Art Hounds: Aida, Jesters Comedy Improv, and contemporary Native American art

"Master's Study" by Dyani White Hawk (courtesy of the Tweed Museum of Art)

The hounds start the new year by spreading the word about a Minneapolis theater company interpreting a Disney musical, a Duluth exhibition that places traditional American Indian art and culture in a modern context, and a Mexican restaurant in Roseville that's become a weekend hangout for improv comedy.

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Laurie Pape Hadley is expecting a visionary interpretation of the Disney musical "Aida" from Theater Latte Da. "Aida" hits the Pantages Theater stage beginning Thursday, Jan. 3 in preview performances. Laurie works as an 'audio describer,' describing the visual elements of performances for visually impaired people.

For Huge Theater co-founder Jill Bernard, living the dream is spending a Saturday night at Ol' Mexico restaurant in Roseville drinking margaritas, eating quesadillas and watching Jesters Comedy Improv! The improv troupe takes over the back room of Ol' Mexico every Saturday night at 7:30.

The Tweed Museum has asked five contemporary American Indian artists to respond to pieces from the Tweed's extensive, highly respected Native American art collection. The exhibition is called "Encoded: Traditional Patterns/a Contemporary Response." The result, according to Duluth independent curator and arts educator Peter Spooner, is a provocative conversation about the links between past and present native culture. The show will be up through March 17. For more Art Hounds' recommendations, check us out on Facebook and Twitter. Art Hounds is also available as a podcast on iTunes. Art Hounds is powered by the Public Insight Network.

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