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Top 10 Twin Cities theater events this fall

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Top 10 Twin Cities theater events this fall


The Guthrie Theater reopens its Dowling Studio with the premiere of George Abud’s “The Ruins: a play through music.” It’s a meditation on the meaning of life that sounds like something from Samuel Beckett but sweetened by music. Two musicians — a cellist and an oud player — find out that they soon will be dead. Over eight movements, they play and ponder their existence. Playwright Abud stars alongside singer and cellist Sydney Shepherd. Osh Ashruf directs. (Sept. 19-Oct. 12, Guthrie Theater, Mpls.)

The Broadway production of Terrence McNally’s comedy about a swank opening night party boasted an all-star cast that included Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick and F. Murray Abraham. Director Stephen DiMenna has assembled their Minnesota equivalents, including Jim Lichtscheidl, Sally Wingert and Warren Bowles. It’s the fourth McNally play at the storied St. Paul playhouse, and this one looks to be a rollicking love letter to a life on the stage. (Sept. 24-Oct. 19, Park Square Theatre, St. Paul)

The North American premiere of this British import likely will wow audiences with its puppetry by co-directors Emily Lim and Toby Olié. But this family-friendly story of a greedy reptile being outwitted by courageous forest creatures has infectious, toe-tapping music by Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab and Tom Brady (no, not the retired NFL quarterback). (Oct. 1-Nov. 23, Children’s Theatre Co., Mpls.)

Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Little Mermaid” inspired Rosa Guy to write the 1985 novel “My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl,” which then was turned into a 1990 musical by playwright and lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty. Under the direction of Kelli Foster Warder, the show promises to be a burst of light, sounds and color. The cast includes Antonisia Collins as Ti Moune, Charla Marie Bailey as Mama Euralie and Erin Farsté as goddess of love Erzulie. (Oct. 2-26, Artistry, Bloomington)

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Carlyle Brown’s play about entertainer Bert Williams has been a yearslong passion project, with a developmental reading in 2012. A Black man, Williams excelled at blackface during the vaudeville era, playing with masks and fighting to turn an ugly stereotype into something more palatable. “The identity of the American Negro was created in the theater with minstrel shows, our first national entertainment,” Brown said, adding that the show is set in a dressing room on the last day of Williams’ life. Onetime Guthrie actor Shawn Hamilton plays Williams in a cast that includes Dennis Spears and Regina Marie Williams. Victor Zupanc provides musical supervision and Brown directs. (Oct. 3-25, Illusion Theater, Mpls.)

Penumbra Theatre teams with Teatro del Pueblo for José Rivera’s absurdist play. “Marisol” centers on a copy editor who wakes up one day to find that her world has been transformed into a dystopia because her guardian angel is in a battle with a God who has become senile. Sarah Bellamy directs. (Oct. 9-Nov. 2, Penumbra Theatre, St. Paul)

To mark its 100th production, Theater Latté Da has assembled an all-star cast of actor-singers for this limited run cabaret curated by co-founder Denise Prosek and director Justin Lucero. They will guide a selection of songs from the company’s biggest hits for an evening hosted by Tod Petersen and featuring Erin Capello, Isa Condo-Olvera and Bradley Greenwald. (Oct. 8-19, Theater Latté Da at the Ritz Theatre at the Ritz Theatre, Mpls.)

Eboni Booth’s play about rediscovery and resilience centers on a 38-year-old bookstore worker who tries to find himself after being laid off. Powerhouse performers Will Sturdivant, Nubia Monks and Pearce Bunting have been cast in this regional premiere that’s being staged by Marshall Jones III. (Oct. 11–Nov. 16, Guthrie Theater, Mpls.)



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Minneapolis construction workers call on developers to take stand against ICE

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Minneapolis construction workers call on developers to take stand against ICE


Construction workers in Minneapolis on Friday called for developers to demand that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement leave Minnesota and offer protections for their crews. Protesters at a separate demonstration on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis asked corporate businesses to end what they call cooperation with immigration enforcement.



