Since Valentine’s Day falls on a weekday this year, holiday festivities are starting a bit early over the weekend– and there are plenty of worthy events out there for you to choose from. For one, you have time to admire the talent of singer/actor Greta Oglesby, whose autobiographical play is currently running at the History Theatre. Or you might consider a mix of cinema and live music, with Philip Shorey’s new accompaniment to the 1925 “The Phantom of the Opera” film. Music offerings this weekend include two nights of The Cedar Commissions, in addition to The Kills coming to Minneapolis on Monday. You also may enjoy stopping by Bockley Gallery for Andrea Carlson’s 5th solo exhibition at the gallery. 

Handprints

One of the special treats of Greta Oglesby’s autobiographical show, “Handprints,” at The History Theatre, comes in the second half, when she’s sharing her experiences as a performer. As she brings the audience along on a journey through her career, she gives little tastes of the iconic characters she’s played on stages like The Goodman Theatre in Chicago and The Guthrie Theater. In some cases, it’s been years since she’s performed in some of the plays, like “Gem of the Ocean,” by August Wilson, which she originated in 2003, and “Caroline, Or Change,” which won her an Ivey award in 2009. And yet at the History Theatre, she transforms in the characters so completely as if no time has passed, and the characters she played are still a part of her.

Developed from Oglesby’s written memoir and directed by The History Theatre’s artistic director Richard D. Thompson, “Handprints” in a lot of ways acts as a one-person show, though Dennis Spears frequently joins Oglesby on stage to perform as various people in her life. She also utilizes soft puppets to dialogue with other characters as well. Mostly, she operates the puppets herself, though on at least on one occasion, it was operated by the person helping to change the set. She’s accompanied throughout by music director Sanford Moore at the keyboard. 

Beginning with her childhood experiences, Oglesby outlines the people and experiences that informed her both as a person and as an artist. In a lot of ways, “Handprints” is a very intimate work. It’s a rather unique look at the artist’s process, by illustrating how the moments in one person’s life shape their artistry. Thursday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m., and Sun, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m., through February 18 at The History Theatre. ($25-$64). More information here. 

Phantom of the Opera

Local composer Philip Shorey takes on the 1925 silent film version of “The Phantom of the Opera” with a new score performed live by Curse of the Vampire Orchestra.  In the last 5 years, the group has accompanied other silver screen classics like “Nosferatu,” and Charlie Chaplin’s “The Kids,” performing across the country and internationally, including Minneapolis. 

For Shorey’s new composition, he focuses on the story of Christine in his adaption of the Universal Pictures film, itself based on Gaston Leroux’s novel from 1910 (all predating Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway version). This weekend’s three screenings/live performances will mark the new music’s world premiere. Friday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m., at the Granada Theater, ($25-$150). More information here.

Andrea Carlson: Perpetual Sarah 

Andrea Carlson returns to Bockley Gallery for the artist’s fifth exhibition at the space, showing new works on paper from three different series. A former Twin Cities resident, Carlson has been making waves in Chicago as of late, earning a Creative Capital fellowship in 2023 and a United States Artist Visual Art Fellowship in 2022. She helped co-found the new Center for Native Futures, and she’s been engaged in big public artwork projects, including one on the High Line in New York, co-commissioned by The Whitney Museum of Art, and one on Chicago’s Riverwalk, called “You are on Potawatomi Land.” In the next couple of years, she’ll be featured in solo exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art in 2024 and The Denver Art Museum in 2025. 

At Bockley, Carlson shares work from “VORE,” “L’Assomption Sash for Carrying Things that No Longer Exist,” and “Perpetual Sarah.” Deeply intellectual, dizzyingly detailed, and engaging with everything from power and mainstream culture to Indigenous sovereignty, Carlson’s artworks pop with energy and ideas. It’s on view through March 16, with an artist walk through Saturday, Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. and a public reception Saturday, Feb. 10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (free). More information here.

Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre: The Conference of the Birds

Less than 15 years after the Cowles Center opened as a flagship center for dance and performing arts in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, the venue announced that it will be closing at the end of March. It’s still operating this month, however, and this weekend is a chance to experience the beautiful building (renovated out of the old Schubert Theater) as Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre performs its adaptation of the ancient Sufi poem, “The Conference of the Birds.” Zorongo’s artistic director Susana di Palma collaborated with local choreographer Darrius Strong for the work, set to original music performed by flamenco composer and guitarist Juanito Pascual. Saturday night’s performance also features a performance by young dancers from the FAIR school for the arts. Saturday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Sun., Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. at The Cowles Center ($35, Pay as you are Sunday). More information here. 

The Cedar Commissions 

Aerial silk performance set to country songs, hip hop infused R&B and jazz, folk songs set to Yiddish poems, Afro-Indigenous instruments paired with experimental jazz and blues, Viet-punk jams and Ukrainian resilience are all on the docket for this year’s Cedar Commissions. It’s two evenings filled with brand new music created by The Cedar Cultural Center’s commissioned artists. The cohort of artists have been developing their work and collaborations in the rigorous program, presenting the world premieres at the Cedar this weekend. Friday will see works by RZ Shahid, McKain Lakey, and YEV. Then on Saturday night, take in what Sarah Larsson, Lady Xøk, and Tri Vo have been putting together. Feb 9, and Saturday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at The Cedar. ($15, $25 two show pass.) More information here.

The Kills 

There’s a certain retro sound to The Kills’ latest album, “God Games” released in 2023. There are echoes in the music of The White Stripes and similar bands of the early 2000s, and you can also hear a bit of Sonic Youth in the gutsy voice of Alison “VV” Mossheart. She plays with co-founder Jamie “Hotel” Hince, a British guitarist (who, as a side note, was married to Kate Moss), who had to re-learn how to make music after he lost one of his fingers in an accident. They got back together in 2022 after a 6 year hiatus, and will make a stop in Minneapolis as part of their album tour. The Paranoyds open for them Monday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. at First Ave. ($42.50). More information here.