The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is a notably contemporary choice for a company best known for its Shakespeare. But by honoring both the spirit of St. Paul’s favorite son and the opulent Jazz Age epitomized by his classic novel, the company is making quite the symbolic statement for christening its glamorous waterfront playhouse. A second Minnesota son-made-good figures into the production, as well: It’s directed by David Esbjornson, the veteran Broadway director who grew up in Wilmar, and now serves as artistic director for another regional company, Seattle Repertory Theatre. An attractive cast serves to plum things up—West Coast actor Lorenzo Pisoni has the floppy hair and Gallic good looks necessary to play Jay Gatsby, and local songstress Christina Baldwin has the role of car-crash victim Myrtle Wilson. 818 2nd St. S., Minneapolis; 612-377-2224; www.guthrietheater.org