Frozen: The Broadway Musical - Great Theatre - April 2026

Frozen

Program Cover

Music & Lyrics by Kirsten Anderson- Lopez and Robert Lopez

Book by Jennifer Lee

Review by Ernest Edwards

Great Theatre is presenting Disney’s Frozen at the Paramount Center for the Arts in downtown St. Cloud. I have never been to this theatre before. It’s a gorgeous venue. Next season Great Theatre is producing Les Miserables, which I think will be perfect at the Paramount Center for the Arts. 

The stage musical is based on the 2013 Disney animated movie of the same name. For the 2018 transfer to Broadway, they expanded the script and added some additional songs. The stage musical is just as much fun and visually spectacular as the movie if not more so. 

There’s lots of great information in the program about Disney adapting the story from the Hans Christian

The marquee

Anderson tale of the Snow Queen. I learned that Disney had been trying to adapt the story since the late 1930’s. The journey to the movie we now know as Frozen is a wonderful read. There’s also information in the program about Nordic traditions. The fictional city of Arendelle, where Frozen takes place,  is somewhere in the Scandinavian peninsula. 

The story of Disney’s Frozen focuses on the sisters Elsa and Anna. As children they are close. Elsa has abilities with ice and snow. When she accidentally injures Anna as a child, Elsa stays in her own room in the castle. Several years after their parents boat sinks, Elsa is now old enough to be coronated as Queen. Things don’t get well at the Coronation. Elsa’s powers are revealed to all, and the she flees for the mountains. Unaware that she placed Arendelle in a blizzard in the middle of summer. 

The stage, before the musical began

The story of Frozen is about the power of love and the strength of two sisters who have an unbreakable bond. Both have some learning to do about life. They have been isolated in the castle for years. Now it’s time to intermingle with the people from the kingdom and keep those castle gates open year round. 

A fun side affect of Elsa’s magic is bringing the snowman Olaf to life. The act one finale is the song “Let It Go.” That song/scene does not disappoint with Great Theatre’s production. 

What I really liked in the program is the biographies of the cast and crew. They start out with everyone’s day job and then goes into their theatrical experiences. I liked that Great Theatre was showcasing their lives outside of the theatre. Normally you only see their theatre history listed. The Great Theatre has double cast the leads for Frozen. There’s the Snow Cast and the Frost Cast. I had the Snow Cast at the performance I went to. 

There’s only one weekend left to see this wonderful production of Frozen at the Paramount Center for the Arts. It closes on Sunday May 3, 2026. Check out www.greattheatre.org for tickets. 

The SpongeBob Musical

The SpongeBob Musical

The Program Cover

Book by Kyle Jarrod

Original Songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coultron, Alex Elbert of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, TI, and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny, and Andy Paley. Additional Lyrics by Jonathan Coultron, Additional music by Tom Kitt. 

Over the weekend I went to the matinee performance on the last day of production for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Department of Theatre production of The SpongeBob Musical at the Marshall Performing Arts Center. Even before the musical begins, there’s some activities to get you in the mood in the lobby. You could make yourself a pirate hat, or your own SpongeBob and much more. There was lots of signs up on the lobby about the sustainability of the scenery and costumes, which was a fun read before the show began. 

The stage was very fun looking at the top of the show. At the start of the show, all of the action was taking place in

The stage, before the musical began

front of the stage curtain. Once they said “Welcome to Bikini Bottom!” then the curtain opened to reveal the rest of the scenery and stage space for the musical. 

Director/Choreograher Matthew Wagner help lead the cast into the fun and zaniness of the script. So many moments that had us all laughing out loud. Such a fun joyous musical. I don’t even think hilarious is the right word to describe this production. It was great to let the guard down and enjoy the fun ride with this gang from Bikini Bottom. 

