Theater, St. Paul Style

Where to get your theater fix east of the river, and what to see this season

SteppingStone Theatre's 'Almost to Freedom' is a story of slavery and the Underground Railroad seen through the eyes of a rag doll.

Image credit: SteppingStone Theatre

By: Lauren Peck |   February 2012   |  From the print edition

If your idea of local theater only conjures up images of shining lights along Hennepin Avenue and Fringe Festival venues tucked away in dark corners of the West Bank, maybe it’s time to expand your horizons. St. Paul’s theater scene is not only alive and well; it’s thriving. In December, the Ordway announced a $75 million plan to turn its McKnight Theatre into a 1,100-seat concert hall, and Park Square Theatre is in the last stages of a campaign to raise money for an additional 200-seat thrust stage. The groundbreaking work of Penumbra Theatre’s award-winning founder and artistic director, Lou Bellamy, was even lauded on NBC’s news-magazine show Rock Center last December.

While theaters east of the river tend to be on the smaller side, the city’s vast selection of niches (everything from Asian American culture to new musical theater is represented) gives St. Paul enough clout to rival its sister city any day of the week. Here’s the lowdown on where to go and what to see this year.

1. Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; 651.282.3000; ordway.org

The biggest and best-known member of the St. Paul theater community is home to a variety of talented arts organizations, including the Ordway, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera and the Schubert Club.

What’s next: Blind Date, starring Rebecca Northan as a Parisian temptress who goes on a date with a different man from the audience each night, 2/2–4/1/12.

2. Park Square Theatre, 20 W. 7th Pl., St. Paul; 651.291.7005; parksquaretheatre.org

Park Square has been around for more than 35 years, and has become one of the best places to find local talent. This Broadway-inspired season has featured a breathtaking collection of productions and currently boasts the musical Ragtime, the theater’s largest production ever.

What’s next: American Family, 3/16–4/7/12.

3. Theatre Pro Rata, 2400 University Ave., St. Paul; 612.874.9321; theatreprorata.org

Founded in 2000, this small company is now a staple of the St. Paul scene. The company performs mainly out of the Gremlin Theatre and produces everything from classics like Shakespeare and Beckett to the new and unconventional like 2010’s Traveling Light, which was staged in a cemetery. It also works to make theater more accessible by offering sliding-scale tickets.

What’s next: T Bone N Weasel, 3/3-3/18/12.

4. Mu Performing Arts, 651.789.1012; muperformingarts.org

While it doesn’t have a space of its own, Mu stages a variety of productions around the Twin Cities. The company began in 1992 to create a space for Asian American artists and culture and since then has premiered many new works. Mu doesn’t limit itself to theater either; it also hosts its own taiko drumming ensemble, Mu Daiko, and offers taiko classes.

What’s next: Mu Daiko’s 15th-anniversary concert at the Ordway’s McKnight Theatre, 2/10-2/19/12.

5. SteppingStone Theatre, 55 Victoria St. N., St. Paul; 651.225.9265; steppingstonetheatre.org

For kids interested in theater, SteppingStone is the place to go. Since its start in 1987, SteppingStone has given children ages 8 to 18 the chance to perfect their skills on stage. The theater offers shows for kids by kids, like A Little Princess and The Stinky Cheese Man.

What’s next: Almost to Freedom, a story of slavery and the Underground Railroad seen through the eyes of a rag doll. 2/3-2/26/12

6. History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul; 651.292.4323; historytheatre.com

History Theatre has provided links between American history and the present day for nearly 35 years, covering everything from Buddy Holly to the Civil War. Don’t miss Sample Night Live, a preview of a dozen new performing arts events, the first Wednesday of the month.

What’s next: 1968: The Year That Rocked the World, through 2/19. Coco’s Diary, 3/3-3/25/12.

7. Penumbra Theatre, 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul; 651.224.3180; penumbratheatre.org

Founded in 1976, Penumbra focuses on presenting African American voices through productions like its well-loved Black Nativity. As of press time, Penumbra was forced to cancel two of its spring shows due to financial issues. While the absence of Penumbra productions until May is unfortunate, the theater’s staff and board are spending the downtime retooling the theater, so here’s hoping Penumbra comes back stronger than ever in 2012.

What’s next: The Amen Corner by James Baldwin (at the Guthrie Theater), 5/11–6/17/12.

8. Blank Slate Theatre, 499 Wacouta St., St. Paul; 612.481.2234; blankslatetheatre.com

Psychotherapist Adam Arnold started Blank Slate in 2007 after conducting art therapy at a residential treatment facility for teenagers and discovering the positive effect theater had. Blank Slate offers classes and workshops for students of all abilities between ages 12 and 20, describing itself as a theater for social change. Productions take a serious look at topics like bullying and mental illness.

What’s next: No. 11 (Blue and White), a bitterly funny drama about a high-school girl who defends her best friend after he’s accused of rape, 4/27–5/5/12.   

9. Teatro del Pueblo, 651.225.8106; teatrodelpueblo.org
This Latino-centric company started in 1992 on the west side of St. Paul. Productions have included Oedipus el Rey (a twist on Oedipus the King) as well as original productions in Spanish and English at theaters around the Twin Cities. Teatro del Pueblo also produces the annual Political Theatre Festival in collaboration with other theaters around the Twin Cities.

What’s next: In collaboration with Pangea World Theater, Teatro del Pueblo will stage The House on Mango Street at the Southern Theater, 4/12–4/28/12.

10. Actors Theater of Minnesota, 16 W. 5th St., St. Paul; 651.290.2290; actorsmn.org 

Infamous for humorous shows like Deer Camp the Musical and Bye, Bye Liver, the Actors Theater combines sketch comedy, dinner theater and cabaret. Shows take place at the Lowry Theater and the Cabaret Theater at CAMP Bar.

What’s next: Actor and writer Leslie Jordan’s one-man show at CAMP Bar, 2/23–2/25/12.  

11. Skylark Opera, 312 N. Hamline Ave., St. Paul; 651.292.4309; skylarkopera.org

Skylark has consistently performed a wide range of opera, operetta and musical theater. Housed at Concordia University, Skylark features local singers and holds free concerts at the Landmark Center devoted to the likes of George Gershwin, as well as an annual summer opera festival. And for those who are a little scared of traditional opera, Skylark performs all of its pieces in English.

What’s next: The 5th Annual Skylark Summer Opera Festival, 6/8–6/17/12.

12. Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company, 1978 Ford Pkwy., St. Paul; 651.647.4315; mnjewishtheatre.org

MJTC is the brainchild of artistic director Barbara Brooks, who started the company in 1994 to foster the Twin Cities’ Jewish heritage.

What’s next: My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, 2/18-3/11/12.

13. Nautilus Music Theater, 308 Prince St. #250, St. Paul; 651.298.9913; nautilusmusictheatre.org

Started as part of the Minnesota Opera in 1986, Nautilus became a theater in its own right devoted to music-theater productions. Don’t miss the recurring Rough Cuts program, featuring stagings of works-in-progress.

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