Paul Robeson
Friday-Sunday: The son of a freed slave, Paul Robeson (1898-1976) grew up to become a towering performer of the 20th-century. A baritone, he's remembered as much for the power and intellect he brought to his roles as for his global rights activism. The New Jersey native, who graduated from Rutgers, earned a law degree at Columbia and played in the National Football League, is best known for playing Othello and for singing "Old Man River" in "Showboat." Playwright Phillip Hayes Dean crafted a stage biography that stars Jason McKinney as Robeson and Christopher Bagley as musical partner Lawrence Brown. (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Capri Theater, 2027 Broadway Av. W., Mpls., $25, 1-612-343-3390 or thecapritheater.org.)
ROHAN PRESTON
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Opening: The students are back at the University of Minnesota Centennial Showboat. What's a summer without a trip to Harriet Island in St. Paul and an old-fashioned theatrical chestnut in this charming theater? Peter Moore directs and the scenes are, of course, broken up with musical olios under the direction of Vern Sutton. Rick Polenek designed the set and Mathew J. LeFebvre does the period costumes. It's all a nostalgic trip along the Mississippi River, with a great view of downtown St. Paul. (8 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2:30 p.m. Tue.-Thu. & Sat. Ends Aug. 16. Minnesota Showboat, Harriet Island in St. Paul, $20-$25, 651-227-1100 or showboat.umn.edu.)
Graydon Royce
