State of the Arts Blog

Cube Critics: Tom Hank’s ‘Captain Phillips’ is a thrill ride
  This week on the radio, Euan praises “Captain Phillips” as a remarkable thriller, and Stephanie heaps equally lavish praise on “Blue Caprice.”   “Cube Critics” was created and produced by Chris Roberts. “The Cube Critics” theme was written by Chris Roberts and produced by Marc Sanchez. Music performed by Marc Sanchez and Chris Roberts.
Minneapolis vocal ensemble VocalEssence has had to move the first concert of its 45th season out of the newly remodeled Orchestra Hall, thanks to the ongoing lockout of the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra. The concert, titled “There Was a Child,” is being moved to Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis to respect the union obligations Read more →
The reviews are in for Ordway’s ‘Miss Saigon’
“Miss Saigon” opened Tuesday night at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts while hundreds gathered across the street to protest. The Broadway musical tells the story of an American G.I. and a young Vietnamese girl who fall in love at the end of the Vietnam War. Some call the musical a romance in the Read more →
‘Miss Saigon’ protest draws hundreds
More than 200 protesters took over Rice Park Tuesday night to demonstrate against the opening of the musical “Miss Saigon” at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts.
In his words: trumpeter Steve Kenny laments end of the Artists’ Quarter
Editor’s note: With the news that the Artists’ Quarter in St. Paul will shut its doors at the end of the year, we asked trumpeter Steve Kenny, a member of the acclaimed Twin Cities ensemble The Illicit Sextet to reflect on the club’s legacy and its troubles — and what its closing means for jazz Read more →
A sneak peek at the Northrop
  The Northrop Auditorium is a place which evokes strong emotion. Since the 1920s the sheer size of University of Minnesota performing space has left visitors in awe, even before they were exposed to the talents of the Minnesota Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera, a myriad of dance troupes that included Merce Cunningham. the Northrup also has hosted Read more →
By Adam Chau I’m a Vietnamese-American, adopted out of South Vietnam in 1973. I have called the Twin Cities my home for the last 20 years. I am part of a community of color being told, in effect, that it shouldn’t be offended by the production of “Miss Saigon” headed for the Ordway Center this Read more →