Linda Talcott News

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) presents the back-by-popular-demand production of Cinderella.  This rambunctious musical originally created by CTC brings together the heart-warming, classic story of Cinderella's transformation, a Victorian Christmas party with lavish period costumes, grandiose sets and holiday carols, with brand-new, clever pop culture references, shameless physical comedy, audience participation, and gut-busting gags. 

For nearly 60 years, the University of Minnesota has been presenting a summer melodrama on a docked showboat on the Mississippi River, currently across from downtown St. Paul. The Minnesota Centennial Showboat was christened in 1958, as those who know their Minnesota history could guess. The first show was UNDER THE GASLIGHT, which returns this summer for their last season at the Showboat. While this is only the second U of M show I've seen at the Showboat, I'm sad that it was my last. The creative team includes some of the top talent in town, and the cast is chock-full of talented young people that are the future of theater in this town. The melodrama is a fun, entertaining, and little-seen genre that encourages the audience to 'vocalize appropriately.' The Showboat is a unique and charming venue, and I hope that someone puts it to good use. Whether you've seen dozens of Showboat melodramas, or none, it would behoove you to board the Showboat one last time for this uniquely pleasing theatrical experience.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will present the audience favorite Cinderella, starring CTC Acting Company member Traci Allen Shannon in the title role. The entire CTC Acting Company stars as well with Reed Sigmund and Dean Holt playing Cinderella's stepsisters, Dorcas and Pearl, Autumn Ness playing the Stepmother, and Gerald Drake playing Lord High Chamberlain. CTC's 15/16 Performing Apprentice China Brickey will perform as the fairy godmother. David L. Murray,Jr (upcoming Theater Latte Da's Ragtime) will debut at CTC as Prince Eric.

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.

The Guthrie Theater presents My Fair Lady, the hummable, quotable, utterly enjoyable musical for the whole family. Playing for the first time at the Guthrie, under the direction of Joe Dowling, My Fair Lady will feature Helen Anker as Eliza Doolittle, Tony Sheldon as Colonel Pickering, Donald Corren as Alfred P. Doolittle - all in their Guthrie debuts - and Jeff McCarthy as Professor Henry Higgins. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

The Guthrie Theater presents My Fair Lady, the hummable, quotable, utterly enjoyable musical for the whole family. Playing for the first time at the Guthrie, under the direction of Joe Dowling, My Fair Lady will feature Helen Anker as Eliza Doolittle, Tony Sheldon as Colonel Pickering, Donald Corren as Alfred P. Doolittle - all in their Guthrie debuts - and Jeff McCarthy as Professor Henry Higgins. Performances began on the Wurtele Thrust Stage on Saturday, June 28, with an opening slated for tonight, July 4, 2014.

The Guthrie Theater today announced casting for the production of My Fair Lady, the hummable, quotable, utterly enjoyable musical for the whole family. Playing for the first time at the Guthrie, under the direction of Joe Dowling, My Fair Lady will feature Helen Anker as Eliza Doolittle, Tony Sheldon as Colonel Pickering, Donald Corren as Alfred P. Doolittle - all in their Guthrie debuts - and Jeff McCarthy as Professor Henry Higgins. Performances begin on the Wurtele Thrust Stage on Saturday, June 28. Single tickets start at $28 and are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

Theater Latte Da previously announced that a season of four adventures in musical storytelling and the continuation of a major new work development program will comprise its 16th Season. Slated for production are Steerage Song at The Lab Theater (today, September 25 - October 20, 2013), All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 at the Pantages Theatre (December 19-22, 2013), Cabaret at the Pantages Theatre (January 15 - February 9, 2014), and Our Town at The Lab Theater (March 12 - April 6, 2014). In spring 2014, the company will bring back NEXT: New Musicals in the Making, their program to develop new works for the musical theater canon.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres will host VOICES FOR HOPE: A Musical Benefit for the Carl Lee Family on its Fireside Stage this evening, July 29th.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres will host VOICES FOR HOPE: A Musical Benefit for the Carl Lee Family on its Fireside Stage on Monday evening, July 29th.

Theater Latte Da announced yesterday that a season of four adventures in musical storytelling and the continuation of a major new work development program will comprise its 16th Season. Slated for production are Steerage Song at The Lab Theater (September 25 - October 20, 2013), All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 at the Pantages Theatre (December 19-22, 2013), Cabaret at the Pantages Theatre (January 15 - February 9, 2014), and Our Town at The Lab Theater (March 12 - April 6, 2014). In spring 2014, the company will bring back NEXT: New Musicals in the Making, their program to develop new works for the musical theater canon.

Currently onstage at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis is the period musical spectacular Roman Holiday. Based on the iconic film, the show features the music of Cole Porter, including hits like 'Easy to Love,' 'Begin the Beguine,' 'Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye' and 'Riding High', in addition to rarely heard gems that fit perfectly into the story. The production began preview performances on June 9 and opens tonight, June 15. The run is scheduled to continue through August 19 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage. Guthrie Artistic Producing Artistic Director John Miller-Stephany helms.

Stephanie Rothenberg leads the cast of Roman Holiday as Princess Anne-a radiant young woman in Rome on a widely publicized European tour who sneaks away from her royal duties to explore the city. Rothenberg recently made her Broadway debut stepping into the role of Rosemary in the Tony-nominated revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Edward Watts plays Joe Bradley-a handsome, crafty American newspaper reporter who charms the princess. Watts most recently appeared in the long-running production of The Fantasticks in New York City. Check out photos of the cast in action below!

Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella" has played three performances at the Ordway and officially opens tonight.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella" has played three performances at the Ordway and officially opens tonight.

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts announces the full cast and creative team for its holiday production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Cinderella,' which features numerous Twin Cities theater favorites. Rehearsals for 'Cinderella' start November 17 and the production will run from December 13, 2011 to January 1, 2012 on the Ordway stage for a total of 23 performances.

Skylark Opera presents two all-time favorite music theater masterpieces - THE VAGABOND KING and ON THE TOWN - during its fourth annual Summer Festival. The productions will be staged in repertory from June 10-19 at E.M. Pearson Theatre, 312 N. Hamline Ave., St. Paul.

Ordway's own production of Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' highlights local cast, local creative collaborations and a full night of joyous cheer this holiday season during its three-week run from December 15, 2009 - January 3, 2010.