My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Tracie Thoms' Final Performance in BEAUTY IS A RARE THING at Illusion Theater 7/11

By:

Illusion Theater is pleased to announce that actress Tracie Thoms, best known for her work on the television series Cold Case and her role in the final cast and film version of Rent, will be a member of the Company performing BEAUTY IS A RARE THING.

BEAUTY IS A RARE THING, written and directed by Marion McClinton, is a part of Illusion Theater's 23rd Annual Fresk Ink Series and will play July 8, 9, & 10 at 8 pm and July 11 at 7 pm. 

Illusion's relationship with McClinton goes back to the early 1990's when he began to shift from acting and directing to writing and directing. Beauty is a Rare Thing is a passionate look at African American experience from an artist who is unafraid to tackle big issues of our times. Morris offers, "Marion's long partnership with August Wilson propelled him to write this chronicle of this African American family, the Maroons, where he writes about the legacy of slavery and the resiliency of the African American spirit."

Descendants of a rebellious free society of former slaves and, then later, leaders in the 1960's Civil Rights Movement, the Maroon family members come together on a death watch for the family matriarch. "I find every part of American life and the truth of American humanity in the story of the former slaves in the land of the free determined to march to inclusion. It is the most American story there is, and the true hope of democracy is always in the eyes of the disenfranchised seeking enfranchisement," says writer/director Marion McClinton.

For more information, visit online at www.illusiontheater.org.

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Lead Performer in a Musical - Top 3
1. LJ Benet - The Lost Boys, A New Musical
21.9% of votes
2. Joshua Henry - Ragtime
15.9% of votes
3. Sam Tutty - Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
10.1% of votes

Need more Minneapolis / St. Paul Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...


Videos


The Most Happy Fella at Open Book in Minneapolis / St. Paul The Most Happy Fella at Open Book
Open Book (5/14-5/17) VIDEOS
Footloose: The Musical in Minneapolis / St. Paul Footloose: The Musical
Open Door Community Theatre (6/20-6/28)
The Music Man in Minneapolis / St. Paul The Music Man
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts (12/08-12/27)
Clay Walker in Minneapolis / St. Paul Clay Walker
Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center (8/28-8/28)
Menopause The Musical in Minneapolis / St. Paul Menopause The Musical
Ames Center (11/03-11/03)
Waitress in Minneapolis / St. Paul Waitress
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts (6/15-6/20)
Riverdance in Minneapolis / St. Paul Riverdance
State (5/29-5/31)
A Taste of Ireland - The Irish Music and Dance Sensation in Minneapolis / St. Paul A Taste of Ireland - The Irish Music and Dance Sensation
Fergus Falls Center for Arts (6/02-6/02)
Cody Johnson in Minneapolis / St. Paul Cody Johnson
Grand Casino Arena (8/29-8/29)
Scarecrow on Fire in Minneapolis / St. Paul Scarecrow on Fire
Illusion Theater (5/01-5/16) VIDEOS