Twin Cities actor Jim Lichtscheidl is getting above-the-title marquee billing in London's West End alongside Oscar winner Mark Rylance. The two star in "Nice Fish," a play about two ice fishermen on a Minnesota lake. Co-written by Rylance and Duluth poet Louis Jenkins, the play premiered at the Guthrie in 2013 before being reworked for a New York production earlier this year and one that opened Friday at the Harold Pinter Theatre. The Independent called the production "bewitching and beautifully paced," likening the show to a "Waiting for Godot" on ice. Rylance, a three-time Tony winner who nabbed an Oscar this year for his role in Steven Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies," has drawn universal praise for his portrayal of a novice ice fisherman from Wisconsin — not too big a stretch for the British actor, who spent nearly a decade of his youth in Milwaukee. But Lichtscheidl and the rest of the cast, including longtime Guthrie regulars Raye Birk and Bob Davis, have also received critical kudos. Actor Robert Dorfman attended Friday's opening to support Lichtscheidl, his partner. "It's a gorgeous show, quite lovely," Dorfman said. "Jim's having a good time."
ROHAN PRESTON
ETA for GNR
Electronic billboards seen around the Twin Cities this week confirmed what local concert insiders strongly suspected: The reunited lineup of Guns N' Roses is due in town next year. The ads show the GNR logo along with "Welcome to the Jungle" and the Twitter hashtag "GnFnR2017." Not seen together in Minnesota since a legendary 1992 pairing with Metallica at the Metrodome, singer Axl Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan played their first batch of shows last April around the Coachella fest. Few expected the reunion to last, but the Not in This Lifetime Tour has already endured 47 dates and earned consistently favorable reviews. Look for an announcement as early as next week; we're guessing a stadium show next summer.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
Belle of the Ball
Julia Brennan, 18, is only a part of the KDWB Jingle Ball pre-party and not the main concert at Xcel Energy Center Monday, but things are looking good for the rising local star to land on the big stage in upcoming years. The Plymouth-based pop singer is newly signed to Columbia Records after KDWB played 60 seconds of her piano ballad "Inner Demons" during the morning show's "Make My Monday" segment. "Within the next two days, I had calls from three record labels," Brennan said. Her song — which she recorded last summer while recovering from a motorcycle accident — is getting picked up by other stations around the country, and Columbia has posted it and two other tunes on Apple Music. The pre-party (which is free) starts at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Roy Wilkins Auditorium.
C.R.
Daniel's new 'hood
Twin Cities Public Television is launching a broadcast channel dedicated to repeats of such PBS children's shows as "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood," "Dinosaur Train" and "Wild Kratts." Set to hit the air Jan. 18, PBS Kids will take over digital channel 2.4, which is now devoted to around-the-clock weather (that service will continue on channel 2.5). Cable and satellite viewers will have to check with their providers to find the new station — or they can go to PBSkids.org, where Minnesotans will be directed to a live stream of the channel. According to TPT, PBS stations reach more kids ages 2 to 5, more moms with children under 6 and more low-income families than any other kids' network.
NEAL JUSTIN
