| Several new developments on the Minneapolis | | | | outside of their country. The paintings |
| arts scene only serve to solidify its | | | | mostly depict images from daily life in |
| reputation as a lively, entertaining arts | | | | Russia during the last century. |
| town. With fall comes a new, full season of | | | | |
| plays, performances and exhibits: click here | | | | An exhibit called "Perspectives of Russian |
| for what's coming up. Here is some of the | | | | Art," showing August 5 through November 5, |
| recent arts news, in addition to the new | | | | explores many styles of 20th-century Russian |
| stage at the Children's Theatre Company. | | | | painting, including classical realism, |
| | | | Russian impressionism, social realism and |
| Jeune Lune Honored with Tony Award Last | | | | modernism. From October 13 through January |
| spring, the Tony Award for best regional | | | | 14, the museum will also host a special |
| theater was given to the Theatre de la Jeune | | | | exhibit, "The Art of Russian Icons," |
| Lune of Minneapolis in recognition of their | | | | featuring 60 pieces of religious art. |
| artistic achievement and contribution to the | | | | |
| growth of theater nationally. The annual Tony | | | | The Museum of Russian Art is at 5500 Stevens |
| Awards are the most prestigious honors | | | | Avenue South, at the Diamond Lake Road exit |
| granted in American theater. | | | | from I-35. It is open weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 |
| | | | p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For |
| This is the third regional Tony for a Twin | | | | more information, call 612-821-9045 or visit |
| Cities theater, following the Children's | | | | www.tmora.org Check Out the Walker If you |
| Theatre Company in 2003 and the Guthrie in | | | | haven't had the chance yet, visit the "new" |
| 1982. Chicago is the only other city with | | | | Walker Art Center, which reopened last April |
| three theater companies that have won this | | | | after a major expansion and renovation. Last |
| award. | | | | March, Newsweek called the Walker "probably |
| | | | the leading American venue for cutting-edge |
| Physical humor and wacky antics are | | | | artists (both visual and performing)." Eleven |
| trademarks of Leune Lune's imaginative | | | | galleries display a wide range of |
| productions, drawing on mime, street theater | | | | contemporary arts and new performance space |
| and commedia dell'arte. "A small, zany Twin | | | | showcases work of contemporary choreographers |
| Cities theater has won a big, serious prize," | | | | and musicians. |
| announced Twin Cities theater critic Rohan | | | | |
| Preston. | | | | Check out the exterior artwork as well. |
| | | | |
| The Theatre de la Jeune Lune makes its home | | | | The new building expansion is the work of |
| in a flexible production space created in an | | | | award-winning, avant-garde European |
| old warehouse in downtown Minneapolis. | | | | architects Herzog and de Meuron. "What makes |
| Discover the appeal of their productions this | | | | this a very big deal is not just that the |
| fall; see their season line-up at | | | | building is so cool but that we've been |
| www.jeunelune.org. Or call 612-332-3968. | | | | waiting so long for these Swiss masters to |
| | | | build something major in the United States," |
| New Museum Showcases Russian Art The Museum | | | | exclaimed Newsweek in its review of the new |
| of Russian Art was established three years | | | | Walker design. |
| ago in Bloomington by a Twin Cities | | | | |
| businessman to showcase his extensive | | | | See the new, hip, silvery ice-cube of a |
| collection of Soviet-era art. Last spring, | | | | building on Hennepin Avenue South, just west |
| the museum moved to an attractive, spacious | | | | of downtown Minneapolis. For more info on the |
| new home in a renovated Spanish-style | | | | Walker, see www.walkerart.org By the way, |
| structure that formerly housed a church in | | | | this is the last season to see a Guthrie |
| south Minneapolis. This architectural gem | | | | production in its facility next to the |
| showcases the paintings in a warm, open | | | | Walker; next year it moves to a new home on |
| space. | | | | the riverfront, which will be another new |
| | | | architectural highlight in this city on the |
| Collector Ray Johnson began buying paintings | | | | go. |
| in 1989 from Russian artists who were unknown | | | | |