Penumbra Theatre

I haven't been to the Penumbra in yearssssss, so this was a wonderful way to be reintroduced to the theatre. Tiffany Johnson, Sr. Marketing Director, put together a soirée before the show of live music, drinks and food. Definitely a nice touch upon entering.Once we were seated for the show, I was entertained from beginning to end! Black Nativity was "black story telling" at it's best. Most people know the story of the birth of Jesus, which isn't a very long story in the Bible that lasts possibly 1 chapter. To make a story that you already know a two hour story, through narrator, holiday and church songs is AMAZING! The narrator, Jennifer Whitlock, had this rich, full speaking voice that captivated me throughout the show. Her speaking voice commanded attention, without taking away from the songbirds.Ms. Greta Oglesby had such an amazing voice. Her voice was so powerful, with depth and range and she and Mr. Dennis Spears were a great pair. Mr. Spears, a complete performer, with song and DANCE. You can see how much these two love music and sore in their field. Everyone was amazing and they "took us to church!" The dancers made us "feel" the story thru dance.Great seats no matter where you sit. Thoroughly enjoyed the Penumbra.

Saw "Wedding Band" last night. This is a powerful, painful piece. The acting was such that it didn't feel like I was watching people on stage. It was like watching parts of my own life play out before me.The theater is small and comfortable. So intimate that the audience cannot help but to be immersed in the drama unfolding just a few feet away. There are no bad seats in the house. My girlfriend and I were late (took too much time at dinner at The Happy Gnome) and were seated in the back. We were able to move to our seats during intermission. I actually liked the seats in the back better because it was a look straight onto the stage. Our seats were to the right. Again, not bad. I just liked the other view a bit better.Everyone with whom we interacted were nice and welcoming. This was my first time here and I plan to return.

There is no bad seat in the house! Tickets are always reasonably priced for shows that do not disappoint. I recently saw the Black Nativity, but have seen a few others shows here over the years. This show is offered every holiday season. I highly recommend it, for the story is told through a choir of gospel music, dance and story. It's wonderful to see a lead cast of talented African American actors on stage. Often they are home tome talent, but actors, and dancers come from all over the nation to grace this stage. As I understand it, this place is historical. Penumbra is the only African American theatre in Minnesota. It also is 1 of only 3 in the nation!There is parking lot, but street parking is plentiful. Beverages are sold here, but not allowed into the theatre.

Just saw the new play"Wedding Band" by Alice Childress - directed by Lou Bellamy. ExcellentEvery actor was great, the play was well written. Theme is interracial marriage. It takes place in 1918, during the First WW. Interracial marriage was illegal. AND, not legal until 1967. The play centers around a couple, in love, and unable to marry in South Carolina. It's GREAT

Penumbra Theatre provides a great venue for artistically excellent productions which explore the myriad facets of the African American experience. It is also one of only three professional African American theaters in the nation to offer a full season of performances. Kudos to the Twin Cities theater scene! The Dutchman and The Owl Answers were both phenomenal productions. Amiri Baraka's 'The Dutchman' explores the attraction between a white women and a black man that have been marooned on a subway car. Adrienne Kennedy masters the surrealist style in 'The Owl Answers' as she fearlessly addresses the common stereotypes of the "tragic mulatto". Both productions created a space for thought and reflection into the prism of structural racism.

The Guthrie, Children's Theater, and (now defunct) Theatre de la Jeune Lune have rightly garnered national recognition for their incomparable excellence in theater--all three have won the prestigious Tony Award for Best Regional Theatre--and for catapulting Minneapolis and St. Paul to an elite class of "theater cities," alongside the likes of both New York and Chicago.As welcome and integral as these three institutions have been to the cultural and economic life of the Twin Cities, the praise bestowed upon them has a way of diminishing--quite tragically--the accomplishments of a dozen or so other playhouses throughout the cities. To the lay public or visiting tourist, these smaller stages are virtually non-existent (although aspiring hipsters from the suburbs seem to possess life-long affinities for Triple Espresso and Tony and Tina's Wedding...WTF?!?).To the cognoscenti, however, these smaller, lesser-known stages--known mostly by locals for their innovative, at times controversial productions--are the backbone of Minneapolis' and St. Paul's true theater world. The Penumbra Theatre Compay, in the historic Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul, is one of these playhouses--a community based troupe--whose artistic contributions far exceed its actual size and annual budget. Pioneering in an oeuvre that focuses on the African American experience in America, Penumbra has been a breeding ground for black playwrights, including two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner, August Wilson.Each season Penumbra sets off on an ambitious program that journeys through themes of racism and resolution, of family breakdown and repair, of self-identity and community cohesion. The stories are told primarily through black voices and images, but they also convey truths that transcend color lines.One of the highlights of Penumbra is their compelling portrayal of the Black Nativity, which is a retelling of the Biblical classic through an all-black cast. Many locals have included the Black Nativity in their annual holiday festivities, with the same fervor paid to "It's A Wonderful Life" by generations of Americans. I guess that's the point of great theatrical (and filmic) experiences: they appeal to us on multiple levels, inspiring us to see and feel our shared humanity.

I try to go here a couple times a year, or one of their shows at the Guthrie. It is a nice, intimate theatre. Everyone is friendly, the audience seems more polite than other theatres. The shows are different than a lot of the other Twin Cities options.

I've seen many shows at Penumbra. Every time I go I am in awe of the set design and the level of talent at this theater. They usually do an August Wilson play every season. The last one that I saw was Two Trains Running. I could not stop talking about this show to everyone I saw. It still sits with me. Do yourself a favor and see at least one show every year at this theater.