Actor Ann Michels leads gender-bending 'Victor/Victoria' at Bloomington's Artistry theater

"Victor/Victoria" has a special place in Twin Cities theater history. This gender-bending comedy about acceptance and identity had its pre-Broadway tryout at the Orpheum Theatre in 1995 with Julie Andrews in the title role and her husband, Blake Edwards (who also wrote the book), directing. Noted Twin Cities actor Ann Michels, pictured, dons the tuxedo to play the woman pretending to be a man who is pretending to be a woman in this Henry Mancini/Leslie Bricusse musical based on the 1982 film (which, itself, was based on earlier films). Director and choreographer Michael Matthew Ferrell stages this revival with a big cast and an orchestra led by Anita Ruth. (7:30 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., 7:30 p.m. Thu. Ends May 5. Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington. $15-$46. 952-563-8575 or artistrymn.org.)