Theatre in the Round Players' 72nd Season Continues with Men on Boats by Jacklyn Backhaus May 10 - June 2

An audience discussion with the cast and director will be held immediately after the performance on Sunday, May 26.

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) continues their 72nd Season with Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus, the true(ish) story of John Wesley Powell’s 1869 expedition down the Colorado River, running weekends May 10 to June 2 with a Monday Pay-What-You-Can performance on May 20. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2pm. 

This rollicking adventure offers a fresh perspective on the American West and the nature of adventure itself, telling the story of the all-male explorers with a cast women and gender-expansive performers. With humor, heart, and a thrilling narrative, Men on Boats uses unconventional storytelling to create a thrilling theatrical experience.

Sophie Peyton directs the ten-member cast with movement direction by Kelly Nelson, sets designed by MJ Leffler, costumes by Claire Looker, lighting by Bill Larsen, props by Vicky Erikson, and sound design by Christy Johnson.

Sign Up for City of Minneapolis Emergency Text Alerts via Smart911

Excerpt from the April 25 City of Minneapolis e-news

Sign up for the City of Minneapolis’ new alert system. You can get text alerts, create a full profile if you’d like alerts on specific subjects, and even download the mobile app to your phone.

Alert topics

The City of Minneapolis will use the new system, Smart911, to send alerts on many topics including:

• Snow emergencies
• Severe weather
• Public safety incidents
• Major infrastructure issues
• Major special event impacts

Smart911 replaces the City’s former alert system, Swiftreach. If you were subscribed to Swiftreach, you'll get alerts in the new system. You are encouraged to create a Smart911 profile for more precise alerts.

Sign up for alerts

To subscribe, text MPLSAlerts to 77295 or create a full Smart911 profile online.

Read more about the new alert system on the City website.

Don’t Miss Mia’s Art in Bloom Festival, April 25 - 28

Article and photos by Becky Fillinger

The 40th anniversary of Mia’s Art in Bloom (AiB) Festival opens today, April 25, and runs through the 28th.  Admission is free and open to everyone. As you wander from gallery to gallery, you’ll be delighted to see how over 100 local floral artists interpret artworks chosen by a Mia curator.

Perry McGowan with his floral arrangement to accompany Portrait of a Girl by Georg Pencz

We spoke with Perry McGowan, and greatly admired his interpretation of Portrait of a Girl by Georg Pencz in Gallery 342. McGowan has been a participating floral artist at AiB for 6 years but was quick to explain that he is a CPA, not a florist or artist by training. “It’s a huge honor to be chosen to participate and to be able to see your sculpture in a public place, especially at Mia. It’s an absolute joy to see people respond and connect to my, and my co-artist Zuzana Menzlova’s, sculpture.”

Mia welcomed over 60,000 visitors last year to AiB and this year should also see record crowds. Prepare for crowds and give yourself time to appreciate the wonderful pairings of Mia’s artworks alongside gorgeous floral interpretations. The museum’s restaurant will be open daily during the festival, and food trucks will be onsite as well. Full event information can be found here.

Billboard by Grace Hartigan

The Intrigue by James Ensor

Nanbozhoo and Toad Woman by Rabbett Strickland

The Smoker by Édouard Manet

Although admission to AiB is free and open to everyone, it’s important to realize that it is the Friends of the Institute’s most essential annual fundraiser. Funds raised enable Friends to sponsor events like AiB and to continue Mia’s mission of sustaining and enhancing Mia’s collections, exhibitions and programs. Please donate generously to support Art in Bloom!

Lidia Bastianich to Feature Sean Sherman in an Upcoming Episode of Lidia Celebrates American: Changemakers

Lidia and Sean by Water Works Pavilion with the 3rd Avenue Bridge in the background. Photo credit Owamni

Italian-American cooking icon Lidia Bastianich was recently in town interviewing Sean Sherman for her special Lidia Celebrates America: Changemakers. Sean talked to Lidia about indigenous food knowledge, how his nonprofit, North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NĀTIFS), is uncovering, collecting, and disseminating that knowledge, and how understanding these very different ways of gathering food and eating can benefit everyone in our society.

Mark you calendar with a reminder to look for the episode this December on Twin Cities PBS!

Lidia samples dishes, ingredients and drinks with Sean at Owamni. Photo credit Owamni

A Year With Frog and Toad returns to Children’s Theater Company

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A Discussion with Jay Goede, returning as of Frog

A Year with Frog and Toad returns to Children’s Theatre Company, April 23 - June 16. We spoke to Jay Goede, our Frog, a role which he originated in CTC’s 2003 world premiere and the subsequent Broadway production. He describes the joy in collaborating with fellow actor Reed Sigmund and in delighting audiences with the characters’ friendship played out against the changing seasons of the year. Get your tickets here because this one is a delight and a favorite for all ages.

Q:  What draws you to the character of Frog who you portray in A Year With Frog and Toad? Are there aspects of the character that resonate with you personally?

Jay GoedeA:  I think Frog is very much a person who likes to have a balance between social, personal, and spiritual worlds. There's a beautiful song in the show called “Alone” where - in distress – Toad pedals out to a little island, where Frog is sitting alone in nature, and Toad is convinced that poor Frog must be angry or sad or some negative emotion because he's isolated himself alone on this island. And, quite the contrary, Frog tells Toad that he's happy to be alone because it makes him feel at one with nature, enjoy his surroundings, and remembering how wonderful it has been to be who he is in nature. He "loves being a frog in the warm sunny summer," his beautiful phrase from the song. That really resonates with me. You need to be alone to be in touch with your spiritual and physical surroundings. The joy of taking in nature and all be magic that goes on within it.

