'Don't Crush Our Heart!: Moon Island in the World'
The Electric Arc Radio collective abandons its serial format in favor of this full-blown, two-act indie-rock musical comedy, replete with a cast of 15, costumes and live score. In the strangely familiar city of Armitage Heights, the local media seize upon their latest buzz band, the ridiculously twee Moon Island, as the path to civic prestige. But when the spaced-out bandmates (brilliantly, hilariously vocalized by director/co-writer Geoff Herbach and Mary Everest) decide to pack up and move to Brooklyn (Williamsburg, of course), the city alderman (Chris Bierbrauer) files suit to keep the band local. It's all a tremendously satisfying in-joke that playfully skewers hipster music trends, provincial boosterism and the tendency of our best creative types to move to New York. There's even a viral Armitage Heights blog out there (Google it) providing the real-life (?) back story. Very funny, and even kind of touching.
View the full event listing.
- Simon Peter Groebner
Boylesque
Boylesque, a new phenomenon in the national GLBT community, is exactly what it sounds like: boys performing burlesque. More specifically, it describes men dressed as men performing burlesque, as opposed to men dressing as women (which would be considered drag). Like classic burlesque, the Boylesque revue will be accompanied by music, comedy, magic and costume. Unlike original burlesque, this version will feature lots of shirtless studs. This will be the premiere performance of Twin Cities' only boylesque troupe, Boylesque St. Paul, which will continue on Saturday nights.
Jahna Peloquin
Salon Series 2
How's this for self-referential: Actors from the Guthrie spoof their current production of Arthur Miller's "A View From the Bridge" -- and, in essence, themselves -- via improv skits on the stage of the Kitty Cat Klub. In this second installment of Vita.mn's Salon Series, which places local performers in unusual locations, the audience can get a taste of the performance without committing to a ticket. Attendees can also purchase discounted tickets to the production, take in a Q&A session with the cast and listen to bluegrass by Katey Bellville. With free food and drinks on top of it, there's really no excuse not to go.
Jahna Peloquin
