Item World: J-Lo, McCraney, Garth and more

Normally it's considered rude to ask a woman about her rear end, but I.W. gave itself a pass when talking to Jenni­fer Lopez Wednesday. "Booty" is the title of her new hit single, after all. "When they presented that song to me I said there was no way I was going to sing a song called 'Big Booty,' but they convinced me to do a demo," said Lopez, in town for "American Idol" duties. "I was listening to it with the kids in the car and they just went crazy. They loved it. Then I saw it in a different way. This is not serious. This is fun music." And then there are two twerking videos, which I.W. told Lopez might be the most sexually provocative of her career. "Thanks, I think," said the 45-year-old performer. "We're just as vital and alive and beautiful as anybody could be in their 20s. In fact, I think women get more and more beautiful as they get older. They try to put you to bed at a certain point and say you're not worth anything anymore and I think, 'No.' That's all changed now and I think that's awesome."

NEAL JUSTIN

In theater circles, Tarell Alvin McCraney is a rock star, so his visit Saturday to the Guthrie was a bit like a pop-in from Bono. He flew into the Twin Cities to see the staging of his coming-of-age and coming-out drama "Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet," directed by Marion McClinton. Afterward, the MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant winner treated cast members to drinks at Sea Change. They didn't need to ask what he thought of the show — he laughed his way through, sometimes talking back (encouragingly) to the actors. McCraney regaled them with stories from his life and career, and even created the backstage equivalent of an Internet meme. Whenever someone makes a joke, cast members now pretend to fall asleep. It's a new spin on "sleep on it," although that advice should not be taken for "Marcus," scheduled to close Oct. 5.

ROHAN PRESTON

When the news hit that Garth Brooks would return to Target Center for four shows in two nights, Nov. 14-15, only the cynical and misinformed questioned whether the Oklahoma hat king still has the drawing power to sell out that many gigs. The real question was if (and how many) extra Minneapolis shows ol' Garth might add when tickets go on sale Oct. 3 (10 a.m., $70.50). In Chicago, where his first tour in 16 years kicked off in early September, he started with only one announced gig and wound up playing 11. For last weekend's Atlanta run, he first offered three shows and delivered seven in the end. Three were also added in Jacksonville, Fla. Minneapolis is only the fifth city on the "tour," which also includes Lexington, Ky. Target Center reps are mum on the matter. Our guess? He'll tack on two Sunday shows and be home to watch "Monday Night Football."

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

Did Monday's Ivey Awards feel long to you? It did to I.W. We love the parties and the chance to see so many theater people and friends in one place. But the program has gained some weight, and a couple of I.W.'s Facebook friends wondered why the winners (excuse me, honorees — there are no winners) were seated up in the far reaches of the State Theatre balcony. Not only did it take them forever to huff on down to the stage, but we had to wait another minute for the poor dears to catch their breath. Next year, I.W. would be happy to swap spots if Ivey needs some quality floor seats. We're not winning anything, after all.

Over its 10 years, the Iveys have developed a reputation for bias in favor of the small and obscure. We scratched our head when unheard-of playwright Seraphina Nova won for a little show at little-known Candid Theater Company, and when Yellowtree Theatre (a fine company) took two of the 10 awards handed out while stellar shows by Penumbra ("The Ballad of Emmett Till," "The Mountaintop"), the Jungle ("Detroit") and Carlyle Brown & Company ("Abe Lincoln and Uncle Tom at the White House") all were overlooked, as was the biggest theater of them all, the Guthrie. Say what you will about Joe Dowling, the Guthrie's longest-tenured leader and a notable absentee Monday. In leading the theater into its $125 million facility on the banks of the Mississippi, he became the rare theater artist to change the skyline of a U.S. metropolis. That's worth, say, a lifetime achievement award.

ROHAN PRESTON

The much-anticipated Babes in Toyland reunion will not be launched at the Lady Parts Justice party Saturday, as the band members had discussed. However, the lineup for LPJ's "V to Shining V" rally at the Amsterdam Bar and Hall in St. Paul (we don't think the V stands for "Victory") is mighty fine even without them. The Jayhawks' Gary Louris, Marc Perlman and Karen Grotberg, the Prairie Fire Lady Choir, Desdamona, Maria Isa, Lucy Michelle, Mayda and the Clash tribute band Rude Girl are all lined up to perform in support of reproductive rights and other electoral issues facing women, as part of a network of shows around the country that night. Twin Cities-bred comic Lizz Winstead, who co-founded LPJ, is coming home to host the event (7-11 p.m.). It's free, but organizers ask that you sign up at LadyPartsJustice.org. As for that Babes reunion, it really is happening — just not yet. Kat Bjelland, Lori Barbero and Maureen Herman have been posting teasers on Facebook from rehearsals in Los Angeles.

C.R.