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The Autumn theater and performance season kicks into high gear in St. Paul! With last week’s opening of the Ordway’s theater season it wasn’t long before other local dramatic hot spots followed suit. You can expect Autumn in St. Paul to be quite an exciting season for performance, dance, theater, music and everything else in between.

OTHELLO

@ Park Square Theater
Runs Oct 16th through Nov 8th

Ah, Shakespeare. How can you go wrong? The Park Square crew brings to life the classic tragedy, which brims with themes of love, treachery, jealousy and prejudice. Othello, a general in the Venetian army, is drawn into a complicated series of lies woven by one of his trusted comrades, who covets Othello’s new wife, Desdamona. Betrayal on multiple levels ensues and, as is typical for a Shakespearian tragedy, leaves a good number of the characters dead and/or ruined. Pretty heavy material, but since when has The Bard ever disappointed? The show runs through November 8th, so there’s plenty of time to plan your night. Park Square’s website also offers a number of nearby dining recommendations HERE.

For tickets and info visit www.parksquaretheatre.org

Bonus: This Sunday at 7pm hit up Park Square Theatre for Russian Seasons in Minnesota: an Homage to the 100th Anniversary of Russian Seasons in Paris, a special event filled with music, opera, ballet and art. For more info visit www.russianseasons-mn.com

HUNUMAN & THE GIRL PRINCE

@ SteppingStone Theatre
Runs October 23rd through November 8th

SteppingStone Theatre always amazes us with their sense of sheer originality, whimsy, and on-the-mark casting of some of the most charismatic kids in town. Their brand new musical production, Hanuman & The Girl Prince, is a sassy, colorful Bollywood-style comedy that focuses on a young Indian princess disguised as a prince who finds love with the helpful antics of the frolicsome Monkey King, Hanuman. The second play in SteppingStone’s bright, adorable Hunuman Trilogy, this production is a can’t-miss for families with boundless imagination. Online tickets will go off sale Thursday evenings prior to weekend performances. Tickets are generally available at the door.

For tickets and more info visit www.steppingstonetheatre.org

MOVING WORKS BY JAMES SEWELL BALLET

@ O’Shaughnessy Hall
Runs through October 25th

The always-innovative troupe at the internationally renowned James Sewell Ballet Company bring us Moving Works, a stunning, contemporary collection of four fantastical dance pieces that celebrate both music and motion. See work by choreographers James Sewell, Sally Rousse, and Penelope Freeh accompanied by the music of Steve Heitzeg, Ludvig von Beethoven, and local progressive jazz trio, The Bad Plus. There’s nothing like pairing the grace and strength of the ballet with wonderful, varied musical themes — and the eclectic and talented peeps at the James Sewell Ballet are definitely masters of that formula. This series of performances only runs through this Sunday, so step to it (no pun intended)!

For tickets and more info visit www.jsballet.org

OTHER COOL PERFORMANCES HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND:

Saturday, October 24th: Prairie Home Companion @ The Fitzgerald

Through Nov 1st: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story @ History Theater

Through November 8th: Little House/The Full Monty @ The Ordway