Q:  How has your perspective or approach to the character of Frog evolved since your previous involvement with the show in 2003?

Frog and Toad go sledding. Photo by Glen Stubbe PhotographyA:  Well, it is very much informed by who I am today as Jay, versus who I was in 2003 as Jay. I guess what I mean by that is: I stepped away for many years from the business of "show." The acting business. I found much serenity and peace in that decision. I began painting again, as I was trained as an artist originally many years ago. Most importantly, I have found a spiritual center that was much needed, and not quite in place in 2003. But I have missed the art of acting. I have not missed all the shenanigans that are "show business." But I do enjoy acting when I get the chance. "Frog" in 2024 will probably be my last time on stage for quite a while. It has been a lovely chance to get to know Frog again, and to work with the incredible talent of Reed Sigmund, who is - without question - one of our country's finest and most brilliant actors. This has been the greatest gift for me this time playing Frog. I feel extremely fortunate to be sharing the stage with such a fine talent, just as I felt the first time acting with Mark Linn-Baker who originated the role of Toad. Both are genius talents that don't come around very often. So if that makes any sense, those are the big differences this time around. I also don't jump as high as Frog used to do in 2003! Sigh.

Q:  The show explores themes of friendship and the changing seasons. How do you think the themes resonate with audiences?

A:  For me, as a child growing up, the most magical part of each year was the change of seasons. I loved the change of seasons, and most of all I loved fall and spring. Winter was a wonderful challenge because we got to go outside and sled down the hill, as Frog and Toad do, but spring is the most magical time of year for me. I think everyone sits in the audience and brings their own personal relationship with all the seasons to the show. Fall, for me as a young person and of course still as an adult, is when my two favorite holidays take place: Halloween and my birthday, which is November 2nd. So I guess I have romantic and nostalgic feelings associated with every season. As we age, we bring more of our history to living through those seasons each year, but without a doubt I think we all have our favorite seasons. It is fun to see the audience, especially the children, respond to each new scene, and enjoy watching Frog and Toad experience all the wonderful seasons onstage.

Regarding friendships: in the changing seasons, I have beautiful memories of sledding with my friends, and going Halloween trick-or-treating with my friends. I think about Christmas gift exchanges with my friends. Every one of us has special memories that we cherish from our childhoods, and even in adulthood our friends mean so much to us, especially during the holidays. We love and look forward to sharing our time, our gifts, and our memories with them. The friendships that last over many years, like Frog’s and Toad’s, are the ones that anchor us in our reality, in our happiness, in our struggles and in our victories. The friendships that last through the years are the ones we hold most dear in our hearts. And, certainly, the seasons give us indicators of how many years we've known our special friends.

Reed Sigmund (Toad), rehearses with Jay. 

Q:  Are there any particular scenes or songs in the production that hold special significance for you?

A:  Yes, as I mentioned, I will always feel fortunate to sing “Alone” every day that the show runs. This beautiful song, in the middle of this gorgeous show, talks about one's need to be not isolated but with oneself in nature. It is one of the most beautiful ideas in the show. Frog explains to Toad that he doesn't mind being alone, and he actually needs it sometimes. It is a beautiful spot in the show, where you see the depth of the friendship between the two characters. Toad has made this beautiful lunch of sandwiches and iced tea for Frog, to comfort him and cheer him up. The lunch gets ruined in Toad’s efforts to get out to the island. Just as he falls off his log, Frog reassures him that it is enough to just be with him and sit in the wonders of nature. In essence, Frog is letting Toad know that just his friendship and his presence are enough. Even without the iced tea and sandwiches. It is such a beautiful part of the show for me. 

Q:  How do you prepare for the emotional aspects of your character, and how do you find a balance between the comedic and more serious moments in the show?

A:  I guess the key to good comedy is that the character doesn’t know the situation is funny. I don't look differently at comedy than I do at more serious moments. If you think about the truth of the situation, that takes care of it. In other words, I think comedy and seriousness can layer on top of each other, the more we get to know the characters, their behaviors, and the situations in which they find themselves. Behavior comes out of truth, and the more truthful we can make the situations, the more truthful the behavior is. And the audience discovers joy and sadness while watching the character experience all these moments.

Q:  As someone returning to a familiar role, how do you keep the performance fresh and exciting for yourself, as well as for the audience?

A:  At my age, I just try to keep it simple, and the rest takes care of itself as far as the joy of performing. I take the advice of that great actor Spencer Tracy who said, "Just learn your lines and don't bump into the furniture."

Q:  Lastly, you mention that you might not be on the stage again for a while. What’s on the horizon for you after Frog and Toad wraps up in June? 

A:  After this wraps up, Frog/Jay is going on vacation to an island far away, all alone by himself, to sit and be one with the spiritual self and the joy of nature.

Q:  How may we follow you?

A:  I'm very elusive and like to stay that way. You might find me on Facebook and Instagram, but you might not."Maybe yes and maybe no!" as Frog says.

Eagle Watches Over the Stone Arch Bridge Project

Submitted by Ric Rosow

The tug boats are doing yeoman work on the Stone Arch Bridge repair project. Above, a tug boat is pushing and guiding a new barge, the third, into place. Note the eagle perched atop a tree branch in the bottom center of the second image watching over the project. Below, a tug boat returns from one of the barges.

