Elf at the Ordway Theater

Elf is coming to the Ordway Center for Performing Arts for two Holiday shows. The Elf shows will take place on Wednesday 12/5 and Thursday 12/6.

Buy tickets to see Elf at the Ordway:

Elf Tickets 12/5

Elf Tickets 12/6

Elf tickets will fit the bill if you are looking for Holiday gift ideas. Don't wait though, Elf tickets are selling quickly!

Beauty and the Beast Orpheum Theatre Tickets

Disney's Beauty and the Beast is one of this fall's hottest tickets! Beauty and the Beast is performing at the Orpheum Theatre Tuesday 10/16 - Sunday 10/21.

Get your Disney's Beauty and the Beast tickets before they are gone:  Tickets

Theatre Spotlight: Historic State Theatre

Historic State Theatre is part of a trio of theatres located in the Hennepin Theatre District in downtown Minneapolis. Located at 805 Hennepin Ave, the Historic State Theatre is in the heart of downtown boasting wonderful sightlines and great acoustics.

Seating in the theater is very comfortable and spacious. Amenities are well laid out for convenience and there are several great restaurants in the same building or within walking distance. Parking for the Historic State Theatre is easily accessible and ranges from the heated underground parking in the same building to many parking ramps within one block of the theater.

The State Theatre opened on the former site of the Walker family homestead on February 5, 1921. The opening night of the theatre included a silent film, newsreel and travelogue.

The theatre cost approximately one million dollars and was designed by Chicago architect J.E.O. Pridmore. The original floor was all glass, which allowed dramatic direct lighting from underneath. The State Theatre boasted the first well driven air-conditioning system in Minneapolis. The system delivered cool air using artesian well water 840 feet underground.

In 1989, the City of Minneapolis purchased the LaSalle block, which included the State Theatre, for 11 million dollars. The State Theatre went through a three year, 8.8 million dollar renovation project. In 1991, the Historic State Theatre reopened and performed the Minnesota Opera's production of Carousel.

The State Theatre seats 1300 on the main floor, with an additional 850 seats in the balcony area.

Since the reopening in 1991, the State Theatre has hosted live Broadway touring productions and concerts, along with select films. The Hennepin Avenue theatre district atmosphere and the great viewing amenities of the Historic State Theatre, make this venue one of the hottest tickets in town!

Theater Spotlight: Orpheum Theatre

Originally known as the Hennepin, the Orpheum Theatre opened on October 16, 1921. Located at 910 Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota the theatre was designed by the Milwaukee firm of Kirchoff & Rose and cost 1 million dollars to build. Over 70,000 guests came to watch the Marx Brothers perform during opening week.

The Orpheum seats approx 1500 on the main floor, with an additional 1100 seats in the three-level balcony. It's a finely refurbished theatre, with comfortable seating and lovely decor. Both acoustics and sight lines are outstanding.

Throughout the early 1920's, the Orpheum was a major venue for many variety show type entertainers including Jack Benny, Burns & Allen and Fanny Brice. The best seats in the house sold for 47 cents, and children's tickets were only 9 cents. The Orpheum also featured an unheard of playroom and baby-sitting services for small children on the first floor mezzanine lobby. After the 20's, the Orpheum easily changed with the times and became one of the major cinema houses in Minneapolis that we know today. 

Restored to an elegance and beauty before only imagined, the Historic Orpheum Theatre has become the favored stop for touring Broadway blockbusters. This elegantly restored theater successfully hosts Broadway hits and rock superstars with equal ease. Its great location in the Hennepin Theatre district and ability to attract big name shows makes the Orpheum one of the most sought-after tickets in town!

Theater Spotlight: The Guthrie Theater

The Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota is a nationally acclaimed venue and Tony Award winner. The theatre is a unique venue for staging plays and is the result of Sir Tyrone Guthrie's desire for a new kind of theater that would provide an atmosphere which would encourage the production of great works of literature and cultivate actors' talents away from the more commercial environment of Broadway.

The Guthrie Theater has performed in two main-stage facilities. The former building was designed by architect Ralph Rapson and was active from 1963-2006. After relocating, the Guthrie now finds its home in the work of French architect Jean Nouvel's design. It is a 255,000 square foot facility that replicates the former theater's signature thrust stage and includes a new 1,100-seat auditorium, 700-seat proscenium stage, 250-seat studio theater, new classrooms and food service.

Even with the brand new digs, the Guthrie Theatre, now at 818 South Second Street in Minneapolis, is filled with history and tradition. Along with the Guthrie's innovative production philosophy, the theater itself gained a lot of attention by the unique style.

