Our Town

Opening: Theater Latté Da tests again the boundaries between musical theater and straight play with Thornton Wilder's classic. Director Peter Rothstein has assembled a multicultural cast (to better reflect current America) and infused the production with songs performed by the actors. Work by Stephen Foster, Charles Ives, Scott Joplin and Irving Berlin are included. Actor Wendy Lehr, the 2013 McKnight Foundation Distinguished Artist, portrays the Stage Manager. The 18-person cast also includes Andrea San Miguel, Tod Petersen, Isabel Monk O'Connor, Sarah Ochs and David Darrow. Denise Prosek is music director. (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Wed.-Thu., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends April 6. The Lab Theater, 700 N. 1st St., Mpls., $35-$40, 612-339-3003 or theaterlatteda.com)

GRAYDON ROYCE

RENOVATE

"Renovate" returns to the Ritz Theater this year with a brand-new line-up of choreographers. This showcase features a range of voices offering fresh perspectives in dance. Expect a range of movement styles represented from contemporary to tap, jazz, modern and much more — plus live music. This weekend's lineup includes Gabriel Anderson, Lisa Conlin, Sarah Hauss, Christine Maginnis, Alanna Morris-Van Tassel and Joanie Smith, among many others. (8 p.m. Fri-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., $18. The Ritz Theater, 345 13thAv. NE., Mpls., 612-436-1129. www.ritzdolls.org.)

CAROLINE PALMER

The Things They Carried/Lonely Soldiers

Opening: History Theatre pre­sents a double bill of war stories this month. "The Things They Carried" is based on author Tim O'Brien's book about his Vietnam experiences — following a young man from the innocence of western Minnesota to the war and back. Jim Stowell, one of the best storytellers in local theater, adapted the piece and it's performed as a one-man show by Stephen D'Ambrose. Leah Cooper directs. "Lonely Soldiers" is by playwright Helen Benedict and recounts interviews and experiences of women on the front lines of America's most-recent wars. The cast, directed by Austene Van, includes Jamecia Bennett, Dawn Brodey, Hope Cervantes and Rhianna Yazzie. The shows will run in repertory, with "Things" opening Saturday and "Soldiers" on Sunday. (8 p.m. Sat., Tue.-Thu., 2 & 7 p.m. Sun. Ends April 6, History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul, $15-$40, 651-292-4323 or historytheatre.com) G.R.