Theater
Minnesota Jewish Theater Company has a new name, Six Points Theater, and a new season, which has opened with a reprise of last season’s hit production, A Pickle. The play by Deborah Yarchun stars Sally Wingert as a Minnesota woman who sets out to uncover just why her delectable kosher pickles have been disqualified by the state fair for the second year in a row. The show is running through August 15 at a variety of outdoor venues. For times and tickets, call 651-647-4315 or visit sixpointstheater.org.
Minnesota Fringe Fest, the 28th annual performing arts festival, returns August 5-15 with over 125 shows, including 13 in-person, 27 live-streamed and 65-plus recorded online shows. For ticket information, the complete schedule and links to the online shows, visit minnesotafringe.org.
Music
Como Lakeside Pavilion, 1360 N. Lexington Pkwy., will host the following concerts: Minnesota State Band, 7 p.m. August 4, 11 and 18; WindJammer Concert Band, 7 p.m. August 5; Choir-aoke with Kith + Kin, 7 p.m. August 6 ($5 suggested donation); Northern Lights Variety Band, 7 p.m. August 8; River City Jazz Orchestra, 7 p.m. August 9; North Star Barbershop Chorus and Lake Country Sweet Adelines Chorus, 7 p.m. August 10; Red Rock Swing Band, 7 p.m. August 12; Rich Lewis Band, 7 p.m. August 14; Como Pops at 3 p.m. and Moonlight Serenaders big band at 7 p.m. August 15; and Kenwood Symphony Orchestra, 7 p.m. August 17.
The Cajun band Jourdan Thibodeaux et des Rodallieurs will perform from 7-10 p.m. Thursday, August 5, at the Eagles Club, 2507 E. 25th St. in Minneapolis. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $15.
Summer Sunlight, a series of free concerts, is being presented on West Seventh Place in downtown Saint Paul. Cosponsored by Park Square Theatre and the Downtown Alliance, the schedule includes Ready Freddie in “A Queen Experience” at 4:30 p.m. August 5; Legacy Arts Group at noon and Champagne Drops at 4:30 p.m. August 12; and R&B singer MsArnise at 4:30 p.m. August 19. Visit parksquaretheatre.org.
Music as free as the fresh air in which it is performed is being presented at 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays in Minnehaha Falls Park, 4801 S. Minnehaha Drive in Minneapolis. The schedule includes the Strum Brothers on August 5; Kung Fu Hippies, August 6; Pavel Jany and the World Jazz Collegium, August 12; Rich Lewis Band, August 13; Broken Heartland String Band, August 19; and Rich Mattson and the Northstars, August 20. Visit mplsmusicandmovies.com.
Jazzed About Highland, a free concert by the Selby Avenue Brass Band, will be presented from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, August 12, in the parking lot of Langford & Karls Chiropractic Clinic, 730 S. Cleveland Ave. The event is sponsored by the Highland District Council and Highland Business Association. Refreshments will be available.
Ramsey Hill drummer Peter Kogan’s Monsterful Wonderband will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, August 14, at Jazz Central Studios, 407 Central Ave. SE. in Minneapolis, A limited number of tickets for the live show are available for $10. The two-set concert will also be streamed live. For reservations, call 612-695-7573 or visit jazzcentralstudios.org.
Exhibits
Free walking tours in and around downtown Saint Paul are being offered at 10 a.m. Wednesdays this summer by Landmark Center. The schedule includes the Rice Park area on August 4 and 18 and the Great River Tour on August 11 and 25. Tours are limited to 10 participants. Reservations are required. Visit landmarkcenter.org or call Sydney at 651-292-3063.
“Art to Change the World,” a pop-up palette party, will be held from noon-8 p.m. Sunday, August 8, at Sociable Cider Werks, 1500 Fillmore St. NE. in Minneapolis. Featured in the show and sale are the works of 23 artists in such media as painting, ceramics, photography, wearable art, sculpture, quilting and mixed media. Live music will be featured. Visit arttochangetheworld.org.
