Max Raabe, Tim Harmston, and something about a bear in northern Minnesota

This week, the golden age of American jazz as interpreted by a German orchestra, a gut busting Minneapolis comic, and a Russian fairy tale comes ferociously alive in a Minnesota forest.

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Twin Cities writer and bagpipe player Adam Kintopf appreciates how Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester have resurrected the timeless elegance of the 1920s and 30s with their re-interpretations of the dance hits from that bygone era. Raabe and his orchestra hail from Germany and are making their debut at the Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant on Sunday, April 7, at 6pm.

Twin Cities comedian Laura Thorne took it upon herself to end the severe comedy drought on Art Hounds and rave about the stylings of comedian Tim Harmston of Minneapolis. Laura says Tim is hysterically funny, a brilliant impressionist, and slaves like few others in the business to keep his material fresh and relevant. Tim will be at the Acme Comedy Club in Minneapolis April 9 - 13, as part of its "Slash and Burn" series. The series features four headlining comics who over the course of a week try to develop an entirely new set.

Carl Atiya Swanson says Theatre Novi Most will combine veteran acting chops with new talent in its premiere production of "Something About a Bear." Carl, who's a member of Savage Umbrella Theater himself and an arts administrator, describes the play as a Russian fairy tale set in the woods of northern Minnesota which features a bear who becomes a man, a wizard, and other strange magical characters. It's a co-production of Theatre Novi Most and the University of Minnesota department of theatre and dance. On stage and open to all ages at the Stoll Thrust Theatre in the U's Rarig Center from April 11 - 21. For more Art Hounds' recommendations, check us out on Facebook and Twitter. Art Hounds is also available as a podcast on iTunes. Art Hounds is powered by the Public Insight Network.

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