Kersten Rodau News

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts will continue the popular Broadway Songbook series April 17-18 with Broadway Songbook: Rock & Roll on Broadway. Tickets are $37 and can be purchased online at www.ordway.org, by phone at 651-224-4222 or in person at the Ordway ticket office.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is excited to present its 2014 holiday show, A Christmas Story, the Musical. The Ordway-produced musical comedy will run Nov. 29-Dec. 28, 2014, for a total of 36 performances. Tickets are available now and can be purchased online at www.ordway.org, by phone at 651-224-4222 or in person at the Ordway ticket office.

My tiny companion, Mia (she's 5-years-old) is sitting in a chair, staring intently at the stage-as she does when she's completely engaged-watching Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's regional premiere of THE LITTLE MERMAID. And just like that, I knew that no matter how I felt, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's THE LITTLE MERMAID was a success.

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.

Nestled in the Lowertown area of Saint Paul Nautilus Music-Theater is producing a beautiful production of a little known musical, Ordinary Days. Its a hidden gem of a musical and put composer/lyricist Adam Gwon on the theatre map in New York City. Ordinary Days tells the story of four New Yorkers Claire (Kersten Rodau), Jason (Doug Scholz-Carlson), Deb (Jill Anna Ponasik) and Warren (Max Wojtanowicz) as they navigate the streets of New York City and discover who they truly are.

John Command (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) returns to the Jungle to direct URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL, the Tony-nominated satirical musical comedy. Described as one of the most uproariously funny musicals in recent years, Urinetown is a mocking tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. Starring Bradley Greenwald (as Officer Lockstock) and boasting the largest cast ever assembled on the Jungle stage (20+ actors and musicians), Urinetown will open June 7 and run through August 11, 2013.

The Ordway will say farewell to the McKnight Theatre in grand style tonight, April 28 at 7:30 pm, in a special performance called, 'The Night of a Million Stars.' The concert production will highlight area artists and feature musical pieces from productions previously held in the McKnight Theatre.

James Rocco is the vice president of programming and producing artistic director of the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in Saint Paul, Minn. He is also the director, host and a performer in the Ordway's latest edition of BROADWAY SONGBOOK, this time, focusing on American musical theatre master, Cole Porter. I recently sat down to learn about James, the BROADWAY SONGBOOK: Cole Porter and what's next for the theatre.

The Ordway will say farewell to the McKnight Theatre in grand style on Sunday, April 28 at 7:30 pm, in a special performance called, "The Night of a Million Stars." The concert production will highlight area artists and feature musical pieces from productions previously held in the McKnight Theatre.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts presents its second installment of the popular Broadway Songbook Series for the 2012-2013 Theater Season, 'The Words and Music of Stephen Sondheim,' tonight, Jan. 18-27 in the Ordway's McKnight Theatre. This three-event series highlights the lives, histories and stories of musical theater legends.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts presents its second installment of the popular Broadway Songbook Series for the 2012-2013 Theater Season, 'The Words and Music of Stephen Sondheim,' Jan. 18-27 in the Ordway's McKnight Theatre. This three-event series highlights the lives, histories and stories of musical theater legends.

The North Carolina Symphony whisks its audience away to the City of Love in a Summerfest finale to remember. Conductor Mischa Santora, vocalists Robb Asklof and Kersten Rodau, guitarist Robert Bell and accordionist Patrick Harison all join the orchestra for a colorful concert event, "A Night in Paris."

The North Carolina Symphony whisks its audience away to the City of Love in a Summerfest finale to remember. Conductor Mischa Santora, vocalists Robb Asklof and Kersten Rodau, guitarist Robert Bell and accordionist Patrick Harison all join the orchestra for a colorful concert event, "A Night in Paris."

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts presents its final event in inaugural 2011-2012 season of the popular Broadway Songbook Series, "The Words and Music of Johnny Mercer," April 13-15 in the Ordway's McKnight Theatre. This three-event series, made possible with the support of executive producers David and Mary Choate, highlights the lives, histories, and stories of musical theater legends. The Broadway Songbook Series has been so successful that the Ordway has added an additional matinee performance to this program on Saturday, April 14 at 2 p.m.

Journey back to turn-of-the-century America, where Scott Joplin's ragtime music fills the air with an infectious beat. Ragtime: the Musical, weaves a spellbinding story of three families whose lives collide against the backdrop of New York in 'the American Century'-a white family living the privileged life in New Rochelle, a disillusioned Jewish immigrant bent on achieving success, and a handsome young black piano man courting the woman he loves.

Journey back to turn-of-the-century America, where Scott Joplin's ragtime music fills the air with an infectious beat. Ragtime: the Musical, weaves a spellbinding story of three families whose lives collide against the backdrop of New York in 'the American Century'-a white family living the privileged life in New Rochelle, a disillusioned Jewish immigrant bent on achieving success, and a handsome young black piano man courting the woman he loves.

Journey back to turn-of-the-century America, where Scott Joplin's ragtime music fills the air with an infectious beat. Ragtime: the Musical, weaves a spellbinding story of three families whose lives collide against the backdrop of New York in 'the American Century'-a white family living the privileged life in New Rochelle, a disillusioned Jewish immigrant bent on achieving success, and a handsome young black piano man courting the woman he loves.