A Christmas Carol…More or Less - November 2025

A Christmas Carol…More Or Less

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

I went to opening night of the play A Christmas Carol…More or Less at Yellowtree Theatre.  What a treat this play is.  

This play was written in 2003 by Stefani Loverso & Mary Irey.  Yellowtree’s production is expertly directly by Markell Kiefer.  

The story is, there’s a small theater in the Rocky Mountains putting on a production of A Christmas Carol.  The entire cast and crew went skiing, and a snowstorm came through. The cast and crew are not able to make it back to the theater for tonight’s production.  The show must go on! The owners of the theater Charlie and Sarah (who are married) decide to do a two person version of A Christmas Carol. They can’t disappoint the audience, and also don’t want to issue refunds for a whole performance. 

Charlie and Sarah literally wear multiple hats as they play all the characters in A Christmas Carol. The results are both hilarious and heartwarming. This is the first time, since I’ve been going to Yellowtree Theatre, that I have seen every square inch of the theatre space used during a production. That was kind of fun.  

There’s also a subplot going on during this production of A Christmas Carol. Charlie had accepted a job writing for Wheel of Fortune in Los Angeles. He was going to move to LA, Sarah and their son didn’t want to move to LA and wanted to stay with this small theater in the mountains. As the play goes on. Probably a touch of the magic of Christmas. Charlie decides to stay be a better husband and father.  Methinks the ghosts of Christmas past/present/future had an effect on Charlie too.  

If you need a reason to see this play, it is see the masterclass in acting from Kate Beahen and Paul LaNave.  Those two actors really make this production fun.  It’s A Christmas Carol as you have never seen it before. With wonderful and hilarious results.   

This play runs through Sunday December 28, 2025. Check out Yellowtree theatre.com for tickets. This is a must see holiday play.  

Image of the program cover for A Christmas Carol…More or Less
 

Phantom of the Opera - November 2025

Phantom of the Opera

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Phantom of the Opera is back on tour, making a stop at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. The musical is in town through Sunday December 7, 2025. Before I get into the story of the musical, let’s recap the production.  The original production played on Broadway for 35 years before it closed, and is still playing in London. The original national tour in North America stopped running in the early 2010’s. In 2020, producer Cameron Mackintosh took the opportunity to update the scenery. As much as I love some of the long running musicals, the scenery isn’t always meant to last decades .  This tour features the new scenery by Matt Kinley (inspired by the original design), Original choreography recreated and adapted by Christie Cartwright, directed by Seth Solar Heyn, along with the original costume designs. If you have seen the original Phantom of the Opera before, you will notice this production is the same, but different or different, but the same.  

There was a different tour in the 2010’s that also used the original costumes, but had completely different scenery. It was suppose to be more tour-able. The first time I had seen that, I liked it. When it came back a second time, I was like, can we have the original production back?  This tour is close to the original.  In the 2010’s I did get to see the original production in New York City, and London, and also the Vegas Spectacular production of Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.  The Vegas production was spectacular in so many ways. I still think that is my favorite version of the chandelier that is featured in Phantom of the Opera. 

I also have the 25th Anniversary recorded live from the Royal Albert Hall in London.  That is the only stage version that was filmed. Then there is the 2004 film version, which has some elements that I really like, but also had so many moments that could have been better in the film. 

When I had seen this tour on Monday night, we had a technical issue between scenes 9 & 10 in the first act. (Only about 10 minutes left before intermission) They announced there was a technical issue and need to stop the show and to please stay in your seats. I think I had seen what the issue was during the ballet number from Il Muto, the opera being performed on stage during the musical. There was a back drop that was not right looking, and they raised it back up.  That’s my theory. Now I need to talk about my fellow patrons. So many people thought there was going to be two intermissions. And I was annoyed at the shear volume of people returning to their seats during the last scene and the song All I Ask You. It was very disruptive. I tried to not late that ruin my enjoyment of the musical. Now I have experienced this kind of technical issue before once on Broadway, once in London’s West End, but this was a first I had experienced it during a national tour. This was kind of fun for me, my third time having a professional show stop to fix a technical issue.  This is very rare and definitely something I will remember.  

Let’s talk about the cast.  We have Isaiah Bailey as The Phantom, Jordan Lee Gilbert as Christine Daae, Daniel Lopez as Raoul The Vicomte de Chagny, Midori Marsh as Carlotta, William Thomas Evans as Monsieur Firmin, Carrington Vilmont as Monsieur Andre, Lisa Vroman as Madame Giry, Christopher Bozeman as Libaldo Piangi, and Melo Ludwig as Meg Giry. 

