Randy Schmeling News

The Ordway's recent string of excellent locally produced Broadway sized musicals continues with the popular Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and it's fan-freakin-tastic. Unlike the Ordway's last original, WEST SIDE STORY, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is not one of my favorites; I've only seen it once before and never really listened to it. So I went into the show with mostly fresh eyes. I still think the piece is a bit weird, but there's something kinda fabulous about it. And the number one reason to see the show at the Ordway is this mostly local cast that is absolutely spectacular. The show is completely sung through, most of it at full volume, and everyone in the lead and featured roles just knocks it out of the park. And every member of the 30+ person ensemble (including several sweet-singing children) completely gives it their all. Notably, this cast is racially diverse (including an African American Jesus), a beautiful example of color-conscious casting by the Ordway.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is excited to present its 2016 holiday show, Irving Berlin's White Christmas. The Ordway-produced musical will run Dec. 8-31 for a total of 30 performances.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is excited to present its 2016 holiday show, Irving Berlin's White Christmas. The Ordway-produced musical will run Dec. 8-31 for a total of 30 performances.

Not often are we treated to a brand new musical theatre piece created by three local legends and acted by a dream cast of eight popular local performers. A NIGHT IN OLYMPUS is a rare treat on all counts. We get to hear directly from the creator and composer, Chan Poling, in this 6 Questions & a Plug.

In the newest work by the creators of the smash hit Glensheen, Chan Poling's rocking rhythms, Jeffrey Hatcher's wicked wit and Bill Corbett's zany imagination come together to create a headlong ride filled with silliness, surprises and good feeling fun. A NIGHT IN OLYMPUS, a fresh musical comedy and tale of transformation, opens tonight, May 7 at 8 p.m. at the Illusion Theater, located on the eighth floor of The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts, 528 Hennepin Ave. in downtown Minneapolis.

In the newest work by the creators of the smash hit Glensheen, Chan Poling's rocking rhythms, Jeffrey Hatcher's wicked wit and Bill Corbett's zany imagination come together to create a headlong ride filled with silliness, surprises and good feeling fun. A NIGHT IN OLYMPUS, a fresh musical comedy and tale of transformation, opens Saturday, May 7 at 8 p.m. at the Illusion Theater, located on the eighth floor of The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts, 528 Hennepin Ave. in downtown Minneapolis.

?They say that the more specific something is, the more universal it is. That's certainly the case with the new original musical ONLY ONE SOPHIE by Illusion Theater's Artistic Director Michael Robins. Based on the life of his grandmother, the musical tells a very specific story about an American family centered around a strong, independent, loving Russian Jewish immigrant woman. But this tale of love, grief, family, and memories is a universal one that brings to mind one's own family history and memories. The specifics may be different, but we all have family traditions and memories and, if we're lucky, a loving grandmother that will never be forgotten. ONLY ONE SOPHIE is a beautiful, funny, poignant, inspiring story brought to life through lovely original music (by Roberta Carlson) and a terrific eight-person cast. If you're interested in sweet, simple, heartfelt stories told musically, head down (or rather, up) to Illusion Theater's 8th floor stage in the Hennepin Center for the Arts between now and March 5.

The Illusion Theater presents the world premiere of Only One Sophie, an engaging musical inspired by Director Michael Robins' remarkable family history. Opening February 12, the new work will be on stage through March 5 at the downtown Minneapolis theater, located on the eighth floor of The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts, 528 Hennepin Ave.

This holiday season, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is excited to present Rodgers & Hammerstein's The Sound of Music, Dec. 10-Jan. 2. Tickets for the Ordway produced family classic start at $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 will continue its popular Broadway Songbook series this weekend, Oct. 9-11 with Broadway Songbook: The 70s Songbook. Tickets are $37 and can be purchased online at www.ordway.org, by phone at

James Rocco and the Ordway's BROADWAY SONGBOOK® series have been seen in this space many times before. Usually, the shows are a virtual musical theatre master class with a local slate of triple threats. This time is no exception but THE 70s SONGBOOK is a slightly different show, just as the decade was a slightly different musical theatre experience. Cue the Disco beat. (Or maybe not!)

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts will continue its popular Broadway Songbook series Oct. 9-11 with Broadway Songbook: The 70s Songbook. Tickets are $37 and can be purchased online at www.ordway.org, by phone at

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts will present The Pirates of Penzance, Aug. 4-16. Tickets for the Ordway produced musical comedy range from $36-$110 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 The Pirates of Penzance, Aug. 4-16. Tickets for the Ordway produced musical comedy range from $36-$110 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 has announced the complete casting for its much anticipated summer production of Damn Yankees. The Ordway-produced musical comedy runs June 16-28 for a total of 16 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 Ordway Center for the Performing Arts will continue the popular Broadway Songbook series this weekend, 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 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 is opening its fourth season of the BROADWAY SONGBOOK series with a retrospective of the first 100 years of Broadway. If you're like me, your first question is - when did Broadway begin? It's debatable, but Professor James Rocco - who presides over what feels like a college seminar on musical theater history with live show-and-tell by the Twin Cities' best musical theater performers - tells us that the beginning of Broadway can be marked by THE BLACK CROOK in 1866. This is just one of the things you'll learn in this BROADWAY SONGBOOK, but don't worry, it is anything but dry and pedantic. The stories are fascinating and entertaining (at least to a musical theater nerd like myself), James has chosen just the right collection of songs to illustrate his points, and music director Raymond Berg has beautifully arranged the songs, which are performed with much passion, emotion, and humor by the talented cast of actor/singer/dancers.

How do you pack 100 years of the American musical into a brief show? James Rocco may still be whittling it down but patrons at the latest BROADWAY SONGBOOK: THE FIRST 100 YEARS OF BROADWAY will soon find out, in Saint Paul and all over Minnesota, too.

This summer's Fresh Ink series gets a headstart June 29-30 with a special preview of a new musical theater production by Illusion's Producing Director Michael Robins and Composer Roberta Carlson. Then in July, the annual showcase brings together a performance celebrating Walt Whitman by Patrick Scully, the third play in a trilogy by James Still and a reading of some still-wet-on-the-page scripts by local playwrights.