You do not need to be familiar with the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants to enjoy The SpongeBob Musical. It’s a great stand alone story. The town has discovered that the volcano will erupt at sunset tomorrow. They need to find a way to stop the volcano or relocate. The evil Sheldon J. Plankton and his wife Karen have a scheme on how to save the town and hypnotize the residents so their restaurant will be the only one in business. It’s up to SpongeBob, Patrick (the starfish) and, Sandy Cheeks (the squirrel) to stop the volcano and save the town. Sheldon and Karen would try everything to stop them, including creating an avalanche. 

The entire cast had so much energy and cranked up the fun meter to 120%. There are some cast members that I should mention for their outstanding performances. Noah Jetland as SpongeBob SquarePants, Tate Nowacki as Patrick Star, Erik Rasmussen as Squidward Q. Tentacles, Emerson Spenser as the French Narrator, Solymar Romero as Patchy the Pirate, Phuong Nguyen as Karen the Computer, Hope Davis as Sandy Cheeks, and let’s not forget Aaron J. Dumalag as Sheldon D. Plankton. Aaron J. Dumalag as Sheldon D. Plankton, to quote Rupaul “he had uniqueness, nerve, talent and charisma”. 

From the pre show to the curtain call, this show was a blast! 

The stage, during intermission

Scenery was designed by Curtis Phillips, Costumes by Caitlin Quinn, Hair & makeup by Morgan Royals, and Lighting was designed by Richard Tamayo. These four artists helped to create the world of Bikini Bottom and bring it life with such wonderful results. 

UMD Theatre has announced their 2026/2027 season. The season begins with MacBeth in October, Everybody in November, Dance Works in December, Rhythm, Rum, Rise in  February, and Sweeney Todd in April. Looks like a fun season. 

The Wizard of Oz - Children’s Theatre Company - April 2026

The Wizard of Oz

Program Cover

By Frank L. Baum, with Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg

Based on the classic motion picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co and distributed by Warner Bros. 

Review by Ernest Edwards

This stage production of the classic The Wizard of Oz is very true to the 1939 movie of the same name. Similar to the movie there is some double casting going on. The three farm hands named Zeke, Hickory, and Hunk do have some easter eggs about which characters they will be once we go over that rainbow after the tornado scene. 

Just like in the movie Professor Marvel is also the Wizard, Almira Gultch is also the Wicked Witch of the West. In this stage production the actress playing Aunt Em is also Glinda the Witch of the North. 

Got to give some props to the Scenic Designer Adam Koch, Costume Designer Lex Liang, Lighting

The stage, before the musical begins

Designer Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, Sound Designer Reid Resja, and Projection Designer Kylee Loera. At the helm of this production is Director Rick Dildine, who expertly guides this cast and crew into a wonderful production that is both familiar and new. Technology from 2026, does a lot to enhance this stage musical with projections and special affects. The production team knocked this show out of the park! I know, a baseball reference, but it is a true description of the work that went into this stage production. 

The night that I went to the show, actress Aniya Bostick was playing the role of Dorothy. The role of Dorothy has been double cast and there’s two different actresses playing her.  

This is a very talented cast. Zeke/Cowardly Lion is played by Reed Sigmund, Hickory/Tin Man is played by Regina Marie Williams, Hunk/Scarecrow is played by Dean Holt, Aunt Em/Glinda is played by Becca Claire Hart, Uncle Henry/Gatekeeper is played by Riley McNutt, and Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West is played by Autumn Ness. I had a great view of the stage from row O on the main floor, but I spent most of the show saying to myself “I know that voice” of the actor who played the Wizard. I read the cast list after the show, and noticed the actor who played Professor Marvel/The Wizard is JoeNathan Thomas, who played the General in White Christmas the past two holiday seasons at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. That’s where I have heard his voice before. 

If you are a fan of the classic movie, then get out and see this wonderful production. The special effects

The stage, during intermission

are out of this world. Especially the tornado scene with Dorothy. If you have never seen The Wizard of Oz before, this wonderful and fabulous stage production will be a great introduction to this classic story. 

