Review: THE OUTSIDERS at Des Moines Performing Arts
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...
Review: THE MUSIC MAN at NIACC Performing Arts
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...
Review: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis
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...
Review: KIMBERLY AKIMBO at Ordway Center For The Performing Arts
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....