Art Hounds: Pirates, poetry and a roller derby queen

Theater artist Dan Pinkerton recommends Transatlantic Love Affair's latest production, "The Privateer."

Based on a true story, it follows a wealthy New Yorker who decides to become a pirate, and the both comic and tragic events that ensue. TLA specializes in physical theater, creating pirate ships and swordfights out of thin air. "The Privateer" runs through Nov. 18 at Illusion Theater in Minneapolis.

Composer Emily Youngdahl Wright has become charmed by "Interesting People Reading Poetry," a podcast out of Montevideo, Minn. Created by brothers Andy and Brendan Stermer, the podcast features non-poets reading and talking about their favorite poems.

Past episodes include Minneapolis Mayoral candidate Nekima Levy-Pounds discussing Maya Angelou, musician Gaelynn Lea reading e.e. cummings, and comedian Mary Mack talking about Roald Dahl. Wright says her favorite part is the "Haiku Hotline," in which people call up to share their original haiku.

Theater artist Candace Barrett is looking forward to "Roller Derby Queen," an original production by S.O.S. Theater. The production revolves around mother-daughter relationships, aging and love. But Barrett says what impresses her most is how the show came to be.

Playwright Michelle Lepsche was so compelled by the story in her head that she learned playwriting and formed a theater company just to make it happen. Lepsche says, "Once Florence rose from my unconscious, she badgered me daily to tell her story. I just wanted to make her happy so she would leave me alone." Shows run Nov. 10 through 26 at Gremlin Theater in St. Paul.