Mu changes Spring 06 schedule

Coming this May, Mu will present William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Southern Theater. Filipino Hearts, originally scheduled for May, will open Mu’s Season 2006-2007 this fall.

Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy graces Mu’s stage with its confused lovers, thespian mechanicals, and fantastic fairies. Infuse this Western classic with Japanese taiko drumming, Korean mask dance, and Kabuki sword fighting and you have a Mu-style Midsummer the Bard could never have imagined.

" We truly felt we needed an extra six months of development for our new musical Filipino Hearts to make sure it's all we want it to be. With an open slot this May, we realized we had a golden and unexpected opportunity to do something out of the ordinary — a Mu-style production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream! I have wanted Mu to do this play since I first helped with a student production at Augsburg College in the 1990's,” explains Artistic Director Rick Shiomi. “Early on at Mu, we were still developing our acting pool, but now I feel we have reached a critical mass of actors capable of creating a uniquely Asian American production. More and more, our actors are expressing their desire to play major roles in western classics, because too often they are not considered seriously for these roles at other theaters.”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will take place May 13 – 28, 2006 at The Southern Theater. The performances will take place Mondays at 8pm, Thursdays – Sundays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $20 Thursdays – Sundays, and Monday performances are pay-what-you-can nights. There will be a preview performance open to the public on Friday, May 12 at 8pm (Tickets: $10). More information and reservations are available by calling 612-824-4804 or visit http://www.muperformingarts.org.

About Mu Performing Arts
Founded in 1992 as Theater Mu, Mu Performing Arts is the foremost Asian American theater and taiko company in the Midwest. Mu Performing Arts encompasses the theatrical presentations of Theater Mu and the professional taiko (Japanese drumming) group, Mu Daiko, and remains true to the core value of giving voice to the Asian American experience. Through the transformational power of their works, Mu Performing Arts successfully merges Eastern and Western, traditional and contemporary theatrical forms.

Mu Performing Arts’ mainstage season includes three Theater Mu theatrical productions, one Mu Daiko concert, and several festivals highlighting new works, emerging directors and taiko artists. Outreach programs to schools, community organizations and corporations reach over 46,000 people annually and Mu Performing Arts offers residencies and classes to develop theater and taiko skills for adults and children in the Twin Cities.

The meaning of Mu: Our Mu (pronounced “moo”) is the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese ideogram for the shaman/artist/warrior who connects the heavens and earth through the tree of life. For more information about Mu Performing Arts call 612-824-4804 or visit http://www.muperformingarts.org.

Dates/Times:
May 13 – May 28, 2006
Mondays at 8pm; Thursdays - Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 2pm
Preview: Friday, May 12 at 8pm
AD/ASL: Saturday, May 20

Schedule:
Fri., May 12th at 8:00pm (Preview – Tickets: $10)
Sat., May 13th at 8:00pm (Opening Night & Post-Show Discussion)
Sun, May 14th at 2:00pm
Mon, May 15th at 8:00 pm (Pay-What-You-Can Night)
Thurs, May 18th at 8:00 pm
Fri, May 19th at 8:00 pm
Sat, May 20th at 8:00 pm (Post-Show Discussion)
Sun, May 21st at 2:00pm
Mon, May 22nd at 8:00 pm (Pay-What-You-Can Night)
Thurs, May 25th at 8:00 pm
Fri, May 26th at 8:00 pm
Sat, May 27th at 8:00 pm (Post-Show Discussion)
Sun, May 28th at 2:00pm (Closing)

Tickets:
Thursdays – Sundays: $20
Mondays: Pay-What-You-Can
Preview: Friday, May 12: $10
Children under 12 half off
$2 discount for students and seniors
$4 off groups of 10 or more

Description:
Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy graces Mu’s stage this spring with its confused lovers, thespian mechanicals, and fantastic fairies. Infuse this Western classic with Japanese taiko drumming, Korean mask dance, and Kabuki sword fighting and you have a Mu-style Midsummer the Bard could never have imagined.

Questions? Email

Mu Performing Arts announces a change to the Season 2005-2006 schedule