Thursday news and reviews
Books
Michael Merriam talks speculative fiction
Author of The Horror at Cold Springs and Should We Drown in Feathered Sleep, a near-future post-apocalyptic story about a pair of loons who magically transform a young woman in a wheelchair into a naiad (a water nymph), Merriam has written over 70 pieces of short fiction and poetry.
- Sheila Regan, City Pages
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Stephen Elliott's "The Adderall Diaries," February's Books & Bars selection
Elliot serves up a feast that may look like decadent dross, but satiates the need for literary sustenance.
- Courtney Davison, TC Daily Planet
Movies
Sundance Film Festival report: From "Page One" to "All Your Dead Ones"
- Jim Brunzell III, TC Daily Planet
Music
In memoriam: The White Stripes
A personal tribute to the band, which announced its breakup Wednesday.
- Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune
The White Stripes announce breakup after 13 years as a band
The White Stripes, one of the most influential lo-fi rock duos of the early 2000s, have officially called it quits after a few years of hiatus.
- Andrea Swensson, City Pages
Former Prince drummer Bobby Z in critical condition following heart attack
Bobby Z, best known for his stint drumming for Prince in the late '70s and early to mid '80s, is critical condition after suffering a heart attack and undergoing bypass surgery.
- Andrea Swensson, City Pages
Stage
Clever book and lyrics push laughs to the fore as Shrek and pals undertake a series of fairy-tale adventures.
- Rohan Preston, Star Tribune
'Shrek' comes to the stage with inspired sight gags, dancing, color and lively musicIf you liked "Shrek" the movie, odds are you'll love "Shrek the Musical."
- Renee Valois
Maximum Verbosity looks for the definition of love
In phillip low's latest work, Penner vs. the Hydra, a priest living in a police state must come up with a definition for the ultimate four-letter word.
- Ed Huyck, City Pages
The imp of the perverse: 'Shrek' takes the stage at the Orpheum Theatre
I went to see "Shrek: The Musical" last night. It has quite a few good qualities, and a few great ones, which I shall enumerate shortly. But I mostly went to see it because I have met David Lindsay-Abaire, who wrote the book and lyrics, and who, for no clear reason, my girlfriend decided to prank, and I want to tell these stories.
- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com