Clay Squared Gallery Announces Grand Opening, May 10

Image: ReUse On the Range, mixed media sculpture by Layl McDill, 55"x100"x9", 2023

Grand Opening May 10, 6:00 - 8:00pm

Mixed media sculptor Layl McDill is expanding her gallery and studio. The newly renovated storefront space at Lowry and Monroe will showcase Layl’s sculptures of all sizes and shapes. The Grand Opening is May 10 from 6:00 to 8:00pm. There will be door prizes and snacks, and an opportunity to play with some clay, too! 

Check out her latest teapots that have transformed into birds and whimsical worlds. Take your time searching the bead collection to find just the perfect grouping for a personalized bracelet. You'll also find a life-size bison made of found objects and polymer clay! 

The new gallery space (above) will be open Monday-Saturday from 12:00 to 5:00p, or by appointment or chance. Direct entrance is located at Monroe and Lowry, or enter at the main entrance of the Flux Arts Building, 2505 Howard Street NE (below).

Also open in the Flux Arts Building will be: Clay Squared to Infinity tile showroom and studio, Art to Change the World and Potek Glass.

Clay Squared Gallery will also be offering classes, parties and workshops in this new space. With several newly trained instructors, classes will be offered regularly. You will learn amazing magical techniques and then create a finished project such as a vase, frame or switchplate cover. Take it home and bake it in your own oven or let Clay Squared bake it for you. 

Public is Invited to the Annual MPD 1st Precinct Open House, May 14

Inspector Billy Peterson and the entire MPD 1st Precinct staff cordially invite you to the 1st Precinct Open House, taking place Tuesday, May 14, 11a-2p at 19 N 4th Street.

The Classical Music Project Returns to Westminster on June 2nd

June 2, 3pm Westminster Presbyterian Church

Sponsored by The Dakota

The Classical Music Project, launched in 2023, seeks to offer audiences intimate and thought-provoking musical experiences that highlight the beauty and complexity of classical music of the 17th-19th centuries. As a member of the Incubator Program at Springboard for the Arts, the project is committed to exploring new and creative approaches to presenting older music in a modern context.

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The first concert of the 2024 season promises to be a captivating exploration of love, revenge, and the beauty of Italy through the music of three influential composers. Get your tickets now and immerse yourself in an afternoon of musical mastery and storytelling.

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The program includes:

• Sinfonia Avanti II Barcheggio - Alessandro Stradella (Marissa Benedict, Trumpet Solo)
• Suite from the Ballet Pulcinella - Igor Stravinsky
• Symphony No. 4 in A, Op. 90 (Italian) - Felix Mendelssohn

Marissa Benedict will be featured as a solo performer. Her impressive resume includes being the first woman trumpet player to record on prestigious scoring stages and being featured on numerous blockbuster film and television soundtracks.

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Jere Lantz, Conductor, has been recognized with many awards for his contributions to the world of classical music, and his dedication to the arts has left a lasting impact on the communities he has served. His passion for sharing the joy of music with audiences of all ages and backgrounds has made him a beloved figure in the world of classical music. 

Tickets Now Available for Puccini’s Suor Angelica at The Basilica of Saint Mary, June 26-29

Puccini’s Suor Angelica will be the first-ever opera to be performed at The Basilica of Saint Mary - June 26-29

TICKETS

Out of the Box Opera, which designs productions that get to the heart of what makes opera exciting, is a pioneer of popup opera. Past production venues include Uppercut Boxing Gym, Weisman Art Museum, A-Mill Artist Lofts and Canopy Hotel. For this historic first, The Basilica of Saint Mary is acting as co-producer.

Few places in the Twin Cities can rival the Basilica’s power to stun. The iconic building is a place of beauty, mystery, and drama - the perfect complement to Suor Angelica, an intense one-act work set in a convent and sung by an all-female cast. As the tragic story of Sister Angelica unfolds, audiences will visit three separate locations within the Basilica: the Teresa of Calcutta room, the Chapel, and the majestic Nave. As if swept along by the music itself, at times actually mixing with the performers, the audience will have a uniquely immersive opera-going experience that will be unforgettable to first-time opera goers and veterans alike.

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Side note  - Learn more about this production when Mill City Times publishes a Becky Fillinger interview with Out of the Box Opera President, Noah Eisenberg, in May!

Local Artist Spotlight: Sarah Nassif, Artist in Resident at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Sarah creating a felted vagus nerve

Bringing People, Plants and Place together through interactive art works

Sarah Nassif is Artist in Residence at Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO), where she developed her Weaving Water Workshops. Keep reading to learn about this workshop where you can share personal connections to textile traditions, bodies of water and the Mississippi River. That’s just one of the programs that Nassif has created in the local area. We talked to Sarah about her amazing nature-based projects in the Twin Cities and how you can participate.

Q:  You're the Artist in Residence at Mississippi Watershed Management Organization. How did this marvelous appointment come about?

A:  Just months before the pandemic, I was awarded an MRAC Next Step grant and a Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant. The funding was meant to allow me to continue the work I had started in 2018 with Weaving Water, which was funded by a 2017 Artist Initiative Grant by presenting it through MWMO. The plan was for me to present my first solo show in the beautiful MWMO Stormwater Park and Learning Center gallery space as well as provide some public programming for MWMO. My show plan was to create enormous weavings depicting three watersheds and design an immersive fiber art installation.

Of course, everything froze in March 2020– and then life took us all through some very hard times – fires around the world, the murder of George Floyd and the upheaval that followed, the isolation and fear brought on by the pandemic, etc.

Abby Moore, Outreach Principal at the MWMO, and I stayed in conversation through 2020-2021, having no idea when or how my project could (or should) resume.