The Wizard of Oz is a must see production. I cannot recommend it enough. 

Buy yourself some tickets and go over the rainbow at The Children’s Theatre Company. The musical runs through June 14, 2026. Tickets are available at www.childrenstheatre.org. 

Guys & Dolls - Chanhassen Dinner Theatres - April 2026

Guys & Dolls

Program Cover

Music and Lyrics by Frank Loessor

Book by Jo Sterling & Abe Burrows 

Review by Ernest Edwards

Guys & Dolls is a good old fashioned musical from the golden age of Broadway. Chanhassen Dinner Theatre’s production of Guys & Dolls checks all the boxes. Songs, sets, story, choreography, cast, costumes. Check, check, check, check, check, and check!

The musical premiered on Broadway in 1950, and takes place in NYC in the late 1940’s. There was also a movie made in 1955 that featured Marlon Brandon, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons, and Viviane Blaine. 

The story follows Nathan Detroit and his never ending game of craps. They have to keep changing the location to keep the police, Lt. Brannigan, off their trail. Nathan has been engaged to Adelaide for 14 years, and she wants to get married. Gambler Sky Masterson is back in town, and Nathan bets Sky he can’t get Sarah Brown from the Save A Soul Mission to go on a date with him. Lots of hilarity ensues from there. Place your bets on excitement. Buckle up, you are in a for ride with Guys & Dolls. It’s such a fun musical, you can’t but feel happy long after the musical is over. 

This production is directed and co-choreographed by Tamara Kangas, with co-choreography by Linda

The stage, before the musical begins

Talcott Lee. This is Tamara’s first production that she has directed since taking over the reins at CDT. This is an impressive first foray. I can’t wait to see what she does next. She is playing with a full house. 

Let’s talk about those costumes by Rich Hamson. Gorgeous is not even the right word. That is what the costumes are. I tell you, this stage musical was presented in technicolor! From the ladies costumes, to the Hot Box girls, to the guys suits. Everything was visually spectacular. I also liked the scenery designed by Nayna Ramey. There were parts of the main stage space I had never seen used before. The backdrop for NYC was perfect. The scenery effortlessly changed for each scene. I also really liked the Guys & Dolls sign that was upstage center before the show started, and came back during intermission and at the end of the show. The neon outlines of the NYC skyline on either sides of the stage was nice too, especially the silhouette of the Brooklyn Bridge. 

This score by Frank Loessor has some of the most fun and memorable songs on Broadway. You will 

Photo by Dan Norman

recognize several of the songs from Guys & Dolls. 

The cast is lead by a fabulous foursome. Nathan Detroit is played by Charlie Clark, Miss Adelaide is played by Madeline Trumble, Sarah Brown is played by Sara Masterson, Sky Masterson is played by Shad Hanley. Other notable performances are Arvide Abernathy played by local favorite Tod Petersen. Other cast members that I recognize are Tony Vierling, Michael Gruber, Ryan London Levin, Armando Harlow Ronconi, and Jon Andrew Hegge. 

Adelaide has lots of great moments in this production. Matthew Hall as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, brings down the house with the second act number “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat”. 

We all won the dice toss with Guys & Dolls. 

Guys & Dolls runs through September 25, 2026. Check out www.chanhassendt.com for tickets. 

An Evening with Mark Twain - Tribute to Hall Holbrook, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, April 2026

An Evening with Mark Twain

The stage, before the show began

Performed by Don Shelby

Review By Ernest Edwards

Yes that Don Shelby. The retired newscaster is also an actor. I had seen him at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres back in February in Love Letters. His acting resume is very impressive, as is his career as a newscaster.  

Did some research during intermission for this one night only event at the Main Stage at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Monday night. Don Shelby has performed as Mark Twain over 200 times around the region. We learned from the Q&A after the show that he has been performing as Mark Twain for 50 years. 

