Penumbra Theatre has been staging Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity since 1987, it’s another annual holiday tradition that brings audiences back year after year while also drawing new audiences each year. I’ve been trying to see it for a few years and my schedule never worked out, so I was thrilled to finally get to experience it for the first time this year. As one can surmise from the title it’s the story of the birth of Jesus told from a cultural perspective that reflects the Author’s experiences on the world and of this story. While heavily steeped in christianity, take it from a lapsed atheist that there is much joy, hope, and understanding to be found in Black Nativity. The show is Directed by Lou Bellamy who has been involved with the show in every iteration at Penumbra since they began presenting it in 1987. Bellamy notes in his Directors notes that Hughes left room for a wide variety of interpretations and that Penumbra’s productions have evolved over time, much like the Guthrie’s annual A Christmas Carol offerings. This years format is more or less in the style of a concert with a few brief scenes of interpretive dance Choreographed by Marciano Silva dos Santos. I love the idea that if I go again in two or three years time I may see something mounted in a different way, but also knowing that the joyful noise of it will remain intact.

The cast features Jennifer Whitlock as the Narrator whose text is based in the scripture verses I have grown up with, but there are moments where it departs or where the emphasis that Whitlock brings to them casts a new light on the words, one that we can recognize as a question to the audience. Asking does this sound familiar? Does this still hold true today? Do you see the parallels? Of course the answers are sadly yes, but the show doesn’t lead us to these reflections in order to leave us mired in our reality but to then lift us up with hope and the message of love and salvation and peace. It’s a message we all need to be reminded of this time of year whatever our denomination, race, or financial situation. It’s a reminder that hope can come from the lowest of places and greatness can come from one born in a manger. The main soloists are Jamecia Bennett and Dennis spears, and watch out when they come on stage, because it’s from them that much of that joyful noise comes and it will have your hands clapping and your feet stomping along with them. Bennett is a powerhouse of a vocalist seemingly having no need for air intake, as she raises the roof with what I would almost associate with a jazz style performance. Spears is rich of voice but can also become playful with breathy vocals and fancy footwork. The dancers I mentioned are Hassan Ingraham and MerSadies McCoy and they stand in during a couple of songs as Joseph and Mary. This was one of my favorite parts of the show, coming at just the right place to add something new visually and unlike some dance this felt like it was driven by the story of the songs and gave an illustration of the emotions within. Ingraham and McCoy move wonderfully and gracefully together and watching them was a delight.

The Musical Director was Sanford Moore and his musicians really raise the roof. The main performers are accompanied by the Kingdom Life Church Choir and acting as the Choir director and also performing a fantastic solo is William Wesley. If you’ve never been to Black Nativity, I encourage all to add it to your calendars, it is such a joyful and celebratory show. Black Nativity runs through December 24th at Penumbra in St. Paul, for more information and to purchase tickets go to https://penumbratheatre.org/event/black-nativity-2023/#7

This Holiday season why not start a new tradition of taking in a live theater production with family and friends? It’s a great way to create lasting memories and will give you something to look forward to every year as you experience the magic of live theater. Whether your budget is large or small, there is a show for you. Looking for gift ideas? Don’t we all have enough “stuff”? Give the gift of live theater, go to your favorite theaters website, see what shows they have coming up in the new year and give the gift of an experience over material.

Don’t want to miss a single review from The Stages of MN? You can subscribe and have every post sent directly to your email. To subscribe on your computer: from the home page on the right, enter your email address and click subscribe. On your mobile device scroll to the bottom of the page and do the same. You can also follow me on Facebook, @thestagesofmn click follow and on Instagram thestagesofmn. You can also read some of my reviews syndicated on the MN Playlist website https://minnesotaplaylist.com/

I am also a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB), where you can read roundups of shows by my colleagues and I when you follow us on facebook @TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers. We also produce the podcast Twin Cities Theater Chat!! which you can access through this link or wherever you enjoy podcasts https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/ . We post biweekly longer form episodes that will focus on interviews and discussions around theater topics. There is also shorter episodes in which we Bloggers tell you what we think you should get out and see as well as what we have on our schedules that we are most looking forward too.

