Theater

Tony award-winning musical comes to Excelsior.

Some people explore a life in the theater because they fall in love with a particular show. For others, it’s because they dream of applause. For Minnetonka native Ari Koehnen Sweeney, it was a family matter.

Last fall, Westonka Public Schools opened its newest gem: the Westonka Performing Arts Center, which will provide a home for arts performances of all kinds.

Local organization offers enrichment like theater to adults with special needs.

There’s nothing like the electricity of a live performance. This January, community members are donning character shoes and warming up their best bravado. For a night out (or a matinee), check out these three can’t-miss local productions.

Jamie Grant, the new president and CEO of the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, has a long-term vision for the direction of the Ordway, but a more personal and immediate vision for himself: he’s “looking forward to buying a winter coat” after several years spent living in Austin, Texas, as CEO of the Long Center.

Born in North Carolina in 1933, Nina Simone would go on to find success in several roles: singer, songwriter, pianist and civil rights activist. Thirteen years after her death, Simone’s legacy and message remain timeless. In the upcoming Nina Simone: Four Women at the Park Square Theatre, actress Regina Marie Williams will bring the iconic vocalist to life.

For the first time ever, Stages Theatre Company brings A Charlie Brown Christmas to the stage. Closely adapted from the popular TV special, the storyline and music will be familiar to audience members, with a few extra surprises. Says artistic director Sandy Boren-Barrett, “When you select a beloved story like

A Charlie Brown Christmas to bring to life on stage, you give it a lot of thought. A program that has survived the test of time and is still so popular brings so much potential and excitement.”

A magical pumpkin, a lost slipper and a fairy godmother: The story is the same, but you’ve never seen Cinderella like this. Adapted from the classic fairy tale, with book by Rob Knutson and directed by Kent Knutson, this play is truly a family affair.

The Knutson duo (dad Kent and son Rob) saw an opportunity to collaborate on this production. “I have not had the opportunity to work with Rob as much as I would like,” Kent Knutson says. “We both love the play Cinderella and the message it sets forth.”