Wish I could have taken a photo of Don Shelby during the show. With the costume, wig, eyebrows, nose, and mustache, he really looked like Mark Twain. At the end of the show, Don Shelby brought a makeup table on stage and as he took off the mustache and eyebrows, he looked like Don Shelby again under all of that. It was an amazing transformation. 

After the show Don Shelby explained why he was doing the show at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres and on a Monday. Monday’s are when the main stage musicals have a night off. The staff was working on their night off for this one night only special event. Which was also sold out! Don also said that Michael Brindisi had asked him to bring his Mark Twain to the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. He was also honoring the wishes of the late great Michael Brindisi.  

I have never seen Don Shelby perform as Mark Twain before. I only learned about this one night only event when I had went to Love Letters in February, and at that point there was only single seats left for the event. After the show was over, Don Shelby announced that this was his last performance as Mark Twain. His family was in the audience, as were several of his friends. To quote Don Shelby, “Best to go out on top with a sold out performance, versus an audience of 12”. 

Something else I learned was that Don Shelby had a chance encounter with Hal Holbrook a long time ago. That chance encounter led to a friendship that lasted until Hal Holbrook passed in 2021. The two them spent many years discussing Mark Twain. It was Hal Holbrook’s performance of Mark Twain that inspired Don Shelby. 

This ended up being a really special evening. Not only seeing Don Shelby as Mark Twain for the first time, but attending his final performance as Mark Twain. 

Edgar In Concert - MN Opera - April 2026

Edgar in Concert

Program Cover

Music by Giacomo Puccini, Libretto by Ferdinando Fontana

Review By Ernest Edwards

Over the weekend the MN Opera presented the Puccini opera Edgar as a concert. I have never seen Edgar before, but I really liked how the stage was set up for the show. It made me think that MN Opera could do other presentations in concert too. Such as the Stephan Sondheim’s Follies, which did have a concert presentation in NYC back in the 1980’s. Kind of why that show popped in my mind. Or when the NY Philharmonic did Company as a concert presentation. Sweeney Todd has also had two concert productions that I’m aware of. The possibilities are endless. 

We did learn before the opera started that there has been no professional productions of Edgar in the USA for the past 20 years. It was truly a treat to see this MN Opera production at the Ordway in downtown St. Paul. 

I really liked how the stage was set up for this production. The five main principle performers had seats at

The stage, before the opera began. 

the front the of stage. Directly behind them was the MN Opera orchestra, In the back of the stage was the MN Opera choir on risers. Including the intermission, the run time for Edgar was around 2 hours.  

The principle performers were Karin Wolverton as Fidelia, Karen Morgan as Tigrana, John Mburu as Gualtiero, Diego Torre as Edgar, and Thomas Glass as Frank. Before the show began we learned that Diego Torre was under the weather earlier in the week and there was an understudy standing by, but Diego Torre did perform the entire show on opening night. 

As soon as Karen Morgan walked onto the stage in that red dress. I knew she was the character Tigrana. Based on the synopsis that I read in the program. 

Edgar was a wonderful two night only event. The MN Opera still has the opera Pagliacci coming up. The dates for Pagliacci are May 9 - May 17. Check out www.mnopera.org for tickets. 

The Full Monty - Theatre 55 - April 2025

The Full Monty

Image provided by Theatre 55

Book by Terrance McNally, Music and Lyrics by David Yasbek

Review by Ernest Edwards

The Full Monty musical is based on the 1997 film of the same name that takes place in Sheffield a northern town in England. The Full Monty  premiered on Broadway in 2000, and the location was changed to Buffalo, New York for the musical. I had seen the National Tour of the Broadway musical back in June 2003 at the Ordway. It’s been a while since I have seen this musical live on stage. 

This is this first production I am seeing with Theatre 55. Theatre 55 creates shows that contain casts who are 55 years old and older.  I thought the story of The Full Monty would be perfect for my first Theatre 55 production. And it was! What a treat to see this production with this company. The story of the musical is similar to the movie, you have these men who have been out of work ever since the factory closed 18 months ago. They get the idea to do a one night only strip tease for some fast cash. The guys in the musical are average, they are not built like those Chippendale’s models. There’s something about these average guys being played by men of a certain age that really works well for the story.  

