Ivory Doublette

'1898. Swedish immigrant Olaf Ohman digs up a rock on his property near Kensington, MN with 'a story on carved runes' that tells that the Vikings were the first Europeans to set foot in Minnesota. He is praised for his discovery but soon controversy erupts and his life is turned upside down with claims of 'Fake! Fraud! Liar!' Step back in time and enjoy the ride with this whimsical rock 'n roll musical. Rock on!!'

For the 37th annual presentation of PlayLabs Festival, the premier new play incubation program, the Playwrights' Center is meeting the changing needs of the moment. Public readings will be presented online and the festival roster has expanded to include four playwrights developing their work.

The Frank Theatre's production of The Convert is a gripping dramatization that explores the clash between Christianity and African tribal beliefs through the eyes of a young girl caught between the two worlds.

While I love all forms of theater, it's apparent that typically I gravitate towards musicals more than plays. However there is one theatre in town that still somehow manages to pull me in with every play they produce and that is the Jungle Theater. Whether it's thrilling, drama or a comedy I always leave there thankful that I attended. That feeling was reassured, once again, as I walked down Lyndale in Uptown this past weekend after seeing the media preview for School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh.

In a spectacular evening celebrating the performing arts and jazz, Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts premiered their annual musical "Hot Funky Butt Jazz" in the Guthrie Theater's Dowling Studio The no intermission production carries three wishes for cultural improvisation on the magic of the show's narrator, a voodoo mama, Marie LaVeau. In the process of performing, Interact fulfilled their mission to present the capabilities of artists with disabilities, mental and physical challenges, to participate in every art form, including theater. This mission impacts the 50 plus cast members included in "Hot Funky Butt Jazz," a tribute to the dance hall where jazz originated in the mercurial city of New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century. 

Theater Latte Da hosts the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT)'s New Work Roundtable from Thursday, July 19 - Friday, July 20 as part of this year's NEXT Festival.

BroadwayWorld is going inside Theater Latte Da's world premiere musical FIVE POINTS. Check out the cast in action in the video below!

Theater Latte Da announces extended performances of the rousing, world premiere musical FIVE POINTS thru May 13. This latest and most ambitious musical world premiere to date brings together the talents of a dynamic creative team. The score is the work of Douglas Lyons and Ethan D. Pakchar, a New York-based songwriting team with significant Broadway credits. The book is written by the prolific Twin Cities-based playwright Harrison David Rivers, who has penned three world premieres this season including FIVE POINTS, as well as productions at the History Theatre and Penumbra Theatre. Theater Latte Da Artistic Director Peter Rothstein directs the production with Resident Music Director Denise Prosek. Performances run now thru May 13 at the Ritz Theater (345 13th Avenue NE in Minneapolis). Single tickets go are on sale now and can be purchased at Latteda.org or by calling 612-339-3003.

BroadwayWorld has an exclusive first look at Theater Latte Da's Broadway-aimed world premiere musical FIVE POINTS. Check out the cast in action in the photos below!

BroadwayWorld has an exclusive first look at Theater Latte Da's Broadway-aimed world premiere musical FIVE POINTS. Check out the cast in action in the photos below!

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts presents one of the best-loved musicals of all time, Annie, directed by the Twin Cities' own Austene Van. Full of holiday spirit and family fun, this new Ordway Original production will be on stage December 7-31.

Following a critically acclaimed performance as Mama Rose in Gypsy at the John W. Engeman Theatre in New York this past month, Michele Ragusa comes to the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts to play Miss Hannigan in Annie.

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts presents one of the best-loved musicals of all time, Annie, directed by the Twin Cities' own Austene Van. Full of holiday spirit and family fun, this new Ordway Original production will be on stage December 7-31.

Following a critically acclaimed performance as Mama Rose in Gypsy at the John W. Engeman Theatre in New York this past month, Michele Ragusa comes to the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts to play Miss Hannigan in Annie. Ms. Ragusa is best known for her Broadway performances in A Class Act, Titanic, Ragtime and taking over for Megan Mullally in Young Frankenstein. She has also performed with some of the top Symphonies in the country including: Detroit Symphony, Oklahoma City Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Phoenix Symphony and The Kennedy Center Holiday Pops with Marvin Hamlisch.

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts presents one of the best-loved musicals of all time, Annie, directed by the Twin Cities' own Austene Van. Full of holiday spirit and family fun, this new Ordway Original production will be on stage December 7-31.

I love a good tragic love story, and it doesn't get much more tragic than an interracial couple in 1918 South Carolina. But Penumbra's gorgeous production of the 1966 play WEDDING BAND by Alice Childress (whose TROUBLE IN MIND was seen at the Guthrie last year) is not just a beautiful, complicated, and ultimately tragic love story. It's also (not unlike TROUBLE IN MIND) a still timely work that speaks to the issues of race, racism, and privilege in ways that feel entirely relevant. With a super talented cast directed by Penumbra's founder Lou Bellamy (who recently passed the Artistic Director baton to his daughter Sarah) and gorgeous design, WEDDING BAND is a show not to be missed, and my favorite of my five-show weekend.

Penumbra Theatre kicks off its 41st season Crossing Lines with Alice Childress' nearly forgotten masterpiece, Wedding Band.

MainStreet Theatre Company, celebrating its 10th season, is delighted to announce the California premiere of Elephant & Piggie's "We are in a Play!" Art Manke is the Director/Choreographer, with Musical Direction by the show's composer, Deborah Wicks-La Puma. The production will play eight school performances from October 5th - 9th, and open to the public on Saturday, October 10th at 4pm. The strictly limited engagement will run through Sunday, October 25th only.

DREAMGIRLS, the smash Broadway musical turned hit movie, runs through October 28 at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, Ill. Check out interviews with the cast at the opening night party below!