffs is only in Minneapolis through Sunday April 12, 2026. Check www.hennepinarts.org for tickets. 

Marie and Rosetta - Yellowtree Theatre - April 2026

Marie and Rosetta

Program Cover

By George Brant

Review By Ernest Edwards

Marie and Rosetta raises the roof at Yellowtree Theatre with this story of some of Gospel’s greats. 

Marie and Rosetta is a wonderful story to be told. The intimate stage at Yellowtree Theatre is the perfect venue for this play. I had first seen the play at Park Square Theatre back in November of 2018. It is very nice to revisit this wonderful slice of history after many years. 

The play focuses on a rehearsal for an upcoming concert in Mississippi in 1946. It’s the first time that Sister Rosetta Tharpe and her protege Marie Knight perform together. Sister Rosetta Tharpe has been nicknamed the Godmother of Rock-N-Roll. You can see her musical influences in musicians such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Hendrix and Ray Charles.  

Yellowtree has cast Adair Gilliam as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Chaz Shermil Hodges as Marie Knight.

From the online program

 These two actresses have such great voices. It makes me want to listen to more gospel music. 

The characters can sing, play piano and Sister Rosetta Tharpe is well versed in both the guitar and an electric guitar.  

The scenery is designed by Sarah Brandner, with costumes designed by Samantha Fromm Haddow. The sound was amazing for this production. I remember Marie and Rosetta was delayed a season as Yellowtree had to replace their sound system. Let me tell you. It was worth the wait! 

The scenery is that of a funeral parlor. As we learn from the play. Two northern African American artists traveling in the South in the 1940’s, could not get accommodations at hotels and had to go with what they could. They also had hired a white driver, so he could go into restaurants in the South and get them food. The concert will not be a theater or concert. African American artists had to perform in out of the way venues. Warehouses, etc that were out of sight. Hearing about all of the parts of life that segregation touched on is very eye opening. It was definitely more than just separate restrooms, and water fountains that we see depicted in movies. 

The play is an hour and 40 minutes with no intermission. The music, history and storytelling is so wonderful. The play just flies on by at a good pace. These actresses and the music they perform are so up lifting. The play has a touching full circle moment in the final scene of the play. Yellowtree has an extremely talented cast for Marie and Rosetta.Their performances are not to be missed. 

The play runs through April 19, 2026. Check out www.yellowtreetheatre.com for tickets. 

The stage before the play begins. Photo by Ernest Edwards

Sleuth - Guthrie Theater - April 2026

Sleuth

Program cover

By Anthony Shaffer

Review by Ernest Edwards

I had never heard of the play Sleuth before. It’s written by Anthony Shaffer, whose twin brother is playwright Peter Shaffer. Peter wrote the plays Amadeus, Equus and Lettice and Loveage to name a few. Sleuth did go on to win the Tony Award for best play in 1971. Anthony Shaffer also went on to write the screenplay for the first film adaptation made in 1972 with Lawerence Olivier as Andrew Wyke and Michael Caine as Milo Tindle. There is also a 2007 film version with Michael Caine as Andrew Wyke and Jude Lawe as Milo Tindle. I have not seen either of the film versions, I wanted to wait until I see the play at the Guthrie Theatre first. Oh what a play it is!

Sleuth at the Guthrie Theater is wonderful. The play takes place at Andrew Wyke’s manor in Willshire, England many decades ago. Let me tell you, Todd Rosenthal’s scenery is gorgeous. The scenery is two stories with a spiral staircase, huge chandeliers, a fireplace wall with several heads from game hunting. All of this beautiful scenery was secretly hidden behind the stage curtain. It was a luscious surprise when the curtain went up at the start of the play.  

For the cast, we have Ramiz Monsef as Andrew Wyke, and John Tufts as Milo Tindle. 

John Tufts as Milo Tindle and Ramiz Monsef as Andrew Wyke.
Photo credit: Dan Norman. 

The cast is rounded out with Stanley Rushton as Inspector Doppler, Robin Mayfield as Detective Sergeant Tarrant, and Liam McNulty as Police Constable Higgs. 

The story is about how Andrew Wyke invite his wife’s young lover, Milo Tindle over to the Manor house for drinks. That’s really about all I can say without giving too much away. 

Sleuth is a mystery play, but not in the same manner as the Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes stories. It’s a mystery play, but not exactly a whodunnit.  The play is so well crafted and the acting is so amazing. It keeps you guessing until the end.  

The performances by Ramiz Monsef and John Tufts are not to be missed. 

There’s great information in the program about playwright Anthony Shaffer and some great “crack the code” games in the program. Plenty of good reading before the play begins. 

The play has a run time of about two and half hours, including the intermission. Sleuth continues at the Guthrie Theatre through May 10, 2026. Check out www.guthrietheater.org for tickets. 

Gutenberg! The Musical! - Theater Latte Da - April 2026

Gutenberg! The Musical!

Program Cover

by Anthony King & Scott Brown

Review by Ernest Edwards

Gutenberg! Is one of the funniest musicals ever made. 

