WHEN MOMMA PRAYED
Ongoing: Powerful singer and actor Greta Oglesby plays a bereaved wife whose faith pulls her through the loss of her husband (Ansa Akyea) in this gospel musical by playwright and director Darryl Harrell, with music composed by former Prince & the Revolution keyboardist Matt Fink. This is a revival of a 2007 production that premiered at Mixed Blood Theatre. Oglesby starred in the landmark production of "Caroline, or Change" at the Guthrie. People rightly travel many miles to hear her sing. (7 p.m. Thu.-Fri., 2 & 7 p.m. Sat. Ends Aug. 30. Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins, $16-$24, whenmommaprayed.com.)
ROHAN PRESTON
RHYTHMICALLY SPEAKING
Thursday-Saturday: This show annually celebrates the beat within and the dancers who not only want to share it with the world but who also seek to provide historical context for its contemporary iterations. This year's edition features an impressive roster of choreographers, including familiar faces from the world of jazz, hip-hop and modern. Look for fresh works by local artists Karla Grotting, Bboy J-Sun, Erinn Liebhard, Christine Maginnis, Joanne Spencer and Voice of Culture Drum and Dance, plus special guest Michele Dunleavy. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., $18, Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. www.southerntheater.org.)
CAROLINE PALMER
GUYS AND DOLLS
Opening: How can you not love this musical? Soaked in the New Yorkese of Damon Runyon, this rambling tale of cheap hoods and their girlfriends teems with great songs, dance and ridiculous fun. Michael Matthew Ferrell directs and choreographs Bloomington Civic's production of Frank Loesser's classic. Gambler Sky Masterson breezes into Times Square and tries to land a date with Sarah Brown of the Salvation Army. Meanwhile, Nathan Detroit hustles bucks in the "oldest, established, permanent floating crap game in New York"and tries to avoid marriage to Miss Adelaide. Loesser's score includes "Luck Be a Lady Tonight," "Fugue for Tinhorns," "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat" and many more great songs. Anita Ruth directs the music. (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. & Thu., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sept. 14; Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd.; $27-$34, 952-563-8575 or btacmn.org)
Graydon Royce
“ Rhythmically Speaking” dancer Sarah Polis-Mares (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
