Charlie Chaplin’s Dead But that doesn’t Stop Him From making Us Laugh in Chap Snatchers! A True-ish Crime Story at Bryant Lake Bowl

Neal Skoy, Joshua English Scrimshaw, and Josh Carson

A show that begins with the death of Charlie Chaplin has no right to be this funny. Created by Josh Carson, Neal Skoy, and Joshua English Scrimshaw, Chap Snatchers! will have you laughing out loud and possibly doing spit takes with the excellent food and drinks available at Bryant Lake Bowl Theater (BLB). The show combines Carson’s pop-culture-infused comedic voice, Skoy’s clowning instincts, and Scrimshaw’s perfectly executed slapstick. It’s a seamless blend of physical and verbal comedy. I don’t think I’ve seen an audience laugh this hard since A Very Die Hard Christmas last December at BLB.

Josh Carson plays Louie, a bartender at the gangster owned Cuckoo Club in a small, unpronounceable Swiss town. Louie dreams of moving up in the world, from serving drinks to committing crimes. Neal Skoy plays Marty, an inept janitor who longs to be a comedian and laments never meeting his idol, Charlie Chaplin. Together, the two hatch a ridiculous scheme to steal Chaplin’s corpse and ransom it to his widow, Oona. Throw into the mix a booze guzzling Night Club Singer, a mob boss, and a detective clearly meant to be Lt. Columbo.

The show also introduces a bright new talent in Joshua English Scrimshaw, who plays Chaplin himself. I’m not sure where this young man came from, but I’m sure we’ll see more of him in the future. With the exception of a silent prologue which, as mentioned, ends in Chaplin’s death, Scrimshaw performs the rest of the show as a corpse. I’ve never seen Weekend at Bernie’s, but I have to assume parts of this are inspired by it. The strong supporting cast adds layers of chaos and charm to the farce, but the real miracle here is how effortlessly the three creators’ comedic styles mesh into a single, riotous whole.

Chap Snatchers! A True-ish Crime Story runs through October 18 at Bryant Lake Bowl Theater. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bryantlakebowl.com/theater.

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Lizzie The Rock Musical Brings Down the F*%#in House at Open Eye Theatre

Grace Hillmyer, Lux Mortenson, Abilene Olson, and Marley Ritchie Photo by Bruce Silcox

Once or twice a year, I see a show so good I have to see it again and bring more people. Even less frequently, there’s a show that eclipses those rare few. It started in the spring of 2019 when two productions struck gold: Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Theatre Latté Da and Minneapolis Musical Theatre’s Be More Chill. Faithful readers will know those were the experiences that directly led to the creation of The Stages of MN later that year. Another example was Interstate: The Musical, a show tragically cut short by COVID.

Now, we can add to that list of productions that bypass “must-see” status and move directly into the pantheon of all-time favorites: Lizzie: The Rock Musical. This is the high we theater junkies chase. When every element, from music and lighting to performance and design, collides at the intersection of awe and adrenaline. I left the theater after opening night absolutely buzzing and immediately began plotting how to see it again. That’s no small feat for me. But where there’s a will, there’s a way.

You may not know what to expect from a musical about the infamous Lizzie Borden, who was acquitted in 1892 of the axe murders of her father and stepmother. Open Eye Theatre’s program describes it as a “Victorian punk homage” to the notorious figure, and that fits perfectly. It’s important to understand that this is a fictionalized retelling of the true-crime story, inspired in part by the childhood rhyme:

Lizzie Borden took an axe
Gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
Gave her father forty-one.

Grace Hillmyer and Lux Mortenson Photo by Bruce Silcox

The musical assumes Lizzie’s guilt, suggesting her father’s “affection” may have crossed unsettling boundaries. It also explores a romantic relationship between Lizzie and her friend Alice Russell—what Lord Alfred Douglas once called “the love that dare not speak its name.” Amid all the blood and thunder, it’s the softer songs between Lizzie and Alice that linger. Numbers like “Maybe Someday,” “Will You Stay,” and the haunting “Will You Lie?” (which I immediately sought out on Apple Music afterward) offer moments of tenderness, grace, and humanity that deepen the tragedy.

Lux Mortenson plays Lizzie in a ferocious, no-prisoners performance, they slay every moment and every song. Their chemistry with Stages of MN favorite Grace Hillmyer as Alice is electric: their scenes are tender, tentative, and deeply moving. Mortenson’s powerhouse energy drives the show like a drumbeat, while Hillmyer’s quiet strength and lyrical vulnerability provide the emotional melody. Abilene Olson as Lizzie’s sister Emma and Marley Ritchie as the family’s servant Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan complete the quartet with precision and presence. It’s nearly impossible to imagine anyone else in these roles. This cast is so perfectly aligned that future productions will inevitably pale in comparison, another reason I’m already planning to see it again.

