Fall arts guide: See new musicals based on the songs of Bob Dylan and the life of Harold Stassen

Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press
·4 min read

From “Beetlejuice” to a new Bob Dylan musical, the coming months have numerous options for live theater and musicals. The lineup includes a pair of world premieres, “For the People” and “Re-Memori,” and “The Boy Wonder,” a musical about the late Minnesota governor Harold Stassen.

Here’s a look at what’s on tap.

‘The Importance of Being Earnest’

Oscar Wilde’s most enduring work, the full name of which is “The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” was first performed in February 1895. It’s a farcical comedy that pokes fun at the institution of marriage and the social conventions of late Victorian London. Through Oct. 15; Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $82-$29; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

‘Cookin”

Opens Sept. 12: Directed by Seung-Whan Song, “Cookin'” features four Korean cooks in a cooking competition who “put on a masterful display of food chopping, knife throwing, pot banging and fire-blowing wizardry.” Said Song: “I hope you will feel the freedom from the unique rhythm of Korea and, through the comedy on stage, also feel the great pleasure of getting away from your daily life.” Through Oct. 22; Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis; $77-$15; 612-874-0400 or childrenstheatre.org.

‘Beetlejuice’

Opens Sept. 19: This musical adaptation of Tim Burton’s 1988 film “Beetlejuice” follows a deceased couple who are haunting their former home and summon a “bio-exorcist” ghost named Betelgeuse to help chase away the family who has moved in. It opened on Broadway in April 2019, closed during pandemic lockdown and reopened for another nine months. Through Sept. 24: Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; $199-$99; hennepintheatretrust.org.

‘Falsettos’

Opens Sept. 20: This contemporary musical is set at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic and covers family, relationships, baseball and bar mitzvahs. The original 1992 production won Tonys for best book and best original score, and it enjoyed a successful 2016 revival that was filmed for PBS’ “Live from Lincoln Center.” Through Nov. 5; Ritz Theater, 345 13th Ave. N.E., Minneapolis: $77-$35; 612-339-3003 or latteda.org.

‘The Boy Wonder’

Opens Oct. 7: Written by Keith Hovis, this musical tells the story of the “boy wonder” Harold Stassen, who was elected the youngest governor of Minnesota in 1938. It explores his relationship with his wife, the birth of the United Nations and the impact he made here in Minnesota and beyond. Through Oct. 29; History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul; $77-$64; 651-292-4323 or historytheatre.com.

‘For the People’

Opens Oct. 7: Set in Minneapolis, his world premiere comedy follows April Dakota as she opens a wellness center on Franklin Avenue to serve the Indigenous community in the heart of her hometown. It draws on Minneapolis’ rich Dakota and Ojibwe heritage and examines the myriad facets of contemporary Native life. Through Nov. 12; Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $82-$29; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

‘Girl from the North Country’

Opens Oct. 8: Written by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, “Girl from the North Country” is set in 1934 Duluth as America is in the grip of the Great Depression. It debuted in London in 2017 to much acclaim, with the Evening Standard calling it “beguiling and soulful and quietly, exquisitely, heartbreaking. This is, in short, a very special piece of theater.” The musical opened on Broadway in 2020 and the new touring version makes its debut in Minneapolis. McPherson is set to write and direct a film adaptation with Olivia Colman, Woody Harrelson, Chloe Bailey and Tosin Cole starring. Through Oct. 14: Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; $159-$40; hennepintheatretrust.org.

‘Re-Memori’

Opens Oct. 10: Directed by Chris Berry, this world premiere of Nambi E. Kelley’s one-woman show fuses personal stories with American history, from enslavement to Black Lives Matter, and asks “Are the struggles of our ancestors ever really in the past?” Through Nov. 5; Penumbra Theatre Company, 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul; $45-$20; 651-224-3180 or penumbratheatre.org.

‘Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress’

Opens Oct. 10: Based on the book by Christine Baldacchino and Isabelle Malenfant, trans playwright Juliany Taveras wrote this piece about young Morris, who likes doing puzzles, painting pictures, pretending to be an astronaut and wearing a dress from his school’s costume box. Through Nov. 19; Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis; $72-$15; 612-874-0400 or childrenstheatre.org.

‘Company’

Opens Nov. 14: Stephen Sondheim’s 1970 musical “Company” was groundbreaking at the time thanks to it tackling contemporary dating, marriage and divorce, largely new topics for Broadway. It follows a bachelor and his married friends, who throw him a birthday party. It won six Tony Awards and the successful 2021 revival — which switches the main character to a woman — won five more. Through Nov. 19: Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; tickets currently available to season subscribers; hennepintheatretrust.org.

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