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26 August 2009 9:17 AM

Ivey Awards to Celebrate Minneapolis Theater

Ivey Awards Minneapolis theater State Theater

So, it’s become pretty apparent that Minneapolis is hot on the theater scene. With the wrap up of The Kushner Celebration at the Guthrie plus the forthcoming arrival of Mary Poppins at the Orpheum Theatre, we kind of have that theatrical-powerhouse-of-the-Midwest thing down. (Selling the most theater tickets per capita outside of NYC helps, too).

Monday, September 21 at the State Theatre, you can get in on the action. The Ivey Awards , a 2009 celebration of the best professional theater in Minneapolis Saint Paul, will feature a red carpet, glitz, glamour and some of the year’s best performers and performances taking the stage.

Plus, there’s oodles of fun to be had at the event’s pre- and post parties. A VIP event will take place before the celebration at the W Hotel, with catering by Manny’s and The Capital Grille, while the post party goes down in LaSalle Plaza.

Who will be honored? Who will heat up the red carpet? Buy your tickets now [www.iveyawards.com] to secure your spot in the crowd.

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19 August 2009 12:11 PM

Find the Coens at the Walker

coen brothers raising cain a regis dialogue and retrospective the walker art center

One Minneapolis event I’m looking forward to is the month-long Coen-in at the Walker Art Center, named Joel and Ethan Coen: Raising Cain A Regis Dialogue and Retrospective. It’s the 25th anniversary of the duo’s first movie, Blood Simple and the fest will more or less coincide with the release of the duo’s 14th movie, A Serious Man, which was recently filmed in the Minneapolis Saint Paul area (and recently extra-ed by not one but TWO of my family members).

The event’s centerpiece is the Regis Dialogue, featuring Joel and Ethan Coen in the flesh, on Friday, September 25 (8 pm). You must be a member of the Walker to even be in the running to score a ($100) ticket, however.

But… never worry, the film retrospective is lengthy (September 18 – October 17) and open for all, featuring all 13 of the Coen’s movies, with favorites like Raising Arizona, Fargo, O Brother, Where Art Thou? and The Big Lebowski running two nights each.

Tickets are $8 for each movie, although you can score on a “Ceinephile’s Special” where you can see 5 films for the price of 3 ($24). Find a list of showings and times here [calendar.walkerart.org].

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11 August 2009 12:39 PM

Minneapolis Nice

Minneapolis Minnesota Nice Minneapolis Star Tribune

It's always good to hear that your city is well-loved by visitors. A recent Letter to the Editor in the Star Tribune gushed about "Minnesota Nice." After a week-long trip to a much bigger city, I share the sentiment. Take a look:

MINNESOTA NICE
A Delaware traveler finds it's the real deal
To the people of Minneapolis and St. Paul: I recently visited your great cities and found the residents to be delightfully warm, friendly and hospitable.

I'd been told of something called "Minnesota Nice." Not sure what it means, but please continue to keep the charm. I felt welcomed and hated to leave. We could learn something here in the East about random kindness to strangers and neighbors.
--GREG COY, Willmington, Delaware

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30 July 2009 12:26 PM

Ella does the Guthrie and the MCC

ella ella fitzgerald minneapolis the guthrie theater the minneapolis convention center

This past week, I was fortunate enough to get a ticket to the premiere of Ella at the Guthrie. The show is a kind of biography of Ella Fitzgerald, told by the performer (played by Guthrie first-timer Tina Fabrique) as she prepares for and performs a night’s show abroad.

I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t know much about the life of the “First Lady of Song.” Indeed, the play’s format is perfect for those who may only know her through her repetoire. The entire play takes place on stage, as Ella either rehearses or performs. In-between takes, she reminisces about her childhood, the beginning of her career and her relationships with friends, lovers and her son.

The set is marvelous, transforming perfectly with the unfolding of Ella’s story. Additionally, the band accompanying her, who compose all the other actors in the play (minus one, Ella’s manager), is simply sensational. Of particular note is Ron Haynes, the trumpeter/Louis Armstrong impersonator.

You can get a sneak peak (or listen) of Fabrique’s Ella and the band here [www.guthrietheater.org].

If you won’t be able to make the show (running now through September 6), you’re in luck. Ella company members Joilet F. Harris (Ella understudy) and George Caldwell (Ella Pianist role) are billed to host two hour-long casual lunchtime music events at the MCC--Minneapolis Convention Center [www.minneapolisconventioncenter.com]. They’ll highlight some of the best pieces from Ms. Fitz’s soundbook.

Do join! The lunchtime song hours are scheduled for Wednesday August 5 and Wednesday August 12, from noon to 1 pm. Where? Inside the Minneapolis Convention Center [www.minneapolisconventioncenter.com] at the Dunn Bros. Café.

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