'Wimpy Kid' and other arts events not to be missed this weekend

David Rosenthal as Rowley and Ricky Falbo as Greg
David Rosenthal as Rowley and Ricky Falbo as Greg in the Children's Theater Company's world premiere production of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the Musical."
Dan Norman | Children's Theater Company

Wimpy kids grow up so fast

If you give a Wimpy Kid a Minneapolis premiere, he's going to ask for a Broadway hit. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical," now in production at Children's Theatre, is proving itself a popular heir to the mega-popular "Wimpy Kid" line of books and movies. And the Kid's creator, Jeff Kinney, makes no secret that he'd like this show to have a shot at the big time. "I think most people would hope that their play would go on to Broadway and to be successful," he told Euan Kerr. "I mean, that would be something." At Children's Theatre in Minneapolis, with a run just extended through June 12.

Reason to go: You should see the show before Broadway ruins it.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

A few additional theater notes

"Constellations" at The Jungle Theater
Anna Sundberg and Ron Menzel star in "Constellations" at The Jungle Theater.
Dan Norman | The Jungle Theater

But before you see "Wimpy Kid," hustle over to the Ritz in northeast Minneapolis. This weekend is your last chance to see "C.," a splendid musical adaptation of the Cyrano de Bergerac story dreamed up by Bradley Greenwald and performed by him and Theater Latte Da. ... At the Jungle, the parallel-universe love story "Constellations" is well worth seeing, both for the talents of the two-person cast (Anna Sundberg and Ron Menzel) and for the smart and compelling script. And it confines itself to one act, performed in 85 minutes with no intermission. That's a blessing in this universe, with its babysitters who have to be taken home and dogs that need to be let out. It continues through the end of May. ... The science on parallel universes is better than the science on giant rabbits, but even so, "Harvey" is highly entertaining, and it has about two weeks left in its run at the Guthrie. ... Meanwhile, Theatre in the Round opens "The House of Blue Leaves" this weekend in Minneapolis.

Where ballet meets band music

James Sewell Ballet
James Sewell Ballet
Courtesy of Emma Freeman

Maybe you're in a relationship with someone who doesn't enjoy dance and especially doesn't like ballet. Before you give up on that person, give the James Sewell Ballet a shot. It's a company that takes an inventive and wry approach to its art, and seems flatly uninterested in doing what you've seen before. This weekend, for example, it continues its spring show with "Band It," in which ballet meets band music. Yes, band music, as in high school band music, courtesy the Edina High School band. There will also be hover boards and giant inflatable balls. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at the Cowles Center in Minneapolis.

Reason to go: Hover boards!

Party with the Rose Ensemble

The Rose Ensemble
The Rose Ensemble.
Courtsey of Michael Haug

The Rose Ensemble concludes its 20th season with a program that should appeal to early-music fans: Byrd, Purcell, Bach, Handel and more, plus the world premiere of a commissioned piece by Minnesota composer Carol Barnett. It's the Roses' first performance in the Ordway Concert Hall in St. Paul, and it comes sandwiched between a pre-concert brunch and a post-concert party. Or you can just attend the concert, at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Reason to go: The Rose Ensemble's sheer artistry.

The National Lutheran Choir at 30

The National Lutheran Choir
The National Lutheran Choir.
Courtesy of Stephen Geffre

Oh, this is awkward — besides the Rose Ensemble, another superb choral organization is celebrating a major birthday this weekend. The National Lutheran Choir is concluding its 30th season with a concert titled "The Minnesota Tradition." Under the leadership of David Cherwien, the choir will tackle the work of F. Melius Chistiansen, the founding father of choral music in Minnesota, as well as some of the founding uncles who followed him — names like Kenneth Jennings, Rene Clausen and Cherwien himself. At 7:30 p.m. Friday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Northfield and 4 p.m. Sunday at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.

Reason to go: You live in Minnesota.