Adam Qualls News

The weekend before last, New Epic Theater opened a strikingly beautiful and devastating production of the 1985 Off-Broadway play THE NORMAL HEART about the early days of the AIDS crisis. Last weekend they opened part two of their ambitious spring repertory production, Shakespeare's CORIOLANUS. The two plays share the same terrific eight-person cast, innovative and distinctive director Joseph Stodola, performance space, set, and overall look. Separated in time by about 400 years, THE NORMAL HEART and CORIOLANUS are in some ways similar and in other ways very different. Both continue the trajectory that this new company has set right out of the gate with visually and emotionally impactful work. The two plays will be performed in rep for the next two weekends, culminating in both shows being performed back-to-back on Saturday April 16. Friends, New Epic Theater is an exciting new addition to our bountiful theater community and I urge you to see one or both of these plays to experience their unique vision.

In just their second season as a theater company, New Epic Theater is tackling not one but two challenging and not often performed political plays with THE NORMAL HEART and CORIOLANUS, performed in rep (something that's also not often done). It's an ambitious undertaking for any theater company, much less a young one. But in this short time New Epic has already established themselves as a company that does striking work, both visually and emotionally. The first half of this pair of plays opened last weekend, a strikingly beautiful and devastating production of the 1985 Off-Broadway play THE NORMAL HEART about the early days of the AIDS crisis. Friends, this is a piece of theater not to be missed. The Normal Heart returns on April 7, but in the meantime you can see the other piece of the puzzle, Shakespeare's CORIOLANUS, this weekend, as I will be. Director Joseph Stodola and New Epic Theater have a unique vision, one that deserves to be seen.

Park Square begins 2016 with a world premiere adaptation of Charles Dickens's GREAT EXPECTATIONS.

Park Square begins 2016 with a world premiere adaptation of Charles Dickens's GREAT EXPECTATIONS.

Friends, I know that there are a lot of theater companies in the Twin Cities, so many that it's hard to keep track of them all and impossible to see them all. But you would be wise to take note of New Epic Theater. With just their second production outside of the Fringe Festival and their first full season of programming, they've already established themselves as one to watch with smart, intense, risk-taking, aesthetically beautiful productions. Their new production of John Patrick Stanley's 2005 Tony-winner DOUBT re-imagines the new classic with inventive staging that brings the themes of doubt vs. certainty, racial and gender inequality, and the power hierarchy of the Catholic Church into almost painfully sharp focus.

On Monday night I attended my 9th Ivey Awards. Yes, even before I started Cherry and Spoon in 2010 and started getting press tickets to the event in 2013, I was still a theater geek (read all the words I've written about the Iveys here). The Ivey Awards are my favorite theater night of the year, not so much for the awards themselves, but because it's a celebration of another year of amazing local theater that gathers all of my favorite theater artists in one room. Even though I've met many of them, I still get starstruck when I walk through the crowd and every other face I see is someone I've enjoyed watching on stage. I love to watch awards shows on TV so it's a thrill to get all glammed up and actually attend one in person. I even painted my toenails with a glittery green called 'One Short Day' - appropriate because of its musical theater geekiness and and because this event that I look forward to all year goes by in a whirlwind of people and honorees and loud music and conversations. And now it's over for another year, but more great theater is still to come which we will be celebrating next year!

Acclaimed director Peter Rothstein (Cabaret, Theatre Latte? Da) will bring a magnetic Shrek the Musical to life on CTC's UnitedHealth Group Stage beginning today, April 22. With a seasoned cast including Reed Sigmund, Autumn Ness and Ansa Akyea, incredible scenic and costume designs, choreography by Michael Matthew Ferrell and Tony-nominated music, Shrek is an ogre-sized musical with an equally big soul, sure to delight everyone from the very young to the young at heart.

