The bad. I just returned from the Fitzgerald theatre, to watch the Cowboy Junkies. A musical…read morerevival. Unfortunately, people who didn't realize the importance of the history of this seminal musical group. I was astonished by the audience, not understanding the importance of this musical genre. I was moving to the music, although it appeared that this section of Minnesota was not interested in this musical quality of the artist. And people around me were Minnesota'nice'. I understand what Minnesota nice is : ambivalence and lack of respect, for anyone is not in 'their' group!

Beautiful historic theater in St. Paul! We went here to see Sesame Street live with our son, and…read morethe sound, stage, our seats were all perfect. Last year we went to see Labyrinth live in concert and had balcony seats which was also a great view from afar. If you can see a show here I highly recommend it.

I haven't been to the Penumbra in yearssssss, so this was a wonderful way to be reintroduced to the…read moretheatre. Tiffany Johnson, Sr. Marketing Director, put together a soirée before the show of live music, drinks and food. Definitely a nice touch upon entering. Once we were seated for the show, I was entertained from beginning to end! Black Nativity was "black story telling" at it's best. Most people know the story of the birth of Jesus, which isn't a very long story in the Bible that lasts possibly 1 chapter. To make a story that you already know a two hour story, through narrator, holiday and church songs is AMAZING! The narrator, Jennifer Whitlock, had this rich, full speaking voice that captivated me throughout the show. Her speaking voice commanded attention, without taking away from the songbirds. Ms. Greta Oglesby had such an amazing voice. Her voice was so powerful, with depth and range and she and Mr. Dennis Spears were a great pair. Mr. Spears, a complete performer, with song and DANCE. You can see how much these two love music and sore in their field. Everyone was amazing and they "took us to church!" The dancers made us "feel" the story thru dance. Great seats no matter where you sit. Thoroughly enjoyed the Penumbra.

Saw "Wedding Band" last night. This is a powerful, painful piece. The acting was such that it…read moredidn't feel like I was watching people on stage. It was like watching parts of my own life play out before me. The theater is small and comfortable. So intimate that the audience cannot help but to be immersed in the drama unfolding just a few feet away. There are no bad seats in the house. My girlfriend and I were late (took too much time at dinner at The Happy Gnome) and were seated in the back. We were able to move to our seats during intermission. I actually liked the seats in the back better because it was a look straight onto the stage. Our seats were to the right. Again, not bad. I just liked the other view a bit better. Everyone with whom we interacted were nice and welcoming. This was my first time here and I plan to return.

I've been an enthusiastic audience member for several shows at Art House North presented by Bucket…read moreBrigade Theater. This is a small theater company in a small space, but the experience is always a big deal. The work is well done, the cast members in the several productions I've seen are so talented. The shows are original works and include drama and comedy -- often with music. This past weekend I saw "Survivors of the Fire," which was about the great Hinkley fire. Really a creative and well done show. A memorable experience. Upcoming shows are "Till Death," and "Joyful Noise." If you're looking for a really sweet and different date night and enjoy small theater and original story telling, grab a seat here! This company lives and breaths this stuff. They even run kids theater camps in the summer. Online ticket ordering is easy, parking is close and on the street. Every production begins with free treats and coffee in the lower level will-call area. The best part is you get to support small theater, relevant storytelling, and an original experience.

We had an enjoyable evening seeing "The Rootbeer Lady" at the History Theatre…read more The ushers and attendants were eager to help and the seating was comfortable (I am a bigger guy and theater seating can get snug) We were able to hear everything and there was no obstructed view. The play itself was well done...I went in thinking that a one lady play was going to have a hard time entertaining for 90 minutes...but I was surprised. I would recommend that you take the time to see this play.

Had a great time at The Root Beer Lady production. I've loved this story for years and to see it on…read morestage made it even more special. Kim Schultz (aka Dorothy Molter) did an amazing job as a one-woman show. The set felt so nostalgic and brought a tear to my eye. I've never been to the History Theater before and was pleasantly surprised by this little gem. Thanks for selling Dorothy's root beer too. Bravo!!