Helping elevate Lizzie to such heights is Joel Sass, who serves as both director and set designer. Open Eye Theatre consistently delivers exceptional design work, and Sass’s set is no exception. Michael Murnane’s lighting design adds striking atmosphere, while Amanda Weis’s music direction ensures a tight, thunderous sound from the band. Samantha Haddow’s costumes beautifully balance period detail with punk rock attitude. The result is a production that’s a full sensory feast, sights, sounds, and emotion working in perfect harmony.

Lizzie: The Rock Musical runs through November 2 at Open Eye Theatre. Opening weekend is already sold out, and the rest are sure to follow. So get your tickets now at openeyetheatre.org/lizzie-the-rock-musical.

Don’t rely on Facebook or Instagram algorithms to keep you in the loop about great shows. Subscribe and have every post from The Stages of MN delivered straight to your inbox. It’s the best way to make sure you never miss out on the theater action. To subscribe on a computer, enter your email address on the home page (right-hand side) and click subscribe. On mobile, scroll to the bottom of the page to find the same option. You can also follow me on Facebook @thestagesofmn and on Instagram thestagesofmn.

Episode 15 of The Stages of MN Show is Available Now!

Check out Episode 15 of The Stages of MN which is up now!

This episode is a quick one with two reviews Once on This Island at Artistry in Bloomington through October 26th Click here for tickets https://artistrymn.org/island
Also Misery at Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo through October 19th https://yellowtreetheatre.com/misery2025
Also on this episode a quick word about Trademark Theater’s new Film What you Can’t Keep check out their website here https://www.trademarktheater.org/wyck

And a reminder that the Twin Cities Horror Festival runs from October 16th through the 30th and tickets are on sale now at https://www.tchorrorfestival.com/

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Stages of MN or just have a question of comment on the show or want to join The Stages of MN + 1 Club you can email me at robdunkelberger@thestagesofmn.com.

Theaters interested in having their Holiday shows appear on our Sponsored Holiday preview episode can email me as well.

Once on This Island, Is Not Enough. You’ll Want to Go Again and Again to Artistry Theater

“Beautiful.” That was the word that floated up from someone in the audience behind me as the cast prepared to take their bows after the final preview performance of Once on This Island at Artistry in Bloomington tonight. I was sorely tempted to leave it at that. I won’t be able to capture the evening any more perfectly than that, even if I used 5,000 words.

The best word to describe the music? Beautiful.
The best word to describe the story? Beautiful.
The best word to describe the cast? Beautiful.
And the best word to describe the star, Antonisia Collins, who plays the grown Ti Moune? Here I can add some qualifiers: possibly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen on stage. It’s perhaps the best casting of the year. Collins, who seemed to come out of nowhere and first caught my attention as Robin Hood last summer, has just made the jump to light speed and now sits atop The Stages of MN favorites list.

Once on This Island tells the story of Ti Moune, a young girl saved from a storm by four gods and placed in a tree to be found and adopted by a peasant couple. Mathias Brinda is also excellent as Little Ti Moune, showing remarkable stage presence for an eighth grader. Ti Moune wonders her whole life why the gods saved her as a child. When Daniel, a rich boy from the other side of the island, is in a car crash, Ti Moune discovers him. She knows in her heart the reason for her being saved was so she could save him. She nurses him back to health, falls in love, and when Papa Ge aka Death, comes for Daniel, she offers her own life in his place. Once Daniel is taken home, Ti Moune follows, and he seems to return her love. But where she sees with her heart, he is led by the expectations of others. In the end, he casts her aside and marries someone from his own class. It is Ti Moune’s innocence, her faith, and her belief in love that Collins captures so effortlessly.

There are many excellent members of the cast. A few of note: Darius Gilllard as Tonton Julian, Ti Moune’s adoptive father, whose voice is deep and powerful. Ninchai Nok-Chiclana, who plays the god Papa Ge, is also very good, getting a standout vocal moment in “Promises/Forever Yours (Reprise),” when he offers to spare Ti Moune—if she kills Daniel.

I’d seen the show once before when the tour came to the Ordway in the winter of 2020. Because I’d bought the tickets, I was probably seeing it at the end of its run, and I didn’t write a review. My only real recollection was that we were seated onstage, which was pretty cool, but that’s about all I remember. This time, I was in my favorite seats—front row center. Less novel, but arguably better than being behind the performers.

The production is simply staged, but with a beautiful simplicity that fits the story within a story style. Director Kelli Foster Warder adds some wonderfully creative flourishes, including a scene played entirely in shadows behind a white screen recounting Daniel’s family history. From my vantage point, I may not have been able to fully appreciate Nikki Long’s choreography, but what I could see up close looked fantastic—and I can only assume it looks even better from further back.

Music Director Sanford Moore, as always, draws a big sound from his orchestra, this time infused with a wonderful Caribbean flair. Once on This Island runs through October 26 at Artistry in Bloomington. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit artistrymn.org.

