Jared Fessler

Jake David Smith is currently touring in the role of Jay Gatsby in the stage adaptation of The Great Gatsby, bringing one of American literature’s most familiar characters to life night after night. The production stops in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where it will run June 2–7, 2026 at the historic Orpheum Theatre, adding a bit of Jazz Age shimmer to the Midwest.

Performed inside the Searle Mansion, this production turns the audience into part of the experience. During the second act, everyone splits into smaller groups and moves room to room throughout the house while different scenes happen at the same time. It feels less like watching a play and more like accidentally overhearing deeply personal conversations.

The national tour of The Great Gatsby heads to the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis June 2–7, bringing the glamour, heartbreak, and larger-than-life characters of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel to the stage. Joshua Grosso, who plays Nick Carraway in the production, says one of the best parts of the experience is getting to share the stage with a company full of talented performers while taking in the story right alongside the audience each night.

Ten Thousand Things Theater’s The Most Happy Fella is one of those shows that sneaks up on you emotionally. It’s based on Sidney Howard’s They Knew What They Wanted, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, and at its core it’s really just about people trying to figure out love, mistakes, and what they actually want out of life.

Park Square Theatre is celebrating its 50th season with a really solid, engaging production of A Chorus Line, running through June 14, 2026. It’s one of those shows that still lands emotionally no matter how familiar you are with it, and this staging keeps things focused on what matters most: the people onstage.

What did our critic think of CHARLIE PUTH - WHATEVER'S CLEVER! WORLD TOUR at Armory?

What did our critic think of THE HOBBIT at Theatre In The Round?

Bruno Mars brought nonstop energy to U.S. Bank Stadium on Wednesday night for The Romantic Tour, and honestly, the crowd was hooked from the second he walked onstage. Opening with “Nothin’ on You” was a smart move — it immediately threw everyone back to the early Bruno days, and the entire stadium seemed to know every word.

What did our critic think of ONCE UPON A MATTRESS at Lake Shore Players?

What did our critic think of OLIVER at Ashland Productions?

What did our critic think of CALUM SCOTT - THE AVENOIR TOUR 2026 at The Fillmore Minneapolis?

What did our critic think of DEMI LOVATO - IT'S NOT THAT DEEP TOUR at Target Center Minneapolis?

Nick Dillenburg, a Minneapolis native, found his way onto the stage in high school after tagging along to an audition with a friend. What started as a favor quickly became something more, setting him on a path that’s now brought him back home in a full-circle moment.

Now playing at the Orpheum Theatre through May 17, 2026, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child brings the wizarding world back—but in a way that feels more grown-up and a lot more personal.

What did our critic think of FOREVER K-POP - A CELEBRATION CONCERT at State Theatre Minneapolis?

What did our critic think of [PALATABLE] GAY ROBOT STARRING STEPHEN BROWER at The Parkway Theater?

Broadway actor and comedian Stephen Brower brings his wildly inventive one-person show [Palatable] Gay Robot to The Parkway—a smart, absurd, and unexpectedly heartfelt exploration of identity, performance, and what it means to be “palatable.”

Grumpy Old Men: The Musical, playing now through April 19, 2026 at the Conn Theater, is exactly the kind of show you go to when you want to relax, laugh a bit, and not have to think too hard. Minneapolis Musical Theatre’s take on this familiar story leans into its strengths—solid performances, recognizable humor, and a lot of heart.

The set designed by Steven McLean for I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti at Players Circle Theater is that good. Exposed brick walls, stainless steel appliances, artsy posters. And, as the lady sitting next to me observed, a clean up crew that comes in at intermission.

Theater Mu’s Hmong Futures: The Futures of Us at Gremlin Theatre is one of those shows that doesn’t try to “wow” you with big theatrical tricks—it’s quieter than that—but it ends up hitting harder because of it.