Gear Daddies Tickets Fine Line Minneapolis

The Gear Daddies are coming to the Fine Line on June 16th.

That may seem like a ways away. However, there are only a few tickets left. Yikes! Get a move on!

Varsity Theater Events Calendar

I'm in despair! I need something to do now that summer is here. In search of a fun and promising social scene, I stumbled on some June Varsity Theater events. Might as well!

The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis is hosting great events in the month of June. As a city second only to New York City, Minneapolis Theater productions sell out quickly. I'm giving you a heads up on these events! Take this opportunity to purchase your tickets early!

Anberlin on 6/18 @ 8pm 

The Promise Ring on 6/27 @ 9pm

Neil Diamond to the Xcel Energy Center

Neil Diamond is coming to the Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday, July 11! The concert will kickoff at 8:00pm. Don't wait to move on these great tickets!

 Neil Diamond Tickets

Theater Spotlight: Historic State Theatre

Historic State Theatre is part of a trio of theatres located in the Hennepin Theatre District in downtown Minneapolis. Located at 805 Hennepin Ave, the Historic State Theatre is in the heart of downtown boasting wonderful sightlines and great acoustics.

Seating in the theater is very comfortable and spacious. Amenities are well laid out for convenience and there are several great restaurants in the same building or within walking distance. Parking for the Historic State Theatre is easily accessible and ranges from the heated underground parking in the same building to many parking ramps within one block of the theater.

The State Theatre opened on the former site of the Walker family homestead on February 5, 1921. The opening night of the theatre included a silent film, newsreel and travelogue.

The theatre cost approximately one million dollars and was designed by Chicago architect J.E.O. Pridmore. The original floor was all glass, which allowed dramatic direct lighting from underneath. The State Theatre boasted the first well driven air-conditioning system in Minneapolis. The system delivered cool air using artesian well water 840 feet underground.

In 1989, the City of Minneapolis purchased the LaSalle block, which included the State Theatre, for 11 million dollars. The State Theatre went through a three year, 8.8 million dollar renovation project. In 1991, the Historic State Theatre reopened and performed the Minnesota Opera's production of Carousel.

The State Theatre seats 1300 on the main floor, with an additional 850 seats in the balcony area.

Since the reopening in 1991, the State Theatre has hosted live Broadway touring productions and concerts, along with select films. The Hennepin Avenue theatre district atmosphere and the great viewing amenities of the Historic State Theatre, make this venue one of the hottest tickets in town!

Theater Spotlight: Northrop Memorial Auditorium

The Northrop Memorial Auditorium located on the campus of the University of Minnesota is one of the finest on-campus auditoriums in the nation. Northrop Memorial Auditorium is now the state's largest theater and the largest college campus auditorium in the country. The building was constructed in 1928 on top of a former College of Pharmacy medicinal herb garden. The grand looking gathering place has beautiful white majestic pillars that are now one of the University of Minnesota's major icons and focal points.

Northrop Memorial Auditorium is located at 84 Church St SE in Minneapolis, MN.

The auditorium was named in honor of Cyrus Northrop, the second president of the University (1884-1911). The Northrop was designed by Clarence H. Johnston, a famous local architect.

Donations by University students, faculty/staff, alumni and friends funded the $1.35 million construction. The auditorium was built to be used as the University's central ceremonial site with commencements, lectures, convocations, and performances. The Northrop was built with 4,800 seats, this capacity allowing the entire student body of that day to be assembled under one roof.

The Northrop Auditorium is a classy intimate venue to see a good show. The limited number of seats in the Northrop Memorial Auditorium make tickets to music headliners a much sought after commodity.

Theater Spotlight: Ordway Center of Performing Arts

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is an independent, nonprofit arts organization located at 345 Washington Street in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Ordway Center has two venues, a 1,900-seat Main Hall and an intimate 306-seat McKnight Theatre.

In 1980, Saint Paul resident Sally Ordway Irvine challenged her community to help her create a performing arts venue in which her dream of offering "everything from opera to the Russian circus" could be realized. She set an example by making the first donation to a fund that eventually built Ordway Center.

The Ordway cost a total of 46 million dollars to build. Sally Ordway Irvine contributed a total of 7.5 million dollars and her family graciously matched that amount. The Ordway name comes from Sally's grandfather, Lucius Pond Ordway (1862-1948), a Saint Paul businessperson and early investor of 3M. The Center of Performing Arts was added to the Ordway name in January 2000, to reflect and embrace the multitude of performing arts available to the community.

The Ordway Music Theatre opened to the public on January 1, 1985. Throughout its existence, the Ordway Center has maintained Sally's vision of advocating the importance of arts for society by offering a busy schedule of theater, dance, music, family events, and educational programs.

