Pillsbury Playhouse presents Bug by Tracy Letts
Friday, Oct. 6 – Saturday, Nov. 4
Pillsbury House Theatre, 3501 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis

Show Times: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday;

Tickets: $18. Call 612-825-0459 for reservations.

Pillsbury Playhouse presents the area premiere of Bug writtten by Tracy Letts and directed by Stephen DiMenna. A divorced waitress with a fondness for cocaine lays low hoping to avoid a recently paroled ex-hubby. She meets a soft-spoken Gulf War drifter who is convinced the government is tailing him. In a seedy motel room in Oklahoma City, the two new lovers try to overcome isolation and delusion -- as well as the infestation of bugs. This harrowing thriller crawls with pests and paranoia. "Buckle up and brace yourself for the theatre season's wildest ride," raved the New York Times of the Off-Broadway premiere that won two Obie Awards in 2004, one for best acting ensemble and one for best design team. Faye Price’77 is co-artistic director for the Pillsbury Playhouse.

History Theatre presents “Wellstone!” by Mark Rosenwinkel
Saturday, Oct. 7 - Sunday, Nov. 5
History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul

Show Times: 10 a.m. Tuesday; 10:30 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets: $25-$32. 651-292-4323 or www.historytheatre.com.

The History Theatre in St. Paul presents “Wellstone!”, a play about U.S. Senator Paul Welstone’s life from his college days to his tragic death on October 25, 2002. Phil Callen ’87 plays the roles of key figures in the story, including Rudy Perpich, Jesse Helms, Rudy Boschwitz and Norm Coleman. The Star Tribune raves, “Callen has a deft ability to sketch in these well-known characters with bold lines, economy and biting wit. In contrast, he creates an affectingly poignant portrait of Wellstone's father.” Music by Larry Long. Directed by Steve Barberio.

Ben Connelly ’92 concert in Chicago
6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1
Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark St., Chicago

Tickets: Reserve a seat by calling 773-929-3680

Ben Connelly, former member of alt-country Steeplejack, has been performing solo folk-rock since 2000. This is his Chicago performance in a national tour to promote his latest album, “Over You,” released Sept. 12.
View Ben Connelly’s website »

Pay-What-You-Can Performance: Brecht’s Mother Courage at Frank Theatre
2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22
Pillsbury A Mill Machine Shop, 300 2nd St. SE, Minneapolis

Tickets: Pay what you can (minimum $10). Reservations: 612-724-3760.

Frank Theater’s presentation of Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children features acting by Ariel Dumas ’05, Taous Khazem ’03 and Heather Bunch ’04; set design by John Bueche ’92; dramaturgy by Associate Professor Beth Cleary, Theater and Dance; and research by History Professor Paul Solon and former Macalester professor and Frank Theater’s artistic director Wendy Knox. What is often hailed as Brecht’s best work, Mother Courage and Her Children uses the Thirty Years War as a backdrop for the cautionary tale that was written in 1939, as WWII was beginning to erupt in Europe. Show runs from Friday, Oct. 20 to Sunday, Nov. 12.
Details at Frank Theatre's website »

Live Recording of Richard Levinson’s “Unchartables Vol. 1"
1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22
Sacred Fools Theater, 660 N. Heliotrope, Los Angeles
(3 blocks w. of Vermont & 1/2 block s. of Melrose)

Tickets: Free. Call 310-281-8337 to reserve. (Press ‘1’ anytime and leave name, phone number and number of people. Reservation is confirmed unless called back.)

Watch songwriter Richard Levinson ’76 cut a live recording of some of his socially relevant, politically inflammatory and mercifully short songs in front of a live audience. Fred Willard says, “It’s hard to get Richard out of the room, but his songs are hard to get out of your head. They are always catchy, always funny, and always wonderful.” After penning Burt Reynolds’ country novelty hit  “Let’s Do Something Cheap and Superficial”  many, many, many years ago, songwriter Richard Levinson quickly descended into the dark world of advertising music, writing jingles for shopping malls, restaurants, furniture warehouses, newspapers, plumbing supply distributors, waterbeds, jewelers, car dealers, newspapers, piano stores, supermarkets, sauerkraut (yes, sauerkraut), frozen desserts, miniature golf courses, beers, wines, banks, the California Egg Commission, the LSU women s basketball team and  one very large discount brokerage. To atone for this, he has also written a bunch of comedy music and satiric songs which he quite appropriately calls “Unchartables.”  Some of these have appeared in productions by MTV, National Lampoon, Fox/HBO and Disney Television Animation. His songs were also featured regularly on the Dr. Demento syndicated radio show. For more information, e-mail Richard at rlev1223 [at] yahoo.com.

Silent Auction Benefit for Frank Theatre with performance of Brecht’s Mother Courage an Her Children
8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28
Pillsbury A Mill Machine Shop, 300 2nd St. SE, Minneapolis

Tickets: $45 - includes wine, appetizers and performance. Reservations: 612-724-3760.

Support the Frank Theatre by attending their Silent Auction Benefit and enjoy Frank Theater’s presentation of Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children featuring acting by Ariel Dumas ’05, Taous Khazem ’03 and Heather Bunch ’04; set design by John Bueche ’92; dramaturgy by Associate Professor Beth Cleary, Theater and Dance; and research by History Professor Paul Solon and former Macalester professor and Frank Theater’s artistic director Wendy Knox. What is often hailed as Brecht’s best work, Mother Courage and Her Children uses the Thirty Years War as a backdrop for the cautionary tale that was written in 1939, as WWII was beginning to erupt in Europe. Show runs from Friday, Oct. 20 to Sunday, Nov. 12.
Details at Frank Theatre's website »

Ben Connelly ’92 concert in Cleveland
8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2
Barking Spider Tavern, 11310 Juniper Road Cleveland, Ohio

Minneapolis singer/songwriter Ben Connelly ’92 makes his third major stop in his national tour to promote his new album, “Over You.” Connelly’s concert will be followed with jazz performed by George Foley.
View Ben Connelly’s website »

Ben Connelly ’92 concert in New Jersey
10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5
Brighton Bar, 121 Brighton Ave., Long Branch, N.J.

Tickets: $6 at the door, 18+

Minneapolis singer/songwriter Ben Connelly ’92 makes his fourth major stop in his national tour to promote his new album, “Over You.” Connelly performs with Lug Rust.
View Ben Connelly’s website »

Ben Connelly ’92 concert in D.C.
10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6
Velvet Lounge, 915 U St. NW, Washington, D.C.

Minneapolis singer/songwriter Ben Connelly ’92 makes his fifth major stop in his national tour to promote his new album, “Over You.” Andy Sullivan is also performing.
View Ben Connelly’s website »

Ben Connelly ’92 concert in New York City
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7
Sidewalk Cafe, 94 Ave. A, NYC

Minneapolis singer/songwriter Ben Connelly ’92 plays the big apple for the sixth major stop of his national tour promoting his new album, “Over You.”
View Ben Connelly’s website »

Ben Connelly ’92 concert in Boston
8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8
Abbey Lounge, 3 Beacon St., Somerville, Mass.

Minneapolis singer/songwriter Ben Connelly ’92 plays his seventh major stop in his whirlwind tour promoting his new album, “Over You.” Rob Cushing also plays the Abbey Lounge Pub Stage.
View Ben Connelly’s website »