Abby’s challenge when the MWMO reopened its offices (after more than a year) in fall 2021 was how on earth to move forward with the work of connecting the public to what this governmental body accomplishes day in and day out for our watershed, a world most people barely know. She had always engaged artists to present art shows each year with some public programming to complement them, but the MWMO building hours were now very limited, people were still scared of gathering, and circumstances were shifting due to COVID conditions and a very cold winter that set in in January 2022.

I have long admired the work of Christine Baumler as Artist-in-Residence at Capitol Region Watershed District, so I suggested we create a similar role for me as a way for me to collaborate with Abby to meet both her goals and mine as we rode the waves of changing circumstances starting in October 2021.

Both Abby and I wanted to create opportunities for people to come together safely, connect with the Mississippi River, and find creativity and relaxation in community to help offset the extreme stress of daily life at the time.

The first Weaving Water Workshop at MWMO was distanced/masked and outdoors in late October, but people loved the chance to gather by the river, get creative playing with indigo and fiber, and just be together again. We shared about our personal lineages of creativity and connection to water to kick off a couple hours of making. It felt like such a gift and a balm at that time, under the huge cottonwood trees with the sparkling river and smiling people. We planned monthly workshops after that, and I brought in fellow artists to expand on the theme of creativity and connection to water. So that was it, I became the first Artist in Residence for the MWMO, and I continue in this role to bring arts-engaged outreach programming to all corners of the watershed.

Q:  That’s quite a story – thank you for persevering with your vision. Your website notes that your passion is bringing people, plants and place together to create interactive art works. Can you tell us how you first became aware of your interest in unexpected collaborative experiences?  

A:  I like to say that my art practice is about the intersections of people, plants and place. When I moved to Minnesota in 2000, I had no history here, no family roots, and despite my B.S. in Botany from University of Washington, all the plants were brand new to me. My first jobs here were in marketing data analysis, far removed from my love of art and nature. I was living here, but didn’t feel connected to the place for the first five years. Unhappy with work, I left the corporate world in 2005 with room to return to my creativity at long last. Getting to know the plants was my first artistic ambition – I documented trees and plants on my hikes and created textile designs from them that I screen printed in my home studio.

In 2005 I launched Rectangle Designs: Botanically Inspired Fashion. This was a line of apparel and accessories featuring botanical screen prints I created from my field photography of plants. Each design connected the buyer to an actual plant and the place it grew. I had beautiful hangtags and a website where shoppers could learn more about each plant. I was trying to inspire people about nature in the unexpected location of a boutique where they were just shopping for clothes or gifts. In 2012 I was invited to host a solo trunk show at the Walker Art Center’s Gift Shop, and I loved talking to all the people who bought my designs.

But I decided to close the business when we moved to a new house that required me to pack up my screen printing studio indefinitely, and I just did teaching artist residencies for a couple years. In 2014, I got my first artist grant through Springboard for the Arts’ Irrigate program to create The Other Green Line, which was also my accidental introduction to “social practice” art. The Other Green Line was a free field guide distributed alongside other free printed materials at convenience store check outs and local businesses up and down the new Green Line light rail. This project was the real catalyst for me realizing the power of “unexpected creative (and collaborative) experiences.” It also led me to meet other local artists working in similar ways.

The Other Green Line revealed the natural history of the landscapes between Minneapolis and St. Paul that were obscured by urban development. It invited people to participate as field naturalists observing the world around them with curiosity and sharing their observations with other people. They could follow a self-guided foray route and draw on pages in the booklet. I offered guided forays for free. An article in Streets.MN was the ultimate validation to me that somehow, I was on the right track creatively.

Q:  Please tell us more about the Weaving Water Workshop at MWMO. How may we participate?  

A:  The Weaving Water Workshop was created in 2018 and is an ongoing project - an umbrella title for the collaborative work I do with a variety of organizations including (but not limited to) MWMO. The project can take the form of an art show installation, a public festival, or a privately held workshop for a smaller audience.

Above and below - some of Sarah's workshop participants, clearly enjoying themselves.

I collaborate with select partners to design Weaving Water Workshops for organizations and communities. This summer, the project will travel south along the river to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona in May and north to the Watermark Art Festival in Bemidji in July. Contact me here to inquire about commissioning a Weaving Water Workshop for your group. 

Subscribe to the MWMO newsletter to learn about public Weaving Water Workshops across the urban watershed. And listen to an in-depth interview of Sarah on the MWMO's new podcast River of Ideas. Please follow me on Instagram @sarahjnassif.

Q:  Another of your creations is the Trees of Prospect Park (TOPP). Can you tell our readers about the program?  Will you possibly design other tree or plant walks in our neighborhoods?

A:  TOPP was a pandemic project designed to help people de-stress by connecting to nature and to each other in the safety of the outdoors and fresh air. I designed a 26-tree walk that anyone can follow on Google Maps using the link is on my website. I led free tree walks along the river banks south of the Franklin Bridge in my neighborhood. My friend was just starting Signature Arts in a former grocery building, and there was space where I could host drawing sessions safely – with masks, distanced and with an air purifier! I provided walnut ink I made from a neighborhood tree’s windfall of walnuts, paper, and my extensive collection of pressed leaves, cones, acorns and other tree treasures. I coached individuals and family groups from 10 feet away to trace the leaves and draw without self-judgment while we chatted about our tree affinities. After a winter of being isolated in our homes, this was a fun way to get out in the world! 

I am developing a plant walk for the Walker Art Center in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden – to be released this Spring/Summer!

