The Ballroom

May we have this dance? Our favorite Franco-American experimental theater revives their 1992 production exploring American life in the 20th century through a series of vignettes set in a Midwestern dancehall. Given that this is a play that uses a physical space as its central metaphor, it ought to be interesting to see how the Jeune Lune company will stage it—the nineties version was one of the last productions they did before moving into their own ballroom-sized space in the Warehouse District. Jeune Lune, 105 N. First St., Minneapolis, (612) 332-3968, www.jeunelune.org

Hairspray
Orpheum Theatre, February 17-March 7
With the third season of American Idol under way, two things have never been more apparent: Big is in, and just about anyone these days can get fifteen minutes of fame. This is no new concept to 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad, heroine of the Tony-winning musical Hairspray, which chicken-dances its way into Minneapolis this month. Tracy makes big beautiful, with a big heart, big hair, and big dreams of a spot on the local TV dance program The Corny Collins Show. If this sounds like the all-too-familiar big-girl-makes-good story, rest assured: This ain’t no ordinary Big Fat Greek Wedding. (For starters, it’s based on a freakin’ John Waters movie, albeit his most sweet-natured one.) Things were more complicated in 1962 Baltimore. Tracy will have to outdress and outdo the reigning dancing queen, and win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin in the process. Can she do it? More important, will her ’do hold up? Of course. Any musical with dance numbers that include the Handjive and the Pony must end happily.
Orpheum, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, (612) 339-7007, www.hennepintheatredistrict.com