We attended Circus Juventas' Blizzard show this week. I wasn't sure what to expect having only seen…read moreone Cirque du Soleil show. What I didn't expect this to be was a show put on by kids! WOW! Blizzard was a culmination of several Christmas stories using the setting of Santa's Workshop. Christmas play meets Cirque du Soleil. These kids are no joke! The acting, strength, and fearlessness of these kids is amazing! If you weren't sure it's worth going don't, go! Bring your family and support these talented kids. Looking forward to seeing more of these shows in the future.

Over the past 8 years, the summer performance of Circus Juventas has become part of our annual…read moretradition. It's amazing that kids are the performers - given the incredible feats of strength, discipline and flexibility. Tickets in advance are recommended. Over the 8 years, they've increased from $20 to $40. Tickets can be purchased online about a month in advance of the show. The big top is an amazing venue. Parking is a bit tricky so plan in advance. Extra bathrooms and porta potties are brought in for the events. Concessions and programs are available. The seats are bench with a cushioned pad. After a bit they are tough for the full performance. With intermission, it's a good three hour performance. We've always been blown away! Highly recommend and will continue to return.

How have I never reviewed the Ordway?! I come here often enough and for long enough…read more This is one of my favorite venues in the Twin Cities for theater. Seats are comfortable and have good leg room and not really a bad seat in the place. I also love the addition of the concert hall for smaller events. Staff are always helpful and friendly. The bars always do a fun drink that rotates for the show at the time. Do yourself a favor and pre-order a drink for intermission if you plan to have refreshments at that time. The one drawback here is parking. The ramps aren't super close (although, they're within an easy walk) and street parking in this area is always chaos, so give yourself plenty of time before your show to find space. If you haven't had the chance to enjoy and event here, get yourself to the Ordway!

We've been coming to the Ordway for years! It's definitely my preferred theater in the Cities!…read more Parking is a bit of a toss-up...here are my go-tos: hope for a miracle and get street parking, pay a little more and get a spot in a nearby garage, get a bite beforehand at the St. Paul Grill and use their Valet :) The space itself is very modern and clean! I actually like that it is updated and not a "historic" theater. You don't have steep staircases, old bathrooms, or impossibly tight leg room! Tickets are usually reasonably priced, and my favorite "cheat code" is to buy the "limited view" seats in the front corners, as they are significantly discounted, and often only have a minimal disruption in the view. Staff is always friendly and excited to welcome you to the show! They have snacks, coffee, and alcoholic drinks available for purchase, but often frown upon you bringing it into the theater with you, so plan ahead and get there before the show to enjoy!

I came here with my partner to watch "The Butler Did It". It's a great theatre in downtown St…read more Paul. The show itself was excellent, although I didn't understand all the references. The actors were very talented and I could tell the writer had a love for this inverse detective genre. It is a bit sad how quiet downtown St Paul is now, but I appreciated that the theatre was trying to partner with local businesses with som coupons to encourage you to patronize not just them. The show also seemed to have great attendance! Parking was not too bad. There are many lots in the area. I would not use ParkHero if you're going on a weekday -- it's not too busy and it's cheaper to pay at any of the downtown lots rather than reserving through the app.

I was super-impressed by both the theatre and the fantastic performance of the Chorus Line! The…read moreacting, staging, and performing were extremely high quality and it reminds me how strong the theatre is in the Twin Cities. Although there were four understudies taking on roles the night of this particular performance, I think they all did a fantastic job. The singing was professional, as well as the dancing. What a difficult thing to pull off successfully. Congratulations. We had fantastic seats, but it appeared that the sightlines would be good from most seats because of the good banking of the rows. I hope you have a fantastic run with this production!

If you're looking for a family friendly activity to do, check out this place. This is a small and…read morecozy theater with leg space (or at least the roll I sat in). They put on great shows. The sound and audio was great. But parking is very limited and strictly street parking only.

We saw a lot of shows this holiday season, and I'm pleased as punch that kid #1 chose "The Best…read moreChristmas Pageant Ever" as her favorite! We've been to Steppingstone several times, and the pattern is typically the same. All great kids doing simple but super entertaining theater. The theater itself is fabulous. I think maybe it was a temple in a previous life? It is a little drafty inside. I didnt want to buy discount tickets from one of those websites that charge the business so much, but I did use my Science Museum membership for a small discount online. The tickets seem to always have a coupon for a free kids meal at Salut, so that's a nice bonus too!