NEW CENTURY THEATRE

by Jared Fessler - March 06, 2026

On February 27, 2026, I made the drive from Minneapolis down to the Des Moines Performing Arts Civic Center to catch the national tour of The Outsiders. I’d been hearing a lot of buzz about the show, and since it hasn’t made its way up to Minnesota yet, I figured it was worth the road trip to se...

by Jared Fessler - March 05, 2026

Seeing The Music Man in Mason City just feels right. When the new national tour came through the North Iowa Area Community Auditorium, it felt a little different than seeing a typical touring Broadway show. This is the town where the musical’s creator, Meredith Willson, was born and raised, so the...

by Jared Fessler - March 04, 2026

Water for Elephants has officially set up shop at the Orpheum Theatre, and it honestly doesn’t take long to get swept up in it. From the start, it feels less like you’re sitting in a theatre seat and more like you’ve wandered backstage at a traveling circus that just happens to break into song...

by Jared Fessler - March 01, 2026

What did our critic think of AS YOU LIKE IT at Novagrex?...

by Jared Fessler - March 01, 2026

What did our critic think of DISNEY ON ICE ROAD TRIP ADVENTURE at Target Center Minneapolis?...

by Jared Fessler - February 25, 2026

Some musicals are flashy and loud, but Kimberly Akimbo captivates quietly, drawing you in with humor, heart, and honesty. From the first moment on stage, it becomes clear that this is a story about people — messy, awkward, hopeful people — rather than spectacle....

by Jared Fessler - February 24, 2026

Seeing Glen Phillips at the Dakota Jazz Club on February 23 felt easy in the best way. No production, no band, no big entrance. It was just him, a guitar, and a room full of people who really wanted to be there....

by Jared Fessler - February 22, 2026

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

by Jared Fessler - February 22, 2026

What did our critic think of BRANDI CARLILE: BE HUMAN TOUR at Target Center Minneapolis?...

by Jared Fessler - February 21, 2026

What did our critic think of GUYS AND DOLLS at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres?...