Mill City Museum, 704 Second St. S. in Minneapolis, is offering programs on the history of the area. Guided walking and bike tours of the Minneapolis riverfront, historic Main Street, local labor history and Codswallop: Fact vs. Fiction are being held on weekends through September. The cost is $14-$20. Open Courtyard Family Days on August 14-15 will help explain what makes Minneapolis Minneapolis with hands-on activities, exhibits, puppet shows and take-home crafts. Visit millcitymuseum.org.
Family
Madagascar—A Musical Adventure Jr., a stage adaptation of the Dreamworks film, will be performed by SteppingStone Theatre on Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8, on Seventh Place between Saint Peter and Wabasha streets. Show times are 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $12-$16. Visit steppingstonetheatre.org.
Circus Juventas’ summer spectacular, the outer space adventure Galaxium is taking flight through August 15 under the big top at 1270 Montreal Ave. The youth circus leads audiences to a lush planet on the edge of the universe where they uncover the answer to an age-old question. Show times are 1 and 7 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Ticket are $30-$50, free for children age 2 and under on a lap. Visit circusjuventas.org.
Monarch Butterflies author Ann Hobbie will conduct a free program and storytime on the winged wonders and their life’s journey from 3-4 p.m. Thursday, August 19, at the Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Ave. Reservations are not required, but seating is limited. Call 651-642-0385 or email merriampark@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
Film
Free movies are being shown at dusk this summer in Minneapolis parks. The schedule includes Little Shop of Horrors (1986, PG-13) on August 6 at the Lake Harriet Bandshell; Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13), August 12, Minnehaha Falls Park, 4801 S. Minnehaha Drive; Sister Act (PG), August 13, Lake Harriet Bandshell; and The Greatest Showman (PG), August 20, Lake Harriet Bandshell. Visit mplsmusicandmovies.com.
The city of Saint Paul is showing free movies in the parks this summer. The films will roll at dusk, weather permitting. The schedule includes The War With Grandpa (PG) on August 5 at the old Highland pool; The Croods: A New Age (PG), August 12, Merriam Park Recreation Center; Raya and the Last Dragon (PG), August 13, Langford Park; and Tom and Jerry (PG), August 19, Sibley Manor, West Seventh Street and Maynard Drive.
Books
A free poetry workshop will be offered from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, August 7, outside of the East Side Freedom Library, 110 Greenbrier St. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and about five copies of a poem to the workshop, which is sponsored by Cracked Walnut. For information, email donna@donnaisaacpoet.com.
SubText Books, 6 W. Fifth St., will host readings and discussions with authors John Toren and Matt Schuth from their new books, Cabin in the City and Nature at Our Doorstep, respectively, at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 12, online; and Patrick Nathan and his book, Image Control: Art, Fascism and the Right to Resist, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 17, online and in the bookstore. Tickets are required for the latter event. Visit subtextbooks.com.
Et cetera
Highland’s old pool house at Montreal Avenue and Edgcumbe Road is the site of a summer celebration from 6-11 p.m. Thursday, August 5. Sponsored by the Highland District Council and Highland Business Association, the free event will feature lawn games, art activities, live music by Lena and the Love Kills, Open Eye Figure Theater’s The Amazing Cowboat puppet show, and a screening of the film The War With Grandpa. Refreshments will be provided by the Rustic Chef food truck and Cold Front ice cream. Patrons should bring their own lawn chairs. In case of rain, visit the HDC’s Facebook page.
The India Association of Minnesota will present its annual IndiaFest from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Saturday, August 14, on the grounds of the Minnesota Capitol. The free event will feature the music, theater, dance, cuisine, clothing, jewelry and accessories of the Asian subcontinent. Ethnic games, henna and face painting, instruction in yoga and meditation and prizes will also be part of the fun.
The Saint Catherine Choral Society, a mixed chorus of students, faculty, staff and experienced singers from the metropolitan area, is holding auditions for new members throughout August. Rehearsals will begin on September 9. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call director Patricia Connors at 651-690-6688.
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