If you have not seen any of the old classic movies, or the stage musical before.  The story follows singing protege Christine Daae who is in the chorus and a dancer at the Paris Popular Opera house. She’s the daughter of a famous violinist. There’s mysterious things happening at the Opera House. Folks are saying it’s The Phantom of the Opera who is behind these things.  Prima Donna Carlotta decides she has had it, and leaves. Christine makes her debut that night.  After the show she has a reunion with Raoul, before the Phantom whisks Christine away to where he lives below the opera house.  The first act ends with the Phantom bringing down the chandelier in spectacular fashion.  The second act opens with a masquerade to celebrate the new chandelier. The Phantom crashes the masquerade and demands that Andre and Firmin produce his new opera Don Juan Triumphant.  It takes time for all involved to realized that producing this opera could be their best chance to get the upper hand on the Phantom.  

It’s alluded to that the Phantom has been secretly providing Christine with vocal lessons.  Is the Phantom in love with Christine? Or is he obsessed with her? 

Madame Giry knows more than she lets on. All is revealed in the second act.  

The vocal talents of the actors/actresses playing Christine, The Phantom, Raoul and Carolotta are so powerful.  It’s hard to resist this score and not get swept up in the musical and the spectacle of the scenery and costumes.  

I have always enjoyed the overture for this musical.  The show begins with an auction in the ruins of the opera house in 1905. When the chandelier is illuminated, we are taken back to the late 1800’s.  And the opera house comes alive again as the chandelier rises to its rightful place, and the dust cloths are removed and the we go back in time to a rehearsal of Hannibal the opera.  So much to watch during the overture. Lots of great details you do not want to miss out.  Now that I have seen it again on stage, I really want to see how the show looks backstage. There is so much scenery, and big pieces of scenery that I’m wondering what kind of game of Tetris is being played backstage.  

I really do like the new scenery.  This cast is out of the world. They are so talented and sing their hearts out night after night.  This tour is in town longer than the standard one week tours. You have until Sunday December 7, 2025 to see it. Check out hennepinarts.org for tickets. 

The full marquee of the Orpheum Theatre featuring the Phantom of the Opera. 

Close up of the marquee

The stage before the musical begins. I could tell from the moment I walked in, that the scenery was not the same.  

The stage during the technical issue break near the end of the first act. 

The chandelier hanging out after the end of the first act. 

The chandelier returning to its normal location during the Entr’Act at the beginning of the second act. 

Frozen - November 2025

Frozen the Broadway musical

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

Over the weekend, I went to the Moorhead High School Theatre production of Disney’s Frozen at the Horizon Performing Arts Center.  This is the fourth and final year that Moorhead High is presenting their musical at the Horizon Middle School.  Phase two of the new High School is under way, and according to the program next years musical will be back at the new High School. That’s exciting news! I have been impressed by the stage/theatre at Horizon Middle School too.  

This stage musical is based on the 2013 Disney animated movie of the same name. I got to see the Broadway production spring of 2018 with the original Broadway cast. Then I was able to see the National Tour at The Orpheum Theatre. in downtown Minneapolis in fall of 2021.  The Moorhead High School Theatre production is the Fargo-Moorhead debut of Disney’s Frozen.  When Disney was working on turning Frozen into a stage musical, they engaged the Frozen movie song writing duo Kristen Anderson-Lopen and Robert Lopez, to write additional songs for the stage musical, along with the book for the stage musical by Jennifer Lee. 

The movie was inspired by the Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson. The story follows two sisters, Elsa the oldest child and heir to the thrown of Arendelle, and Anna the youngest sister/princess.  Elsa has abilities over snow and ice.  At a young age, their parents leave on a journey and their ship sinks.  Else, per her parents wishes, isolates herself from Anna.  Anna doesn’t understand why. She just remembers being close to Elsa.  The story really picks up with Elsa’s coronation.  The townspeople come into the castle, people and those of rank from nearby kingdoms arrive too. Anna falls for Hans, who’s is the 13th son of a king. There’s also the Duke of Weselton.  In a moment of frustration Elsa unleashes here powers at the coronation celebration.  Elsa runs away, meanwhile it’s supposed to be summer, but Arendelle is now plunged into a blizzard.  Anna leaves Arendelle to find her sister. Anna meets Kristoffer and Sven (his reindeer). They offer to help climb the mountain. Along the way they find Olaf, a living breathing snowman from Anna’s and Elsa’s childhood. Else has brought him to life for real.  

The first act ends with the song Let It Go. Where Elsa accepts here abilities and doesn’t hide who she is and what she can do anymore.  This number was amazing in the animated movie. Disney did a really an amazing job with this on stage.  You can see the Broadway version on YouTube. Also Disney recently filmed the London stage production of Frozen, which is on Disney+.  Moorhead High did very good job with their version of the song Let It Go. When Else did the big costume change on the ice stairs upstage center, big reaction from the audience. The song Let It Go did not disappoint!

