Angie Barker, Entertain Me

Get your calendars out because it is fall arts preview time. Yuck, that was an unpleasant mouthful of words. How about the autumn arts appetizer? Alliteration is awesome, but the new title makes me crave quesadillas. Which are yummy… and that is the opposite of yucky… so I think we’re good here.

Minnesota is bursting with fantastic art experiences; so many in fact I could take multiple pages of this paper up just talking about one season. We are lucky to have diverse and rich cultural experiences so close at hand. I may one day write Minnesota a love letter from my new home in the Ordway. I’ll just crash on one of their multiple couches and let the soft piano tinkling lull me to sleep. Until I get the U-haul rented I’ll have to be satisfied with visiting.

“The Great Game: Afghanistan” is at the Guthrie Theatre from Sept. 29 to Oct. 17.

This play is actually three plays, each one comprised of four one act plays. It is almost a seven hour event if watched back to back. Fortunately, there are hour breaks between each play to wake your legs up. This unusual format is enough to get you in the seat but the play’s content will keep you there.

“Evita” is at the Theater Latte Da from now to Nov. 14.

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

If you need more than these two musical geniuses to convince you then get it from someone else because I’m no longer talking to you. Friendship off.

David Sedaris at the State Theatre on Oct. 21.

I saw Sedaris last year and almost got to meet him. He signs books before and after the show chatting quietly with everyone who waits in line. The State Theatre decided that I looked like the person they should cut the line off in front of so the show could start on time. I bet they thought I wouldn’t make a ruckus about it… and at the time I didn’t. Revenge is best served cold and publically. Despite my vendetta with the State Theatre, Sedaris was hilarious and remains a must-see.

“Mark Twain Tonight!” is at the Fitzgerald Theater on Oct. 24.

Hal Holbrook is a one-man show. He is 85 years old and rocking the part that caught the eye of Ed Sullivan back in 1954. Twain is a literary rock star so bring your lighters.

“Spring Awakening” is at the Orpheum Theatre on Nov. 6 and 7.

I have tried to write a blurb about this musical like a million times and can’t come up with a single sentence to explain the content that the Tribune could print. You will have to look it up yourselves. Oh wait, I got one. It is set in Germany. It’s always a million and one.

“Tosh Tour Twenty Ten” Daniel Tosh is at State Theatre on Nov. 13.

Daniel Tosh is the host of “Tosh.0” on Comedy Central. He plays an internet clip and then does a short stand-up routine that consists of continuous one-liners in front of a green screen. His tour could be a live version of his show or it might be like his 2006 “Completely Serious” recording. Either way it should be a night full of pop culture funny.

Albert Lea resident Angie Zoller Barker’s column appears every Monday in the Albert Lea Tribune. Email questions, recommendations, or comments to entertainmecolumn@gmail.com.