by Jonathan Harvey
A play with music of the Mamas and Papas
Directed by Jeremy B. Cohen

Beautiful Thing is the emotionally charged story of two teenage boys who unexpectedly fall in love. This moving drama was a hit on London’s West End before inspiring the international award-winning film with the same title.

Theater Latté Da will infuse the production with the music of the Mamas and Papas with local favorite Erin Schwab singing Mama Cass. The stellar cast includes Steven Lee Johnson, David Darrow, Jennifer Blagen, Dan Hopman and Anna Sundberg. Jeremy B. Cohen, producing artistic director of The Playwrights’ Center, will be making his local directing debut with Beautiful Thing as Theater Latté Da’s first guest director.

Contains strong language.

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This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. Theater Latte Da is also supported by the Arts Learning Xchange, a program funded by the Wallace Foundation and managed by Arts Midwest in collaboration with Minnesota Community Foundation.

Theater Latté Da presents

February 24 – March 18, 2012

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The Lab Theater
700 N 1st Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612.333.7977
TheLabTheater.org

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Evening Performances: Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Matinee Performances: Sundays at 2 p.m.

ASL-Interpretation and Audio Description available on
Thursday, March 15, 7:30 p.m.

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We are holding prime seats for each performance for our season subscribers. Contact Abby at abby@latteda.org or 612-339-3003 to learn more about Theater Latté Da’s 2011-2012 season subscription packages.

Individual tickets are on sale now here.

Directions

FROM THE NORTH: I-35W
Heading south on 35W, take exit 17C for Washington Avenue. Turn RIGHT onto South Washington Avenue. Turn RIGHT onto Portland Avenue. Take the 2nd LEFT onto West River Parkway. Turn LEFT onto North 4th Avenue. Take the 3rd RIGHT onto 1st Street North. The Lab Theater will be on your right.

FROM THE WEST: I-394
Heading west on 394, take exit 9C for Washington Avenue toward 3rd Avenue North. Take a slight RIGHT onto 3rd Avenue North. Turn LEFT onto 1st Street North. The Lab Theater will be on your right.

FROM THE SOUTH: I-35W
Heading north on 35W, take exit 16A West on the left toward Downtown/1-94 W. Continue straight. Take the ramp onto 94 West. Take the exit 229 for Washington Avenue North. Turn RIGHT onto Washington Avenue North. Turn LEFT onto North Plymouth Avenue. Take the 1st RIGHT onto North 2nd Street. Take the 1st LEFT onto North 8th Avenue. Take the 1st RIGHT onto 1st Street North. The Lab Theater will be on your left.

FROM THE EAST: I-94
Heading west on 94, take exit 229 for Washington Avenue North. Turn RIGHT onto Washington Avenue North. Turn LEFT onto North Plymouth Avenue. Take the 1st RIGHT onto North 2nd Street. Take the 1st LEFT onto North 8th Avenue. Take the 1st RIGHT onto 1st Street North. The Lab Theater will be on your left.

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Parking

Meters near The Lab Theater are free after 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day on Saturday and Sunday. There is also a surface lot directly across from The Lab Theater for $5.00 on nights and weekends. This rate may increase if there are numerous events happening in the area.

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Bus Stops

Metro Transit also serves the area via Route 7, which stops right outside The Lab Theater at 1st Street N and #620. For more information in planning your trip, visit the MetroTransit website here.

Reviews

“The cast is led by a pair of promising youngsters, Steven Lee Johnson and David Darrow, who bring the confusion and pure joy of first-time love to brilliant life.”
- Ed Huyck, City Pages

“As with all Latte Da shows, this show is perfectly cast. . . Steven Lee Johnson . . . and David Darrow . . . are perfect as the young lovers Jamie and Ste, believable and natural and sympathetic. Anna Sundberg (one of my favorite artists of 2011) is, as usual, fully committed to creating a distinct and layered character. Jennifer Blagen gives depth to Jamie’s tough-talking mother, and Dan Hopman is charming as her boyfriend of the moment . . .”
- Jill Schafer, Cherry and Spoon Blog

“Director Jeremy B. Cohen pulls plenty of passion and sparks out of his fine performers … Erin Schwab’s cheerful face and sweet singing add strands of hope every time she steps on stage…”
- Renee Valois, Pioneer Press

“There is a still, small center in ‘Beautiful Thing,’ which emerges ever so tenuously in Latté Da’s staging. It is the sweetest part of life.”
- Graydon Royce, Star Tribune

“…the actors all play their roles with depth and sincerity, delivering the coming-of-age story with a well-rounded mix of humor, poignancy, and relevance.”
- Ellen Burkhardt, Minnesota Monthly

“The romance between these two characters [Jamie and Ste] is the kind of thing that makes me want to see the show all over again, and that’s a rare thing indeed…”
- Matthew A. Everett, TCDailyPlanet.com

“…a wonderfully entertaining play with tangy characters, crackling dialogue and a heartfelt message.”
- Janet Preus, HowWasTheShow.com

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Features

“Their own kind of music”
~by Graydon Royce, Star Tribune, Feb. 23, 2012

“Cast ready for challenges of Latte Da’s ‘Beautiful Thing’”
~by Ed Huyck, City Pages, Feb. 21, 2012

“Teenage Gay Love Becomes A Beautiful Thing”
~by John Townsend, Lavender Magazine, Feb. 9, 2012

Beautiful Thing Video Series

Theater Latté Da strives to choose venues that are accessible to all patrons.
The Lab Theater has:
– A wheelchair ramp from the drop-off zone on the street to the entrance.
– Fully accessible restrooms located on the entrance level.
– An elevator between the entrance level and the theater level.
– Wheelchair and Accessible seating.

Beautiful Thing will be ASL Interpreted on Thursday, March 15, 7:30 p.m. by Paul Deeming and Elly Carpenter. Tickets for patrons using this service can be purchased online here for 20% off with discount code BTACCESS.

Beautiful Thing will be audio described on Thursday, March 15, 7:30 p.m. by Laurie Pape Hadley. Tickets for patrons using this service can be purchased online here for 20% off with discount code BTACCESS.