Art Hounds: Ibsen, 'Fantasticks' and flamenco

This week on Art Hounds: An Ibsen comedy, "The Fantasticks" and a flamenco tribute to "Lorca's Women."

Paul Coate is going to check out Nautilus Music-Theater's production of the musical "The Fantasticks." While the show in itself is a charmer (the original production ran for 42 years off Broadway), Coate is particularly interested in the casting: The young lovers are played by local theater veterans Gary Briggle and Wendy Lehr, and their fathers are played by the much younger Christina Baldwin and Jennifer Baldwin-Peden. Coate says it's a smart idea in part because Briggle and Lehr are so young at heart. Performances run through April 19.

Sarah Baskett says the town of Lanesboro is getting ready for Commonweal Theatre's annual Ibsen Festival. This year the theater will perform Ibsen's only comedy, "The League of Youth," about a political candidate who will do anything to be elected. The festival, which runs April 15-17, also features an exhibition of work by political cartoonist Kevin Siers and lots of Scandinavian treats.

Poet Richard Broderick first encountered flamenco while traveling through Spain as a teenager, and he was immediately hooked. He follows the work of local dance troupe Zorongo Flamenco closely, and is particularly excited for its next performance: "Lorca's Women," inspired by the poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca. Broderick says both Lorca and flamenco hold a deep respect for feminine power and intensity. Performances run Friday through Sunday at Cowles Center for Dance.