Oops, I Did it Again! Episode 14 of The Stages of MN Show is Posted…Days Ago

So sorry, once again I took way too long to create the blog post that the latest episode of The Stages of MN is up and ready to be viewed on YouTube https://bit.ly/TSOMNEpisode14YouTube. Or listened to in a slightly condensed version in podcast form here https://bit.ly/TSOMNEpisode14Podcast or wherever you enjoy podcasts.

Episode 14 is sponsored by Prime Productions, a theater company devoted to celebrating women in their second act. Check them out here https://www.primeprods.org/

This episode opens with a special announcement from Theater Blogger Jill Schafer about the 15th Anniversary of her blog Cherry and Spoon. Find out how you can help mark the Occassion and win theater tickets in the process! check out the details here http://www.cherryandspoon.com/

We also have another segment in our “What the Hell’s a Theater Blogger?” series. This time I’m chatting with Erica Skarohlid of Lettered in Theatre fame. You can read her blog here https://letteredintheatre.wordpress.com/

We’ve two reviews for you, one from guest blogger Jill Schafer of Cherry and Spoon. Jill gives us a review of The Ruins running through October 12th at the Guthrie Theater. Get tickets here https://www.guthrietheater.org. I’ll review the latest from Theatre Pro Rata, The Book of Will which runs at the Crane Theater through October 11th. Click here for tickets https://www.theatreprorata.org/

Special thanks: To Ryan Lee for the use of his music catalog which is available at https://ryanlee.bandcamp.com/

It’s Only a Play is a Hilarious Love Letter to the Theater World at Park Square Theatre

The Cast of It’s Only a Play Photo by Dan Norman

I’d like to be able to say that the cast is the reason to see It’s Only a Play part of Park Square Theatre’s 50 year celebration season. But that’s only one of the reason. There’s also the elegant set design by Benjamin Olsen, the creative and excellently staged Direction by Stephen DiMenna, and of course the knowingly hilarious script by Terrence McNally. Set in the bedroom of the townhouse of Broadway producer Julia Budder on opening night of her first solo production. Below there’s a party going on while upstairs a group of those involved with the play, their friends, the help, and even a critic, await the reviews. Filled with in jokes that those up on theater and pop culture will enjoy, but I feel like the humor is universal enough that you don’t have to be a theater nerd to enjoy it.

The cast is so good that rather than use a more interesting photo from the production I wanted to use one from the curtain call that featured the entire cast, because they are all so good and I can only comment on a few. The largest role is played by Jim Lichtscheidl, as James Wicker the playwrights best friend and an Actor who turned down the male lead he says because of his TV series, but really he thinks it’s a turkey.

For Fans, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical Will Turn On Your Heartlight at The Orpheum Theatre

Hannah Jewel Kohn and Nick Fradiani Photo credit Jeremy Daniel

When I was growing up, Sunday was chore day. On the stereo, DJ’d by my stepmom, played a steady mix of the Statler Brothers and Neil Diamond. From a young age, I was immersed in Neil Diamond’s music, and I liked it. I still do. So for me, The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise was a chance to revisit one of the soundtracks of my childhood. Diamond wrote so many great songs, not just for himself but also for other performers, including The Monkees and UB40.

This jukebox musical is framed as a series of flashbacks, told by a retired Diamond in conversations with his therapist. His life story unfolds through the songs he wrote, offering a glimpse into how a songwriter draws inspiration from real life. I know Diamond’s songs well, but I don’t know much about his personal story. I can’t say how accurate this depiction is, but it feels plausible, and the show weaves the lyrics of his music into the narrative with remarkable skill.

The production features several strong performances, but the standout is Nick Fradiani as “Neil—Then” (the younger Diamond). His voice is about as close to the real thing as you can get without being Neil Diamond himself. Also noteworthy are Tiffany Tatreau and Hannah Jewel Kohn, who play Diamond’s first and second wives. When the lyrics are given to these characters, the songs reveal Diamond’s awareness of the emotional lives of those around him. The musical portrays him as deeply dedicated to his work, often on the road, and difficult to connect with, a true “Solitary Man” despite long-term relationships. These moments, especially the struggles within his marriages, are the most emotionally powerful.

The set design by David Rockwell is simple but effective, with a second-act reveal of the band in the background providing a delightful surprise. Kevin Adams’s lighting design heightens the energy and gives the impression of a much larger show than what is physically staged. The one disappointment is Emilio Sosa’s costume design, particularly for Diamond. While some work well, too many appear ill-fitting and don’t reflect the iconic looks I remember from his concert footage and television performances.

The bottom line: if you’re a Neil Diamond fan, you’ll probably love this show. It features many of his greatest hits, performed with energy and care. Even when Diamond isn’t singing them, the numbers can be extraordinary—especially Spencer Donovan Jones’s stirring rendition of “Shilo” late in the second act. If you’re not a superfan, you’ll still likely enjoy the show. And if you don’t know Neil Diamond, it just might make you a fan. But if you don’t like his music or his persona, this isn’t the show that will convert you.

The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise runs through October 5 at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. For more information and tickets, visit hennepinarts.org/events/a-beautiful-noise.