I also have a 9-week art residency that I teach at older adult communities. We gather weekly to explore the trees growing around the residences, and the students create and illustrate a custom field guide of these trees. The course is called Seeing the Forest and the Trees. It’s so fun!

Q:  So many wonderful projects! How may we follow your news?

A:  Please do follow my Instagram @sarahjnassif or subscribe to my newsletter. My website sarahnassif.com – check out my news and projects there.

Sherman Associates Completes Ladder 260 Apartments in the Mill District

Ladder 260 is a six-story, 82,225-square-foot low-rise apartment building, featuring 90 affordable housing units. 

Now pre-leasing - learn more at Ladder260.com

Sherman Associates has completed Ladder 260, a new $34 million affordable housing development located at 260 Portland Avenue in the Mill District neighborhood.

Kraus-Anderson (KA) is the general contractor for the multi-phase project for Sherman, which is redeveloping most of an under-utilized city block at Washington Avenue and Portland Avenue. The first phase of the overall $161 million development project was a new $12 million fire station for the City of Minneapolis, which was completed in 2022. The final phase, called O2, is a 22-story, 240-unit market-rate apartment tower at 250 Portland Avenue, expected to be completed in early fall of 2024.

Designed by ESG Architects, Ladder 260 is a six-story, 82,225-square-foot low-rise apartment building, featuring 90 affordable housing units.  Amenities include a hotel-like lobby and leasing center, fitness room, 2nd floor lounge and a rooftop deck, bike storage/parking and pet spa.  Walk-up units on the street level provide a unique unit type to the market and will enhance the vibrancy along 3^rd Street.  The location has proximity to light rail and bus routes and is highly walkable and bike-friendly.

KA and Sherman have worked together on several projects that have enhanced the downtown Minneapolis community. Most recently, the 10-story Moment Apartments opened its doors in January 2023. The mixed-use, 222-unit development also includes the Transitional Healing Center for Firefighters For Healing. The center located on the 2nd floor includes 12 fully furnished suites for families of burn survivors, firefighters and first responders traveling to the Twin Cities for care at nearby Hennepin Healthcare.

Cirrostratus Clouds Over Downtown by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Ric Rosow

It was January 29th and the sun had set behind downtown building. The glow of the setting sun continued to light up the sky and the cirrostratus clouds. I had gone out specifically to photograph the sunset. The cloud formation was stunningly beautiful. Mother nature put on quite a show.  

Art A Whirl, a Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) sponsored event takes place May 19-21. You can see more of my work during Art A Whirl, at Price Krishnan Gallery and at  ricrosowphotography.com

Cirrorstratus Clouds Over Downtown

Local Theater Icon: Bradley Greenwald

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

From a Theater Latté Da production of OLIVER!  Photo credit Heidi Bohnenkamp

One of the Twin Cities favorite performers is Bradley Greenwald. We wanted to know more about his start in the performing arts – and what’s on the horizon this year. If you haven’t had the pleasure of watching Greenwald on stage (unlikely, but even if you have), do yourself a favor and get tickets for the upcoming reimagining of Puccini’s comic opera Gianni Schicchi at Theater Latté Da. Greenwald wrote the libretto, and directs and stars in the production. He never disappoints whether on stage or teaching acting and singing to high school students.   

Bradley Greenwald, Photo credit Devon CoxQ:  Anyone who has seen you on stage has a favorite Bradley Greenwald performance. For me, it was your portrayal of the Emcee in Frank Theater’s 2011 Cabaret on the Centennial Showboat. You were exuberant, playful, mysterious, a bit sinister, bawdy and in our faces! Alan Cumming would have been impressed. Can you describe your routine or preparation process before a performance?

A:  I like rehearsing much better than performing because there's so much freedom in the discovery process. Most people are probably not aware that what they see on stage - the choices performers have locked in for their characters that may seem so natural and obvious to the audience - only comes after a tedious process of finding the right choice for the right moment. And that involves rehearsing a lot of wrong choices. Rehearsing is exploration. And I could keep exploring a piece forever.

Q:  Let’s now ask you – what’s your most memorable Bradley Greenwald performance and why?

A:  I am never able to answer that question easily because there are so many, and they're never because of my performance - they're memorable because of a deep connection between the audience and those of us on stage. I do have a short list of moments that will live forever with me: the end of Leonard Cohen's "Halleluia" in Rumblings, and the very first run of Carmina Burana, both with Minnesota Dance Theatre; Theâtre de la Jeune Lune's The Magic Flute - ​the most joyful union of theater and audience I've ever experienced; singing Peter Mayer's "My Soul" with pianist Sonja Thompson and the sigh from the audience as snow started to fall on stage behind us at the end of every performance of The Longest Night at Open Eye Theater.

Bradley, accompanied by Sonja Thompson, in The Longest Night. Photo credit Star Tribune

Q:  How did you first discover your passion for performing?

A:  Completely by accident. My major at the University of Minnesota was German, and I planned on being a high school German teacher. But I got interested in classical music and started taking voice lessons. During that time, I spent a summer as a fellow with a Bach Festival in New York. There was a closing concert, and I had been asked to perform the aria "Ich habe genug" with a small chamber ensemble, a piece of music I was much too young and inexperienced to take on. It was too mature for me technically, and emotionally, and I actually pulled out of it after a couple rehearsals. But the vocal coach talked me back into it. He sat me down, listened to my reasons for not wanting to do it and he agreed that it really was too much for a young singer to tackle, but I had told my colleagues I would do it and should honor that commitment. And really, who's ever ready for anything? So, I did, and I don't remember performing it at the concert at all - it was suddenly over, and I was there on stage with these fantastic instrumentalists who had played their hearts into an aria sung by a man on his death bed, and the audience was hushed by this profoundly beautiful music and didn't clap for a good ten seconds after it was over. And I thought: this is what I want to do. I went back to Minneapolis unsure about what I wanted in life - and a few days later Minnesota Opera called and asked me to do their national tour of Madama Butterfly. I quit school, did that, and 35 years later I'm still at it.

