Get back into glee!
Written by Mike Mullen
A shouted countdown in a room packed with people, a night of quiet reflection with family, an early bed time: all valid ways to say goodbye to a year. As for ringing in a new one, we suggest you kick off 2025 with the kind of community and entertainment you’ll find only at the Capri.
In January, start the year off right with a screening of Luther: Never Too Much in our First Thursday Films series. The documentary features the highs, lows, and hits in the life of beloved singer Luther Vandross. The film screens at 7 p.m. on January 2; stick around after the showing for a conversation led by actor, singer and educator T. Mychael Rambo.
The February selection for First Thursday Films is American Fiction, a smart, funny look at the meaning of Black stories in modern literature. The film screens at 7 p.m. on February 6.
Entrance to First Thursday Films is free for Northside residents; others can obtain $5 tickets at mspfilm.org.
Registration for the celebrated Capri Glee! choir’s winter season opens on January 7. All are welcome, no experience required. Winter season rehearsals are 7 p.m. each Tuesday, February 18-March 18, culminating in the concert on March 25. Led by director and teacher J.D. Steele and his brother Fred Steele, the program was described as “very life-giving” by one past participant. Another singer said, “It was a blast. I expected to enjoy it and to be stretched. I didn’t expect to love it so much.” Register, starting January 7, at thecapri.org.
Look for an early highlight of the year when the Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/St. Paul (BEFF) comes to the Capri on Sunday, February 2. The event begins at 2 p.m. with a screening of Girl, including a virtual Q&A with director Adura Onashile, followed by “Black Youth in Motion,” a run of six short films at 4:30 p.m. A reception will be held at 6:30 p.m., followed by the 7:30 p.m. screening of The Black Sea. Tickets for the Capri screenings only are available at capri.simpletix.com: $5 for students, $8 for members of MSP Film and Northsiders (zips 55411, 55412, 55430 — special rate for Capri screenings only), and $10 for the general public.
The three-day BEFF festival, January 30 – February 2, is a celebration of Afro-European cinema that includes documentaries, narrative films, and shorts by Europe’s most renowned Black filmmakers. Screenings will also be held at the Main Cinema, the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Cedar Cultural Center. Look for the full schedule of films, visiting filmmakers, workshops and masterclasses at beffmsp.org.
The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Northside Series continues on February 7, with performances of works by Beethoven and contemporary composer Joan Tower. Tickets are free for Northsiders and children (reservations are required at thespco.org – enter your zipcode as the promo code); reserved seating tickets $16-$36 for non-Northside adults. More info at thespco.org.
The Legends @ the Capri series returns February 8-9 with “Your Sweet Love,” a showcase of the duets of Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye performed by vocalists Julius Collins and Lyndora Turner. Saturday night’s showtime is 7 p.m., and the Sunday matinee starts at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25, $20 for groups of 10 or more, and $30 at the door; purchase by calling 612-643-2040.
Youth in grades 5 – 8 are invited to attend Camp Capri Third Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 18. This month’s art classes are led by local painter, designer and educator Kenneth Caldwell. Camp Capri S3 is free, with lunch served. Registration required at thecapri.org.
In rentals this month, Afrocontigbo Dance presents “Stories in Motion,” a spectacle celebrating the power of words and narrative. Showtime is 5-8 p.m., December 28; tickets $15 and available through eventbrite.
And, a reminder: Due to ongoing construction, the Capri is temporarily operating with reduced parking availability. Before you come, we encourage you to visit thecapri.org/parking-capri/ to learn about regular parking options and any updates on changes as construction progresses.
The Capri is located at 2027 W. Broadway. For details and ticket info visit thecapri.org.