Four organizations call the Ordway home: the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Opera, the Schubert Club and the St. Paul series of the Minnesota Orchestra. Touring plays, the Planet Ordway series of performance arts and other arts events fill out the schedule.

The Center is top notch and offers amenities like no other event theatre. The large, inviting front doors of Ordway Center are opened by a smiling greeter in a top hat and concessionaires serve you the finest in treats. Ushers formally show you to your seats and the entire staff is committed to providing the finest performing arts experience possible to its many patrons.

Theater Spotlight: The Fitzgerald Theatre

The Fitzgerald Theater is Saint Paul's oldest surviving theater space. It opened in 1910 at 45 Exchange Street East and was originally named the Sam S. Shubert Theater. The Fitzgerald was one of four memorial theaters erected by entertainment-industry leaders Lee and J. J. Shubert after the death of their brother Sam. In 1933, the Fitzgerald Theater became a movie house screening foreign films and was thus christened the World Theater.

Minnesota Public Radio purchased the theater in 1980 and restored it in 1986 for their live radio program, A Prairie Home Companion® with Garrison Keillor. The theater was again renamed in 1994, this time for author F. Scott Fitzgerald, a native of Saint Paul. Over the years, the Fitzgerald's stage has played host to Broadway musicals, vaudeville shows, film festivals, and concerts of all sorts.

When the Fitzgerald first opened it was hailed as one of the most beautiful theaters of its day. The Fitzgerald Theatre seats 996 and is one of those treasures of theater construction known as a "two-balcony dramatic house," of which only a few remain across the country. Audiences are provided a unique sense of intimacy as no seat is farther than 87 feet from the stage.

The lobby opens to a beautiful Beaux Arts interior with red plush seats that are of a hue found only in elegant theaters of the same era. Eight opera boxes curve gently toward the stage, each backed by a privacy curtain made from the same burgundy velour used to make the stage curtain.

Fitzgerald Theatre is one of the Twin Cities' exemplary theaters, with admirable acoustics and three tiers of seating plus a collection of opera boxes. The theater's many assets make it popular with touring acts that could probably sell out much larger venues. If a show at the Fitzgerald interests you, don't wait to purchase Fitzgerald event tickets -- this intimate location is known for its fast ticket sell outs.

Upcoming Fitzgerald Theater Events

Take a peak at the upcoming Fitzgerald Theater events!

Andy Richter on 4/13 @ 8pm

Pink Martini on 4/17 @ 730pm

Adam Carolla on 4/21 @ 7pm

Fred Willard & Dan Wilson on 4/27 @ 8pm

Mamma Mia! at the Orpheum

Looking to score some Mamma Mia! tickets? Got 'em!

Mamma Mia! is performing at the Orpheum Theater.

Blind Date at Mckight Theatre at the Ordway

Looking for the perfect romantic, yet fun date night? Check out Blind Date!

Blind Date will be performing various times and days at the Mcknight Theatre at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts.

Check it out!

Upcoming Ticket King Events

Here are some great events coming to the Varsity Theater in the next week:

4/19 - Howler @ 8:30pm
4/23 - Beatuiful Freaks Tour: Hot Chelle Rae @ TBD
4/26 - Lights @ TBD
4/28 - Fountains of Wayne @ 8:00pm
5/2 - He is We @ TBD

Check out these events!!

Florence and the Machine to the State Theatre

I know, I know. Florence and the Machine isn't theatre, but since the group will be performing at the Historic State Theatre, I thought you should know!

Florence And The Machine will be coming to the State Theatre on Friday, April 27 and the show is NOT yet SOLD OUT.

Florence And The Machine will be touring in support of the band's second and latest CD, Ceremonials. Blood Orange will also perform as the band's special guest.

Don't miss your chance to catch Florence And The Machine at the State Theatre in Minneapolis.

Upcoming Minneapolis Theatre

I'm still reeling from how great The Lion King was and am on the prowl for some more great Minneapolis theater. Take a look at some of the upcoming events I found:

Dropkick Murphys - First Avenue (2/25)

The Del Fuegos - Varsity Theater (2/28)

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles - Orpheum Theatre (3/3-4)

Want more from where that came from? Check out some local inventory.

Lion King at the Orpheum

I went to see the Lion King at the Orpheum on Saturday and, wow, it was amazing!

The opening scene actually gave me shivers as the cast performed to a T the opening portion of the Lion King where Simba is introduced at Pride Rock. The stage, as well as the isles, were filled with life-like animals as the theater was encompassed with amazing sound.

Seeing the Lion King makes me want to see Beauty and the Beast even more when it comes in the fall!

