Each week, our Datebook series shares arts features and fun things to do around the Twin Cities. The pulse of any community beats through its culture—and 2024 was one for the books. I’m still thinking about Perennial Optimism 2.0, artist David Dow’s February exhibition in the tiny Joe McCauley Gallery at Heartland Community College that…

The New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC) is setting up to keep its doors wide open for culture enthusiasts in the early stages of 2025. With a lineup that suggests a nod to diverse tastes and artistic dispositions, the center’s schedule for January and February boasts a variety of performances aimed to entertain a broad…

Students from P.S. 007Q Louis F. Simeone in Elmhurst Photo Credit: Elena Olivo Sign up for our QNS email newsletter to get news, updates, and local insights delivered straight to your inbox! Inside Broadway hosted its biannual program, Creating the Magic, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, offering students a behind-the-scenes look at the new musical adaptation…

With uncertainty and anxiety all around us, it’s comforting to think that Pegasus Theatre Chicago’s Young Playwrights Festival perseveres. Now in its 38th season of recognizing original work for the stage created by Chicago high school students, the festival has, for many years, been the first show out of the gate in the new year.…

CHESTER SPRINGS, PA —  Kick off the new year with Legally Blonde, a fabulously fun award-winning musical based on the adored movie. Legally Blonde The Musical follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Action-packed and exploding with memorable songs and dynamic dances – this musical…

The Directors of Scena Theatre continue their 37th Season in DC with a powerful classical drama, AJAX by Greece’s legendary writer and philosopher, Sophocles. This dynamic drama from the 5th Century B.C. is modernized and reset in the Middle East of today with powerful commentary on the never-ending U.S. war experience overseas. John Tipton’s acclaimed translation…

Sure, many of us have had Christmas covers on repeat lately, but I’ve also been playing the soundtrack and score of the still-brilliant 1994 movie “The Lion King” (because I’m writing something about its sequel/prequel, in theaters today). I’m staff writer Ashley Lee, putting my little listening party on pause to bring you another edition…

One of the most popular movie franchises ever made is now coming to life on stage as Back to the Future: The Musical is touring the United States. In late January the musical will open in Denver at the Buell Theatre and tickets are already on sale. Ahead of the show’s stand at the Denver…

I have been a theater critic and performing arts writer for nearly 20 years. I’ve seen theatrical productions all around the country — from Atlanta to Houston to Los Angeles to Chicago. I’ve seen live shows in Canada and Germany. However, until fall of 2023, I had never been to New York or seen a…