Monday news and reviews

Here's a look at the arts and culture stories making the headlines this morning...

Ten Thousand Things' 'Life's a Dream' is good, not just good for you

By Dominic P. Papatola, Pioneer Press

You're forgiven if you sit down to a play like "Life's a Dream" and some small part of you dreads you've volunteered for two hours of Brussels-sprout theater: not that tasty, but -- hey -- it's good for you.

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'In Search of Asia' at St. Anthony Main - John Ervin, City Pages

For 11 days, Minnesota Film Arts will "search" for the world's most populous continent through 40 movies from 12 countries in a brand-new festival.

Library association added gay and lesbian award to annual list of children's prizes

By Hillel Italie , Associated Press

An award for gay and lesbian literature will be included in the American Library Association's annual announcement of children's prizes, a list which features the prestigious and influential Caldecott and Newbery medals.

Opera's 'Cinderella' could be more fun - Rob Hubbard, Pioneer Press

The music of Gioachino Rossini can sound like opera on espresso. His stage works are filled with insistent pieces of musical patter, machine-gun staccato notes racing up and down the scale.

Mumford & Sons at First Avenue: British invasion - Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet

Indie-folk strummers Mumford & Sons seem like unlikely rock club idols--until you actually see them play a rock club. Then, you understand that they're totally likely.

Close your eyes to Minnesota Orchestra's 'Psycho' -- to really hear Herrmann

- David Hawley, Pioneer Press

Skreet! Skreet! Skreet! Skreet! One of most famous shower scenes in film-score history elicited nervous titters Saturday during the Minnesota Orchestra's Halloween-eve screening of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" above an Orchestra Hall platform peopled by the orchestra's string players.

Owl City goes back to school for Halloween - Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune

Owatonna lit up with excitement for Adam Young, who performed his first hometown concert since becoming a No. 1 hit-making singer.

'Spring Awakening' returns for weekend run - Ed Huyck, City Pages

Spring Awakening, the thundering rock musical about adolescent angst in 19th-century Germany, returns for a quick two-day run over the weekend at the Orpheum Theatre.