Spring and summer theater includes both new shows and old favorites, including ‘Glensheen’

From the world premiere of a new take on Puccini’s comic opera “Gianni Schicchi” (“Johnny Skeeky”) to familiar favorites like “Glensheen” and “A Year With Frog and Toad,” the coming months have numerous options for live theater and musicals. The lineup includes both touring productions and homegrown shows.

Here’s a look at what’s on tap

‘Skeleton Crew’

Opens May 4: Dominique Morisseau’s drama is set in Detroit during the Great Recession in 2008. The once-gleaming Motor City has lost its luster as four colleagues-turned-friends hear rumors that their plant is facing foreclosure. The final chapter of her acclaimed Detroit trilogy, Morisseau’s work earned three Tony nominations in 2022. Through June 9; Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $82-$29; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

‘MJ’

Opens May 14: This jukebox musical uses Michael Jackson’s biggest hits to tell the story of the late superstar as he was preparing for his 1992 Dangerous World Tour. It opened in December 2021 and and won four Tony Awards, but received mixed reviews, with some critics calling the book by Lynn Nottage bland and preachy. Through May 26: Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; $229-$50; hennepintheatretrust.org.

‘A Jumping Off Point’

Opens April 20: Written by playwright and screenwriter Inda Craig-Galvan (“Will Trent,” “How to Get Away with Murder”), this play follows a promising Black writer who has just landed her first deal with HBO when her white, former classmate Andrew shows up and accuses her of plagiarizing his script. Through May 19; Jungle Theater, 2951 Lyndale Ave., Minneapolis; “pay as you are tickets” ($45 suggested); 612-822-7063 or jungletheater.com.

‘Flex’

Opens April 23: Arkansas playwright, poet and educator Candrice Jones is devoted to writing “love letters for and to women of the American South.” She developed “Flex” at the 2020 Humana Festival of New American Plays. It’s set in 1997 during the inaugural season of the WNBA, when high school champion Starra Jones and her teammates are leaving childhood behind as they make their full-court press into adulthood. Through May 19; Penumbra Theatre, 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul; $45-$20; 651-224-3180 or penumbratheatre.org.

‘A Year With Frog and Toad’

Opens April 23: This Children’s Theatre Company original musical returns for the first time since 2017. Based on Arnold Lobel’s books, it’s the only show from Minnesota to be nominated for three Tony Awards, including best musical. Noting the show will be in its 21st year, writer/lyricist Willie Reale and composer Robert Reale said: “Despite the fact that it is old enough to be welcomed in a saloon, we trust that the innocence and fun of the show will be on full display once again at CTC.” Through June 16; Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis; $87-$15; 612-874-0400 or childrenstheatre.org.

‘Blended (Harmony): The Kim Loo Sisters’

Opens May 4: A co-production with Theater Mu, “Blended” follows the four Kim Loo sisters as they begin their career in Minneapolis during the Jazz Age and move on to perform in vaudeville during the Great Depression and later appear on Broadway and the silver screen. Through May 26; History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul; $74-$64; 651-292-4323 or historytheatre.com.

‘Johnny Skeeky’

Opens May 29: Theater Latte Da presents the world premiere of “Johnny Skeeky; or, the Remedy for Everything,” which was developed through the company’s NEXT new works program. The reimagining of Puccini’s comic opera “Gianni Schicchi” was created and directed by Bradley Greenwald and Steven Epp. Robert Elhai provides orchestrations, with music direction by Sonja Thompson. Through July 7; Ritz Theater, 345 13th Ave. N.E., Minneapolis: $68-$35; 612-339-3003 or latteda.org.

‘Glensheen’

Opens June 20: Jeffrey Hatcher and Chan Poling’s “Glensheen” tells the true-crime story of the 1977 murder of Elisabeth Congdon and her personal care attendant, Velma Pietila, in Duluth’s Glensheen mansion. It is a comedy, but the murder victims are treated with respect and compassion in the show. This will be the History Theatre’s eighth production of the popular musical, which debuted in 2015. Through July 14; History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul; $74-$15; 651-292-4323 or historytheatre.com.

‘Little Shop of Horrors’

Opens June 22: This much-loved musical began life as a low-budget horror comedy directed by Roger Corman (with a young Jack Nicholson in one of his first film roles). The tale of a man-eating plant blossomed into a cult hit that inspired a 1982 musical and, later, a 1986 feature film starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. Through Aug. 18; Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $95-$34; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

‘English’

Opens July 13: In Iran, an educator who perfected her English during a nine-year stint in Britain strictly maintains an English-only method to ensure her four students pass the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with flying colors. Playwright Sanaz Toossi, who was also a writer for the Amazon Prime series “A League of Their Own,” won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2023. Through Aug. 18; Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $82-$29; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.