Q:  Where and in what roles will we see you perform in 2024? Are there upcoming projects or performances that you're excited about?

JOHNNY SKEEKY; or, The Remedy for Everything runs May 29 - July 7 at Theater Latté Da.A:  The next production I'm in will be Johnny Skeeky; or The Remedy for Everything at Theater Latté Da, running end of May into July. Steven Epp, formerly of Jeune Lune, and I were commissioned to write a piece around the one act Puccini comic opera Gianni Schicchi, in the style of collaboration we had during all the opera projects at Jeune Lune. It's part play, part opera. Steve and I wrote the script and libretto, and we're directing it, and we're in it. And we're very excited about it. And grateful to Latté Da - we were commissioned one week before The Lockdown in 2020, and working on it that summer in Steve's backyard at opposite ends of his long picnic table was what kept us sane. Relatively.

Q:  How do you continue to grow and evolve in your skills and artistry? 

A:  Because I chose a life in the performing arts and have no practical skills, I had to stay employed - and I learned early on that I needed to be as versatile as possible to keep working. I've done everything from an Elvis impersonation to fake tap-dancing. Artists have been underpaid since, well, forever, and at 57, I'm still never guaranteed work, or entitled to keep drawing a paycheck from anywhere. And I'll never be able to afford retirement. I just keep looking for work one month at a time. So, I've learned to do many things over the years out of necessity. And I'm constantly adding to my tool kit. I've recently added writing and directing to my grab bag. Because of that, I have a deep respect for every genre, discipline and performance style under the sun. Because I've probably had to learn how to do it myself. If I have grown at all as an artist, it's because I am a jack-of-all-trades, definitely master-of-none.

Q:  You’re also a faculty member at McPhail Center for Music where you are the Prelude Coordinator. Could you tell us about the program?

A:  Anna Hashizume and I were brought on in the fall of 2021 to head Prelude - the singing and acting class for high school students. After our first couple years, we realized connection was a struggle for these kids in the age of devices and especially after COVID - that in some cases, they weren't even aware what connection was, much less how to make it happen. So, we have focused the program on how a young performer connects with other performers and with the audience. Once we made the rule that when singing a duet, the student had to look the other student in the eye, or into the eyes of anyone in the room listening as an audience, the transformation was unbelievable: their voices suddenly opened up and bloomed, they were committed to the material and to each other, and they were singing and acting with incredible abandon and creativity. And it ultimately makes them receptive to the singing and acting skills that Anna and I, and our inspired theater colleague Jon Ferguson, are wanting to teach them. It's just been beautiful to witness.

Q:  We’re so lucky to have you in the local creative community! How may we follow your news?

A:  I don't have a web page, but I am on Facebook and I publicly post everything I'm up to there, if anybody wants to come to a show. (Interviewer comment – of course we want to come!)

Restaurant Spotlight: Masa & Agave

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A discussion with Ed McDevitt, Executive Chef of Masa & Agave

Looking for a wide selection of agave-based spirits in a beautiful, intimate atmosphere?  Would delicious Mexican cantina food enhance the experience? Look no further than Masa & Agave, located in Hotel Ivy at 201 S Eleventh Street. We talked to Executive Chef Ed McDevitt about blending ancient traditions into the modern world to create an unforgettable dining experience. 

Chef Ed McDevitt Q:  What is your experience in the restaurant industry, and have you specifically worked in Mexican cuisine before? 

A:  I have been cooking since I was fifteen. I've worked in fast food to fine dining and everything in between. I spent 7 years as the executive chef for the flagship Rosa Mexicano on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I was also the corporate chef for a small restaurant group in Brooklyn which specializes in Mexican and Colombian cuisine. 

Q:  I read in your bio that your mother and grandmother were instrumental in instilling an ethic of “putting everything into your efforts” as you were first learning to cook. How does that impact your approach at Masa & Agave? 

A:  It all starts with research, looking for the highest quality ingredients, looking into the history of a dish or ingredient. I have the utmost respect and admiration for Mexico, the diversity of flavors from region to region, the culinary traditions, the mix of ancient traditions blended into the modern world all play a part in a rich and vibrant culture.

Elote

Q:  The Masa & Agave website tells us that your restaurant is "not just a place to eat and drink, it’s a cultural journey." Can you tell us more about that idea? 

A: We’re an authentically-inspired, absolutely delicious Mexican cantina boasting one of the Twin Cities' largest collections of agave-based spirits, fantastic Margaritas and exceptional craft cocktails.  We pay homage to Mexican cuisine with bold flavored, regionally-inspired recipes prepared in a scratch kitchen. And we celebrate generations of mezcaleros and their craft with classic mezcal pairings and presentations, handcraft agave-based cocktails mixed with regional ingredients.

Q:  Can you recommend any must-try dishes or drinks for first-time visitors? 

A:  The Huitlacoche quesadilla is a must try. It’s a fungus that grows on the ear of corn, and which blends the sweetness of fresh corn with the earthiness of an oyster mushroom. For beverages, the Masa and Agave - it's a play on Mexican street corn in cocktail form.

Masa & Agave offers an extensive array of agave.

