Valentine’s Day dinner is served – and there’s a performance to go with it.
Backus Community Center will open its doors Feb. 13 for “Room to Act,” a dinner theater-type event hosted by the local theater group, the Borealis Bards.
“One of our members introduced us to a delightful collection of short love-themed scripts,” said Beth Lowthian, the group’s founder. “We found them intriguing and something we wanted to perform. A dinner theater seemed the perfect venue to offer them. And if the theme is love, then Valentine’s Day seemed perfectly fitting.”
The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cash bar followed by dinner at 6 on the Backus stage. After the meal, there will be a total of three performances held in different rooms throughout the first floor of the handicapped-accessible community center. Half of the audience, Lowthian said, will move to one room, the other half to a second room.
“Each room will offer a collection of short plays that share a theme of love and relationship,” she said. “At the end of each collection, the audiences switch rooms.”
The Room to Act event concludes with participants returning to the stage for dessert and a final collection of dramatic readings and performances carrying on the theme of love.
“The evening offers a fun twist to a dinner theater due to the fact the audience travels to the performers rather than the other way around,” Lowthian said. “Attendees will enjoy seeing their friends and neighbors act in these light-hearted and funny skits.”
Laughter, Lowthian continued, is guaranteed. She said many of the pieces are by playwrite Christopher Durang, known for works of outrageous and often absurd comedy. In addition, many scripts were written by the performers.
“This is truly a community theater group,” she said. “All actors and backstage support are locals.”
Admission to the Feb. 13 performance and dinner is $30 and can be purchased in advance at the Backus office and City Drug until Feb. 11. Space is limited, Lowithian noted. Proceeds from the event will go toward supporting Backus Community Center programs.
Felix Cavaliere will perform at the Fortune Bay Casino in Tower, Minn., Feb. 12 and 13. Both shows are at 7 p.m.
Felix Cavaliere’s message has always been to stand for peace, love, and happiness. The singer songwriter in a news release said making people feel good is primary to his 50-year career that includes the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriter Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and Grammy Hall of Fame.
Now, northern Minnesota will have its chance to hear him live.
Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals will take the stage of the Fortune Bay Casino in Tower, Minn., Feb. 12 and 13. Both shows are at 7 p.m. and are only for adults 21 years of age and older. Tickets cost $29 and can be purchased online at www.etix.com, via phone at 800-992-7529 or in person at 1430 Boise Forte Road. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. the night of the shows.
Cavalier is a classically-trained pianist who was born in Pelham, New York. The release said the musician idolized Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, and Sam Cook. He embraced the Hammond Organ and pioneered a fresh rock ‘n’ roll sound.
After leaving Syracuse University to form the Escorts, he became a backup musician for Joe Dee and the Starliters and later Sandy Scott, before starting his own hall of fame career.
Early in 1965, Cavaliere formed the Young Rascals with Dino Danelli, Eddie Brigati and Gene Cornish. That October, they caught the attention of promoter/manager Sid Bernstein with their high-energy set at Long Island’s elite club, Barge. The group signed to Atlantic Records, and is now called The Rascals. The release concluded the group’s song, “Good Lovin,’” struck No. 1 in February 1966. It followed suit with a string of hits.
