Thursday news and reviews

Art

Antidote for cabin fever: Outdoor Painters of Minnesota at AZ Gallery

In the midst of this seemingly endless winter, it's hard to imagine a better tonic for the sensory deprivation of cabin fever than the exhibition by members of the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota opening February 11 and running through February 26 at AZ Gallery in Lowertown Saint Paul.

- Rich Broderick, Free Speech Zone

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Books

Author of Pulitzer Prize-winning 'Tinkers' coming to Cities

Paul Harding, whose gentle and poetic novel, "Tinkers," was a surprise winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 2010, will be in the Twin Cities for three free public appearances next week.

- Laurie Hertzel. Star Tribune

Dance

Little Red Riding Hood meets Goldilocks at the Ritz Theater

The newest production by the Ballet of the Dolls at the Ritz Theater in Northeast Minneapolis takes a contemporary look at the narratives of Goldilocks and Little Red Riding Hood, and the escapades that ensue when the two girls actually cross paths.

- Shelby Myers, City Pages

Movies

Black film series focuses on history

Weekly program sheds light on an African-American movie industry that can trace its roots all the way to the silent era.

- Jeff Strickler, Star Tribune

Oscar-nominated animated shorts are charming and moving

This week, there are a whopping fifteen Oscar-nominated films opening. The films are not feature length, thank goodness: there are three sets of short programs opening this weekend, two at the Lagoon Cinema and the other opening at the Riverview Theater.

- Jim Brunzell III, TC Daily Planet

Trashy movies and Singapore Slings: 'The Roommate' and drinking at Wondrous Azian Kitchen

Somebody tell me this: When, precisely, did Hollywood forget how to do the only thing it ever truly did well? I speak, of course, of making really entertaining trash.

- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com

Music

"Jah-hawks" to return as "Jahskinens," Feb. 28 benefit for Erik Koskinen

The local twang-guitar ace and producer recently had his truck stolen along with a lot of important gear. "Our office," is how bandmate Molly Maher referred to the truck.

- Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune

Bob Dylan to play at the Grammys

The producers of the Grammys want a show for the ages, but they also want a show for all ages -- which is why Bob Dylan will be bringing his acoustic guitar to perform this weekend on the same stage as Justin Bieber, Drake and Katy Perry.

- Geoff Boucher, Los Angeles Times

Stage

'The Balcony' hovers over Nimbus' new home

Once banned in London and now considered a classic, Jean Genet's "The Balcony" opens Friday at Nimbus Theatre.

- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press

2011 Fringe lottery picks 169 plays

From 360 applications, 169 plays were chosen at this week's lottery for the 2011 Minnesota Fringe Festival, which takes place Aug. 4-14.

- Pioneer Press

Brecht-acle creates Social Addendum to Mother Courage

This weekend Bedlam and Open Eye Figure Theatre continue their month-long Brecht-acle Festival with a cabaret featuring works inspired by Brecht, adapted from Brecht's texts, or somehow related to avant-garde theater or Germany. The heart and inspiration of the ongoing event is of course Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children, produced by Chicago's Bricklayers Theatre and Paris's Collectif Masque, starring Barbra Berlovitz

- Sheila Regan, City Pages

Comedy Suitcase readies all-star 'Amateur Hour'

Comedy Suitcase masterminds Joshua English Scrimshaw and Levi Weinhagen have gathered up a bunch of local theater luminaries (including Leslie Ball, Josh Carson, Nancy Donoval, David Mann, Pablo, and Tim Uren) for Amateur Hour, where the embarrassments of youth will be revisited.

- Ed Huyck, City Pages