From The Editor: Us…In The Arts

We love supporting the arts. We love being at the theatre. We love listening to music.

These are facts that are part of this community’s DNA. The way we patronize, participate, and celebrate the Arts in ingrained in the cultural psyche of our vast community.

Here’s another fact: The arts are as diverse as we are.

With that said, we’re living in exciting times in the Arts and Entertainment world. The audience has returned to live performances and galleries in force. We are becoming aware of more people who we identify with in these spaces. In turn, we are supporting these artists more than ever.

Some time ago, we used to count the number of known artists from our community in any given genre and medium on my hands. Now, the list can fill a database somewhere. We can be found anywhere we look.

That’s a good thing. It shows how much we have emerged from the challenges that we had to swerve through over the past five decades or so. Challenges that are still present, especially in the Arts and Entertainment field.

Still, we rise. This goes beyond Billy Porter, Margaret Cho, Sasha Colby, and Elton John. We may have found an artist who has been on a local circuit who creating the best music compositions that have not been heard on Minnesota Public Radio’s Classical channel. There may be a performance artist who have been working on a given sidewalk waiting to be brought onto a stage. We’re out there waiting for you to discover them, patronize them, and celebrate them.

We create our work unapologetically. That is what attracts us to their art and performance. Let’s never forget that aspect of us.

This issue serves as a sampler of that’s happening in the coming months arts and entertainment-wise. Saint Paul’s Park Square Theatre turned back on the lights with new leadership. A new production is set for Chanhassen Dinner Theatre’s main stage bringing the life and music of Carole King to its audiences.

We also introduce you to a couple of artists from our community. Randy Rainbow is coming to town later this month, bringing his famously viral act on stage. We also have a pop music artist playing in the Twin Cities within a month’s time. Add a captivating burlesque act into this mix and you’ve got yourself a full issue!

Minnesota is a hub for the arts. We’re very proud to have a place that fosters these opportunities to express, inspire, and support each other as we create and evoke responses. Whether they are a local performer or on tour coming through our state, we will indeed patronize them through ticket sales, merchandise, and experiences.

Enjoy the show!