Books
Next Chapter Booksellers, 38 S. Snelling Ave., will host free readings and discussions with poets Diane Jarvenpa, Dralandra Larkins, Lora Robinson, John Medeiros and Michael Moos in a Literary Bridges program at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 2; poets Mary Moore Easter and Janna Knittel and their books, The Way She Wants to Get There: Telling on Myself and Real Work, respectively, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 4; and Joe Milan Jr. and his novel, The All-American, at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 6. Call 651-225-8989 or visit nextchapterbooksellers.com.
SubText Books, 6 W. Fifth St., will host free readings and discussions with author Christopher Vondracek and his memoir, Dancing with Welk, at 7 p.m. Thursday March 30; and Carleton College professor Deborah Appleman and her book, Literature and the New Culture Wars, at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13. Call 651-493-2791 or visit subtextbooks.com.
Have your poetry stamped in concrete. Enter the city of Saint Paul’s 2023 Sidewalk Poetry Contest. Poems submitted by April 3 are eligible. Up to 15 winners will be chosen by a panel of professional poets. Contest guidelines are posted at publicartstpaul.org.
Exhibits
“An Interrupted Childhood,” stories and photos of seven Polish World War II survivors in Minnesota, are being displayed through April 30 in the North Gallery at Landmark Center. The exhibit offers lessons in suffering, survival, resilience and gratitude. Admission is free. Call 651-292-3063 or visit landmarkcenter.org.
“Exquisite Creatures,” an exploration of earth’s biodiversity through reclaimed specimens of animals, is being displayed through September 4 at the Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. Arranged by artist and naturalist Christopher Marley, this seemingly endless variety of colors, textures and structures creates a mosaic of the natural world with ammonites, beetles, crystals, lizards, parrots, urchins and other species. Admission to the museum is $29.95, $19.95 for children ages 4-17. For information, visit smm.org or call 651-221-9444.
The rise of self-governance in America from the Mayflower Compact to the present day is explored in a new exhibit on view though March 31 at the Minnesota State Law Library, located on the ground floor of the Minnesota Judicial Center, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The exhibit examines Americans’ long-standing practice to shape society through fellowship, mutual aid, labor unions, emergency services, political reform and community associations. Admission is free and open to the public from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Visit mn.gov/law-library.
Arts at the Oval, a juried show and sale by 28 artists working in jewelry, pottery, painting, photography and fiber art, will be presented from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 25, in the Olympic Room at the Roseville Skating Center, 2661 Civic Center Drive. Admission is free.
Film
Omnifest, a rotating schedule of five epic movies, will continue through April 9 in the Omnitheater at the Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. Lighting up the giant screen are National Parks Adventure, about the birth of the national parks system; Born to Be Wild, a tale of rescued orangutans and elephants in Kenya and Borneo; Superpower Dogs, stories about real-life heroes on four legs; OmnfestiAmazon Adventure, an 11-year journey into biodiversity led by explorer Henry Bates; and Sea Lions: Life by a Whisker, featuring this curious, playful and endangered species of seal. Tickets are $9.95 for ages 4 and older. For reservations or more information, visit smm.org or call 651-221-9444.
Dance
Skol!, an original musical about a Viking clan and the young woman who is called to lead them in battle, will be performed from March 23 through April 9 by Collide Theatrical Dance Company. Inspired by the discovery of a Viking woman’s grave that bore the marks of a warrior, the show will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at the Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Ave. S. in Minneapolis. Directed by Regina Peluso, the production features an original score of pop, rock and rap music. Tickets are $32-$55. Call 651-395-7903 or visit collidetheatrical.org.
Family
The Tails and Tales of Dr. Doolittle, an adaptation of the beloved children’s story about the eccentric physician who discovers he can talk with animals in their own languages, will be performed on March 28 and 29 by Out on a Limb Dance Theatre. The curtain rises at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday in the O’Shaughnessy at Saint Catherine University. Tickets are $32-$35. Call 651-690-6700 or visit outonalimbdance.org.
