The Rose Ensemble's "Finale Concert" June 15 was supposed to be its last. But the Twin Cities early-music group, which a year ago said it planned to fold after its just-concluded season because of "a financial deficit too overwhelming to overcome," may not be going out of business after all. The ensemble said the 2018-19 season "yielded earned revenue and contributions far beyond expectations." The organization is now debt-free, so its board has decided "to leave the organization's books — and its options — open for at least another year. For now, dissolution has been called off." A string of sold-out concerts, strong recording sales and larger-than-projected donations from individuals all helped to address the ensemble's accumulated deficits, according to its founder and artistic director, Jordan Sramek. "It's clear to me that our supporters have been in mourning," he said. "And they've been asking if this is really the end." That question has yet to be firmly decided. The announcement played down the possibility that new performances would be announced anytime soon. The board "intends to dedicate the coming year to reflection and reassessment," while "strategizing, connecting and refocusing to determine the future of the organization we all love so much."TERRY BLAIN
Jesus laughs
If you think "Christian comedy" is an oxymoron, you haven't seen John Crist. The YouTube sensation may have worn his faith on his sleeve during a 90-minute show Tuesday at Target Center as part of the inaugural Minneapolis Comedy Festival, but he came across more like a snickering teen in the last pew than a down-home preacher. While Crist relied a little too heavily on special effects and prancing around the stage as if he was possessed by the spirit of Shirley Temple, his material was rock solid — especially if you understood his references to Bathsheba, Lazarus and Joel Osteen. The 35-year-old comic wasn't above sneaking in a sexual innuendo, though, and Minnesotans weren't off limits, either. At one point, he compared Jesus' relationship with his brother to St. Paul's relationship with Minneapolis: "Yeah, they're brothers, but only one does the cool stuff." The fest continues Friday with performances by Seth Meyers, Bob Newhart and George Lopez, Cedric the Entertainer and D.L. Hughley.
NEAL JUSTIN
Lizzo takes the cake
Minneapolis expat Lizzo once again kicked up a major viral buzz — and even earned a standing ovation from Rihanna — performing her unexpected hit "Truth Hurts" at Sunday's BET Awards atop a giant wedding cake with a sprawling dance crew. What's unexpected is that it's not off her new record "Cuz I Love You" — which Rolling Stone just listed as one of the best albums of 2019 so far — but from her 2016 EP, "Coconut Oil." The tune earned modest airplay and streaming numbers three years ago, but finally caught on amid the hoopla around her album release this spring. During Sunday's show in Los Angeles, Lizzo pulled another old standby out of her trick bag by breaking out her flute. That's when RiRi and many other audience members leapt out of their seats. Lizzo is headed to Europe for such marquee festivals as Glastonbury and Roskilde before returning to the States for a tour currently booked through October, including sold-out shows Oct. 9 and 11 at the Armory in Minneapolis.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
Red-letter day for the blues
Friends headed to Sunday's memorial for the late Minnesota blues/folk legend Tony Glover can rest easy knowing he would've approved of the music picked for the event. KFAI DJ, neighbor and friend Pete Lee said Glover actually told him years ago which songs he wanted at his funeral: "Juke" by fellow harmonica great Little Walter and "Mighty Long Time" by Sonny Boy Williamson. Sunday's tribute will also feature short performances by Spider John Koerner (the lone survivor of their influential '60s trio Koerner, Ray & Glover) and Charlie Parr, whom Lee said was "a particular favorite modern-day performer of Tony's." Among the planned speakers are Tony's brother Gary Glover, a professor of radiology at Stanford University — expertise apparently ran in the family — and Mark Trehus, who produced the albums by KR&G and Ray & Glover that helped revive their careers. "Tony's influence on my life is immeasurable," Trehus said. The memorial is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. at the Cedar Cultural Center and is open to all. C.R.
Local talents at the Guthrie
A new play by Twin Cities writer Kathryn Haddad will premiere at the Guthrie Theater in the fall. "Zafira and the Resistance," about a schoolteacher who becomes a victim of rising Islamophobia in the wake of a terror attack, will be part of the 2019-20 season of local works in the Guthrie's Dowling Studio. "Zafira," directed by Malek Najjar and Zeina Salame, runs Oct. 11-27. The Dowling season also includes a Theater Mu production of "Fast Company," playwright Carla Ching's comedy about a family of clever grifters and scam artists (Nov. 8-24). And "Centerplay," a new work by multidisciplinary artist Vie Boheme combining music, dance and spoken word, will premiere in the studio next spring (March 20-28). Tickets go on sale July 8.
ROHAN PRESTON