Outside of the spectacle. At the core of Frozen, the story is about family, sisters and the power of love.

I want to mention the costumes designed by Norah Carlson. Felt like I was in the world of the Disney movie. The scenery along with projections on the back screen, really took us to the different locations of Arendella and the mountains. 

The cast!  What an amazing pool of talent. Dawsin Raok as King Angarr, Lily Damico as Queen Iduna, Ireland Woodward as Elsa, Magnolia Burns as Anna, Jack Simon as Hans, Ashton Baker as Kristoff, Davie Judd as Olaf, Tristin Sullivan as the Duke of Weselton, and the actors who make up Sven the reindeer.  We had an understudy for part of Sven at Saturday night’s show.  Plus the ensemble. 

I am continually impressed by the musicals at Moorhead High School Theatre. From the show titles, to the cast, scenery and costumes. Disney’s Frozen is playing over Thanksgiving. It’s a great way to celebrate the holiday season with friends and family.  

A question that I have after watching this production is, does Disney provide the puppets for Olaf, and the reindeer costume for Sven? What I had seen on in this production looked just like these two characters from the movie. 

Rumor had it that Saturday’s nights show was sold out. Another rumor says the rest of the run is sold out! If that is true, congratulations to Moorhead High School Theatre on selling out the rest of the run. I did hear that there are rush tickets, but they are only available in person 5 minutes before the musical begins.  The musical runs through Sunday November 30, 2025. 

The stage before the musical begins. 

A Nice Family Christmas - November 2025

A Nice Family Christmas

Review by Ernest Goes To Theatre/Ernest Edwards

I was at opening night of A Nice Family Christmas at Lyric Arts. 

This was such a fun evening. I laughed a lot! 

A Nice Family Christmas is a play that was written by Phil Olson, and was published in 2017.  I had never heard of  this play. Always nice to see something that you know nothing about. The story takes place in the Twin Cities. That was a nice touch.  Watching a show about the Twin Cities, in the northern suburb or Anoka was pefect. 

This play is delicious. It has a lot of bite. Definitely something to sink your teeth into. It is definitely a dysfunctional family Christmas play.  I loved every minute of it.  The humor, situations, characters, antics and zingers are not to be missed. 

It’s Christmas Eve at Mom’s (Lori Constable) condo. Carl (Patrick Kozicky) writes for the Star Tribune, is the middle child, and is the first to arrive.  We quickly learn he is not the favorite. Grandma (Kathleen Winters) is also there, from Florida.  Mom didn’t know she would be here for Christmas either.  Surprise! Michael (Sam Sweere) arrives. He’s who everyone has been waiting for. The oldest child. The Doctor. The one who has his act together.  Next to arrive is the third/youngest child Stacia (Lyreshia Ghostlon-Green).  Unexpectedly Uncle Bob (Anthony Zadra) shows up.  He tells Mom that she did say he could stop by at any time after her husband’s funeral, as she points out that was three years ago.  Later, near the end of the first act Jill (Waverly Ann McCollumn), Michael’s wife will arrive.  

Carl is tasked by his editor to write about his family’s Christmas Eve dinner together. He has his laptop and pad & pen ready to write down the series of unfortunate events that occur at this family holiday dinner party.  

Everybody has skeletons in their closet. We learn Stacia is engaged to her lesbian partner and recently gave birth to a baby. That garnered a reaction from Grandma.  Grandma at the moment is waiting for the next batch of retirees to arrive in Florida. It sounds like she channeled Blanche Devereaux while in Florida.  Carl and his girlfriend Rita have broken up. Michael went to rehab, twice!  Micheal and Jill have been separated for three months. Uncle Bob likes to drink, behave inappropriately, and eat beef jerky.

Will Carl and Rita get back together?  Will Michael and Jill reconcile?  Will Michael and Jill have children?  Will Uncle Bob make amends with his kids and see his grandkids?  What secret is Mom hiding?  All is revealed in a Christmas game Mom created to see who can be the most good on Christmas Eve.  Sometimes it feels like who can jab each other with a lifetime of issues is winning. This is a dark comedy after all.  Wrapped festively around Christmas Eve.  

This show kept me engaged from beginning to end. So many great moments. Great comedic actors with amazing timing.  And their facial expressions.  The cliff hanger at the end of first the Act.  Now that was a moment! 

This is not your traditional Christmas play. This play is definitely Christmas in every way.  Get out to the Main Street Stage in downtown Anoka and see A Nice Family Christmas.  Play runs through December 21, 2025. Check out www.lyricarts.org for tickets. 

The Notebook - November 2025

The Notebook the musical

Review by Ernest Goes to the Theatre/Ernest Edwards

I was as the opening night for the National Tour stop of The Notebook at the Ordway in downtown St. Paul. The Notebook is the second musical of their Broadway at the Ordway 2025/2026 season. 

The music and lyrics are by Ingrid Michaelson, with book by Bekah Brunstetter, based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks.  Direction by Michael Greif & Schele Williams.  

I still have not read the book. I have seen the movie multiple times.  I did see the preBroadway run of The Notebook at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in October 2022. When I had seen the preBroadway run in Chicago, I felt like no changes were needed for Broadway.  I really didn’t see any big changes opening night from when I had seen it three years ago in Chicago.  

The stage musical is the story from the book & movie, but it is not the movie word for word. Nor moment by moment. The musical is its own entity with how the story is told.  The story takes place in a Mid-Atlantic coastal town in the 1960’s, 1970’s and today.  There are three actresses who play Allie at those different ages, and there are three actors who play Noah at those different stages of life.  What I really liked about the first act, was that older Allie and Noah were either on the side of the stage or upstage center, watching their story unfold before their eyes.  

If you not familiar with The Notebook, the story begins today at a memory care facility. Allie is suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's. She doesn’t know who she is.  Noah, her husband is there with her. She thinks he just kind a friend, but doesn’t remember that he is her husband. He reads to her. What he reads to her is their story.  She said if you read it to me, I will come back.  

Their story is kind of like star crossed lovers. He’s poor and looked down upon by her parents.  She has a bright future, with college, and meeting the right kind of people and marry someone worthy in her parents eyes. Which means, comes from money and has money.  

Years later Allie’s Mom had thought Allie had completely forgotten about Noah, until his photo of their dream house appeared in an article. He did fix it up, just like he said he would A week before her wedding, Allie had to go see that house and Noah. This is where the audience learn that in an effort to keep Allie and Noah apart, Allie’s Mom hid the letters that Noah wrote to her. He wrote to her every day for a whole year before he stopped. Allie thought he didn’t care, because she didn’t see the letters.

Now the souvenir stand also has for sale boxes of Kleenex with The Notebook the musical marketing all over the boxes.  You’ll need tissues for the final moment of the musical.  If you have read the book or seen the movie, you know what I’m talking about.  

This show has a really good cast.  Lots of vocal talent. Great powerful songs, and songs with lots of emotion. This is a very good score.  The three Allie’s and three Noah’s really make the show.  Such a good story to see on stage.  

I had an epiphany opening night. I finally realized why the story is called The Notebook.  Maybe it’s the prop in the tour that made the connection for me.  Allie had used a leather bound journal to write down her and Noah’s story.  That is the same notebook that Noah uses to read to her every day. I don’t remember the prop looking that in the movie.  That was a lightbulb moment for me opening night.  

The musical plays at the Ordway through November 30, 2025.  Check out Ordway.org for tickets. 

The stage, before the musical begins. 

After the curtain call producer Kevin McCollum joined the cast on stage.  He then introduced a very special guest. Author Nicholas Sparks then joined the cast after the curtain call. This was his first time seeing the National Tour production. He had seen the Chicago run and the Broadway production in NYC. That was a cool moment, to see the author live on stage.  The Ordway also has a video of this moment with Nicholas Sparks on stage. Check out the Ordway’s Facebook page for the video. 

Primary Trust - November 2025

Primary Trust

Review by Ernest Goes To Theater/Ernest Edwards

This 2024 Pulitzer Winning play is part of the Guthrie Theater’s 2025/2026 season. According to the program, it was the most produced play in the USA during the 2024/2025 season with 13 productions. 

The story takes place in the fictional town of Cranberry, NY. A suburb of Rochester, NY in 1995.  The story follows Kenneth and his journey through life.  It’s a four person play, and the cast does a splendid job portraying all of the characters in the play.  

If you look closely at the poster & cover of the program for the Guthrie’s production, you can see a clue as to part of what the play is about.  This is one of those plays, where I don’t know if I can do the story justice without giving too much away. I will just say that you have until Sunday November 16, 2025 to catch this play. You will not want to miss it.  

Great information in the program from the playwright and the scenic designer.  Which are excellent reads before the play begins. 

Check out guthrietheater.org for tickets. 

My Fair Lady - November 2025

My Fair Lady

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

I went to the Wednesday preview of Theater Latte Da’s production of My Fair Lady at The Ritz Theater.  The musical My Fair Lady is based on the play Pygmalion. Lerner & Loewe created this wonderful musical with memorable songs. The original stage production featured Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle and Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins. 

What was refreshing to me was that Jon Michael Reese as Henry Higgins was singing his songs. So many times in past stage productions, and in the movie, you have Henry Higgins talking his way through his songs.

I know I went to a preview performance. I have to say, the show is wonderful and didn’t need any changes.  

The story is about, Eliza Doolittle, a young woman who sells flowers at Covent Garden in London.  One night after the opera Henry Higgins is there documenting accents. He runs into Colonel Pickering. The two of them are experts in accents. They joke about being able to make Eliza into a proper lady of society who can work in a real floral shop.  Eliza takes up the offer and shows up at Henry Higgins house the next day. I am always amazed at how an actress can go from Eliza’s accent at the beginning of the show and how it changes as the story progresses.  Anna Hashizume has a wonderful singing voice. She brings a lot to the role of Eliza Doolittle. The core cast is rounded out by Tod Peterson as Colonel Pickering, Felix Aguilar Tomlinson as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, Carissa Bussian as Mrs. Pearce, and Norah Long as Mrs. Higgins. 

Felix has a great operatic voice that really adds to his song On The Street Where You Live. 

A fun moment is when Eliza has started to master the art of properly speaking the language like a lady of society. Henry Higgins and Colonel Pickering take her to the race tracks to Henry’s mother’s private box. When the race get’s going, Eliza’s prim and proper is replaced by her normal voice cheering on Freddy’s horse. The other guests are amused by Eliza’s passion for the race.  Months later they take her a high society event. Eliza is well received. It’s how she’s treated at Henry Higgins house afterwards that leaves a sour taste.  Colonel Pickering and Henry Higgins couldn’t stop congratulating themselves on her success, but only spoke with each as if it was only their success, stroked their egos, and not once acknowledged that Eliza was in the room. Eliza confronts Henry Higgins about what is to happen to her know?  She’s too good to back to the life she had before.  Now what is to become of her? He was only thinking of his himself. She leaves in the middle of the night. Henry finds her at his mother’s. Mrs. Higgins is appalled but her son and Colonel Pickering’s behavior after the event.  

What I thought was really fun with this production was the scenery. In the center of the stage you have two pianists. They are part of the story. Watch for their moments, and relish in it.  The scenery spins around from the street scenes to the interior of Henry Higgins house.  (See my photos from before the play open, and intermission to see what I am speaking about.) Theater Latte Da always finds a fun, creative and stylish way to use the stage at the Ritz Theater. The scenic design by Eli Sherlock really adds to this production of My Fair Lady.

Director Justin Lucero has a gem with this production.  

I know I went to a preview performance, maybe this moment will change by opening night. At the end of the musical, Eliza Doolittle returns to Henry Higgins house. With the staging and the lighting. I found myself wondering. Did she really return? Or was he imaging that she had returned? 

 

This musical runs through December 28, 2025. Check out latteda.org for tickets. You will not want to miss this classic Lerner and Loewe musical. 

A Christmas Carol - November 2025

A Christmas Carol

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

I went to the Tuesday preview performance of A Christmas Carol. This is the 51st season that the Guthrie Theater has been producing this holiday classic.  In addition to the beautiful display of Northern Lights that night, it was fun seeing so many Christmas sweaters and holiday Nordic sweaters being worn by the audience. Myself included.  

I have seen A Christmas Carol at The Guthrie Theater a few times since I moved to the Twin Cities all those years ago.  The current script/production has been being produced for the past 5 seasons.  This years production is dedicated to Lavinia Jadhwani.  She wrote this adaptation of the famous Charles Dickon’s story. Lavinia passed away from a battle with cancer in September 2025.  I did see this version  of A Christmas Carol in December 2024. I went back again this year in November 2025 because I knew of at least two the cast members.  Once I started reading the program I realized this production was a who’s who of Twin Cities actors.  Cast members that I have seen on the stages of the Twin Cities that are in A Christmas Carol are David Beach as Ebenezer Scrooge, Stephanie Anne Bertumen as Belle, John Catron as Fred, Nathaniel Fuller as Old Joe, Emily Gunyou Halaas as Charwoman, Charity Jones as Marley, Tyler Michaels King as Bob Cratchit, Daniel Petzold as Young Scrooge, Regina Marie Williams as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Nathan Huberty as Belle’s Husband & Ghost of Christmas Future, Eric Sharp as Ghost of Christmas Past and Max Wojtanowicz as Collector & Dick Wilkins and more make up this wonderful cast. 

For my season tickets at the Guthrie Theater, I normally sit in the slope.  For A Christmas Carol this year, I decided to sit in the center of the balcony. It felt like I was seeing things I didn’t see last year.  Such as the interior of Scrooges vault. It was like a mini version of Scrooge McDuck’s vault. There was that much gold coins and bank notes. A fun a stylish moment in the play was when the ghost of Christmas past was arriving. The cast created the hands of a clock for 12am, 12:15am, 12:30am, 12:45am and 1:00am on the stage floor.  I felt like that was new, but then again could have been where I was sitting that I was able to better see that elegant moment.  Plus I was able to better see the clock on the clock tower during the play too. 

What helps to make the story is the costumes by Toni-Leslie James. She takes us all back in time to London December 1843. The scenic design by Matt Saunder uses every inch of the thrust stage at the Guthrie. There’s a trap door, two revolving circles in the stage floor, and I don’t know how Marley appears and disappears. That was a great combination of stage design, lighting, and sound working together to create that moment on stage.  

A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie Theater is a great way to celebrate the 2025 holiday season.  The play runs through December 28, 2025. Check out guthrietheater.org for tickets. 

Cosi Fan Tutte - November 2025

Cosi Fan Tutte

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

Cosi Fan Tutte is the first show of the 63rd Season for Minnesota Opera.  This Mozart opera is now 235 years old.  Minnesota Opera decided to do something different and let the audience vote on the ending.  I loved that.  I’ll get to that later in the review. 

Normally for MN Opera, my season tickets are for opening night. For this production, opening night coincided with the night I went to Purple Rain at the State Theatre. I ended up going to the closing weekend of Cosi Fan Tutte. 

They modernized the story to present day. Present day scenery and costumes. I liked that concept.  The opera opens in the guys apartment. Typical modern day man cave. They are playing video games, laundry is strewn all over the place, along with take out containers and boxes, and a case of beer. Then the opera transitions to the ladies office, which is where the action takes place for most of the first half of the show. It was funny watching the chorus in the office shuffle papers, sip coffee, look at laptop screens and really admire a poster on stage.  They did not steal focus, it was me keeping an eye what were they doing in the background. 

The story focuses on the relationships of sisters Dorabella & Fiordiligi and their boyfriends.  Dorabelle is with Fernando and Fiordiligi is with Geglielmo.  The guys friend Don Alfonso thinks it would be fun to test the lady’s fidelity.  The men “go away to the military” and return in disguise to woo the other’s partner. To see if the sisters will easily love another.  During intermission the audience get’s to vote. 

Based on the events of first half of the show, the audience got to vote for the ending during the intermission. Do we go with the traditional ending, where all is forgiven and the couples stay together? Or do we go with the new coupling from the games played by the guys? Or did things go too far and nothing is forgivable and the couples go their separate ways?  The cast is told backstage part way through the second act, how the audience voted.  Based on what I had seen Saturday night, it was the very ending that was changed.  I’ll tell you how the audience voted the night I went. That audience went with option 3, the couples split up.  

This was a good old fashioned opera. With a run time of 3 hours and 20 minutes. A Saturday evening is a great time for a show of that length. It felt like the first act moved a good pace. The core six actors had wonderful voices and stage presence. Angel Vargas as Fernando, John Mburu as Don Alfonso, Kara Moran as Dorabella, David Wolfe as Guglielmo, Kylie Kreucher as Fiordiligi, and Lindsay Ohse as Dephina.  

This was a fun start to the 2025/2026 season for MN Opera. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season. 

Souvenir - November 2025

Souvenir

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

I went to the opening night performance of Souvenir (A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins). The play is written by Stephen Temperley that was first produced Off Broadway during the 2004/2005 theater season.  

What a treat this play is. 

I had seen the 2016 movie Florence Foster Jenkins, starring Meryl Streep. I kind of knew what to expect from Florence Foster Jenkins herself in this play. 

The play was so much fun. The audience was really getting into it.  

It’s a two person play that features the real life personas of Cosme McMoon, played by Jake Endres, and Florence Foster Jenkins, played by Cheryl Willis.  The play begins at a night club in 1964, and Cosmo is looking back on his time with Florence Foster Jenkins.  They first met in 1932, and the play goes through her infamous Carnegie Hall concert in 1944. 

The scenery was gorgeously presented for this production. A Piano, a tiled floor, giant urns/flowers, with red curtains.  I don’t think the photo I took captured the grandeur the same as what I was seeing with my own eyes. Need to mention the costumes by Rawl Blackett with additional costumes from Sarah Bauer.  For the big Carnegie Hall scene, Florence Foster Jenkins wore a different dress for each song that she performed. There were some beautiful costumes in this production. 

It’s the performances of Jake Endres and Cheryl Willis that make this show, are award winning. Cheryl and Jake give a tour de force in acting. Their performances in this play are not to be missed. 

You have Cosme who is the pianist/accompanist to Florence who thinks she’s a great singer.  She is definitely not that. Her friends in society humor her at her annual recitals at the Ritz in New York City.  Cosme has the best facial expressions/reactions to Florence’s singing. Florence truly does believe she is a beautiful singer.  Cheryl Willis’s ability to sing as Florence is a feat in itself.  

The play culminates in her debut at Carnegie Hall.  She passed away a month later.  The ending of the play was very beautiful.  

Back in 1944, her recording from Carnegie Hall was a big seller. It’s still available for purchase today. 

This play is definitely something that needs to be experienced in person.  Check out gremlintheatre.org for tickets. Play runs through November 30, 2025. 

