By: Play off the Page on September 30, 2012 - 1:54pm - Add new comment
I would like to thank Michelle Woster for inviting me to view and review "Measure for Measure", by Ten Thousand Things Theater. They are a theater company that takes the show on the road, performing at prisons, shelters, housing projects, remote rural locations, and accessible venues. (They have hopes of coming to the Brainerd area next year.) They keep the set and props simple and representative, making it easy to set up their "stage" wherever they go. We walked into the performance space at The Open Book, downtown Minneapolis, where the chairs were set for theater in the round.
By: Play off the Page on October 17, 2012 - 8:34am - Add new comment
Minnesota Poet Laureate Joyce Sutphen visited the Brainerd lakes area as the guest presenter for The League of Minnesota Poets' conference on Saturday, October 13, 2012. She gave a public reading of her poetry at Central Lakes College in the evening. Three local musicians, Sarah Yeh, Anja Smith, and Sophie Stubbs provided lovely music to set the mood for this event. Special thanks to Krista Rolfzen Soukup, of Blue Cottage Agency, for coordinating this event.
By: Play off the Page on October 24, 2012 - 7:22am - Add new comment
Award-winning author Candace Simar visited with me about her fourth book in her Abercrombie Trail series, "Blooming Prairie." The journey starts with Evan Jacobson in "Abercrombie Trail", a Norwegian immigrant in the mid-1800's, who lands in Minnesota. He takes the job of stagecoach driver. Candace uses this as an excellent story-telling tool as Evan drives over the newly settled land from Fort Snelling to Fort Abercrombie, meeting and greeting settlers along the way, as well as befriending some of the Indians, while fearing for his life from others, Indians and settlers.
By: Play off the Page on January 15, 2013 - 8:01am - Add new comment
Paint to Music at Glaze 2 Amaze, Thursday, January 24 from 6:30-8:00 pm. Joy Ciaffoni and Mary Aalgaard, who have started the Primo Art Spa to assist artists in the area, will be performing live music while you paint a plate and find out what kind of music brings out your red, blue, lemon, or your spice. Using a plate as a palate, you will create art that serves up memory, emotion, and delicious inspiration. You can use it as a plate for special occasions, a gift, or a memory piece for someone you love. Glaze 2 Amaze is located at 706 Laurel Street in Brainerd.
By: Play off the Page on January 20, 2013 - 8:48pm - Add new comment
When you go to see "Pinocchio" at the Children's Theatre in Minneapolis, you might think that they aren't ready for you, yet. The set is paint cloths and scaffolding, with buckets and brushes lying around. The actors are in work clothes and seem distracted until you arrive with your energy and eagerness to watch them tell a story. They look at you. They listen to your cries to tell the story, and they hear you taking in your breath as the magic unfolds. They hear your giggles and encourage you to help Pinocchio on his way.
By: Play off the Page on February 13, 2013 - 11:02am - Add new comment
"The Biggest Little House in the Forest" is a puppet show that invites in even the youngest theatre fans. From babies to Grandparents, the show delights kids of all ages. When you enter the theatre, you are given the chance to wear sock puppets on your feet and slide on into the performance. Autumn Ness keeps the energy and story alive as she tells the tale of Bernice the Butterfly and how she welcomes all her new friends into her home.
By: Play off the Page on February 14, 2013 - 2:58pm - Add new comment
"Buzzer" written by Tracey Scott Wilson and directed by Marion McClinton is a Pillsbury House production currently playing at the Dowling Studio at The Guthrie Theater. "Buzzer" is a contemporary play set in urban America. It has mature themes and adult language and pulls you in from the opening sentence. The characters feel like people you already know and as you're watching, you feel like you are inside the apartment ready to join in on the conversation. I give the director, Marion McClinton, credit for how well the characters interact with each other and the audience.
By: Play off the Page on March 11, 2013 - 7:08pm - Add new comment
Yellow Fever by R.A. Shiomi is a detective mystery set in Vancouver, Canada in the early 1970's. It has all the elements of a great film noir style detective show. Private Detective Sam Shikaze is called upon to help solve the disappearance of Miss Lilly from the annual Cherry Blossom festival. The characters are lively and colorful and all work smootly to carry the plot along. Soulful jazz slides us from scene to scene as Detective Shikaze narrates the story, and the supporting cast brings the actions and emotions to life.
By: Play off the Page on April 1, 2013 - 9:17am - Add new comment
If you are reading this, then you are a blog reader. If you write a blog, you are a blogger. If you enter a challenge like the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge, you're really into writing and reading blogs and willing to "jump on the crazy bus" to get yourself and your words out there. You can read more about the A to Z blogging challenge at, http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/, and chose from a long list of blogs to start reading. Bloggers have any theme you can imagine, and more.You can say hello to the founder of the challenge, Arlee Bird at his blog, http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/.
By: Play off the Page on May 9, 2013 - 8:49pm - Add new comment
"Anything Goes" is a sweet escape on a luxury liner of music, dance, and romance. This classic musical by Cole Porter, is playing at The Ordway in St. Paul, May 7-12, 2013. The pure theatrical delight of "Anything Goes", particularly it's title number, are the talk of the town (state, and every stop along the tour). Imagine, the gorgeous actors singing and tap-dancing to this classic song to a packed house night after night and receiving thunderous applause. They are stunning, the acting superb, every detail glimmers of classic musical theatre. What a treat to see this show.
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