This + that: Penumbra's new season; sounds of the Old Log; 'Everywhere' performances postponed

Penumbra's new season

The five-year project to present all of the plays in August Wilson's epic cycle continues next season at Penumbra Theatre, which will be producing both "Fences" (Aug. 21-Sep. 21) and "Radio Golf" (May 7-June 7, 2009). The St. Paul theater, whose current staging of Wilson's "Gem of the Ocean" is at the Guthrie, will also bring back its annual holiday show, "Black Nativity: Hear Again the Christmas Story" (Nov. 28-Dec. 28).

The Penumbra season is rounded out by Matthew Lopez's "The Whipping Man" (Feb. 19-March 15), which is set during Passover in 1865 and confronts issues of faith, race and freedom, and a special presentation of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" (March 13-April 11). This 50th-anniversary "Raisin" production will be presented at the Guthrie Theater. No casting has been announced for the plays but Penumbra founder Lou Bellamy will direct all of the works, except for "Black Nativity," which will be staged again by Austene Van.

ROHAN PRESTON

Sounds of the Old Log

Everything from bluegrass and Dixieland to gospel and classical music will be showcased on the Sounds of the Summer series at the Old Log Theater in Excelsior. The (mostly) Monday-night shows feature some of the best and best known names in Minnesota music: Russ Peterson's Big Band June 2; Minnesota All Stars with Cliff Brunzell, Irv Williams and others June 9; Jorja Fleezanis and Karl Paulnack June 11; Monroe Crossing June 16; Barbary Coast Dixieland Band June 23; Medicine Show Music Company July 7; Sopranorama with Janis Hardy, Maria Jette and Molly Sue McDonald July 14; Upper Mississippi Jazz Band July 21; Robert Robinson July 28; Peter Ostroushko Aug. 4; Butch Thompson Aug. 11 and Moore by Four Aug. 18. For tickets: 952-474-5951 or www.oldlog.com.

JON BREAM

Performances postponed

If you had a hankering to see Gremlin Theatre's "Everywhere Signs Falls" next weekend, forget it. The producers report that the show at the Loading Dock in St. Paul needs to cancel Friday-Sunday performances because of an unexpected scheduling conflict. Today's 4:30 p.m. show and Thursday's 7:30 p.m. performance are unaffected.

The play -- which features Tracey Maloney, John Middleton and Paul Cram -- will add a weekend, May 15-17, at the Loading Dock. Alan Berks wrote the psychological puzzler and Leah Cooper directed the production (651-228-7008 or www.gremlin-theatre.org).

GRAYDON ROYCE