Theater Latte Da has assembled the best cast, director/choreographer for Gutenberg! and the results are phenomenal!

You are probably wondering, what is Gutenberg! The Musical!?  It is a two person musical about Doug and Bud. They work at a nursing home in New Jersey and have written a musical about Johan Gutenberg, who is the inventor of the printing press. In their research, they discovered that not much else is known about Johan Gutenberg. The internet says the information is “scant”. So they decided to use some historical fiction for their musical. To hilarious results.  

The musical was written in 2005. It had productions in London and Off Broadway in 2006. Gutenberg! finally made its Broadway debut during the 2023/2024 season. I was lucky to able to see the Broadway production with Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells. I was super excited when Gutenberg! was announced as part of the 2025/2026 Theater Latte Da season.

Doug and Bud are really hoping a Broadway producer will like their show. They spent every dime they

Photo provided by Latta Da

have on renting the theater for one night only to show off their show. Our two actors play all the characters with hilarious results. They use baseball caps with names on them for every single character. There’s a lot of hats that get used during this production. It’s so much fun! Credit to the props & stage management teams for making sure those hats are put in order for every performance.  

Gutenberg!  It’s a musical comedy with farcical moments.  Gutenberg! pokes fun of itself, pokes fun of the musical as an art form, and also explains what a musical is for new theater patrons. 

Image from Theater Latte Da 

Let’s talk about the cast. Doug is played by Tom Reed, and Bud is played by Dominic Schiro. These two actors give a tour de force acting performance. They are funny, they are energetic, they can do comedy, they do drama, they can sing, they can dance.  In the program I see the understudies are Noah Hynick and Carl Swanson.  Whether your performance has the original two leads, or one understudy, or both of the understudies, you are in a for a treat! When the show was over, there was an instant standing ovation. These gentleman deserved the adoration for all of their hard work. 

This production is directed and choreographed by Tyler Michaels King.  He must have had a lot of fun working with this talented cast and this script. As a member of the audience, we get to share in the joy and exuberance of this production. 

I also really like the scenery by Sarah Bahr. I have attended many Theater Latte Da productions at the Ritz Theater over the years.  I feel like this was the first time I have seen a show with an actual proscenium arch. The joy of the Ritz is seeing the bare walls and how Latte Da incorporates the venue into the productions and vice versa. I’m not saying we need a proscenium arch going forward, for Gutenberg! it was fun to see the arch with curtains and lined with light bulbs. Remember, Doug & Bud rent a theater for the night.  It added so much to the style for this production. 

In an effort to not give you a spoiler, I will say there is a brief cameo in Gutenberg!  The night I went the cameo was the director of Theater Latte Da’s production of Fun Home, Addie Gorlin-Han. With the wide array of theater artists that we have in the Twin Cities. I just wonder who will it be at each performance? 

Gutenberg! The Musical! Runs through May 3, 2026. Check out www.latteda.org for tickets. 

Photo provided by Latta Da

Conscience - Theatre in the Round - March 2026

Conscience

Image from TRP website

A play by Joe DiPietro

Review by Ernest Edwards

Conscience is a last minute replacement for the 2025/2026 season by Theatre in the Round in reaction to what was going on not only in the Twin Cities metro, but our country as a whole. As I watched the play last night, I felt so many similarities between the 1950’s and today. This play is being presented at the right time.  

I really liked the scenery for the play. When you walk into the theater, the stage floor is covered by the United States Constitution. Don’t forget to look to up, as you will see not only a chandelier but ripped up pieces of the Constitution hanging amongst the stage lighting. Check out the signs in the inner lobby. There are write ups of the four characters, and what happened after the events of the play concluded. Definitely some good reading. 

The play Conscience is a fairly new play that premiered in 2020. Joe DiPietro is an award winning playwright known for Diana, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Memphis, All Shook Up, Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, and many more. 

The play takes place in the 1950’s and is about Republican Senator Joe McCarthy and Senator Margaret Chase Smith. Margaret Chase Smith was the first female Senator in the US Senate. Not only was she a Republican Senator from Maine, she was the only Senator to stand up to Joe McCarthy. Not capitulating, almost cost her everything.  She stood up for her beliefs and the American people. 

Also on stage is Jean Kerr played by Mary Lofreddo, who is Senator McCarthy’s assistant and later on his wife. Senator Margaret Chase Smith is joined on stage by William Lewis Jr played by Tim Wollman, who is her administrative assistant. Of course with this being the age of McCarthyism, there were rumors flying around about William Lewis Jr’s sexuality in the play. 

Ron Lamprecht is so good at embodying Joe McCarthy, his performance was downright creepy at times. Alison Anderson was amazing as Margaret Chase Smith. She never lost her cool, was also full of composure. If only members of Congress today had her backbone.  

Whether you are into politics or not, this play is a great slice of history that is holding a mirror up to current events. Little moments here and there definitely felt like the playwright was speaking to current events. It is uncanny. History does repeat itself. 

The play has a run time of 1 hour 45 minutes, including the intermission. Conscience runs through April 19, 2026, check out www.theatreintheround.org for tickets.