By Anne Ulseth
The new year holds many good things in store at the Capri, a wonderful, welcoming theater and gathering place in North Minneapolis. The Capri provides the Northside and metro-wide community with countless opportunities to experience and produce art, to create and implement ideas, and to Be Together. Each year, the beloved theater offers many monthly events, ongoing series and special programs to appeal to all ages and interests, and 2023 will be no exception.
Capri Director James Scott said, “This holiday season, we are reminded of how fortunate we are to be part of such a loving and supportive community. We are so grateful for the chance to present and produce powerful art experiences that touch thousands of people – and we hope to see you in 2023.”
First Thursday Films, presented in partnership with the MSP Film Society and the Minnesota Historical Society, kicks off 2023 on January 5 with Wattstax, a documentary covering a Stax Records-sponsored all-day concert at the 1972 Watts Summer Festival, with performances by Stax Records artists such as Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas the Staples Singers and more. The screening begins at 7 p.m. followed by a lively conversation about the film with Gary Hines, Music Director and Producer of the three-time Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness, and Craig Lawrence Rice, MSP Film programmer. Tickets are free for Northsiders or $5; available at mspfilm.org or at the door.
For 13 years, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO), a world-renowned orchestra, has partnered with the Capri to bring to North Minneapolis extraordinary chamber music concerts and smart, engaging programs designed especially for children and families. The SPCO’s Northside Series continues in 2023 with “Romantic Landscapes with Eunae Koh” on Friday, January 6 at 7 p.m. SPCO violinist Eunae Koh curates a program of composers from the Romantic era to the present day inspired by emotional and natural landscapes. Tickets are $15 for adults and free for Northsiders with reservations at thespco.org.
For the third time, the SPCO and the Capri will present the “Northside Celebration,” a concert experience full of joy, beauty and energy celebrating the North Minneapolis community through music. This celebration brings together the gospel choir tradition, orchestra and spoken word to create an unforgettable concert event featuring voices and stories of the Northside. Northsiders are invited to sing with the Northside Community Choir alongside Known MPLS, Dennis Spears, Sherri Orr, the SPCO and more! No auditions are required for the choir, but singers should plan to attend four rehearsals in January and February, plus the mandatory final dress rehearsals on the evenings of February 15 and February 16. The Northside Celebration 2023 takes place on Friday, February 17 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, February 18 at 4 p.m. at North High, and Sunday, February 19 at 2 p.m. at the Ordway Concert Hall in St. Paul. Interested singers can register at thecapri.org.
Camp Capri S3 for middle school scholars features talented local teaching artists who take youth on guided expeditions through the wonderful world of the arts. Camp Capri S3is held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the 3rd Saturday of every month – first up in 2023 on January 15. And it’s all free with lunch provided. Register at thecapri.org
The 13th season of Legends @ the Capri continues on Saturday, January 28 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, January 29 at 3 p.m. with An Evening with the Divine Miss E, a fiery 85-minute tribute to Bette Midler, with Erin Schwab and her Staggering Harlettes. “This always popular – and frequently sold out – high-energy show unites Erin’s incredible stage presence with her amazing vocal stylings to bring out the absolute best in Bette’s music! Prepare to laugh, sing and dance,” said Dennis Spears, Capri Artistic Associate and Director of Legends. Single tickets ($25) are available at capri.simpletix.com.
All January programs are at the Capri, located at 2027 W. Broadway in North Minneapolis. For more details and ticket info visit thecapri.org.