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Fan behind Anthony Edwards’ orange bracelet has beaten cancer

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Fan behind Anthony Edwards’ orange bracelet has beaten cancer


The story behind Anthony Edwards wearing a bright orange bracelet since last season has received a positive development, after Timberwolves fans learned Luca Wright has beaten leukemia.

Anthony Edwards, Luca Wright connection

What we know:

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Last January, the 6-year-old Minnesotan met “Ant” for the first time following a game against the Detroit Pistons, proclaiming him to be his favorite player, and asking him to wear a bracelet that symbolizes leukemia awareness, resilience and support for those affected. During the interaction, the fan had created a sign with a to-do list: “1. Beat Cancer. 2. Be The Next MJ.”

Leukemia is a type of cancer that spreads throughout the bloodstream, infecting bone marrow and a person’s lymphatic system by rapid production of abnormal white blood cells that can’t fight infection.

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Since then, the Wolves’ MVP has worn a bracelet that proclaims, “Love Like Luca” on it for every game he has played, vowing to wear it “until he hangs up his sneakers.”

Ant has gone on to explain how the gesture connected with him given that he lost both his mother, Yvette, and grandmother, Shirley, to cancer when he was 14 years old. The No. 5 jersey he wears currently is a tribute to them both.

Luca bracelet latest

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Dig deeper:

More than a year later, Wolves fans have received the update they hoped for – now 7-year-old Luca has beaten his cancer.

What’s next:

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Ant has since responded to the news with his own social media video, calling it “God’s gift” and saying, “Let’s do this Luca.”

No word yet on whether he intends to keep wearing the bracelet, though he’s previously said he has a stash of replacements near the team bench should one ever be broken.

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The Source: Information provided by the Minnesota Timberwolves public relations department.

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Family of Minneapolis brothers killed by cousin says their deaths were preventable:

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Family of Minneapolis brothers killed by cousin says their deaths were preventable:


A Minneapolis family is struggling to make sense of a tragedy that has left them heartbroken. 

Family tells WCCO 14-year-old Xavier Barnett and 23-year-old Akwame Stewart were killed Monday.

The brothers were very different, but equally loved. Barnett was a good student and athlete. Stewart was a painter, creative and thoughtful. Two brothers, loved and full of promise, gone. 

Police say the accused shooter is their cousin, 23-year-old Eddie Duncan.

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Court records show Duncan was released on bail Monday on charges of fleeing law enforcement and possession of a gun modified with an “auto sear switch.”

Court records also show Duncan was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation, but not until next month, on March 24.

Deasia Freeman, Barnett and Stewart’s sister, says this loss could have been prevented. 

“They all failed us. We got two innocent lives gone for no reason. Didn’t do nothing to nobody,” Freeman said.

Family members say the system and Duncan’s family let them down.

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Freeman says Duncan’s family saw the warning signs and still bailed him out

“If you knew this man was thinking like this, y’all should have kept him in there and he should not even have bail,” she said. 

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office says they noted Duncan was a public safety risk and asked for a high bail, much higher than a typical request. 

“In Minnesota, there is a constitutional right to bail, and the bail amount is set by the Court. Our office noted a public safety risk with Mr. Duncan and asked the judge to set bail at $70,000, or $35,000 with conditions; both of which are higher than we would typically request in this scenario. The judge set bail in that amount. Mr. Duncan posted $35,000 bail with conditions of release, as is allowed under the Minnesota Constitution, and was released from custody. Our thoughts are with all those impacted by yesterday’s violence. This was a terrible tragedy for this family and our community,” a spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said.

For Freeman and her family, the hardest part isn’t just the legal process but living each day without their brothers. 

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Even in the heartbreak, she says the memories of the good days, the laughter and love they shared will carry them through.

“I wish I could get just one more phone call from them asking me where I’m at,” Freeman said as tears rolled down her face. 

Court records confirm Duncan left the scene of the crime and fled to nearby Brooklyn Center. There, a search warrant says Duncan “fired a gun at officers, striking two squads,” when police arrived. That’s when officers returned fire, shooting and killing him.

Three officers have been placed on critical incident leave as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension leads the investigation into Duncan’s fatal shooting.

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