Spend spring break from April 1-8 at Saint Paul’s public libraries with cultural programs and hands-on events for children ages 7-12. The schedule includes Cooking with Chef Blong, noon-2 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at Latimer Library, 90 W. 4th St., and Wednesday, April 5, at Rondo Library, 461 N. Dale St.; Pokemon Camp, 10 a.m.-noon Monday, April 3, at Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Ave.; Clowning with Cahoot Theatre, noon-2 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at the West Seventh Library, 265 Oneida St., and 1-3 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at the Saint Anthony Park Library, 2245 Como Ave; and a game-making workshop with Leonardo’s Basement, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at Riverview Library, 1 E. George St., and Friday, April 7, at the Highland Park Library, 1974 Ford Pkwy. Admission is free. Registration is not required.
Theater
Eurydice, playwright Sarah Ruhl’s retelling of the Greek myth about Orpheus and Eurydice, is being staged at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through April 2 at Theatre in the Round, 245 Cedar Ave. S. in Minneapolis. Directed by Sophie Peyton, the play is a fresh take on a timeless love story with contemporary characters, new twists and breathtaking visual effects. Tickets are $25. A pay-what-you-can show will be offered at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 29. Visit theatreintheround.org or call 612-333-3010.
Diesel Heart, a new play by Brian Grandison based on the autobiography of Melvin Carter Jr., is playing through April 2 at the History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St. Directed by Warren C. Bowles, the drama tells of a Saint Paul teenager who struggled in school and on the streets. The father of the current mayor, Carter enlisted in the Navy, won self-respect as a boxer and battled crime and racism as a Saint Paul cop. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $15-$58. Visit historytheatre.com or call 651-292-4323.
By the Bog of Cats, which premiered at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre in 1998, is being performed through April 2 by Theatre Pro Rata. Marina Carr’s drama is loosely based on the Greek tragedy of Medea. It explores themes of land ownership, motherhood, betrayal and prejudice. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 27, at the Crane Theater, 2303 Kennedy St. NE. in Minneapolis. For ticket information and mask requirements, call 612-234-7135 or visit theatreprorata.org.
My Fair Lady, Lincoln Center Theater’s touring production of the classic musical, is being performed from March 21-25 at the Ordway Music Theater. Described as the most perfect musical of all time, My Fair Lady tells of a young Cockney flower seller and the linguistics professor who attempts to transform her into a “proper lady.” The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $44. Visit ordway.org or call 651-224-4222.
Music
The Scottish rock band the Red Hot Chilli Pipers will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at the Ordway Concert Hall. The nine-piece ensemble’s signature sound is a fusing of such traditional tunes as “The Flowers of Scotland,” “The Hills of Argyll” and “Amazing Grace” with contemporary anthems by Queen, Coldplay, Snow Patrol and AC/DC. Tickets are $49-$70. Visit ordway.org or call 651-224-4222.
French classical guitarist Raphael Feuillatre will perform the works of Bach, Piazzola and others in a Minnesota Guitar Society recital at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25, in Sundin Hall, 1531 Hewitt Ave. First-prize winner in the Guitar Foundation of America’s 2018 International Artists Competition, the 26-year-old virtuoso is on a 50-concert tour. Tickets are $10-$25. Visit mnguitar.org.
Music from the Czech and Slovak regions will be performed by the Saint Paul Civic Symphony at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 26, in Roseville Lutheran Church, 1215 Roselawn Ave. Free and open to all ages, the concert will feature compositions by Suk, Kapralova, Martinu, Mahler and Smetana.
“Rising Tide,” a concert highlighting the stories of incarcerated women and their experiences connecting with music and each other, will be presented on Saturday, April 1, by Encore!, See Change Treble Choir and Voices of Hope. The music will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Sundin Hall, 1531 Hewitt Ave. Tickets are $23, $20 for seniors, $15 for children. Visit hervoiceproductions.org.
The Minneapolis string duo OK Factor will celebrate its new album, “OKX,” in concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave. S. in Minneapolis. Cellist Olivia Diercks and violinist Karla Colahan play a magical mix of bluegrass, Celtic, classical, Scandinavian and modern folk music. Joining them will be the tabla, fiddle and guitar trio Sprig of That. Tickets are $20 in advance, $27 at the door, $40 for VIP, $15 for children. Visit theparkwaytheater.com.
The University of Minnesota Singers join the Bach Society of Minnesota in “Baroque Splendor!” at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at the Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 S. 4th St. in Minneapolis. Kathy Saltzman Romey will conduct the free concert. It will feature Claudio Monteverdi’s 1610 Magnificat for six voices and continuo and Handel’s Four Coronation Anthems.
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