Summer Fun and Arts 2021: Theater and Dance
Jun. 13—Theater and dance performances stay outside for the summer — in parks, on a loading dock and even in a pickup truck.
'Volume One: The Odyssey' — opera in a pickup truck
Reservations open June 15: Mixed Precipitation, which usually does a picnic operetta, moved its show to the back of a pickup truck last summer for socially distant outdoor performances. The adaptation of Homer's Odyssey uses selections from Monteverdi's 1639 opera, Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria (The Return of Ulysses to his Homeland), told with the spirit of a country carnival. "Our production features a musical mix of baroque melodies and Dolly Parton tunes," says Mixed Precip's Scotty Reynolds. The pickup truck opera tours through October. For more info: mixedprecipitation.org.
Ordway Cabaret returns to the loading dock
June 18-27: When the Ordway couldn't stage shows indoors due to the pandemic, they took a cabaret out to the loading dock behind the theater last fall. They have a summer version set to go, with some of the Twin Cities top musical theater performers singing favorite showtunes. The performers are Reese Britts, Ruthanne Heyward, Tyler Michaels King and China Brickey. The songs are from "Fiddler on the Roof," "Beauty and the Beast," "An Officer and a Gentleman," "Waitress" and "Little Shop of Horrors." This time around, the cabaret will feature different special guests at each of the performances. For info: ordway.org.
A Midsummer Night's Dream awakens in parks
June 18-July 18: Classical Actors Ensemble is ready for a seventh season of Shakespeare in Our Parks with a production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The mischievous Puck will complicate love lives, fairy strife and play rehearsals in Shakespeare's most popular comedy. Performances will be at parks throughout the Twin Cities, from Crystal to Shafer, Lake of the Isles to Como Park. And they're free and non-ticketed. Online pre-registration recommended for weather updates. Donations are encouraged. More information is available at classicalactorsensemble.org.
On The Verge — Outdoor dance performance
June 19-20: Alternative Motion Project presents outdoor performances with composer/sound artist Dameun Strange as special guest at The Shed @ The Lab Brewery in St. Paul. "A cast of nine movers enter a turbulent world to experience the multiverse of limits, possibilities and connections of the body, space and identity." It's choreographed by Kristin Howe and Joanna Lees. Alternative Motion has been holding virtual events and creating films, but this is the company's first live show since canceling its ninth season performance in March 2020. For times and ticket info, go to alternativemotionproject.org.
'Twelfth Night' over two weekends
June 25-26 and July 2-3: Classics Lost 'n' Found Theater Company will present Shakespeare's twisty tale of multiple mistaken identities (OK, one of his tales of mistaken identities...), "Twelfth Night," in four performances over two weekends at Lake Nokomis Park in Minneapolis. Admission is by donation. For more info: classicslostnfoundtheatercompany.org.
'The Music Man' is back at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
Reopening July 2: The Wells Fargo Wagon will be comin' into town on the main stage of the Chanhassen Dinner Theaters in July. The musical "The Music Man" had been open just over a week when the shutdown in March 2020 forced the theater to go dark. Props, sets and costumes are still in place, according to the theater. In a review of the show when it opened, Pioneer Press critic Ross Raihala called it "a truly stunning show that plays to all the company's strengths." For tickets and info: chanhassendt.com.
ABT at the Arb
July 10-11: One of the top dance companies in the world, American Ballet Theatre, will perform at one of the most beautiful spots in state, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska. The performance and seating area will be outdoors on an open lawn, with seating divided into three zone prices. Audiences should bring their own chairs (unless you buy VIP tickets, which include a free chair to keep). In addition to seeing the performance, ticketholders get free parking and all-day admission to the arboretum. For info and tickets: northrop.umn.edu.
Illusion Theater goes live at Lyndale Gardens
July 14-Sept. 15: Illusion Theater is leaving its downtown Minneapolis home in the Cowles Center and moving to the Center for Performing Arts at 38th and Pleasant in Minneapolis. In the meantime, theater producing directors Bonnie Morris and Michael Robins have gathered some Illusion favorites and other Twin Cities performers — including Kevin Kling, Dan Chouinard, T. Mychael Rambo, Beth Gilleland, Black Table Arts, Malamanya, the Brass Messengers and Open Eye Theatre — for this free outdoor series at Lyndale Gardens in Richfield. Performances will be Wednesday nights, with two special family shows Saturday mornings. The schedule is at illusiontheater.org.
'Eurydice' with dance and fire outdoors
July 16-18: Vox Medusa and Infiammati FireCircus present "Eurydice" outdoors on Harriet Island in St. Paul. The production is "forged in music, dance, film and fire." This reimagining of the Orpheus myth from his mysterious wife's viewpoint of her harrowing journey will feature 20 performers and promises contemporary dance, original electronic music, spoken word, video and fire. For more info and tickets, go to the Vox Medusa Facebook page.
Minnesota Fringe Festival
Aug. 5-15: The 2021 Fringe will be a mix of online and live shows, according to the event website. Unlike previous years (in the Before Times — there was no Fringe in 2020) there are no set venues that will be managed by the festival. Producers were asked to select any location in the metro to stage their shows. There also was no lottery for submissions this year, so Fringe accepted all registrations. According to the Fringe website, the 2021 Minnesota Fringe Festival will feature 139 online and in-person shows. To see information as it's updated this summer, go to minnesotafringe.org.
