This article was written by Mike Mullen

Kids are back in school, dusty jackets are getting dug out of closets, and pumpkin spice flavoring is everywhere. Fill up these ever-longer nights with a month of performance, education and community at the Capri Theater.

It all kicks off with our second helping of this year’s First Thursday Films @ the Capri. This one’s pretty special, starting with the screening of The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete at 7 p.m. on October 7. This critically acclaimed 2013 coming-of-age film is loaded with major stars like Anthony Mackie, Jeffrey Wright and Jennifer Hudson.

A “moving bit of mischief and mayhem” (Los Angeles Times) is enticing enough, but be sure to stick around for the post-film discussion featuring Michael Starburry, screenwriter of The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete and a Minnesotan. Born in Milwaukee, Starburry moved to Brooklyn Park as a teenager, and it was here that he started work on the film’s script. Starburry also worked on the Netflix documentary Colin in Black and White, about the transformational football player and activist Colin Kaepernick. You’ll also certainly hear plenty about his next feature film: Starburry has been tapped to pen the script for the next in the blockbuster Blade vampire series, due out in 2025. 

Tickets are $5 at mspfilm.org; free for Northside residents. Find the full lineup and schedule for First Thursday Films, presented in partnership with the MSP Film Society and the Minnesota Historical Society, at thecapri.org. 

At Camp Capri S3, talented teaching artists guide middle school scholars through the wonderful world of the arts, sparking all sorts of creative interests along the way. This month, youth in grades 5 – 8 are invited to attend Camp Capri from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 14. It’s free, and lunch – and a lot of fun – will be served. Registration required at thecapri.org.

At 7 p.m. on October 24, don’t miss the highly anticipated return concert of the Capri Glee! adult community choir. After glowing coverage in local and national media last spring, a flood of singers leapt to lend their voices to the choir this fall. New and returning singers, who have been rehearsing under renowned director J.D. Steele with Steele’s similarly talented brother, Fred Steele, on piano, will be joined by guest choirs The Mill City Singers and the MacPhail Community Youth Choir. Admission is free, but registration is required at thecapri.org.

The Capri plays host to the first of this season’s performances by The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the virtuoso musical collective that draws on musicians and conductors from around the world, at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 27. The SPCO will present Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence, a musical journey that bridges the composer’s days in bitterly cold Russia and delightfully sunny Italy. We can’t think of a better way to embrace the highs and lows of autumn in Minnesota. Tickets are free for Northsiders (reservations are required at thespco.org – enter your zipcode as the promo code) and children; $15 for adults. More info at thespco.org.

We’ve also got a solid lineup of rental programming that you can support at the Capri this month.  At 4:30 p.m. on October 12, Urban Homeworks is hosting its annual Perpetuate the Hope fundraiser, with a performance by local hip-hop star Nur-D, snacks from Breaking Bread and Cookie Cart, and live comedy from the folks at Blackout Improv.

At 6 p.m. on Friday, October 13, the CorVoce Chamber Choir will screen Words That Sing, filmmaker Barbara Wiener’s documentary on the choir’s tribute to Michael Dennis Browne that will enrich those who missed the live concert or want to relive it. Tickets and more info on this red carpet film premiere and fundraiser are available at corvoce.org.

Last but not least, the annual free Halloween Party on the Plaza at the Capri, staged by Wolfpack Promotionals, will be held on Saturday, October 28 from 2-5 p.m.

The Capri is located at 2027 W. Broadway. For more details and ticket info visit thecapri.org.