Bright Half Life

Opening Friday: Sarah Agnew and Jasmine Hughes, two of Minnesota's most charismatic stage talents, team up for Tanya Barfield's new play about the ups and downs of a long-term partnership. The one act orbits the lives of married couple Vicky and Erica, who are madly in love. The one-act premiered a year ago in New York to critical kudos. The New Yorker called it "profound" while the New York Post said it was a "rare play you actually wish went on longer." (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. & Thu., 7:30 p.m. Wed. Ends Feb. 21. Pillsbury House Theatre, 3501 Chicago Av. S., Mpls. Admission: pick-your-price. 612-825-0459 or pillsburyhousetheatre.org) Rohan Preston

Rusalka

Opening Saturday: Minnesota native Kelly Kaduce reprises a character she sang in a 2008 Minnesota Opera production. Since then, Kaduce has become an in-demand Rusalka, with several performances throughout North America. "Rusalka" is Antonin Dvořák's most popular opera, based on Hans Christian Andersen's tragic "The Little Mermaid" — without the Disney sugar. Russian tenor Khachaur Badalyan makes his U.S. debut as the Prince. Music director Michael Christie conducts, and Eric Simonson, a frequent presence at Minnesota Opera, has staged the work. This spring Kaduce, a St. Olaf graduate, will originate the role of Wendy in the Minnesota Opera's world premiere of Paul Moravec's "The Shining" (7:30 p.m. Sat., Thu. & Jan. 30; 2 p.m. Jan. 31. Ordway Music Theater, 5th and Washington Sts., St. Paul. $25-$200. 612-333-6669, mnopera.org.) Graydon Royce