Review:Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy, State Theatre, Minneapolis

Re-post from 2021

 

December is perfect for watching a holiday show like The Nutcracker Fantasy. Minnesota Dance Theatre (MDT) is showing it until December 19th at the State Theatre in Minneapolis.

Review: Orthogonal Cabaret at Southern Theater

Stepping into Orthogonal Productions’ Cabaret at the Southern Theater felt like being pulled straight into a 1930s Berlin nightclub: sultry, vibrant, and brimming with electric energy. The story follows American novelist Cliff Bradshaw, who becomes captivated by the eccentric singer Sally Bowles, all while the city teeters on the edge of political upheaval.

I chose a front-and-center table, placing myself fully in the performance, surrounded by music, movement, and laughter. The theater’s tiered setting, with tables adorned with candles and black tablecloths, creates an intimate, club-like atmosphere that lets each audience member decide how close to the action to sit. I felt completely swept into the heart of the Kit Kat Club.

Moments of laughter came easily from me and the rest of the audience, especially when hotel staff characters shed their aloof, above-it-all demeanor and joined in the playful mischief. One character even remarked:

“This city is filled with risqué characters who are like children having fun until their parents come home.”

The line lingered, capturing both the reckless joy and the fragile illusion holding the cabaret together.

Dance was presented through subtle symbols rather than spectacle alone, but for me, the heart of the evening was the performance itself: a high-energy variety show of music, movement, and comedy. The orchestra and performers generated a kinetic charge that drew me completely into the moment. During quieter passages, when new performers entered the stage, I noticed the precision of the conducting shaping the atmosphere and heightening each beat.

As the orchestra quickened, Sally’s (Erin Grams) mounting frustration at the inability to entice the writer became palpable, with Cliff (Carter Roeske) absorbing the exasperation as the music amplified the tension of the scene. Performers moved fluidly onstage and off, creating a sense of immediacy that made the performance feel alive and lived, while the emcee, played by Max Kile, anchored the evening with a sharp, seductive edge, guiding the audience through playful mischief and shaping the rhythm of each scene.

Costumes caught my attention immediately: fishnet stockings and form-fitting evening gowns in silk and satin, evoking both glamour and a tawdry allure. Imagining the bar scene required little effort: pyramid phones, typewriters, flirtatious gestures, and costumes all hinted at the energy and eroticism of the period. Choreography carried raw energy, with performers pressing their bodies flat to the floor in close proximity. I found the movement thrilling, inviting me to lean into intimacy, and the performers delivered fully on that promise. One striking sequence had performers leaning shoulder-to-shoulder, holding each other at the waist in a line lean, maintaining glamour while keeping an air of mystery.

As the show concluded, the contrast between the intimate, warm, and seductive atmosphere and the sharp, icy Minnesota air outside lingered with me. When I called a friend to describe the performance, I noticed a subtle transformation in myself: adopting the characters’ detached cool, lips pursed, voice measured, for perhaps the first time ever, since I’m anything but detached on any given day.

Cabaret is showing now through February 14, giving plenty of time for anyone curious to step inside Orthogonal Productions’ daring, intimate world and let winter loosen its grip, if only for a night.

Sunday Blog Post

“Rubber 🦆 Ducky Chicken 🐔 Society (my improv troupe) be performing alongside “Eaten by Locusts” at Improvocation tonite

 This week has been full of exciting milestones and a little bit of holiday energy, making it feel like life is moving all at once.

(Made an Uber delivery to Edina Mall)

Zulfi’s First Concert 🎶
The biggest highlight was my son Zulfi performing in his first concert—and he even had a speaking role! 🗣️ Watching him step on stage with confidence and share his part with the audience was such a proud moment. All the practice, nerves, and preparation felt completely worth it, and it reminded me how special these “firsts” can be. It’s moments like this that make me stop and appreciate the little victories in our everyday lives.

Improv Prep & Upcoming Performance 🎭
On the creative side, I’ve been planning for our next improv shows. We’ll be performing Improv-A-Go-Go at Strike in January 🎉, which has me excited and busy sketching sets, running through games, and thinking about how the audience will react. Preparing for live performance is always a thrill, and I love the challenge of bringing something spontaneous to life on stage.

We’ll be performing alongside this group tonite at Improvocation.

Piano Lessons for My Son 🎹

. I’ve been planning Zulfi’s piano lessons this week, giving him the space to explore music more intentionally. Seeing him light up while learning and creating brings a steady, quiet joy to the week. Balancing creativity, practice, and family time is a challenge, but moments like this make it all feel worthwhile.

Books I’m reading

Holiday Plans & Shopping 🎁
Of course, the holiday season is weaving through everything. I’ve been making gift lists ✅, checking off presents, and thinking about ways to make celebrations feel meaningful. Between shopping, planning, and soaking up the little festive moments, I’m trying to enjoy the season without letting it feel overwhelming.just a whole lot of gift cards and ornaments.

Sunday Blog Post

 

On Thursday, I went to Phoenix to perform improv with Saturday practice group. On Friday, I was busy. I picked up my son from school, played a bit of video games, and then I went to Eagles 34, aka American Legion, for the 6pm Soda Pop improv event.

 Later that evening, I picked up a friend, and she came with me to see me perform improv at the residency at Bryant Lake Bowl alongside the troupe, Doctabrothamista. It was a very exhilarating performance, one that was both tense and had amazing reactions from the audience. Seeing the little tiki candles on the tables made the ambience so nice.

Behind the scenes, Bryant Lake Bowl has one of the steepest staircases, and we went down to the basement to rehearse. We literally go through montage scenes so we feel connected when we go on stage. Leading up to the week, I would dance every day to the Fitness Marshall choreographed videos to get energized and amped up for performance.

These last few weeks of performing improv have completely pushed me out of my comfort zone. I started to really see some of the struggles actors go through when trying to pull a group together to perform. I definitely made some major taboos in an effort to be seen, and I want to be mindful of that going forward. It’s not easy to admit the mistakes I made, and it’s humbled me a lot. At the same time, it’s also made me realize my own potential when I put my mind to something.