Q:  What's the décor of Masa & Agave?

A:  A little dark, a little moody. You’ll find intimate gathering spots for groups or couples. The spotlight is on our hand-picked collection of agave spirits, which fill shelves behind the bar and throughout the space. 

Q:  Will you offer happy hour specials?

A:  Not happy hour, but we will be launching industry and DJ nights! Follow us for updates! For happy hour, check out the daily happy hour at Breva, our sister restaurant located inside the Hotel Ivy.

Q:  How may we stay up to date on what’s happening at Masa & Agave? 

A: Follow us @masaandagave, check out our website masaandagave.com and join our email list!

Don't Get Towed - Spring Street Sweeping Starts April 16

Public Works crews are gearing up to start the City’s comprehensive street sweeping program to clear away what has accumulated in the streets over the winter. The City has scheduled Tuesday, April 16, for the first day of sweeping. Beginning Monday, April 15, drivers should watch for hot pink temporary “No Parking” signs to avoid a ticket and tow.

Starting April 16 for approximately four weeks, sweeping crews will take care of more than 1,000 miles of city streets. To make sure the crews can do the most complete job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance to make sure streets are clear of parked vehicles. Drivers need to follow street sweeping parking rules or they may have their cars ticketed and towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot.

Find your street on the schedule! Starting Friday, April 12, you can see when your street is scheduled to be swept by visiting the interactive street sweeping map.

Learn more about street sweeping.

Going Out, Coming In: LGBTQ+ Spaces in Downtown Minneapolis Returns to Mill City Museum

Exhibit showcases the history of the city’s LGBTQIA+ community spaces

On April 18, the photography exhibit Going Out, Coming In: LGBTQ+ Spaces in Downtown Minneapolis returns to Mill City Museum. The public is invited to view the free exhibit, which will be located in the museum’s central Mill Commons area.

Previously displayed during the summer of 2023, Going Out, Coming In showcases the importance of downtown Minneapolis’ LGBTQIA+ community spaces throughout the 20th century. The exhibit details how queer history is present and intertwined with the neighborhood’s development during that time period.

Through this exhibit, visitors can deepen their understanding of downtown Minneapolis and those who lived in and visited the community. Images highlight places where the city’s queer community gathered to address the systemic challenges of discrimination, urban renewal, and HIV/AIDS.

This exhibit is part of an ongoing partnership between Twin Cities Pride and the Minnesota Historical Society. It is inspired by the Twin Cities LGBTQ+ History Tours developed by TC Pride and MNHS in 2022.

Going Out, Coming In will be on display during regular museum hours from April 18 to July 14 2024.

The exhibit is made possible through funding provided by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Assist the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Join the Volunteer Water Monitoring Program

As spring arrives in Minnesota, it’s time for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to kick off its popular program that relies on Minnesotans to monitor our 12,000+ lakes and 92,000+ miles of streams: the Volunteer Water Monitoring Program. 

The MPCA is currently recruiting volunteers to measure water clarity in numerous lakes and streams – including several high-priority sites across the Twin Cities Metro Area – and then report back to the agency. This is the perfect opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts and those interested in protecting our state’s natural resources! 

Over 50 years of environmental stewardship

When the University of Minnesota launched the Volunteer Water Monitoring Program in 1973, it would go on to become the second oldest, and still active, volunteer water monitoring program in the nation. Transferred to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in 1978, it has since become a roaring success, empowering Minnesotans from all corners of the state to support the health of our beloved waters.

Minnehaha Creek water monitoring

How does it work? 

Volunteers conduct a simple water clarity test in a body of water twice a month from April-September. MPCA provide all the equipment and training, so no experience is needed. 

The MPCA uses the data to help determine whether lakes and streams are meeting water quality standards, which are designed to protect aquatic life and recreational activities, such as fishing and swimming. 

In some cases, the information gathered by volunteers is the only monitoring done on a particular lake or stream!

A Secchi disk is an 8-inch (20 cm) disk with alternating black and white quadrants. It is lowered into the water of a lake until it can no longer be seen by the observer. This depth of disappearance, called the Secchi depth, is a measure of the transparency of the water.

Community Meeting Regarding Scooters on May 13 The Depot

Council Member Michael Rainville has arranged a Town Hall Meeting at The Depot, 225 3rd Avenue S at 6 pm on Monday, May 13.

Allen Klugman of Traffic Control, Dillon Fried of the Department of Public Works’ Mobility Team and Park Commissioner Elizabeth Shaffer will answer questions and concerns about the upcoming scooter season. Residents who live near the Lakes will also be in attendance to discuss their concerns.

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Join the meeting to learn more, discuss problems observed and get your questions answered. 

Ella Daniels Brings Valuable Experience to Mill City Farmers Market Executive Director Position

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Mill City Farmers Market (MCFM) has a new Executive Director, Ella Daniels, and she has the experience and enthusiasm to take our local farmers market to new levels of success. We talked to her about opportunities to grow the market’s programs, how technology can assist and new vendors. She taught us that people who shop at farmers markets have 15 to 20 social interactions per visit compared with 1 to 2 social interactions at a grocery store – isn’t that fact alone enough to get you to visit the market? 

Ella DanielsQ:  Congratulations on becoming the Executive Director of the Mill City Farmers Market! Can you share a bit about your background and experience in food resource organizations?

