July 22, 2004 - Many teenagers can tell horror stories of what goes on in on-line chat rooms. In recent years there have been a number of cases of older adults seeking out children for not just conversation, but for sex. In response the FBI has mounted sting operations to capture likely offenders before they have a chance to strike. A new play examines the ethics of such methods. "Sexsting" gets its first reading at the Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis tomorrow.
July 8, 2004 - Classical musicians from across the Twin Cities have come together to perform the premiere of a new orchestral work called “Mosaic: Cedar and Lake.” The piece attempts to capture the cultural diversity of Minneapolis.
June 29, 2004 - Ruminator Books, the nationally recognized independent bookstore on the Macalester College campus in St. Paul, is closing. After a series of financial problems and several attempts to find solutions, Macalester College has terminated the bookstore's lease. Booklovers say Minnesota is losing a piece of its literary history.
March 12, 2004 - Over the past year several Minnesota theaters have closed their doors. Others are struggling to stay open, but the outlook is bleak. Artists say they're victims of what they call "the perfect storm."
March 12, 2004 - Over the past year several Minnesota theaters have closed their doors. Others are struggling to stay open, but the outlook is bleak. Artists say they're victims of what they call "the perfect storm." Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports: {Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Director Sheila Smith says artists are suffering now more than ever in her 15 year career as an arts advocate. After the attacks of September 11th 2001 the various funding sources for arts organizations - ticket sales, foundation support and state funding - simultaneously tanked. But yet, Smith says, the crisis isn't getting the attention it deserves:
February 25, 2004 - What would you do if you found a pack of cigarettes in your thirteen year old daughter's school bag? Would you ever read your spouse's diary? Is either situation a big deal? A new production at Mixed Blood Theater in Minneapolis examines America's civil rights, and how they play out in our everyday lives. Bill of (W)rights is made up of ten 8 minute plays, staged throughout the theater building.
January 1, 2004 - MPR’s Marianne Combs reports on the Minnesota Opera's interpretation of the "The Handmaid's Tale." Not only has Poul Ruders’ modern opera been embraced by audiences and critics alike, it is also timely. Based on Margaret Atwood's novel, the production tells of a world where religion is used to justify political agendas and women are stripped of their rights.
December 18, 2003 - Department stores and home furnishing catalogs are now offering art to go with their couches and chairs. Some are original works, but many sell clever reproductions. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports other art dealers worry the public and artists are being misled.
December 5, 2003 - 33 women have served in the United States Senate in it's more than 200 year history. 14 of them are in office right now. A new exhibit at the Hubert H Humphrey Institute documents the lives of those women as they negotiate a terrain traditionally ruled by men. It's called "The Changing Face of Power." Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports:
December 1, 2003 - Starting in January, the Guthrie Theater will take Shakespeare's Othello on the road. The cross country tour is part of the National Endowment for the Arts' initiative to bring Shakespeare to communities across America. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports