The Happiest Man on Earth - January 2026

The Happiest Man on Earth

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

Six Points Theatre continues their 2025/2026 season with the play The Happiest Man on Earth. 

This one man play was written by Mark St. Germain based on the memoir by Eddie Jaku.  JC Cutler plays Eddie. The play is directed by Ben McGovern.

Eddie recounts his life as a German Jew during the 1930’s and 1940’s.  How his parents tried to hide him. His time at the concentration camps.  Life after the war, meeting his wife, having children, and at the age of 100 finally telling his story.  

The play is deeply moving, educational, heart breaking, informative and important. JC Cutler gives an amazing performance as Eddie.  He really draws us in with the recounting of events.  The lighting design by Todd M. Reemtsma and sound design by C. Andrew Mayer help to bring those moments to life. 

From the program: “When Eddie Jaku’s memoir was published in 2020, he was one-hundred years old. He had spend most of his life refusing to speak publicly about the Holocaust, even to his own family. 

Only after decades as the Sydney Jewish Museums’s oldest Auschwitz survivor and volunteer, where he spoke to thousands of visitors and school children each  year, did he choose to preserve his full story in writing. 

It was an immediate international success, debuting at number one in Australia, climbing the New York Time’s Bestseller List, and ultimately being translated into more than thirty languages. 

Reviewers consistently noted its unusual combination of blunt historical testimony and striking emotional clarity. Eddie passed away in 2021 at the age of one-hundred-and-one, but his memoir continues to inspire, not only as a historical record, but as a guide to living with intention, decency, and hope.”

I really enjoyed this play.  It’s a powerful story.  

The play is only about 70 minutes long, which is perfect for work nights. It runs through February 8, 2026. Check out www.sixpointstheater.org for tickets.  

Photo of the stage, before the play by Ernest Edwards

Kiss Me, Kate - January 2026

Kiss Me, Kate

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

I was at the second preview performance for Kiss Me, Kate last night.  The show opens Saturday night. No notes. The show was absolutely fabulous. 

We may be experiencing the coldest days of the winter right now in The Twin Cities. Inside the Schneider Theater at Artistry in Bloomington, the temperature is rising. To quote Cole Porter it’s “Too Darn Hot”.  Artistry has a hit on their hands with Cole Porters famous musical Kiss Me, Kate. 

If you are not familiar with the Broadway musical Kiss Me, Kate. It has been made into a classic 1953 movie (with Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, Ann Miller and a young Bob Fosse can be seen in the 1953 movie). They filmed members of the original Broadway cast in a 1958 tv movie. There’s also been tv versions from 1964, and 1968 (with Robert Goulet in the 1968 tv movie).  A revival was filmed in 2003 (with Rachel York & Brent Barrett). A new London Cast was recorded for film in 2024 (with Stephanie J. Block).  The story is that a production company is premiering their musical version of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew in Baltimore during the summer, before taking the show to New York City.  The story has a play within a play going on as part of the story.  Kiss Me, Kate is a wonderful marriage between Shakespeare and musical theater. 

Fred Graham is the director of the production, he also plays Petruchio.  His ex wife Lilli Vanessi is playing Katharine Minola in the production.  Fred is also dating young starlet Lois Lane, who plays Bianca.  She is also interested in the young Bill Coulhoun, who also plays Lucentio in the production. Lucentio is one of the three suitors trying to win the hand of Bianca in the production.  Events from the characters real life end up creeping into the show on stage. To disasters and humorous results.  Humorous for us in the audience.  

This musical has a lot of Cole Porter favorites in the soundtrack.  “Another Op’nin, Another Show”, “Why Can’t You Behave?”, “Wunderbar”, “So In Love”, “We Open in Venice”, “Tom, Dick or Harry”, “I’ve Come to Wive It Wealthy in Padua”, “I Hate Men”, “Were Thine That Special Face”, “Too Darn Hot”, “Where is the Life That Late I Led?”, “Always True to You In My Fashion”, “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” and many more.  

Let’s talk about this very talented cast directed by Kelli Foster Warder. Erin Capello as Lilli Vanessi/Katharine Minola has a voice of gold. John-Michael Zuerlein as Fred Graham/Petruchio. There are notes he is able to hold for a very long time.  He has a great energy, charisma and a wonderful singing voice  John-Michael Zuerlein and Erin Capello do a great job as the central actors/characters leading this production.  Aliya Grace as Lois Lane/Bianco is a graceful dancer and has a smooth voice.  Nate Turcotte as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio is an actor I’m keeping my eye on. This is the third production I have seen him in during the 2025/2026 season, so far.  Nate can sing, dance and act. He is a triple threat in the theatre.  This cast is a strong ensemble.  Artistry has assembled a very talented cast for their production of Kiss Me, Kate. 

Another thing I really liked with this production. The orchestra is on stage on the upstage half to the stage. The conductor, Elijah Leer, does interact with the cast a few times during the musical. I liked that. The interaction was a fun part of the show.  

Choreography is by Joey Miller. The choreography’s is great in this production. Numbers that stick in mind are “Another Op’nin, Another Show”, “We Open in Venice”, “Tom, Dick or Harry”, “It’s Too Darn Hot”, and “Brush Up Your Shakespeare”. 

There was excellent use of the aisles during the production too.  

I liked the costumes by Costume Coordinator Britt Hilton, especially for the play within a play costumes.  

Definitely check out Kiss Me, Kate at Artistry. You will have a fun evening. You’ll be humming/singing these memorable songs.  Kiss Me, Kate runs through February 15, 2026.  Check out www.artistrymn.org for tickets. 

Photo of the stage, before the show begins. Photo by Ernest Edwards

Somewhere - January 2026

Somewhere

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

Last night I braved the cold Minnesota temperatures and windchills to see the play Somewhere at the Guthrie Theater.  It’s a play written by Matthew Lopez.  It contains some dance and some music.  This production is directed by Joseph Haj, with choreography by Maira Garcia, scenery by Lex Liang, Costumes by Alejandro Victti, Lighting Design by Caroline Ortiz Herrera, and Sound Design by John Gromeda. 

The play focuses on the Candelaria family.  They are Puerto Rican family living in the San Juan Hills neighborhood of New York City/Manhattan.  The first act takes in the Summer of 1959. The second Act takes place during the Summer of 1960 in Spanish Harlem.  The Candelaria family lives in the area between 59th Street and 70th Street. The San Juan Hill area was demolished/urban renewal to build Lincoln Center. The neighborhood is also known as Lincoln Square. This neighborhood being demolished has been documented in both of the West Side Story movies.  

The Candelaria family is lead by matriarch Inez Candelaria.  She works multiple jobs to help bring in funds. Eldest son Alejandro Candelaria, has appeared on Broadway. He has also given up on his dancing career to take jobs and ensure the family has a roof over their head.  Francisco Candelaria is the middle child who is taking acting lessons. Rebecca Candelaria is taking dancing lessons.  There is also family friend Jamie, who the Candelaria family took in as one of their own. Jamie is now working for the famous Broadway choreographer Jerome Robbins.  This family loves the theater. They have a turn table, records, posters of Broadway shows on the walls of their one bedroom apartment.  This family is full of music, dance, and life.  Alejandro was one of the children in the King and I on Broadway. Inez loves Chita Rivera in West Side Story. Inez and Rebecca also really like Ethel Merman in Gypsy.  This family is where inspiration comes from. Their love of their culture, family, music, and the American dream.  

We also learn that the father is traveling musician.  As the play goes one, it is discovered they no longer have a a good address for him. It does feel like they have been abandoned by him. 

During the summer of 1959, the family given a 30 day notice to vacate the premises. As the City has declared San Juan Hill a slum and demolition will begin soon. Inez wants to ignore it and pretend it’s not happening.  Alejandro learns that folks from at least 62nd Street up to 67th Street have all received the same notices.  I’ve heard it referenced before that by the time the film version of West Side Story came in out in 1961 that the West Side/San Juan Hill neighborhood depicted in the musical no longer existed.  

Act two finds the Candelaria family now in a smaller apartment in Spanish Harlem on Manhattan. Live is not better. Francisco is beat up almost every day.  Then as a ray of light. Part of the West Side Story movie is being filmed at a nearby park. They ran in Jamie. Inez, Rebecca and Francisco are extras in the background of a scene.  Then a Shark’s girl breaks her ankle. Rebecca auditions and get’s cast in the movie. She has to go to Los Angeles for two months. She get’s to dance with Rita Moreno.  Side bar, Inez did not like that Chita Rivera didn’t get to the do the movie.  Just held a grudge against Rita Moreno. 

Matthew Lopez has written a wonderful script. When rehearsals began in November, The Guthrie Theater hosted An Evening With Matthew Lopez that I was able to attend.  It was great hearing him speak about this play and his career as a writer. This play is like historical fiction. The family is fiction, but the events around the San Juan Hill being demolished did happen.  

I also liked the scenery for this play.  The cast really did a good job staying within the confines of the apartment. They only ventured out of the delineation of the apartment of some fantasy/dream like moments. There was power outage with a week before the 30 days were up.  They city had turned off the electricity to the neighborhood. And then the sound affects and special affects to mimic the wrecking balls working in the neighborhood gave it an authentic feel to the neighborhood being demolished. 

Between the script, the designs, and the cast, this was really heartwarming play.  There’s still time to catch it.  Somewhere plays at the Guthrie through Sunday February 1, 2026. Check out Guthrie Theater for tickets.  

Photo of the stage before the play begins. Photo taken by Ernest Edwards

Ride The Cyclone - January 2026

Ride The Cyclone

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

What a fun show! The audience was really into this show! The audiences reaction was over the big top. 

This 2009 musical has book, music and lyrics by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell. Lyric Arts production is directed by Marci Lutch. 

I was at opening night of the Lyric Arts production of the musical Ride The Cyclone.  Before the show even started, the carnival feel was strong at Lyric Arts.  The scenery looked like the Wonderville Carnival.  The background soundtrack before the show started was that of a carnival and along with the sounds of a rollercoaster ride. All that was missing was some fresh cotton candy and the smell of roasting nuts.  

The story is about a high school choir in northern Saskatchewan who perform at The Wonderville Carnival.  Then they all go on the Cyclone roller coaster and end up the afterlife.  In the afterlife they meet the Great Casandra. Unlike other box crystal ball readers. Casandra can see the exact moment when you will die.  She also knows her own death in impending as a rat is slowing chewing through her power cord.  

As the six choir members learn, only one can get a second chance of life. Which has to be a unanimous vote. 

Each cast member has their own song & moment to tell their story.  Erik Hearing as Ricky Potts had a fun musical number that reminded me of Mein Herr from Cabaret. Dezhane Antionette as fabulous as the Great Casandra.  Kaoru Shoji as Jane Doe had a beautiful voice, and her movements were well choreographed.  This is a strong ensemble cast. 

I also really liked the scenery by Cory Skold. The stage and looked felt like a carnival. The use of videos and projections were well done too.  

This is a fun production. It’s creative. It’s different. It’s wonderful and fabulous. The show is also 90 minutes with no intermission.  

Step right up and buy a ticket for the Cyclone.  Hop on and enjoy the ride. You will not be disappointed. Ride The Cyclone runs through February 8, 2026. Check out www.lyricarts.org for tickets.  

Shucked - January 2026

Shucked

Review by Ernest Edwards/Ernest Goes To The Theatre

This show is laugh out loud funny.

The 2023 Tony Award winning musical comedy Shucked is in town on tour playing at the Orpheum Theatre. It’s part of the Hennepin Arts 2025/2026 Broadway on Hennepin season.  This new musical has a book written by Robert Horn, music and lyrics are by Brandy Clark & Shane McNally.  The musical is choreographed by Sarah O’Gleby and directed by Jack O’Brien. 

This musical is about corn.  Yes that corn.  It’s humorous and dare I say at times it’s corny. The story takes place in Cobb County USA.  The residents have been growing corn for generations. No one leaves Cobb County no one comes to Cobb County either.  The residents love their corn with butter, they use the corn to make whiskey and moonshine. Corn is in every meal. Corn is in everything they do.  Is a musical about corn any good? Yes, it’s one of the funniest musicals out there. There are so many great jokes.  Come on in and get yourself some corn. 

The show begins with the wedding of Maizy and Beau. During the wedding ceremony the corn crop starts to wither.  No one wants to leave to look for help, and they also don’t want help from the outside. Maizy says we need to do something.  She goes from Cobb County USA to Tampa Florida, and finds a “corn” doctor named Gordy to bring back to Cobb County.  Gordy is a foot doctor. He specials in corns.  Maizy bring this “corn” doctor back to Cobb County.  Gordon is there for reasons of his own. He’s interested in the rocks in the county, thinks they are valuable and will get him out of debt with the mob. Beau doesn’t trust him, and neither does Lulu who is Maizy’s cousin.  

Relationships get out of whack.  In the end the corn crops are saved, and Gordy marrie’s Lulu and Beau and Maizy finally tie the not.  Some of the best characters and humor comes from Storyteller 1, Storyteller 2, and Beau’s brother Peanut.  

At the end of the musical, we learn that the Storyteller 1 is the granddaughter of Gordon and Lulu and that Storyteller 2 is the grandson of Maizy and Beau.  

Let’s talk about the cast.  While reviewing the program, I recognized Mimi Abraham as Lulu from the Broadway run of Shucked in 2023.  Maya Lagerstam, who plays Storyteller 1 has ties to the Twin Cities. She was part of the UofM/Guthrie BFA acting program.  Maya Lagerstam and Joe Moeller were so great as the narrators of the story.  A lot of the humor came from them.  Gordy is played by Quinn VanAntwerp.  Beau is played by Nick Bailey. When Beau sings the song “Somebody Will” that was a strong vocal performance by Nick Bialey.  I don’t remember that song being that powerful when I had seen the show on Broadway.  Mike Nappi is excellent as Peanut. Peanut is pure comedy gold.  Let’s not forget Danielle Wade as Maizy. She is the center and heart of the story.   The rest of the ensemble is fun too.  

According to the program, Hennepin Arts should be announcing the 2026/2027 Broadway on Hennepin series in February. I’m looking forward to that. 

Shuck is in town through Sunday January 11, 2026. Check out www.hennepinarts.org for tickets.