Emily Madigan News

The Marriott Theatre is thrilled to welcome back ten-time Jeff Award-winning director Gary Griffin to helm the exhilarating smash hit FOOTLOOSE, running April 10 through June 2, 2019 with a press opening on Wednesday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Based on a true story and the 1984 classic film, FOOTLOOSE is a compelling story of teenage rebellion and celebrating life through music and dance. Jeff Award-winning choreographer William Carlos Angulo brings dance to life in the round, with musical direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson.

Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical IN THE HEIGHTS will delight Cincinnati audiences this winter at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park beginning Jan. 19, 2019. The Broadway hit, which won four Tony Awards including best musical and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, runs through Feb. 17, 2019. Official opening night is Jan. 24, 2019.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents In the Heights, the 2008 Tony Award winner for Best Musical by Hamilton creator Lin Manuel Miranda in the Quadracci Powerhouse through October 28, 2018. Check out the cast in action below!

The Guthrie Theater (Joseph Haj, artistic director) proudly announced the cast and creative team for the theater's summer musical, West Side Story. Directed by Haj, this major revival of a timeless classic will play June 16 - August 26, 2018, on the Wurtele Thrust Stage. Single tickets for West Side Story start at $15 for preview performances (June 16-21) and are on sale now through the Box Office at 612.377.2224, 877.44.STAGE (toll-free), 612.225.6244 (group sales) and online at guthrietheater.org.

Last week in the cozy intimate space of Yellow Tree Theatre, in a strip mall in Osseo, I saw a world premiere new play that's unlike anything I've seen before. As someone who sees a lot of theater (and I mean a lot), that's a rare occurrence. While playwright Jayme McGhan's STILL DANCE THE STARS reminds me a little of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical NEXT TO NORMAL, in that it deals with parents grieving the loss of a child in different (and sometimes hallucinatory) ways, the storytelling is completely unique, combining very real and natural dialogue, fantastical dream sequences in which stuffed animals come to life, dance, and music to tell a heart-wrenching and heart-warming story of grief, love, and family. It's a great choice of play for Yellow Tree, my favorite theater in the 'burbs, and the cast and creative team do a beautiful job of bringing the play to life with all of its humor, grace, silliness, and beauty.

Victoria Theatre Association opens the 2017-2018 Premier Health Broadway Series with Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony Award-winning musical, IN THE HEIGHTS, Oct. 2-8 at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.

First-time producer Perspectives Theater Company is proud to announce its debut production STRANGER, playing at the 2017 Minnesota Fringe Festival. Memory, history, text and ritual entangle three strangers (Fernanda Badeo, Ricardo Beaird, Gabrielle Dominique) in a sprawling, modern epic, summoning the immense joy, messiness and struggle of being seen at the intersection of race and faith. A fresh and exciting reinterpretation of the book of Exodus, STRANGER explores the lives of Jewish people of color seeking to define their identity, community and faith.

West Side StoryThe Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is presenting West Side Story now through April 16. Click below to watch highlights from the show!

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is presenting West Side Story now through April 16. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is excited to present West Side Story, April 4-16.

Minneapolis Musical Theatre (MMT) concludes its 2015-2016 season with LEAP OF FAITH makings its area debut April 29-May 22, 2016 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre.

Minneapolis Musical Theatre (MMT) concludes its 2015-2016 season with LEAP OF FAITH makings its area debut April 29-May 22, 2016 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre.

At first glance, the musicals THE COLOR PURPLE, CALVIN BERGER, and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES may not seem to have much in common. The settings couldn't be more different - the rural South in the early 20th century, a modern day high school, and a drag club in 1970s France. But since I happened to see them all on the same weekend, I couldn't help but draw parallels between them. All three musicals all speak to themes of beauty, identity, self-worth, and having the courage to be who you really are, despite what the world is telling you. In THE COLOR PURPLE, a young, poor, black woman is told that she's ugly and worthless, but after a lifelong journey she arrives at a place of strength and self-love. CALVIN BERGER sets the classic play Cyrano de Bergerac in a modern high school, where a young man feels that his large nose prevents him from getting what he wants in life and chooses to hide behind the handsome popular guy, both of whom eventually learn it's better to be loved for who you are. Finally, in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, a middle aged man who feels more comfortable dressed as a woman is asked by his own son to hide who he is, but confidently declares 'I am who I am!' Another thing these three musicals have in common is that they can all currently be seen on Twin Cities stages featuring talented local casts. Read on for more details on each, pick one that suits your fancy, and go see a local musical that just may inspire you to love you you really are!

Calvin Berger, a modern, musical comedy about a boy, a girl...and a nose, based loosely on the timeless classic Cyrano de Bergerac and set in high school, makes its area premiere in a Minneapolis Musical Theatre (MMT) production running tonight, January 23, through February 15, 2015 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre.

Calvin Berger, a modern, musical comedy about a boy, a girl...and a nose, based loosely on the timeless classic Cyrano de Bergerac and set in high school, makes its area premiere in a Minneapolis Musical Theatre (MMT) production running January 23-February 15, 2015 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre. With book, music and lyrics by the award-winning Barry Wyner, Calvin Berger is directed by Joshua James Campbell working with MMT's new artistic director, Christian Unser. Local actor Gregory Adam stars as Calvin, returning to MMT after his scene-stealing turn as the sexy and conniving Raoul in the recent production of Eating Raoul.

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.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) has announced it will be producing the Midwest Premiere of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID. Based on the beloved, best-selling Disney animated feature Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID will make its Main Stage premiere in 2014. The production will enjoy previews from February 28th through March 6th, 2014 with its grand opening taking place Friday, March 7th 2014.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres brings its audiences a fresh rendition of a musical classic never before seen on the Main Stage with BYE BYE BIRDIE. It is currently running through March 30, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres brings its audiences a fresh rendition of a musical classic never before seen on the Main Stage with BYE BYE BIRDIE. It is currently running through March 30, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights from the show below.