MN Shortlist

Minnesota Shortlist is your weekly curated roundup of recommended arts events from MPR News, highlighting standout theater and music performances, exhibits and gatherings around the region.

MN Shortlist: Slow Burns & Bright Lights — 6 Picks for Nov. 21–27
As parade season kicks in and the evenings arrive early, this week’s picks offer a mix of music, theater and small-scale surprises. From Duluth’s gingerbread “city” to a new festival of collaborative work in Minneapolis, here are six solid ways to make the most of the week ahead.
MN Shortlist: From vinyl to verse — seven picks for Nov. 14–20
From Tom Waits’s 35mm fever dream to a queer book fair, dance theater and open studios, this week’s MN Shortlist rounds up the art, sounds and stories worth stepping out into the chill for.
MN Shortlist: Light, sound and sleuthing — 6 picks for Nov. 7–13
Immersive light shows, symphonic rap, murder mysteries and a hometown folk revival — this week’s picks span from a glowing Basilica to backroom guitars.
MN Shortlist: From the Fitzgerald to Transexual, Transylvania  — 9 picks for Oct. 31 to Nov. 6
As October gives way to November, the Twin Cities lean into transformation — through ritual, remembrance and a little rock ‘n’ roll. From the fiery puppetry of Barebones to the haunting harmonies of “Carmina Burana” at the Fitzgerald, it’s a week where art and afterlife mingle freely.
MN Shortlist: Songs, stories and spells — six picks for Oct. 25–29
A weekly lineup of standout arts and culture happenings, handpicked by the MPR News team for those who like their weekends with a little extra spark. From indie pop hauntings to living memory onstage, this week hums with art that lingers long after the lights go down.
MN Shortlist, Oct. 3-9: Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' at Cine Latino and more
MN Shortlist is your weekly curated roundup of recommended arts events from MPR News, this week featuring a Bloody Mary festival, the art of Puerto Rico and its diaspora and more!
MN Shortlist, Sept. 26-Oct. 2: Ibsen at the Guthrie and more
Minnesota Shortlist is your weekly curated roundup of recommended arts events from MPR News, this week including “Jlin: Permutation of Three” at Walker Art Center and “Learning from Place: 100 Years of Mexican American Culture on St. Paul’s West Side.”
MN Shortlist, Sept. 19-25: Trixie Mattel at Avant Garden and more
Minnesota Shortlist is your weekly curated roundup of recommended arts events from MPR News, this week including dance from Ananya Dance Theatre, French literature and crop art at Farm Aid.