I never tire of championing Yellow Tree Theatre, the little theatre that can, in Osseo Minnesota. It’s a theatre company that puts on quality shows outside of the city. It can function as a first step theater for those in the suburbs who are afraid to drive into the city, you know who you are. They put on the kind of shows that can get someone excited about theater and maybe push them to seek out other performances. But it should also be a two way street, Guthrie fans, Theater Latte Da fans, there is quality work being done at places like Yellow Tree outside of the city. Honestly, after the show we dropped off my son and his partner at their apartment in downtown Minneapolis and it took us 21 minutes to get there, so it’s not a long trek out of the city to see this. Need some kind of assurance of the quality of the productions at Yellow Tree? Well Austene Van is the Artistic Director, if you don’t know the name, you should. She has been on stage and directed for the Guthrie, she’s also a choreographer and writer, I refer to her as the busiest woman in theater. She’s busy because she’s talented and passionate, and she brings those qualities to Yellow Tree. Everyone there embodies those qualities and a spirit of community that makes it a very special place. On any given night you may very well see Van selling concessions including the dangerously addictive Thomasina’s Cashew Brittle. You’ll not be surprised to find the Director of their Christmas show, Jason Ballweber, helping out in the box office. And the Usher for tonight? Their new Marketing & Development Coordinator Christopher Kehoe. Everyone is supporting the show wherever they are needed and it’s an example of the ideal theatre as community model. I know this is an odd start to a review, but I believe in creating new theater audiences and I believe theaters like Yellow Tree play a vital role in achieving that goal. They do that by making quality theater available, not just to those in the cities, but those in the suburbs as well. Also Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) isn’t the kind of show you can say a lot about, it’s like a stream of consciousness riff on all things Christmas. The details are the point, the surprises and where the humor lies, you don’t want me to ruin the jokes by writing about them, so we need to keep this vague.

The set up is that in the opening moments of a production of A Christmas Carol one of the performers stops the show and confesses they just can’t perform this show one more time. It’s a good natured poke at Theater’s like the Guthrie who performs that story annually for nearly 50 years at this point. Soon the three performers played by Charles Fraser, Elise Langer, and Madeleine Rowe as Actors named Charles, Elise, and Madeleine have decided to instead, put on a show featuring all the holiday movies, stories, TV specials, commercials, and even parades that we collectively love. What follows is a non stop flow of comedic abridgements of everything from How The Grinch Stole Christmas to a Norelco Advertisement. And yes, to pacify Elise who was reluctant to abandon it, A Christmas Carol. All three performers are giving it their all, with Langer playing the reluctant participant to the others outrageous antics. Fraser, does some really good impressions early on and almost seems to be the onstage Director on the hilarious chaos, finding some nice moments to add a little audience participation ad libs. My favorite though had to be Rowe who seems to be playing the Lou Costello to Langer’s Bud Abbott at times. Rowe plays themself as a cross between one of the Animaniacs and a child who innocently still believes in Santa Claus. The trio work together to make this one of the funniest and absurd Christmas shows I’ve seen. For those who enjoy this show I’d recommend venturing into the city and checking out the slightly more adult oriented All I Want For Christmas is You…to Elf Off, at Brave New Workshop.

Jason Ballweber Directs the show and he’s not afraid to use every conceivable exit and entrance to the stage, even staging some of the jokes out in the lobby (audible only of course). Samantha Fromm Haddow is the Costume Designer and though the cast is small, the costumes are many and very creative. Sometimes quite elaborate like the Christmas tree costume Rowe wears in one scene, other times it’s as simple but effective as a green shawl that Langer puts over her head to become the Grinch. The feel of the makeshift show is enhanced as well by the work of the Properties Designer Brandt Roberts, Lighting Designer Shannon Elliott, and the Scenic Designer Justin Hooper. Hooper’s set is deceptively simple but giving the performers and Ballweber a lot to play with in their staging.

Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) runs through December 31st at Yellow Tree theatre in Osseo, for more information and to purchase tickets go to https://yellowtreetheatre.com/everyxmasstory

This Holiday season why not start a new tradition of taking in a live theater production with family and friends? It’s a great way to create lasting memories and will give you something to look forward to every year as you experience the magic of live theater. Whether your budget is large or small, there is a show for you. Looking for gift ideas? Don’t we all have enough “stuff”? Give the gift of live theater, go to your favorite theaters website, see what shows they have coming up in the new year and give the gift of an experience over material.

Don’t want to miss a single review from The Stages of MN? You can subscribe and have every post sent directly to your email. To subscribe on your computer: from the home page on the right, enter your email address and click subscribe. On your mobile device scroll to the bottom of the page and do the same. You can also follow me on Facebook, @thestagesofmn click follow and on Instagram thestagesofmn. You can also read some of my reviews syndicated on the MN Playlist website https://minnesotaplaylist.com/

I am also a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB), where you can read roundups of shows by my colleagues and I when you follow us on facebook @TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers. We also produce the podcast Twin Cities Theater Chat!! which you can access through this link or wherever you enjoy podcasts https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/ . We post biweekly longer form episodes that will focus on interviews and discussions around theater topics. There is also shorter episodes in which we Bloggers tell you what we think you should get out and see as well as what we have on our schedules that we are most looking forward too.