"Musical Mondays" at Hell's Kitchen, April 2016

Last night was the first Monday of the month, which means it's time for Musical Mondays at Hell's Kitchen! If you're a fan of musical theater, you need to attend one of these monthly cabarets featuring fabulous local talent performing musical theater songs, with a different theme each month. But be forewarned - like potato chips, once you attend one you won't be able to stop! Musical Mondays has also become a monthly gathering of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers; this month I was joined by Gina from The Room Where it Happens, Laura from One Girl Two Cities, and Keith and Carol from Minnesota Theater Love. A good time was had by all as we discussed all things local theater (from impressive abs to impressive new musicals) and enjoyed some fun entertainment over yummy food and drinks. Join us on May 2, when the theme is "the lusty month of May!" Become a fan of the Musical Mondays Facebook page for information on schedule and performers.

The theme for April was the music of composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz. I know him mostly for writing one of my favorite musicals Wicked, and also his two successful shows from the '70s Godspell and Pippin. But as usual with Musical Mondays, I was exposed to many more songs and shows that I didn't know (although Minnesota Theater Lover Keith, a much bigger musical theater nerd than I am, could identify most of them). The evening was heavy on Pippin (five songs!) and light on Wicked and Godspell (one and two songs, respectively), with some The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Baker's Wife (which can be seen at Artistry this fall), and other shows sprinkled in (see the full songlist on the Musical Mondays Facebook page).

the extraordinary performers of Musical Mondays

Max Wojtanowicz and Sheena Janson (whom we also got to hear sing this time) were charming hosts as per usual, and the six performers put on a great show accompanied by Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's resident music director Andrew Cooke. Here's the list of the lovely and talented performers from last night's show and where you can see them around town (and beyond):

• Bonni Allen: Walking Shadow's The Christians at Mixed Blood Theatre, opening in May
• Cameron Reeves: summer stock in Virginia!
• Tinia Moulder: choreographer of Glensheen, returning to the History Theatre this summer, which will also (finally) produce the lovely new Minnesota-made musical Sweet Land next spring, in which Tinia plays Brownie
• Mark King: currently playing Lumiere in the "flawlessly cast and beautifully designed" Beauty and the Beast at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, playing through September
• Evan Tyler Wilson: currently seen (along with Max) in Theater Latte Da's exquisite new musical C., playing at the Ritz Theater through April 24
• China Brickey: Diary of a Wimpy Kid at Children's Theatre Company, opening next week

In addition to the above goodness, we also were treated to a sneak peek of Minneapolis Musical Theatre's Leap of Faith, opening April 29 at New Century Theatre. After watching the huge cast that nearly overflowed the Musical Mondays stage almost bring the Hell's Kitchen roof down, I look forward to seeing the show in a few weeks!

the bloggers sitting front and center at Musical Mondays
(yes, I am wearing my Defy Gravity shirt)