As I said last time the 2012 season started off running and we are keeping up that pace. The Grand Marais Playhouse is busy putting together a fantastic season of plays and special entertainment for the Grand Marais area.
At press time, Shout! The Mod Musical returns as dinner theater for Valentine’s Day weekend on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. Shout! is a non-stop journey through the infectious and soulful pop anthems and ballads that made household names of stars like Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield and Lulu. In this Austin Powers-like musical, hits like To Sir With Love, Downtown, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, Son of A Preacher Man, and Goldfinger frame the journey of five women during the liberating days of the 1960s that made England swing!
Mu Daiko, with special guest Hanayui, will bring a high-energy performance of song, dance and drumming to the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on March 1 at 7 p.m.
The cast is Kerri Bilben, Karen Blackburn, Molly Hicken, Hilja Iverson and Karina Roth.
This weekend only enjoy dinner theater right here in Grand Marais! A threecourse dinner includes your choice of prime rib, walleye, chicken or veggie pasta. Reservations are required – call (218) 387-1142 now. On February 16 at 7 p.m., the Playhouse will hold auditions for Little Women, the community youth/high school play. This production will be directed by Maria Nickolay. Nine women from ages 12 to adult are needed. Rehearsals will be Sunday-Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. beginning Feb. 26.
Performances will be April 19-22 and 26-29.
March brings drumming and dance
In March, two extraordinary groups are coming to the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. Thanks to the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Legacy Amendment and the collaboration of the Grand Marais Playhouse, the North Shore Music Association and Community Education, Cook County will enjoy Mu Daiko with special guest Hanayui on March 1 at 7 p.m. and Zenon Dance Company on March 9 at 7 p.m.
Mu Daiko celebrates 15 years of taiko with its biggest performance yet. On its threeweek Minnesota tour, the Twin Cities-based drum ensemble brings its signature blend of tradition and innovation to the ACA. Mu Daiko will share the stage with special guest artists that exemplify the unique power of women in both American and Japanese taiko.
Hanayui presents a groundbreaking combination of song, dance, and drumming as visually striking as it is musical. Joining them are Tiffany Tamaribuchi, one of the nation’s leading forces in North American taiko, and recent Minnesota transplant and Mu Daiko collaborator Megan Chao Smith. This amazing performance is appropriate for all ages, but it does include loud noises.
Zenon Dance Company is known for its tremendous stylistic diversity, technical virtuosity and artistic integrity. The dance company has toured areas as far-flung as Aruba, Guam, Russia, Saipan, Switzerland and Budapest. The Zenon dancers are also a national favorite among critics and audiences for their fearless physicality and emotional intelligence.
Zenon Dance Company will arrive March 5 with dance classes for the community. Zenon’s residency work (March 5-8) will include daily creative movement classes with elementary students as well as daily classes with students in grades 8-12 and adult community members from 7 – 8:15 p.m.
“Zenon Dance Company is delighted to return to Grand Marais after many years,” said Linda Z. Andrews, founder and artistic director of Zenon Dance Company. “We are looking forward to performing an exciting mix of groundbreaking American modern and dance works for the Grand Marais community as well as teaching local dance students.”
Zenon Dance Company tops off the four-day dance residency with an evening performance of modern and jazz dance at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Friday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m. Don’t miss this troupe described as “the dance company that can do it all” and “in a league of its own” by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Tickets are only $15 for adults and $10 for students! You can save $2 on each ticket if you buy tickets to both shows. Tickets are available online at www.arrowheadcenterforthearts.org or at the door an hour before the show.
Don’t miss these extraordinary events that are being presented right here at home. Enjoy a dinner out at a local restaurant before the show or grab a dessert or cocktail after and still get home early. No two-hour drive! Aren’t we lucky?
Proceeds from these two events will go toward purchasing, maintaining or upgrading production equipment in the ACA.
The Grand Marais Playhouse continues to prepare for three summer productions. The dates previously announced have changed and the Playhouse will return to its original production schedule with the Murder Mystery Dinner Theater at the Harbor Light June 28 – July 1 and July 5 – 8. The Beaux’ Stratagem is at the ACA July 26 – 29 and August 2 -5. Kitchen Witches will be at the ACA August 23, 26 and 30 – Sept. 2. More on these shows next time. Stay up to date with Playhouse activities at www.grandmariasplayhouse.com and don’t forget to like us on Facebook.
Grand Marais Playhouse Artistic Director Sue Hennessy provides this behind-thescenes look at Grand Marais Playhouse activities.
Leave a Reply