A:  Thanks so much. I’m a proud market shopper and donor of the Mill City Farmers Market, so to me, leading this organization is a privilege. My professional experience is focused on connecting food organizations with the resources and audiences they need to thrive. I grew up in Minnesota, but while living in Washington, D.C. I had the opportunity to work across various levels of the food system: globally at the United Nations World Food Programme, regionally at the Capital Area Food Bank, and nationally at Partnership for a Healthier America. My work experience has given me valuable insights into the policies and factors that shape our modern food system, and its economic, health, social, and environmental inequities. I’m excited to be able to use this platform to highlight the power of eating locally and advocate for a more equitable and sustainable food system.

Q:  What do you see as the main challenges and opportunities for the MCFM in the upcoming year?

A:  Great question. I’ve been asking this and similar questions of staff, Board members, vendors and partners since I started in January. My goal is to be in “listen and learn” mode this year. One takeaway I can share from my “listening tour” thus far is that Mill City Farmers Market is known among vendors as a springboard to success for local businesses. This feedback is helping me recognize a big opportunity to help people understand how farmers markets work, how local businesses benefit, and what makes Mill City Farmers Market unique. Our market has grown so much in recent years, and our experienced staff have great suggestions about what it means to sustain success and what additional role we could play in our community. 

Q:  The MCFM is a well-run operation, but do you have strategies in mind to enhance the efficiency of the market's operations? What role do you see technology playing in the future of the MCFM?

A:  MCFM has a well-deserved reputation as a well-run operation, and that’s a testament to the leadership of Martha Archer, during her 13-year tenure, and a dream team of staff, day staff and vendors. One project we have planned to enhance our operational efficiency is upgrading our point-of-sale system. We soon will need a new credit card reader, so we hope to transition to an integrated hardware and software that can complete payments for SNAP/EBT, merchandise sales and market tokens and inventory them to save staff time on manual reconciliation and bookkeeping. SNAP transactions at our market have tripled in recent years and we see a big opportunity to continue growing the percentage of customers who benefit from Market Bucks, but payment processing takes more staff time. By upgrading this technology, we’ll meet two goals at the same time: happier staff and increased food access in our community.

Q:  Do you foresee new vendors that you will invite to the market?

A:  We had a record-breaking number of applications this year and just finalized a fantastic line-up of vendors for the upcoming summer season. I can’t spill the beans yet, but we will be announcing our new lineup of vendors soon. As with most news, our newsletter subscribers will be the first to know. But you can expect over 100 vendors, with many familiar names and some brand-new faces, too. 

Q:  Are there any changes you foresee in the layout or structure of the market?

A:  Market goers can expect the same layout and structure for 2024. Our indoor market season includes one more market on April 20th from 10am to 1pm inside the Mill City Museum, featuring 30+ vendors. On Saturday May 4th, we officially begin the outdoor market season. Summer market hours are from 8am to 1pm, May to September, then 9am to 1pm in October, before returning to indoor markets on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month from November to April. All summer long we’ll be hosting fun, experiential programming at the market like Mill City Cooks on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month, weekly yoga (June-September), Storytime with the Guthrie Theater, and Mill City Kids and Power of Produce on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.

Ella and family roll into the MCFM

Q:  What ideas do you have for fostering a sense of community among vendors and customers?

A:  This is my favorite thing about Mill City Farmers Market. I read a statistic from the Farmers Market Coalition that people who shop at farmers markets have 15 to 20 social interactions per visit compared with 1 to 2 social interactions at a grocery store. How cool is that? For me, the ingredients to foster a sense of community are curiosity, respect and good questions. Whether you visit us once a year or each Saturday, you are part of our community and you help us contribute to the growth and sustainability of our local economy. I’m proud of the fact that Mill City Farmers Market is a trusted destination where 175,000 annual customers can buy directly from over 100 small farms, food producers and entrepreneurs located within 50 miles of the Twin Cities.

Q:  Are there any outreach or educational programs you'd like to implement?

A:  Definitely. Through generous support from individuals and businesses in our community, we fund education and outreach for the Mill City Farmers Market through our Charitable Fund. This organizational model allows us to have a greater impact in our community by offering well-established programs to prevent food waste, improve food access, and invest in farmer-led solutions to build a more equitable and sustainable food system. When you donate to the Mill City Farmers Market Charitable Fund you help power our programming and close the gap between program demand and available funding.

Two programs we see an opportunity to grow with incremental funding are: Next Stage Grants and Greens for Good. For example, 32 emerging farmers and food makers applied this year for Next Stage Grants to scale their business operations but we can only fund 40% of these requests at current funding levels. On average, it costs $5,700 to help one emerging farmer unlock financial opportunity for years to come. Another program we’d like to grow is Greens for Good, a weekly food recovery program supported by Augsburg University volunteers and M Health Fairview Health Commons which distributes 10,000 pounds of high-quality surplus produce annually to 40 public housing residents in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood. It would cost $14,500 to increase the program by 50% to meet the community demand for fresh produce. The project costs include farmer compensation at wholesale prices for 10,000 pounds of produce annually, staff support, additional volunteer stipends, additional compostable bags and a translator. 

Q:  How may we stay up to date with MCFM news?

A:  Subscribe to our newsletter! It is a fun read with market news and behind-the-scenes stories every Wednesday. Our communications manager, Maya O’Brien McLeod writes the newsletter and she’s doing something right because we have an above average open rate of 47%. We’re on Instagram and Facebook as well with more regular updates (@millcityfarmersmarket), but the best way to stay up to date with Mill City Farmers Market news is to become a regular shopper. We have one more indoor market inside the Mill City Museum on Saturday, April 20th, and we officially kick off the outdoor market season on Saturday May 4th. Looking forward to seeing you there!