Friday, April 20
The Poet’s Emcee
WHAT: Dessa
WHERE: The O’Shaughnessy, St. Paul
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
Dessa plays her largest concert to date and her first of 2012, a sneak peek at her upcoming fall record, based on mythology, called Castor, The Twin. She’ll be joined by Jeremy Messersmith, Cecil Otter, Aby Wolf, Alexei Moon Casselle, Black Blondie, and gospel singer Robert Robinson. Learn more at oshaughnessy.stkate.edu.
Friday, April 20
The Claws Come Out
WHAT: Bobcat Goldthwait
WHERE: Acme Comedy Club, Minneapolis
WHEN: 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
It’s been a long time since Shakes the Clown put Goldthwait’s dark pathos on display in 1991. But the comedy has remained incisive: his upcoming film, God Bless America, follows a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde on a killing spree inspired by insipid reality shows. Learn more at acmecomedycompany.com.
Friday, April 20, and Saturday, April 21
Pop For Adults
WHAT: The Twilight Hours
WHERE: Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, Minneapolis
WHEN: 7 p.m.
John Munson and Matt Wilson, the former Trip Shakespeare stalwarts, reunite as the Twilight Hours, along with Steve Roehm, performing McCartney-esque pop songs as crisp as they are melodic. Learn more at dakotacooks.com.
Saturday, April 21
A Test Of Faith
WHAT: High
WHERE: State Theatre, Minneapolis
WHEN: 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Kathleen Turner plays the tough but troubled Sister Jamison Connelly, trying to help a teen drug user and, in the process, struggling to maintain her belief in miracles and redemption. This national tour features the original Broadway actors. Learn more at hennepintheatretrust.org.
Sunday, April 22
Garrison’s Gal
WHAT: Sara Watkins
WHERE: Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
The feisty fiddler, formerly of Nickel Creek, was a rare guest host of A Prairie Home Companion a year ago, sparking rumors that the gig was a tryout for a possible succession of Garrison Keillor. Hasn’t happened yet. In the meantime, Watkins is touring ahead of the May release of her new album, which features guest spots from Fiona Apple and Jackson Browne. Learn more at thecedar.org.
Sunday, April 22
The Next J. Lo
WHAT: Learn to Be Latina
WHERE: Mixed Blood Theatre, Minneapolis
WHEN: 3 p.m.
Enrique Urueta’s Learn To Be Latina, a winner of the national Great Gay Play Contest, is unrelentingly riotous, featuring a bilingual hand puppet and wild musical numbers in spinning a coming-out tale as affirming as it is off-color. Learn more at mixedblood.com.