Acclaimed director Peter Rothstein (Cabaret, Theatre Latte? Da) will bring a magnetic Shrek the Musical to life on CTC's UnitedHealth Group Stage beginning April 22. With a seasoned cast including Reed Sigmund, Autumn Ness and Ansa Akyea, incredible scenic and costume designs, choreography by Michael Matthew Ferrell and Tony-nominated music, Shrek is an ogre-sized musical with an equally big soul, sure to delight everyone from the very young to the young at heart.

Overwhelming early popularity and a Twin Cities All-Star cast has led to strong ticket sales for Shrek the Musical, prompting a one-week extension to the run. Shrek the Musical is based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William Steig with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. Peter Rothstein directs the production, which runs for all ages April 22 through June 15.

Cabaret, in a provocative staging directed by the nationally acclaimed Peter Rothstein, continues the Broadway Re-Imagined series, a collaboration between Theater Latte Da and Hennepin Theatre Trust. This production of Kander and Ebb's groundbreaking musical also features a stellar cast showcasing such local talent as Sally Wingert, just named the Star Tribune's 2013 Artist of the Year, Jim Detmar, Tyler Michaels, Kira Lace Hawkins and Sean Dooley. Cabaret runs today, January 15-February 9, 2014 at the historic Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis.

Cabaret, in a provocative staging directed by the nationally acclaimed Peter Rothstein, continues the Broadway Re-Imagined series, a collaboration between Theater Latte Da and Hennepin Theatre Trust. This production of Kander and Ebb's groundbreaking musical also features a stellar cast showcasing such local talent as Sally Wingert, just named the Star Tribune's 2013 Artist of the Year, Jim Detmar, Tyler Michaels, Kira Lace Hawkins and Sean Dooley. Cabaret runs January 15-February 9, 2014 at the historic Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis. Tickets are on sale now at HennepinTheatreTrust.org, by calling 1.800.982.2787 and in person at the State Theatre Box Office.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) is gearing up to make sure that cranky old Grinch doesn't ruin the holiday season. This year CTC is bringing back the holiday classic Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. This is the story about a mischievous and grumpy Grinch who hates Christmas so much that he has decided to steal it from his neighbors, the Christmas-loving Whos down in Whoville. With the help of his faithful dog Max and a reality check from the tiny Cindy-Lou Who, the Grinch comes to realize that you can't steal Christmas because Christmas doesn't come from the store, "maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more." Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

On June 29th, 2012 Theatre Pro Rata will open 44 Plays for 44 Presidentsat Calvary Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN as part of the national Plays for Presidents 2012 Festival.

Theater Latté Da presents THE SHOE TREE reading on Monday, December 12, 7:30 p.m. at The Children's Theatre Company, Cohen Stage, 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404 (Enter through Stage Door just across from parking ramp and you will be escorted to the theater.). Tickets are First come, first serve with a suggested donation of $10.

Theater Latté Da presents THE SHOE TREE reading on Monday, December 12, 7:30 p.m. at The Children's Theatre Company, Cohen Stage, 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404 (Enter through Stage Door just across from parking ramp and you will be escorted to the theater.). Tickets are First come, first serve with a suggested donation of $10.

You'll quickly forget the moppet-haired urchins of musical fame when Joel Sass designs and directs the Midwest premiere of an inventive new adaptation of OLIVER TWIST at Park Square. This theatrical adventure is told by a chameleon cast of 13, who combine Dickens' original text with Victorian music hall tunes. 'So much of the story hinges on our hopes and fears for little Oliver as he voyages through the exciting but highly dangerous world of Victorian London,' Sass explains. 'It's a grown-up world, even for streetwise ruffians-so placing one lone boy among a cast of grown-ups who are playing all the other parts instantly helps us feel the immensity of the challenge Oliver is facing.'

'Please sir, I want some more.' Oliver Twist's famous line describing the struggles of the poor in Victorian England reminds us that hunger still exists in today's world. Many in our community rely on food programs to help feed themselves and their families.