Fall Growth

After a busy summer of outdoor festivals and events, the cool breeze ushers in the start of fall--and soon, winter. But despite the falling leaves, this time of year is full of growth as programs are expanded and new events are added.

Park Square Theatre's 2014/2015 season is underway with twice as many performances this season thanks to the addition of a second stage. The Andrew Boss Thrust Stage's innaugural production, The House on Mango Street, opens October 24th - November 9th. See the full season at parksquaretheatre.org.

Also this fall, the Twin Cities Jazz Festival received a Knight Foundation Art Challenge Grant for $125,000 which will help Jazz Fest continue to grow over the next two years. Mark your calendars for the 2015 festival to take place June 25 - 27.

If you can't wait until June for your jazz fix, check out JazzMN Orchestra who recently kicked off their 2014/15 Season with a performance by acclaimed jazz drummer Dave Weckl. Next month they highlight "The Music of Little Big Bands" with a show on Saturday, November 22. More at jazzmn.org.

The Oratorio Society of Minnesota begins their 2014/15 season with a performance of Mendelssohn's Saint Paul on November 15th. Then, on December 13th, they returns to to the Gothic splendor of St. Mark’s Cathedral for A Downton Abbey Christmas inspired by the overwhelming popularity of last season’s Music of Downton Abbey concert and anticipating Season 5 of the PBS television drama.

Upcoming winter/spring events:

While the summer's big events and festivals are being finalized, there are still plenty of exciting happenings to get us through this cold winter! Here are a few events to warm you up:

Carnaval Brasileiro (Brazilian Carnival): March 8, 2014. Twin Cities-based band Beira Mar Brasil (led by Robert Everest) hosts a Carnival bash to rival a night in Rio with over 80 singers, drummers, and dancers! For this celebration of the holiday that claims the world's largest party, singer and samba dancer extraordinaire Dandara returns, along with Brazilian percussion ensembles, professional samba dancers, a Brazilian martial arts group, true Brazilian drinks, carnival masks, and face and body painting (just like in Rio!). More at carnavalbrasileiro.org

Park Square presents Cyrano: March 14 - April 6, 2014. An unabashed romance set in the 1640s, with a swashbuckling hero, a case of hidden identity, and a passionate love story. Cyrano will satisfy any theatergoer regardless of age or gender. More at parksquaretheatre.org.

Jazz Noir Live Broadcast from The Dakota: April 27, 2014. For those who long for "the grand old days" of radio, Jazz88 KBEM presents the second installment of Jazz Noir, an original radio drama series complete with live voice actors and musicians in front of a studio audience. There will be two performances--one at 5 p.m. and another at 9 p.m.--and the later performance will be broadcast live on Jazz 88.5 FM. More at jazz88.mpls.k12.mn.us.

Festival of Nations: May 1 - 4, 2014. The Festival of Nations is the largest multi-cultural event in Minnesota. Come and join us as we celebrate over 45 ethnic groups showing how we can have peace among the people at the Festival of Nations at the St. Paul RiverCentre. The Festival offers the opportunity to develop an appreciation and understanding, rather then just a tolerance of the cultures of others and helps educate people as we build towards the future together. More at festivalofnations.com.

Twin Cities Jazz Festival: June 26 – 28, 2014. The Twin Cities Jazz Festival holds its 16^th annual event this June in downtown St. Paul. Recognized as one of the region’s premiere music festivals, the Twin Cities Jazz Festival is a free, three-day festival with performances on three public stages in Mears Park, as well as at dozens of local jazz clubs. Stay tuned for the headliners announcment... More at twincitiesjazzfestival.com

Fall into Minnesota

The trees are dropping their leaves as we prepare for that long season Minnesota is so famous for: Winter. But, that being said, there is still plenty going on--so take some time to relax and enjoy the season before the snow flies and the chaos of the holidays arrive:

October 18 - November 10: Park Square Theatre presents Mary T. and Lizzy K. Step through the doors of the White House dressing room and eavesdrop on a conversation between two women from very different worlds: First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and her talented seamstress, Lizzy Keckly, a freed slave and successful businesswoman. As Mary dresses for the theater, neither knows that this trip will change their lives and the world as they know it. More at parksquaretheatre.org.

Saturday, Nov. 9, 7:30 pm: The JazzMN Orchestra presents A Tribute to Tito Puente. The JazzMN Orchestra and Twin Cities percussionist Rey Rivera will guide us in honoring Tito Puente by performing his original transcripts, along with many works inspired by this jazz legend. Twin Cities vocalist Lucia Newell will also join the fun. More at JazzMN.org.

Sunday, Nov. 24, 4:00pm: The Oratorio Society of Minnesota presents Whitbourn: Annelies. Annelies is the first major choral setting of the Diary of Anne Frank, with a moving libretto by Melanie Challenger based on the Ms. Fank's remarkable and penetrating observations of life, written while she and her family were hiding from the Nazis in an Amsterdam attic. Also on the program is Donald McCullough’s We Remember Them, a choral setting of a text from the Jewish Book of Prayer. More at oratorio.org.

November 29 - December 29: Park Square Theatre presents Words By... Ira Gershwin and the Great American Songbook. A hit song needs great music AND great lyrics. Ira Gershwin’s name is not as well-known as that of his famous brother, but he wrote the lyrics to many unforgettable tunes—“Our Love Is Here to Stay,” “Fascinating Rhythm,” “I Can’t Get Started” and many, many more. Fall in love with the quiet character of Ira Gershwin as you explore the creative process of song writing. More at parksquaretheatre.org.

 Save the date! The 2014 Festival of Nations  returns May 1 - 4. More at festivalofnations.com