Weekend Arts Roundup: Veneer versus Veracity
by Luke Taylor and Marianne Combs
June 13, 2013
MPR News Arts Reporter Marianne Combs joins The Current's Steve Seel and Jill Riley to talk about stage productions and a photography exhibit that explore the differences between what we project to the world and what's going on behind the scenes.
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-moon Marigolds: Now on stage at the Gremlin Theatre in St. Paul, this play about a young girl living in a dysfunctional family illustrates how something lovely can emerge despite dismal surroundings. The play is earning rave reviews, and production continues to June 23.
Pretend and Sin Eater: These two productions are now staging at the Red Eye Theater in Minneapolis as part of its New Works 4 Weeks Festival. Pretend, by Angharad Davies, takes a look at how our true identities are conveyed in a world that is saturated by social-media retellings of who we are. Sin Eater, by Tamara Ober, is the story of a young woman's desire to find redemption for her father's transgressions. The productions run June 13 to 16.
Seen Behind The Scene/40 Years Of Photographing On Set: Photojournalist Mary Ellen Mark may be best known for her work documenting street kids in Seattle or photographing injustices in India, Turkey and Africa, but her day job as a set photographer for Hollywood productions also created an impressive body of work. Her photographs -- which include the likes of Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson, Woody Allen, Catherine Deneuve, Johnny Depp and Sean Penn -- are on display at the Weinstein Gallery in Minneapolis until July 27.
Marianne Combs joins The Current's Morning Show for the Weekend Arts Roundup every Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Read about all the latest arts news at the State of the Arts blog at mprnews.org.