The musical takes you on a journey of acceptance and growth. These men are down on their luck. They have been unemployed for 18 months. Their moral is low. And they just want to feel like themselves again. They are hoping their luck will change. The men in this story have various sizes of body shapes, have no rhythm, can’t dance, but have a dream and a desire to do something different for one night only. Not only for the money, but for their dignity. There’s a strength in being vulnerable. 

As for the big moment. The Full Monty per se. It’s stage very tastefully and in conjunction with the stage lighting the actors do The Full Monty, but we in the audience really don’t see anything. This is a family themed show after all. Don’t be surprised to see our six dancers appear in robes during the curtain call.  

This is a such a fun musical. You can tell the whole cast was having a good time with this musical. 

The Full Monty closes on Sunday 4/19/26, check out www.theatre55.org for tickets. 

Theatre 55 did also announce that their next musical in the fall of 2026 will be Young Frankenstein. That should be another fun one to see. 

Grumpy Old Men The Musical - Minneapolis Musical Theatre - April 2026

Grumpy Old Men

Program Cover

Book by Dan Remmes, Music by Neil Berg, Lyrics by Nick Meglin 

Adapted from the screenplay for the 1993 Warner Bros movie by Mark Steven Johnson

Review by Ernest Edwards

What I liked about the movie Grumpy Old Men, was that not only did the movie take place in Minnesota, but it was filmed at various locations in Minnesota. The interior scenes were filmed at the sound stages at Paisley Park. Wabasha, MN where the show takes place, used to have a sign under the Welcome to Wabasha sign that said “Home of Grumpy Old Men”. 

If you remember the 1993 movie, then you already know the story for the stage musical. The story of John Gustafson and Max Goldman, neighbors who have been feuding for over 50 years. 

You probably have the same question I have. When did Grumpy Old Men become a stage musical? The musical had its premiere at the Ogunquit Playhouse in 2018. This regional premiere is the perfect musical for Minneapolis Musical Theatre. Their slogan is “Rare Musicals, Well Done”. Grumpy Old Men and MMT are a perfect match. 

For the stage musical we have Jim Ahrens as John Gustafson, Michael Fishcetti as Grandpa Gustafson, Caitlin Burns as Ariel Truax, Ward Eames as Max Goldman, James Lane as Jacob Goldman, Jillian Bader as Melanie Gustafson Norton, Quinten Michael as Chuck Barrels, Lisa Denninger as Punky Barrels,  Brandon Osero as Harry, and Kayla Hambek as Sandra Snyder. It’s a wonderful cast. 

We were having the first 80 degree day of the year in Minneapolis when I went to the show yesterday. It was winter on stage at the Conn Theatre. The opening number really set the tone for the musical. Which was contained lots of Minnesota-isms, such as heavy coats, boots, stocking caps, flannel, big bushy beards and ice fishing. 

Michael Fishchetti was hilarious as Grandpa Gustafson. He had some great zingers. Punky Barrels had some fun and quirky moments. Harry as the postal worker had some fun moments as the man who couldn’t feel any pain. Let’s talk about the statue of Ariel’s husband. We couldn’t see his manhood, as that was kept upstage. It was able to old a hat and an umbrella at different times in the musical. Kind of as an homage to the movie, Max has his prized fishing pole The Green Hornet. Kayle Hambek took IRS agent Sandra Snyder to new levels in cruelty. She really embodied the character. 

The cast has having a lot of fun on stage. The musical is fun and entertaining.  

Grumpy Old Men The Musical continues through April 19, 2026 at the Conn Theater in Minneapolis. Check out www.aboutmmt.org for tickets. 

Mamma Mia! - Lyric Arts - April 2026

Mamma Mia!

Program Cover

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