The Last Yiddish Speaker

The Last Yiddish Speaker

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

Last night I was at the Six Points Theater for the play The Last Yiddish Speaker.  The play was written by Deborah Zoe Laufer.  It started having readings in 2022, and had its world premiere during the 2024/2025 season. It’s a strong start to Six Points 31st Season. 

The play is a speculation on how the USA would look in 2029 if January 6, 2021 would have went a different way, and if Christian Nationalism did become the norm.  The story follows a Jewish father and daughter trying to blend into a Christian world. All other religions are forbidden. Seems like only Whites are in this America. While teenage girls can go to school, they can’t go to college or have a job.  Meant to be wives and child bearers only in this futuristic view of the USA.  Sarah, the daughter dreams of going to Canada, so she can go to university, also have a job, and make a contribution to the world. That is, if the Canadian borders are not closed. The father and daughter are strangers to the town, and must have their home and internet browsing reviewed every day.  

This play is a frightful prediction of the future.  I think we can learn a lot from this play.   

The play has a small cast of 4, played by Sally Wingert (Chava), Avi Aharoni (Paul), Charleigh Wolf (Sarah) and Carter Graham (John).  

Very moving and powerful play.  It runs through Sunday November 9, 2025. I hear the Sunday performance is sold out.  Check out sixpointstheater.org for information on tickets. 

Purple Rain - November 2025

Purple Rain

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

Over the weekend, my friends and I went to the pre-Broadway engagement of Purple Rain the musical.  The musical was still in previews when we went to it. The official opening night is Wednesday November 5, 2025.  The purpose of the out of town tryout, and some weeks of preview performances is to engage the audiences reactions and to work out any kinks.  I just learned from a tour of Paisley Park, Prince’s home, that that first performance was almost 4 hours long.  Online it said the show was averaging 3 hours. The night we went, including the intermission, it was 2 hours and 45 minutes. I would say some bugs were fixed in the two weeks between the first performance and the night that we went to it. 

The stage musical is based on the movie of the same name. The screenplay was by Albert Magnoli & William Blinn.  The stage musical has the book by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, musical and lyrics are of course by Prince himself.  Directed by Liliana Blain-Cruz. Choreography by Ebony Williams. The Kid is played by Kris Kollins. Apollonia is played by Rachel Webb. Morris is played by Jared Howelton. According to the introduction in the playbill, Bobby Z of The Revolution and Morris Hayes of The New Power Generation were serving as Prince Music Advisors for the musical.  That’s kind of cool! 

They were very careful in the playbill/program.  No songs are listed, not even the old “in alphabetical order” either.  What I will tell you, is all of the songs from the movie are in the stage musical. Including the two songs by the Time and the song by Apollonia 6.  The musical is rounded out by other songs that were all written by Prince.  

The musical is based on the story from the movie. I want to point out that it’s not Prince on stage, it is The Kid. Who is trying to make it in the music scene, and deal with his personal demons too. Another notable change for the musical is that the music club is not referred to as First Avenue, it’s The First in the stage musical.  

Kris Kollins as The Kid looked and sounded just like Prince.  Although much taller than Prince himself, who was 5 Feet and 2 inches tall.  His Kid has a bigger redemption story arc than in the movie. Rachel Webb made the role of Apollonia her own.  Rachel has a great voice. She was recently seen as Juliet in the national tour of & Juliet.  Jared Howelton as Morris, had really embodied the Morris Day character, and at times was also the comic relief for the story. In an effort to be spoiler free, I will say I liked the changes in the story for Wendy and Lisa.  

The scenery flowed effortlessly between The First, backstage at The First, the Kids apartment and Morris’s rehearsal space. 

Purple was the theme of the night. I was wearing purple myself, as were many other theater goers. The ambiance in the State Theater was purple before the musical started.  Also in LaSalle Plaza, where the State Theatre is located, is the Purple One exhibit.  Lots of images and information about Prince on the first and second floors. A purple motorcycle is part of the exhibit too.  

It’s a fun musical. The music is a rocking flashback to the 1980’s. As is the fashions from the musical.  

I would say the musical is a 7 or 8 out of 10.  It’s good, it’s fun, it’s entertaining, but it needs a little more work.  I think the musical has the same problem that the movie has. Lots of great music,  and costumes, but it’s the story/script that needs work.  

It’s only fitting that the musical Purple Rain made its world premiere in downtown Minneapolis, just two blocks away from First Avenue itself. Prince did put the Minneapolis music scene on the map with the film version of Purple Rain.  

Photos are by Ernest Edwards of the marquee and the stage before the musical begins. 

White Christmas - October 2025

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas the musical

Review by Ernest Edwards/Ernest Goes To The Theatre

I know! My friends and I went to see the stage production of White Christmas at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres the last week of October.  We had a discount!  Plus, was it really too early to start celebrating the holiday season? We don’t think so.  

