Loring not lost
Rumors of the Loring Theater's demise have been exaggerated -- not greatly, but the historic venue will stay open for the foreseeable future. The 1920s-era theater, at Nicollet Avenue and 14th Street in Minneapolis, is struggling financially and has canceled many but not all of its upcoming shows. "We are not going out of business," artistic director Steve Barberio told I.W. "We've pulled back and are evaluating where to go from here." Most of the canceled events, he said, were "simply not selling tickets." Friday's concert with the Galactic Cowboy Orchestra and several others have been relocated to the Ritz Theater in northeast Minneapolis, but local songwriter Zack Dyer is still hosting his album-release concert at the Loring on Saturday. Several private functions are also on the books. Formerly the Music Box Theater (it went back to its original name last year), the 450-seat venue has been trying to find a foothold since the departure of the "Triple Espresso" stage show in 2008.
- CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
The ride with McBride
It was a four-day, country-music, breast-cancer-awareness, whistle-stop, cross-country train tour, as vocal powerhouse Martina McBride rode from L.A. to N.Y.C. last month, greeting crowds and singing at stops along the way. Though the Midwest stop was in Chicago, the train trek was part of a promotion by Twin Cities-based General Mills, which in October turned 60 million of its food packages pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. McBride's new CD, "Eleven," includes the hit, "I'm Gonna Love You Through It," about a woman with breast cancer. McBride even sang it at a 1 a.m. stop in Albuquerque, N.M. Eric Jensen of General Mills, who was along for the ride, told I.W. that the train trip "was not about Yoplait, Cheerios or Progresso, it was about sharing stories."
- CLAUDE PECK
Stage collapse
There was another scary moment on a Twin Cities stage last weekend. Actor David McMenomy fainted Saturday night during the second act of "Our Class" at Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company in St. Paul. Because so many characters die in the drama about a tragic incident in a Polish town during World War II, the audience was not initially aware that something was amiss. Finally, another actor announced that this was not part of the show, and could someone call 911? Fortunately, there was a doctor in the house. McMenomy regained consciousness and declined treatment when EMTs arrived. It turned out that McMenomy's issues weren't as serious as those of Warren Bowles, who suffered cardiac arrest onstage in September during Mixed Blood Theatre's "Neighbors." After "Our Class" was called off for the night, McMenomy stopped at Abbott Northwestern Hospital on his way home and was diagnosed with low blood sugar, said Barbara Brooks, MJTC's artistic director. He was back for Sunday's show.
- GRAYDON ROYCE
A niece in need
Soul singer Willie Walker is a man on a mission -- helping his niece, Gina Williams, with a benefit concert. "Gina got shot on Labor Day, nine times," Walker told I.W. "The guy who lived with her -- they'd been together 16 years and had a 14-year-old daughter and she wanted out of the relationship -- he came in the room, kicked the door down, told their daughter to leave, and just started shooting." Amazingly, Williams survived (and her ex has been charged with attempted murder) and she is recovering at Courage Center. She was diagnosed as being a paraplegic from the waist down, "but somehow she got feeling in her legs, and can stand with some assistance." The five-hour benefit Sunday at the Minnesota Music Cafe (starting at 3 p.m.) will feature a parade of bar stars, including bluesman Bernard Allison; several members of the Butanes, who've recorded several CDs with Walker; Wain McFarlane of Ipso Facto; soul singer Maurice Jacox and, of course, Walker and his band.
