“Spamalot” at the Ordway in St. Paul — Through June 14.
Through their films and sketch comedy show “Flying Circus,” British comedy troupe Monty Python’s absurdist humor and endlessly quotable jokes have developed a cult following across the world. So the question of adapting their best known work, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” into a Broadway musical was less of an “if” and more of a “when.”
Spoofing the name of the golden-age musical “Camelot,” Monty Python’s “Spamalot” debuted in 2005 and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. Now on a revival tour, the show includes glitzy dance numbers, and a mix of original music and songs from previous Monty Python projects, yet it still maintains the manic energy and cutting humor people come to expect from giants of British comedy. (Jacob Aloi)
“Ole and Lena’s Wedding” at Boat Club Productions in Duluth — Through June 20
If you’ve lived in Minnesota for any amount of time, you’re likely aware of “Ole and Lena” jokes. They often poke fun at Midwestern and Scandinavian traditions, and usually end with a punchline at the expense of the titular husband and wife. Due to their ubiquity, they pop up everywhere from restaurant names to merchandise –and even theater.
Boat Club Productions, a dinner theater in Duluth, is producing “Ole and Lena’s Wedding.” Rather than a usual play, however, the show is immersive, with audience members treated to a reception meal after “attending” the wedding of Minnesota’s favorite couple—as the producers told FOX 21 in a recent interview. While the run of “Ole and Lena’s Wedding” is only a couple of weeks, Boat Club Productions is gearing up for two more productions later this year: “Church Basement Ladies” in the fall—another play that leans heavily into Midwestern culture—and the musical “Come From Away” in the winter. (Jacob Aloi)
“The Wizard of Oz” on 35mm at the Heights Theater in Columbia Heights — June 13 & 15
Minnesota has a few favorite sons: Bob Dylan, Prince, Paul Bunyan. But you’d be hard-pressed to find a more beloved daughter of the north woods than Judy Garland. After all, there’s a whole museum dedicated to her in her birthplace of Grand Rapids—which was central to a national true crime story involving the ruby slippers she wore in her most iconic role. For two special screenings, Minnesota audiences will have the opportunity to soak up Garland’s turn in Technicolor, as a certain Kansas farm girl, in glorious 35mm—the way God intended one of the greatest musical movies to be seen. (Jacob Aloi)
Mohanad Elshieky at Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis — June 12
If your social media algorithm is anything like mine, you’ve been seeing quite a bit of Mohanad Elshieky as of late, and it’s a delight. Story goes that the Libyan comedian, who is based in Brooklyn, got his start doing comedy as the host of a twice-weekly political call-in radio show in Benghazi during the Libyan Revolution in 2011, that is, until someone burned down the radio station. In 2014, Elshieky moved to Portland, Ore., and the U.S. granted him asylum in 2018. Since then, Elshieky has worked for “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” and appeared on “Conan” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (RIP to all three shows).
Elshieky performs a deceptively laid-back style of comedy, with a mellow demeanor commenting on everything from growing up Muslim (“I read the Bible sometimes just to see what the competition is up to”), being kidnapped in his home country (“I love drama”) to Tesla-driving Lyft drivers (“I will never understand because like, do you have money or not?!”). Elsheiky performs 7 p.m. Friday, June 12, at Cedar Cultural Center. Cedar Cultural Center will also host a June 13 screening of the documentary “Dinkytown: A Tale of a Legendary Village,” which looks at 150 years of the university neighborhood. (Alex V. Cipolle)
“Prairie Dreams: A Trail of Quilts” at Frontenac State Park — June 13
The bluffs are alive with … the color of quilts! For this unique, one-day only event, more than 120 artist-made quilts will line a trail from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at Frontenac State Park along the Mississippi River just southeast of Red Wing. The Frontenac State Park Association put out a call to regional artists to submit quilts that “present prairie-inspired dreams,” from “a story passed down through generations, a dream of regeneration for future generations or simply the day dreams of looking at clouds scudding across the sky while listening to the sound of meadowlarks as one walks a trail.” Visitors can come talk to quilters along the trail and vote on their favorite quilt. (Alex V. Cipolle)
“Pearl Fantasy Festival” Interact’s 30th Anniversary in St. Paul — June 13
The campus for Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts celebrates 30 years supporting contemporary artists living with disabilities, including artists such as Janice Essick, Lucy Picasso, Michael Engebretson and Victor Van, who this spring became the first Interact artist to have work purchased by the Walker Art Center. The Pearl Fantasy Festival, which runs 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, will feature live music, performances, a puppet parade and two new exhibitions highlighting the work of all 70 Interact visual artists. (Alex V. Cipolle)
