Jared Fessler - Page 8

This December, the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus brings Broadway powerhouse Alex Newell to the stage for their Jingle Bells and Jazz Noels concert at Minnesota Orchestra Hall.

What did our critic think of 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE...BY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL at Northrop?

As we look ahead to this year’s Home for the Holidays concert, one of the artists we’re especially excited to introduce is Elise Karlstad. Elise is currently a junior at Otterbein University in Ohio, where she is pursuing her BFA in Musical Theatre and Dance with a Dance minor. She’s already begun to make a name for herself on campus and beyond, most recently appearing as Urleen in Otterbein’s 2025 mainstage production of Footloose.

​​​​​​​Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto will glide into Saint Paul’s Grand Casino Arena December 4–7, 2025, bringing two of Disney’s most popular stories to life on the ice. Families can sing along to favorites from Frozen and the award-winning Encanto while enjoying impressive skating, aerial stunts, and colorful production numbers. We also caught up with Minnetonka native Gig Siruno, a longtime skater with the show who now steps into a new role as production manager.

With Jingle Bells & Jazz Noels almost here, we wanted to take a moment to spotlight one of our Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus members, Chris Unger (he/him). This year’s show has been a blast to put together—big band brass, holiday favorites with a fun twist, and a couple of theatrical moments they can’t wait for you to see.

Sarah McLachlan doesn’t make a big entrance. She just walks out, smiles like she’s greeting old friends, and settles in behind the piano as if she’s about to play something she wrote five minutes ago. That’s how the night started at the Armory, and the whole show kept that same unforced, almost conversational energy.

If you’ve lived in Minneapolis long enough, you’ve probably seen a touring Phantom (or at least pretended you did when talking to theatre friends). But the production now at the Orpheum through December 7 feels surprisingly alive. Not “reinvented,” not “modernized”—just performed with the kind of conviction that makes you remember why this show became a juggernaut in the first place.

Pentatonix brought a rush of holiday warmth to the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul on November 20, turning a chilly Minnesota night into something genuinely magical. From the moment the group stepped onstage with “Christmas in the City,” the atmosphere shifted—suddenly the arena felt like a bustling winter street scene, full of glitter and anticipation.

The first national tour of The Notebook opened its run at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts with a performance that felt both tender and freshly alive. The familiar love story—spanning youth, adulthood, and the late years of Allie and Noah’s lives—translated beautifully to the Ordway stage, where the audience settled into an evening of heartfelt storytelling and quietly powerful performances.

Stevie Nicks turned the Grand Casino Event Center in Saint Paul into a dreamscape on Wednesday night. Under swirling lights and a full house of devoted fans, she delivered a set that blended nostalgia, reverence, and pure rock-and-roll grace. At 77, her voice still carries that unmistakable rasp and warmth, and her presence is as magnetic as ever.

The first national tour of The Notebook is making a stop at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts from November 18-30, 2025. We chatted with Jesse Corbin, who plays Lon/Ensemble in this production.

Broadway favorite Santino Fontana returned to his Minnesota roots this weekend with a lively and heartfelt concert at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis.

A timeless holiday favorite is lighting up the stage this season as Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse presents Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, running through December 28 in Rock Island.

What did our critic think of STEVIE RAY'S COMEDY CABARET at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres?

A timeless holiday favorite is lighting up the stage this season as Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse presents Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, running through December 28 in Rock Island.

When the lights went down inside the State Theatre and the opening chords of “Let’s Go Crazy” rang out, it was clear that Purple Rain had come home. The new stage musical, based on Prince’s 1984 film, is making its world premiere in Minneapolis before heading to Broadway—and it feels like the city has wrapped its arms around it.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show – 50th Anniversary Spectacular Tour is set to light up the Orpheum Theatre on October 31st, promising a Halloween night like no other.

Maroon 5 proved once again why they’ve remained one of pop music’s most enduring acts with an electrifying show at the Grand Casino Arena. From the moment the lights dimmed and the opening chords of “The Boys Are Back in Town” rang out, the energy in the room was undeniable. It was an unexpected but fitting opener—playful, confident, and a clear signal that the band came to have fun.

Tony Award–winner Santino Fontana returns to his “second home” of Minneapolis for a special night at The Capri Theater on Saturday, November 8. Known for his unforgettable roles on Broadway and as the voice of Prince Hans in Frozen, Fontana brings his quick wit, rich voice, and love of storytelling to an evening that’s anything but ordinary.

On October 23, 2025, the intimate Crooners Supper Club in Minneapolis was transformed into a cozy haven for musical theater lovers as Andrea Ross, accompanied by pianist Scott Lykins, presented Ghost Light Cabaret, part of the Lakes Area Music Festival’s Winter Series.