A Prairie Home Companion

Mark your calendars! A Prairie Home Companion: Garrison Keillor Live Broadcast will be coming to the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul on February 11.

Garrison Keillor is always a great show and, as a Minnesota favorite, will likely be packed! If you haven't been to A Prairie Home Companion yet, you definitely won't want to miss it.

Ten Reasons to Visit Saint Paul

The Pop Traveler recently published a list of ten reasons to visit Minneapolis-Saint Paul! Here they are:

1. First Avenue

First Avenue is one of the best concert venues in the country. Take a look at the 'wall of fame' and see all the names of bands that have played at First Ave. First Ave is a symbol of the great local music scene.

2. Minneapolis Institute of Arts

There are nearly 60 museums in the area, with only Chicago and D.C. boasting more. However, the MIA is probably the best!

3. The lakes

Though our license plates lie... we actually have around 12,000 lakes, the truth still holds - our lakes are gorgeous!

4. Target

Minnesota is the home of the first-ever Target.

5. Skyways

Both Minneapolis and Saint Paul have miles of skyways that hide us from the (sometimes) crappy Minnesota weather.

6. Hennepin Theatre Trust

There are some 30 theater companies in town, but along Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis sit four of the most iconic and historic structures.

7. Local brews

We love our beer! It is no surprise that more and more local breweries keep popping up around the cities.

8. Public art

9. Authors and screenwriters

10. Jucy Lucy

We love our burgers!

What is your favorite thing about Minneapolis-Saint Paul? Is it the theatre scene? That's our favorite!

Foreigner State Theatre Minneapolis cancelled

The Foreigner concert that was to take place at the Minneapolis State Theatre on Friday February 20th has been cancelled with no rescheduled date. If you have tickets, contact your place of purchase to find out how to get a refund!

Burnsville Performing Arts Center calendar

The Burnsville Performing Arts Center has been around for a few years now, and is really picking up speed in the amount and class of the events that take place there!

The Burnsville Performing Arts Center calendar of events hosts an array of acts. Check out the Burnsville Performing Arts Center schedule below! I believe most Burnsville Performing Arts Center tickets can be purchased directly from the box office, still! A perk of a small venue that not a lot of people know about!

Tim Patrick and His Blue Eyes Band 2/11
Dakota Valley Symphony: Four Choirs Festival 2/12
Almost Maine 2/24 through3/11
Tinh Anh Linh Chien 2/26, two shows
The Spencers: Theater of Illusion 3/8

Keep checking back at my blog for a Burnsville Performing Arts Center schedule that will include dates after March!

American Idiot musical tour dates and review

The story of American Idiot the musical is based on the band Green Day's concept album of the same name. The musical, expanded from the concept album, revolves around three disaffected young men, Johnny, Will and Tunny. Johnny and Tunny leave their suburbia and parents to look for meaning in life and find the excitement of the city. Will stays in their hometown with his pregnant girlfriend.

American Idiot won two Tony Awards in 2010; Best Scenic Design of a Musical and Best Lighting Design of a Musical. American Idiot was nominated for Best Musical and won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

The American Idiot tour calendar is as follows:

Toronto, ON
December 28-January 15, 2012

Detroit, MI
January 17-22, 2012

Boston, MA
January 24-29, 2012

Raleigh, NC
January 31-February 5, 2012

Chicago, IL
February 7-19, 2012

Minneapolis, MN
February 21-26, 2012

State College, PA
February 28-29, 2012

St. Louis, MO
March 2-4, 2012

Denver, CO
March 6-11, 2012

LA, CA
March 13-April 22, 2012

Tempe, AZ
April 24-29, 2012

Dallas, Tx
May 8-20, 2012

Costa Mesa, CA
May 29-June 3, 2012

Seattle, WA
June 5-10, 2012

San Fran, CA
June 12-July8, 2012

Minneapolis State Theatre Million Dollar Quartet tickets

Million Dollar Quartet will play at the Minneapolis State Theatre from March 27 through April 1, 2012. Tickets went on sale, and Ticket King has awesome tickets available!

The Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet is inspired by the true story of the famed recording session that brought together rock n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. It happened on December 4, 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis. Sam Phillips, known as the "Father of Rock n' Roll" pulled these four singers together for an amazing jam session.

With the making of this musical, Million Dollar Quartet allows you into that night, telling a tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal and celebrations. You'll hear the big-time hits such as "Blue Suede Shoes," "Fever," "Great Balls of Fire," "I Walk the Line," and "Folsom Prison Blues," among others.

If you're a fan of these musicians and 50s Rock n' Roll, this is a must see Broadway Musical for you!