Yes, there is a stage musical version of the classic 1954 movie.  The stage version premiered in 2006.  The stage version has all of the moments from the movie, and those memorable songs.  As always between stage & film or in this case film & stage, there are some slight differences with story elements, placement of songs, some songs are excluded, and some additional Irving Berlin songs that were not originally in the movie are in the stage musical.  What do you have? With Chanhassen Dinner Theatre’s’s production, you have a holiday gift wrapped in perfection. The cast is the cherry on top of the dessert that magically appears on your table during intermission. 

The 2025/2026 run of White Christmas at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is a repeat of the sold out 2024/2025 production.  Before his passing, artistic director Michael Brindisi had already made the decision to bring the holiday show back for another run this holiday season. It’s mostly the same cast, with the same scenery and costumes. Bringing this classic back to life is Michael Gruber as Bob Wallace, Tony Vierling as Phil Davis, Ann Michels as Betty Haynes, Andrea Milan as Judy Haynes, Shad Hanley as Ralph Sheldrake, Joenathan Thomas as General Henry Waverly, Kersten Rodau as Martha Watson (last year performed by Michelle Barber), John Andrea Hegge as Ezekiel Foster.  Rounded out with a wonderful ensemble full of triple threats. 

Watching the movie every holiday is one of my favorite traditions. I have now seen White Christmas on stage at least 5 times. Twice at the Ordway, once at the Orpheum, and now twice at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres.  The center of the cast at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is the characters Bob, Phil. Betty and June.  Michael, Tony, Ann, and Andrea bring to the stage the same chemistry and fun that you experience in the movie. In their own ways of course. No one is mimicking the performances from the movie.  Also with the stage production you have the character of Ezekial, who Martha says “came with the barn”.  John Andrea Hegges physical comedy as Ezekial is not to be missed. The stage production also makes Martha (the head housekeeper of the Inn) even bigger than in the movie. If such a thing is possible. It’s definitely achieved with Kersten Rodau’s performance as Martha. 

Let me summarize the story.  The story begins in 1944 at a battle field in Europe. The troops are having a Christmas Eve celebration created by Captain Bob Wallace, Private Phil Davis, and fellow soldier Ralph Sheldrake. The celebration is interrupted by General Wavery, who is exiting the command for shrapnel surgery. Now it’s 10 years later in 1954. Bob Wallace and Phil Davis are now the producers Wallace and Davis.  They sing, they dance, they produce musicals. They meet the Haynes Sisters, performing their act at a club,  before a break for the holidays. They are the sisters of one of their fellow soldiers.  Bob Wallace is smitten by Betty Haynes, but neither will admit it. Phil is smitten by Judy, and they do not hide it.  Betty and Judy are heading for Pine Tree, Vermont, where they have a contract with the Columbia Inn to perform over the the holidays.  Bob and Phil are suppose to be on their way to Florida.  Phil changes tickets for him and Bob to join Betty & Judy in Pine Tree. To Bob’s surprise. Once at the Columbia Inn, there’s no snow on the ground and the Inn is in financial trouble. Our foursome learn that the Columbia Inn is owned by General Waverly. Bob and Phil decide to bring their show to the barn stage at Columbia Inn to try to bring in some paying customers, and they will add Betty and Judy into the routines. There’s some mix ups along the way that sends Betty on a solo career to NYC.  Bob has to convince Betty to come back, that he loves her, and also to set up a surprise for General Waverly by asking soldiers in the New England are who were under the command of General Waverly to change their holiday plans and be at the Columbia Inn. Now that’s a to do list on a quick trip in and out of NYC. On Christmas Eve, Wallace and Davis open their new show at the Columbia Inn.  General Waverly is overwhelmed to see so many of his former soldiers and their families at the Inn for the holiday.  As the show ends, it finally begins to snow in Vermont.  Love was found, the Inn will be okay financially, and the magic of Christmas and snow fills the air.  

Not only are the actors fabulous in this production. I meed to point out the design team for White Christmas. Direction by Michael Brindisi, Choreography by Tamara Kargas Erickson, Music Direction by Andy Kust, Scenic Design by Nayna Ramey, Costume Design by Rich Hanson, and Lighting Design by Sue Ellen Berger. The visuals of the costume and scenic designs really stand out for this production. 

White Christmas at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre’s has it all. Acting, dancing, tap dancing, scenery and costumes, and holiday cheer. Get out and experience this holiday classic live on stage. Grab yourself a sweet treat for desert too, you will not don’t want to miss on that. 

The musical plays through February 7, 2026. Check out ChanhassenDT.com for tickets. 

Photos by Ernest Edwards from the before musical begins, and after the musical ends for the night.